Day 12 – We’re Home!

So we got home and are just processing all that we have seen and experienced.  We were up around 30 hours on our travel home and caught a few winks before going to FBC to see all our friends.  God stirred in our hearts as in Davids message he spoke of the Church where 3000 repented and were baptized.  Tam and I knew, only a day prior we had stood at the baptismal where this actually took place.  We already have discussed how amazing it will be to return.

We logged over 60 miles and over 121,000 steps.  This also comes with an asterisk as sometimes we were in tunnels or without our technology to measure our travels!  Most of all we hope that something has stirred in your heart.  Whether you follow Christ each day, know of him in your heart or question his existence, we hope there is one thing in our journey that may inspire you to increase your relationship with our Savior.  We absolutely give God all the glory for the blessings he has provided to us and sharing this journey was a gift.

Here are only a few of the photos we have of new friendships we made on this trip.  We share a special bond now with them as well as with you.  We are going to keep this blog up for a while as we know we will add a few more notes as we go through the 1400+ photos and our journals that we kept along the way.  We hope you have enjoyed this as much as we did making it.  God Bless.

Days 10 & 11 Western Wall Tunnel, Shiloh, Ancient Samaria and the Garden Tomb

At the Western Wall Road

Today we started at the Western Wall Tunnel.  At the base of the Western Wall lies a street built during King Herods time which Christ would have walked.  Later the Muslims who inhabited the area outside the City walls elevated there properties on arches to be able to view the Temple.  All of these arches covered the Western Wall street.  An archeological tunnel is being excavated under all of the Muslim properties to expose this street and the areas around them.  This was amazing.   We then traveled by bus to Shiloh.  Current excavation is being performed to expose the tabernacle which was located here.  We were able to speak to lead archeologist at the site.  Shiloh is where Hanna gave up Samuel to the Lord.  We then traveled quite a ways to ancient Samaria had lunch and viewed the ruins here.  A lot of this is not being as well excavated or being preserved and was sad to see.  This ended the day and we went back to the hotel.  The next morning we were up early and went to the Garden Tomb.  This was the last day of Ramadan.  As we walked towards the Garden Tomb which is just outside the City walls we were met by thousands of Muslims going to prayer.  They estimated there would be 350,000 there that day.  We entered the Garden Tomb area and was met by Paul Weaver who did a very moving tour of the area.  His description of Christs crucifixion brought a sobering and humbling reality of what we were doing at the Garden tour.  We viewed the area called Skull Hill or Golgotha and then viewed the tomb thought to be that of which Christ was placed after crucifixion.  This was a very emotional ending to our 11 day journey.  We held a small service at the tomb, Jack lead us in music and Pastor Joe delivered a very meaningful message.  We ended the service with communion.  We ended the day walking through the City walls and walking through the market area.  Back to the hotel early for preparation for the 16 hours of flights home.       

Shiloh

Archeological dig at Shiloh

Ancient Samaria

Skull Hill, Crucifixion of Christ

The Garden Tomb

At the Garden Tomb

At the Market

Day 9 City of David and Riding Camels!

Day 9 City of David and Riding Camels!

Hezekiah's Tunnel

Today we went to Hezekiah’s Tunnel.  This was a tunnel to divert water for the Jewish community without leaving the city walls of David.  The tunnel diverts water from Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam.  Flashlights in hand, we actually walked the 583 yards of tunnel in knee deep water from start to finish.  The tunnel was just a little narrower than Marty’s shoulders.  We visited the Mount of Olives and looked across at the City walls and Temple Mount.  This is where Jesus stood and wept.  Jesus ascended to Heaven here and will this will also be the place for his return.  We took our group picture here which will be something we will cherish for years.  We have made some lifelong friends on this trip.  We then went on the Genesis Experience.  We got to meet “Abraham’ and have lunch with him in his tent.  The area was where Abraham came and settled with his nephew Lot and we learned many things about his travels and challenges.  We finished with a camel ride through the area. We then went to the South Gate of the Temple Mount.  This is where the Church started and Peter witnessed to all at the gate.  3000 people were baptized after Peter spoke to them and joined the Disciples as the beginning Church.   Over 50 baptismal lay at the foot of the steps to the entrance of the Southern gate.  The steps Tammy is standing on lead to the gate.  The steps are of different sizes to make a person concentrate and slow down as they climbed the stairs and approach the gate.  We looked at the stones that had fell from the Western Wall during the destruction.  The area where Marty is standing is the ground bed where Jesus walked.  What an experience.  We prayed at the Wailing Wall.  The men on the left side and the women to the right.  Due to the time of the day, it was pretty hot outside so the crowds were really down.  We entered the cities corridor and traced the steps of the Via Dolorosa.  This is the path and Stations of the Cross believed by Catholics that Jesus walked on his way to his crucifixion.  We ended the day at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.         

At the Mount of Olives

Lunch with Abraham!

Camel Rides!

On the steps leading to the Temple gates.

Southern Gates where Peter witnessed.

Walking where Christ walked.. Outside the     Western Wall

Church of the Holy Sepulchre