HOLY LAND POSTINGS

The blog to follow this one was actually written first upon our return from the trip. However, I have created several additional blogs but have dated them so that they will follow the initial blog. So please check out the blogs that follow, "An Amazing Holy Land Journey." Also you can click on the far right for a specific posting without having to scroll down thru numerous ones that you have already read.

An Amazing Holy Land Journey!

Words will not adequately describe the past two weeks as we truly were on "Holy Ground." When Jeff returned from Israel 24 years ago or when Kaye & Rob returned after their visit two years ago -- I just didn't understand what they saw and felt or that such a trip could change their lives. And for many of you - I'm sure you are wondering as well how a visit to Israel could be such a life-changing experience. All I can say -- it is true and I pray many of you will be able to visit this Holy Land someday soon. Since this is primarily a family blog, the majority of my pictures will be of family "on location." I wish I had the time and this blog could hold the 1500+ pictures we took, but I can't, so I am putting my favorites on here for now. Hopefully as days progress and time allows, I will get pictures added of the wonderful friends that joined us. We certainly had an absolutely fabulous group of folks that went. Not a one of them complained or caused any problems. Little Lincoln was an "extra-special" joy to all the group. No baby could have been better! His continual smiles brought smiles from all the group -- as well as anyone who passed by.

I want to first and foremost thank you, Lord, for so many answered prayers -- for safe travels for all, for gorgeous weather, for health and safety, for such a sweet spirit among the group, for new friendships and renewing old friendships, for the special times Jeff & I had with Andy, Rachel and Derek and Kaye and Rob and their family and for making Yourself so real to us!

Thank you, Lord for blessing me so abundantly!

Brief descriptions of the pictures (click on any of them to see in larger format):

Our entire group, plus tour guide, David, and bus driver Haled at Nimrod's Fortress:

Our family on an original street that Jesus would have walked in Jerusalem:

Sea of Galilee in the background
























On our boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, our guide had Kaye read the Scripture where it talks about grandchildren being a blessing.










Several of our group were baptized in the Jordan River as a statement of rededication

Rachel & Derek

Our tour guide, David Aarons and Lincoln

Lincoln in a sycamore tree

One of the most memorable experiences was in the Garden of Gethsemane. Andy delivered a powerful devotional and then we each had an opportunity to spend time in prayer. I will never forget it!

A really "fun" experience was riding a camel!! WOW - never thought I would get to do that!

Lincoln is sporting his "tammult" hat (look closely--it is also called a "yarmulke")

The boys swimming in the beautiful springs at Ein Gedei where David and his men swam when hiding from King Saul

Miscellaneous pictures

Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee

6:40 a.m.

An Amazing Journey Continued

Sometimes, this blogging can be so very frustrating! I tried to edit the posting above and created a mess! So I had to delete some of the pictures and their descriptions, so will create a new one with that same information.

This is our family at the entrance of the Garden Tomb (where Jesus was buried)

This is Jeff speaking at Gordon's Calvary asking us if we are truly thankful for what Christ did for us on that cruel cross!

This is Jeff and Andy in front of Golgotha (Gordon's Calvary) where Jesus was crucified

Here we are at the opening to the tomb where they believe Jesus was laid

Jeff spoke after our time at Golgotha and then at the tomb and Wilda led us in "Hallelujah to the Lamb" and "How Great is Our God"

Our Fellow Holy Land Pilgrims

There were 39 of us who traveled together to Israel from 4 states.

Three from Kansas City:
Mike, Adrienne and Lincoln Goering
This picture was taken at the site of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem
(it has been preserved within the structure of a church)

There were 7 from Red Oak, Texas:

Bill & Maxine Finch; Kimberly and Pat Moore, Bev Brown, Glenda Phillips and Brian Smith

Jeff & I joined our Texas friends for this picture. Kim & Bev are holding a Waxahachie Daily Light Newspaper.

There were 14 from Springhill Baptist Church, Greenbrier, Arkansas:

Steve Crawley, Bobby Gilmore, Jerry Clifton, Robert Jones, JB Mills, David & Sue Johnson, Bob & Mae Ellen Williams, Ed & Sandra Bradberry, Sheila and son Jason Snowden and Glenda Sims.

There were 9 from Conway:

Rob & Kaye Harkness, Keith & Wilda Head, Matt DeMott, Kristin Solberg, Joyce Rossi and Derek & Rachel Cox

There were 3 from NW Arkansas:

Jeff & Debbie Swart and Andy Swart

The picture above was all the Arkansas people combined

And there were 3 guys from Mississippi:

Eugene Anderson, Ken Riley and Scott Strickland

Again--let me brag on what a wonderful group you were to travel with! I feel certain we will share sweet friendships for many, many years as a result of our time together on this trip.

Important Sites and Fun Shots

JERUSALEM

"DOWN THE VIA DOLOROSA"

The traditional route that Jeus walked from Pilate's Judgement Hall to Calvary

We saw so many, many things that I'm still trying to digest it all. Rachel wore a pedometer during our tours and it clocked in at 57+ miles! WOW - that's a lot of walking.












Here is a picture of the Western Wall or more commonly called the Wailing Wall. This is where the Jews come to pray. These are the actual stones from a wall that Herod the Great built around the second Temple in 20 B.C. The cracks between the bricks are filled with written prayers. Our group had an opportunity to also go to the wall and pray and place our written prayers in the cracks. This wall is the outer wall of the Temple area and is as close as the Jews can get, since the rest of the area belongs to the Moslems. The Western Wall can be seen on the Nightly News often. As Americans, we call it the "Wailing Wall" because the Jews often weep at this wall, mourning the destruction of the Temple and asking God to rebuild the Temple. It is divided into two prayer areas: 2/3rd of the area is reserved for men and the remaining 1/3rd for women.



This is the Eastern Gate (of the same Temple area). The Eastern Gate was sealed by the Moslems during the Turkish occupation of Jerusalem because Christians and Jews alike expect the Messiah to return to the Temple Mount through this gate as the Prince of Peace. How foolish to think that brick and mortar will stop our Lord from returning!!






This is the Dome of the Rock -- that stands in the center of the Temple area. Jews are not allowed here as this is owned by the Moslems. We were allowed in the area, but not allowed within the building. Jeff did get to go inside last time he was there, so he was disappointed we couldn't see it. He said it is a beautiful structure. They claim that 100,00 gold dinar coins were melted down and cast on the dome's exterior. Under the Dome is a large outcropping of rock. Jews believe that Abraham offered Issac to Yahweh on this rock.





This was a really cool thing. It was a large model of the city of Jerusalem. It helped so much to visualize what the city originally looked like in biblical times.






Overlooking the Plains of Esraelon, where we read in Revelation that the Battle of Armageddon will take place. The Scriptures teach that blood shed in this Battle will flow as high as a horse's bridle for 180 miles. It was very moving to look at that Valley and try to picture such a scene!





In the background is Cave 4 at Qumran where the majority of the Dead Seas Scrolls were found in 1947. This was the greatest archaeological discovery of the 20th Century.






Keith & Wilda at Masada. This was a very interesting site to visit. We had to ride in a cable car to the top of the mountain. Masada has a lot of history. There has even been a couple of movies made about it. Hundreds of Jews died at their own hands rather than by the hands of the Romans who were beseiging them. Today, Masada is a national shrine in the nation of Israel. It signifies the stand of a few against many--the weak against the strong.




Bill Finch is blowing the "horn" at Jericho -- as Joshua and his men did the day the walls fell!








Some Fun Shots:




Arabian Keith









Sue Johnson -- our resident collector of rocks and artificats. This girl has the "eye" -- she could find the most unusual things!! I think David had to buy two extra suitcases to get all her finds back to Greenbrier! Wonder what those customs agents thought of a suitcase full of rocks??? Sue added much fun and laughter to our trip!!







Brian Smith -- several of us with family were taking "family" pictures. Since Brian was alone -- he is pretending in this picture that Kellye and baby Addison is standing with him! He did miss you Kellye and Addison!! Thank you, though, for sharing him with us!