Farewell to Seven and Prayers for One

The Israel-West Bank portion of our trip is over. Tonight we bid farewell to two of our Florida travelers who are heading on to Egypt. Two more from Florida and three from NC return to the US as well. We have made lasting friends. Though we didn’t know most of them when we began, now they are “family.” Traveling together on a small portion of life’s journey can be a powerfully bonding experience.

Apart from walking many miles together, we share in prayers for one of our number. The tour host from Florida traveling with the four, was called back to the US early in the trip because her husband had been hospitalized. Along the way we were informed that the situation is dire. Her husband had had a stroke as a likely result of brain cancer and his remaining days are limited. So we prayed and we pray for her and her husband and family at this difficult time.

Dear Jesus (2007)

Nazareth was hard for me
Until I saw a young boy
Swinging in a field
And imagined him to be you
Playing there as a child

Bethlehem was beautiful
With purple and red bougainvillea
And colors of sunset,
But the moon was full
As we entered Cana
Where Mary hosted a party
And you changed water into wine
People still come to Cana for weddings
And to renew their vows.

—Becca

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Please!

The Garden Tomb

In a site just a few blocks from the Damascus Gate just outside the Old City is another place regarded as the crucifixion and burial site for Jesus. Discovered within the last 150 years this location is a pilgrimage destination for Christians worldwide. The rock cliff overlooking a bustling bus station looks remarkably like a skull. Excavations later revealed the existence of a garden and tomb of a rich man from the first century in Jesus’ time. Was it here or there? It doesn’t matter, really. For a sign on the door to the empty tomb says it. “He is not here. He is risen.”

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

This church dates back to the 4th century and today is shared by Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox. It is considered by many Christians to be the holiest place in Christendom — containing both the hill of Golgotha where Jesus was buried and the tomb where he was buried. Candles and icons surround the site of Jesus’ crucifixion. Behind the Orthodox tomb of Jesus is a chamber that some believe is a more credible location for his burial.

The Old City of Jerusalem

Traveling through the Old City of Jerusalem you are met by a cacophony of sights and sounds. Merchants ply their goods in every scrap of space. As in any crowed city you have to watch out for pickpockets but otherwise we roamed (and shopped!) the streets in safety. One of our travelers even gets up early each morning and comes here for a start-of-the-day walk.

The Pool at Bethesda

Next to the Temple Mount huge cisterns collected water for Jerusalem and provided medicinal baths. John 5:1-18 tells of a man waiting to be healed there but he had no one to place him in the waters. Jesus told him to “take up his mat and walk” and he did.