Bethlehem and the Old city of Jerusalem

Our itinerary has been changing and changing. We ended up going back to Bethlehem again yesterday. In the morning we were at Mt of Olives and Garden of Gethsemane but it was absolutely pouring!! So we went to the church of the nativity and the Shepherds fields. It took an hour or more to get into the grotto, some days it can take 3-6 hours. So ornate but very devoted Catholics. The shepherds field church was more my style, quiet and contemplative. We sang some Christmas songs in there, our group has great harmonies. Today's itinerary changed too as we went to the museum--Jerusalem model and Shrine of the book. St. Anne's was closed but we got to the praetorium and church of the holy sepulchre. Again a big zoo with people worshipping supposed places touched by Jesus rather than Jesus, as it seemed to me. Later we went to the Jerusalem prayer Center, no old history here but a place of quiet contemplation to focus on all we've seen and heard. This evening we heard from a Palestinian evangelical pastor which brought many of us to tears. It's been a wonderful day!!