Final post

It's already a whole week since we've been home.  After a year and a half planning, that's hard to believe. People have asked me what's the main highlight and that's so difficult to answer, for more reasons than one.  I could mention Petra and riding the camel, all the many ruins from various Biblical ages that were seen.  Standing in the Red Sea, the Jordan River, the Dead Sea, the Mediterranean and the Sea if Galilee. Many churches that are placed on holy --if not here than near--sites.  Time in Bethlehem, Nazareth and many places where Jesus would have walked. Roaming through the streets of the old city in Jerusalem.  But it was so much more than all of this..although all of this was good.

This was a spiritual journey more than a simple vacation. Christian believers, many who didn't know each other before, were brought together and in short order we felt like a family.  We lived, ate travelled, shared each others woes and worshipped together. I think it was those worship times that brought us together and made us feel like a family that was my highlight. Devotionals by Lorin and worship singing with Wes, done in an old synagogue, by the shores of the Jordan River, on a boat on the Sea of Galilee, on Mount Carmel, in the Valley of Elah where David fought Goliath, on the Mount of Olives, and at the Garden Tomb where we shared communion.  For my non believing friends and family it will be hard for you to understand how these could be highlights, but these times brought together my faith with the places we were visiting.The theme of the trip was exploring land and soul, and as we explored the land it opened up my soul to see more of what my faith means to me. I will be forever changed simply by now being able to visualize all these places mentioned on Sunday sermons and Bible studies.

Next year in Jerusalem!!