Shalom to all my dear friends who have been waiting patiently for this page to be completed. I hope you all find it was worth waiting for. This page is my journal, plain and simple. Just CLICK ON THE HIGHLIGHTED WORDS and you will see pictures along with historical and scriptural references. Or I may even give definitions to words that may be unfamiliar to you. There will be some pictures that I had to get from some books that I have here at home as I was either unable to get a good shot of the place or the picture itself wasn't suitable. It was a marvelous trip and I hope I can bring it to as much life to you as it was to me. ENJOY!

Well here we are in Israel. My dream come true. I can't believe it except for the fact that as I pen this Frank has the remote (old habits never die) and the people on the TV are speaking in Hebrew. However, there are only 2 channels on this TV so I guess Frank won't be surfing too much.

Our flight to Frankfurt out of Dallas was delayed one hour due to trouble with the air conditioning and alack and alas no 747. It was a 9 hr. flight to Frankfurt after a 3 1/2 hr. flight from Seattle to Dallas. Then another 4 hr. flight from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv. But we got to meet Zola Levitts at the Dallas Airport plus some of the other members and staff of our tour. They are all such great people.

The first thing you see as you depart the plane is the sign at Ben Gurion Airport. In English on the left: "Welcome to Israel" and in Hebrew on the right: "Bruchim Habaim Le Israel" - Blessed is he who comes to Israel. The feeling of holiness begins the minute you touch the ground.

After claiming our baggage and going through customs, which was a breeze, we boarded our tour bus for another 3 hour trip to Tiberias.

The hotel was the Tiberias Caesar on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. After we got our key we went to our room and awaited the bellhop to bring up our bags. There we walked out onto the balcony overlooking the Sea of Galilee. I took a picture of it and also of the city behind me as I leaned over the railing. Frank almost had heart failure as I leaned over and I told him that I really didn't think the Lord brought me to Israel so I could fall 9 floors to my death.

Next we went down to a fantastic meal prepared for us. Everything was superb. EXCEPT for this interesting concoction I DARED to try. The next thing I knew I was trying to get it out of my mouth discretely without spitting it onto my plate. There was no such thing as a paper napkin in sight and I was on fire. Without getting into too much detail I managed really well and no one saw me. :o) Another interesting detail to note here. NO MILK! It goes back to the laws of God in the Old Testament. "Ye shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself: thou shalt not give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk." (Deut. 14: 21 KJV) So no milk is served when meat is present in the meal. Not even cream for your coffee. Only at breakfast was milk served but then there was never any meat at breakfast. So all of our meals were totally kosher except for one which I will explain a little later in detail.

After dinner Frank and I went for a walk down to the shores of Galilee. We sat on the wall and watched the tour boats go out on the water and listened to the music. There was a warm wonderful breeze. We stopped at a few stalls in the market place on the way back to our room and I bought some postcards and Frank bought a baseball cap which says "Israeli Army" on it. Soon we were back in our room - very tired from our flight and needing much rest. Tomorrow actually starts our tour. When we returned to our room there was a message from Arie, a friend I had met on the internet and who lives here in Israel. So I called him and we spoke for a while making an appointment to meet Wednesday evening for dinner. It was so nice to be greeted by friends.

On a more personal note: When I first saw the sign at the airport I realized that I am blessed and so thankful to God for answering my prayer to come to Israel and everywhere I look I find myself wondering "Did Jesus walk here?" I know that I will visit places where He has been but what about the places He was that were not recorded in the Bible. I look out on the Sea of Galilee and see where the sun rises and sets everyday and that this is where my Lord calmed the storm and walked on the water. Where Peter started to sink when he took his eyes off the Lord. How often have I done the same thing and taken my eyes off Him in the course of a single day. But by the grace of God He picks me up, just as He did to Peter.
So ends our first day in Israel.

Well Frank fell in the shower this morning bumping his head on the wall. Nothing serious. Just a small egg on his forehead. I wonder if the Lord is trying to knock some sense in. :o) Sorry - just a thought. Had a great breakfast and COFFEE - WITH CREAM. :o) You ought to see the spread they lay out. Unbelievable! How does salad sound with breakfast? Yup - that's included. But the tomatoes are undescribably delicious. Haven't had any that good in years. Then we went back to our room to slap on the old sunscreen and then off to the praise and worship service. It was based on Luke 4:18,19. Now off we go to get on our tour bus and YIKES - it's only 7:15 AM.

First we passed through the town of Cana where the Lord performed His first miracle - turning water into wine. Now it is greatly occupied by the Arabs. But here they seem to get along well with their Israeli neighbors.Then through Nazareth on our way to Megiddo. We passed a spot where we could overlook the whole town and reflect on what it was like when the Lord lived here helping his father in the carpenter shop, learning his father's trade, eating meals with His family, playing with His friends. Speaking to and worshipping His Father. Here He was rejected by His own people and they tried to push Him off a cliff.

Next we traveled on to Megiddo. Boy what a workout! The climb was painful. We saw the archeological sites and stood in what was Solomon's Palace. We saw the grain silos and water springs. It's awesome when you stop to think that these people were able to perform such incredible feats in building these structures. We descended into the water shaft. This was where the Romans finally got through. When we ascended out of the shaft I thought I was going to collapse. The climb was excruciatingly painful on the legs. Finally at the top we looked down on the Valley of Jezreel where the final battle is to be fought. "The Battle of Armegiddon" There is a building at Megiddo that houses a model of what the top looked like during Solomon's time. As we waited for our turn to view it we noticed a group of children there on a school trip from a Kibutz. With them were two men carrying guns. Our guide told us later that it was common to see children protected this way as they were a target for terrorists. One man leads and another follows in the rear.

Next we drove to the Mediterranean Sea at Caesarea and saw a Roman aquaduct. I collected shells on the beach and waded in the water. It was cool for the day was hot. As for the heat - it is nothing like in the States. It is very dry and hardly any humidity at all, so was far more bearable. But you must drink plenty of water, as you could dehydrate very easily.

Lastly we drove to the Jordan river and this was the highlight of the day. Frank and I were baptized in the same river that our Lord was baptized. What a wonderful experience. I think I was the happiest person in the world at that moment. I just can't explain the joy in my heart I was feeling. Maybe you'll get some idea when you view the picture. After the baptism Frank and I dressed and as others from our group were still being baptized I got some bottles and filled them with water from the river to bring home for loved ones. One of the things I noticed was that after I came out of the water I was so refreshed. It had been a very hard day. Frank and I were exhausted from the walking and climbing and the heat. No shower and a good nights rest could have relaxed us as much as that water did. Our guide told us that some people have claimed to be healed from whatever their ailments were at the time they were baptized in the Jordan river and they weren't even expecting that to happen. Anyway, we both felt that we could start the whole day over again with no problem.

Another personal note: I am in awe of that which I have already seen and am anticipating that which is still ahead of me. The Bible is coming alive right in front of my eyes. I only wish there was more time to be by ourselves at each stop to think about it and reflect on what happened there. Of course we do it at the end of the day when we are back in our hotel rooms but not as I would like to do at the spot we are at. End of day 2.

We awoke early and walked down to the sea again and then returned for breakfast. How I love breakfast. It's the only time I have coffee as I can't drink it without cream. Note: Frank bumped his head on the towel rack in the shower this morning. Hmmmmmm! :o) Had prayer and worship service and then boarded a Jesus boat to cross the Sea of Galilee. These boats are replicas of the fishing boats used in Jesus' day. Only now they have a canopy on them and motors. As we crossed the sea the captain raised the American flag and played the Star Spangled Banner (America's National Anthem for those who are reading this from another country). It brought a tear to our eyes. When our boat approached the middle of the sea it joined two other Jesus boats and as we were side by side Zola preached about the things that occurred on the Sea of Galilee concerning our Lord. The crew were Galileans, and they demonstrated how the fishermen cast their nets during Christ's Time. I guess some of them still fish that way to this day. After Zola's sermon we continued on to the other side and departed the boat at a kibutz - if I'm not mistaken it was called "Nof Ginossar". Here is where they are preserving a boat that was discovered dating back to the first century. It is not ready yet for public display because it is still going through a drying process that takes years and much work. Click here for more information on the boat.

Our tour bus drove around the Sea of Galilee as we were going across by boat and was waiting there for us, so we boarded and drove on to Capernaum. Jesus spent a lot of time here and this is where Peter lived. The Lord also preached in the temple here. The ruins of the temple that are here was built during the Byzantine era and is directly over the ruins of the temple where Jesus preached. They also have unearthed the ruins of what they believe to have been Peter's home. There is a church built above it now. It was amazing how small these homes were. It is an eye opening experience to see the contrast between them and todays homes. We have come a long way in technology but I am not sure in which direction - probably the wrong way. We need our space and we fill our homes with earthly possessions. How would we survive in their day? Take away 95% of our possessions, our phone, electricity and running water and we live in one or two rooms. Got the picture? This was no weekend camping trip. This was every day life.

Next we went to the Mount of the Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. First let me get the story straight. How many of you have seen the movie "The King of Kings"? It's all wrong. It shows Jesus preaching the sermon from the top and he walks down the hill through the crowd. This would never have worked. This area is on the shores of Galilee and it forms a perfect amphitheater. The breeze from the sea sweeps through the valley and up the mountain. If Christ were on the top, no one would have been able to hear except for those close to Him as His voice would have been swept away in the breeze. However anyone speaking from the bottom could be heard all the way to the top. This was shown to us as one of the guides went to the bottom and spoke in a normal voice and we heard him as clear as a bell from where we stood on top. I started to cry as I heard the beatitudes spoken in Hebrew coming up the mountainside. All you had to do was close your eyes and Jesus was there speaking to you. I praise and thank God for this experience. This was the highlight of this day.

Next we went to the Golan Heights. Our guide told us about a Israeli spy (Sorry - I can't remember his name) who was told by the Syrians that they could not find any of the Israeli guns. He informed them that the Israelis' hid their guns under the Eucalyptus trees. The next day the Syrians bombed every Eucalyptus tree on the Golan Heights. Which explains why there isn't a single Eucalyptus tree there today. No trees, but no guns either. They never hit a single gun. Along the Golan Heights separating Israel from Syria is a double fence leading down the mountain. Between the two fences are land mines. As we traveled down the mountain which was as crooked as a snake we saw bunkers where the Syrians used to shoot the Israelis as they traveled the road. There was one on every curve and sometimes in between. Our guide also showed us a spot on the Golan Heights that was very interesting and something you never heard about on CNN News. There is a place at the fence where a Syrian mother, out of desperation, brought her sick baby to an Israeli soldier. One of the guards took the baby to the medic and the baby was treated, then brought back to the mother. The next day there were many mothers there at the fence and the Israeli medic started treating them from that day on. That spot became known as the "Friendly Fence".

We returned to the hotel and showered and changed. This was the evening we were to meet Arie and his wife Tami. Arie is the friend I mentioned earlier that I met on the internet. They arrived promptly at 7:30 and we then went to dinner not far from our hotel. We got a lady at the restaurant to take our picture. We exchanged gifts and had a wonderful time. They are both great people. After dinner we took a walk and later stopped for coffee at a coffee shop which was outside on a pier on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. As what usually happens, soon us woman were chatting woman things as the men chatted men things. Tami is a beautiful lady and I enjoyed talking to her very much. Arie has a website on the internet that I would really like you to visit. He is having children from all over the world draw pictures of what they perceive peace to be and he puts the pictures up on the internet. He has a goal and maybe you can help him reach that goal. All too soon it was 11:00 PM and Arie and his wife had to return home, as his mother was watching their son. Again with the tears. This was a very emotional trip for me. We hope to see Arie and his wife Tami again some day. Maybe he will be coming to the United States and we will get to show them the sights. He has told us that the next time we go to Israel he will be our own personal tour guide. I'm looking forward to that. Frank and I went back to our hotel room and we were so keyed up that we sat up until 3:00 AM talking about the things we had seen and our visit with Arie and Tami.

Oh no! 6:00 wake up call. I believe this is going to be a long day. :o(
Our first stop today was to plant trees for the peace of Israel. I planted my tree in my grandson Nate's name and prayed for all those who had lost their life to obtain peace for Israel.

On to the Montfort Fortress built by the Crusaders. Here I learned an interesting bit of information I had not known before. Although the Crusaders started out on their quest with good intentions to free Israel from Turkish rule, by the time they had reached Israel they slaughtered everyone they came in contact with. Muslims and Jews alike. They slaughtered women and children also. To this day that is why they detest the cross which is a symbol of Christianity. Here there were ruins of Jewish homes and we saw a mikvah which is a place where the ancient Hebrews ceremoniously bathed. There was also a pagan amphitheater here which was very upsetting to the Hebrews.

From here we went to Biet She'an where Saul and Jonathan were slain. Then on to the Jordan Valley, stopping in Jericho and saw Palestinian and Israeli flags but am a little foggy on the significance as I was half asleep. Traveling along the West Bank we proceeded on to Jerusalem. It was a long trip and I caught up on some of the lost sleep from the night before. One of the interesting things I did happen to wake up for was passing a Bedouin camp. They still live in tents just as in the time of Jesus. They even still ride camels and tend sheep and goats.

Well, here we are in the holy city of Jerusalem. I am so tired that I ache all over. Frank and I are a little picky with each other but both understanding as well of our exhaustion. I guess staying up until 3:00 AM is out of the question tonight. After dinner this evening we had a guest speaker. The author of "The Science of God", Dr. Gerald Schroeder. He gave a very interesting talk on the time of creation and science. After his long study on the difference in time - 6 days in the Bible and millions of years according to scientists - he has figured out that they are one and the same. It is very hard for me to explain mathematically how he discovered this.

Another day and today Frank got his hand caught in an elevator for a minute while he was trying to stop it from closing and then it started to bleed a little. After he got it out of course. I'm really getting suspicious now. I wonder if God is working or Frank is beating himself up. :o) Another great day. Today we went to the old city of Jerusalem. I saw the Wailing Wall but we were too far to get a good shot of it. First we went to an archeological lecture. It was rather interesting and the woman gave us the 3000 year old history of Jerusalem in about 3 minutes. Saw some interesting slides of the different eras from the first Temple period to the present day. Then we viewed the Wall surrounding the city on the eastern side.

Next we went to the Yad Vashen, the Holocaust Museum. First we toured the inside of the museum and then we went into the memorial and all the men had to wear a hat and there was total silence. Imbedded into the floor were plaques with the name of the different concentration camps on each one with the total number of Jews that were put to death there. In the center was an eternal flame. Then we went into the memorial for the children that were put to death. There were 1,500,000 children that died in concentration camps during the holocaust. In the center in the floor are 5 candles and on the walls and ceiling were hundreds of mirrors. So these five candles are multiplied in the reflection in the mirrors making it look like millions of stars. This is to represent God's covenant with Abraham. "That in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." Gen. 22: 17,18 Outside the museum there are trees planted in honor of every person who helped the Jews during this time. We saw the one that was planted for Oskar Schindler.

From here we went to view a panoramic view of Jerusalem. It is a very beautiful city. Then we went to view a model of Jerusalem in the days of Jesus. It is outside and simply huge. You'll see what I mean from the pictures. Now back to the hotel for supper and a good nights rest.

The sunrise was spendid today. The days in Jerusalem are fantastic, but the nights are chilly. The city is 2,500 feet above sea level. Very different here than in the north in Tiberias. Off we went again after breakfast for another day of sightseeing. Today we went up to the Mount of Olives. This is the place were the Lord is to return when He comes to rule. There are two churches up here: One is catholic and the other is Greek Orthodox. Both claim that their church is on the exact spot where He will place His foot. Knowing the Lord, He will probably come between the two. There is a beautiful view of the city from here and the cemetery is just below us and to the right and left. We sang a song to Jerusalem which was a blessing that we made on the city.

Now on to the Garden of Gethsemane. This is where our Lord went with His disciples to pray and where He was betrayed by Judas Ascariot and arrested. Although all the trees here are relatively new there is one that predates Jesus. It is a very small garden and this could be the very tree He prayed under or the one under which the disciples fell asleep. But there is no way of knowing for sure.

Next we went to the Garden Tomb where it is believed that our Lord was buried and arose from the dead. We went in and I was so awestroke by the place. It's very small inside and all stone, as it was carved out of the mountain. It is just below Golgotha; the place where Christ was crucified. After we came out of the tomb we had communion right outside and Zola gave a wonderful sermon. He compared the Lord's return for His bride with the ancient Hebrew wedding ceremony. This was the highlight and the end of a perfect day.

Another great day! But unfortunately it's drawing to an end all to soon. Just a couple more days and we're going home. How can that be? I am home! Our first stop was Masada. Here I have to admit I passed on this one. Not that I wasn't interested but I took one look at the climb and decided that this one I would let Frank handle. There is a cable that goes part way up - but there is still some distance to climb. When Frank came back he told me that I could have made it, but too late now. Masada is where the Hebrew Zealots fled from the Romans in 66 A.D. If your interested in the detailed story of Masada then I recommend a book called "The Jewish War" by Josephus.

Next we went to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. In 1947 a shepherd boy was tending his flock when one of the goats fell through a hole in the top of the cave. Leaving his flock he went after the one. Now that's scripture come alive for you. However when he went into the cave after the goat he found these ancient jars filled with scrolls and brought them home. More on this story in the picture section. Ummmmm - I would like to mention here that Frank slightly twisted his ankle on one of the steps. OK - I'm not saying another word. :o)

Now on to the Dead Sea. WOW! Human corks all over the place. The Dead Sea is 75% salt. You have to go into the water slowly and after you go in so far your legs come out from under you. You can not drown in the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the lowest place on the surface of the earth, over 1200 feet below sea level. As a result, there is more oxygen in the air. Every time that we breathe in, we take in more oxygen than usual. The blood circulating around our body becomes richer in oxygen and more oxygen reaches the brain - we feel so much better - more relaxed and more alive at the same time. As a matter of fact - I'm still feeling relaxed. :o) The salts in the Dead Sea have a high bromide content - bromide is a sedative - but it is in Sea, not in the air. This is one of the main reasons for all the Health Clinics alongside the Dead Sea. The high oxygen content of the air also acts as a uv filter stopping people getting sunburnt. I watched while some people slapped on some black mud and then went into the water. It's supposed to be very good for the skin. Well I'd have to be assured that I was going to get a whole new body when I got out, so passed on the mud. Actually I didn't even go in the water. The Dead Sea has many minerals in it and cosmetics are made from them, among other things. I brought some home with me. I'll let all you ladies know how they work. I've kept the address - just in case a miracle occurs. :o) One thing you should know if you ever plan to go to Israel and take a dip in the Dead Sea. Do not shave that day. You'll be out of that water in a flash. You also do not SWIM or splash in the water as you could get the water in your's or someone else's eyes. Just relax and float.

Back at the hotel and rest. After a good rest we had a speaker. David Bar Illan - the Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister. He gave an excellent talk on the Peace Process. He explained why Israel can not give land to the Palestinians when they will not abide by a single one of the terms of the agreement. He said that the whole world watches Israel and the news media is not fair in their reporting.

OK - we've been let loose into the streets of Jerusalem for the evening. What do my eyes see - an OASIS right on Ben Yehudah street. McDONALD'S!!!!! A stampede occured as we all tried to get in the door at once. Where's the cheeseburgers? Milkshakes? Fries? Heh - I'll even settle for a Happy Meal. McDonald's is a non-kosher restaurant. Cheese is a milk product and meat and milk don't go together, remember? There is a restaurant here called Mc'David's that is kosher. I heard it was Israel's answer to Mc'Donald's. Also Mc'Donald's sued them and I don't know how that story ended but there is still a chain of them operating so I guess it worked out in Mc'David's favor. They even have the golden arches, except that they are upside down. There is also a Burger King, Pizza Hut and a Dunkin Donuts. Before we went back to the hotel I got a falafel to take back with me. It is Israel's national food. It's a sandwich in pita bread with lettuce and tomatoes with some kind of a paste on the bottom. It has little meatballs made from chickpeas. I'm not sure that I liked it, but I was not getting out of Israel without trying one.

From here we wandered around in all the shops along the street. What beautiful things they have. I was able to get myself a gold ring with Shalom envaged on it. Things are a little pricey but you can bargain with the shopkeepers, so it isn't too bad. I got a shirt for my son that the proprietor wanted $70 American for. Or approximately 210 shekels. Got him down to $35. At 10:00 PM we made our way back to the hotel. Tomorrow is our last day. :o(

Today we went to the Wailing Wall. We were able to pray at the Wall, and for all of you that sent your prayers we placed them in the cracks in the Wall for you at this time. I also prayed for those who were unable to send them, but I'm sure would have liked them said. The women and men pray in separate sections so Frank and I went our separate ways. After our prayers were said Frank and I were able to watch a young Jewish boys Bar Mitzvah. As we were standing there an Jewish man approached Frank and placed his hand on his shoulder and blessed him and then asked if he had children and grandchildren. Then prayed a blessing upon them as well. Frank was very touched and honored by this.

From here we went to the Dome of the Rock Mosque which is on the top of Mount Moriah just above the Wailing Wall. This is where Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice to God. If the Muslims catch Christians or Jews praying here they stop you. But they can't hear silent prayers for their salvation! :o) We went inside the Dome after removing our shoes. It is so beautiful! I can't image how long it must have taken to lay the millions of tiles that completely cover the walls and ceiling. They also cover the outside of the Mosque. Inside you see the very top of Mount Moriah which is surrounded by a fencelike enclosure. Outside the Mosque we saw Israeli soldiers. A few years ago some Arabs dropped stones from above onto the Jews who were praying at the Wailing Wall. Since that time there have been soldiers there. Also noticed that there were soldiers down at the bottom and in the evening the guard is tripled. We also saw some female soldiers. In Israel, all the men and women who are able, are automatically in the service when they reach the age of 18. The women for 18 months and the men for 3 years.

Next we went to the Temple Institute. This was very interesting indeed. Here they are studying the scriptures and making the articles for the Third Temple exactly to God's specifications in the Old Testiment. We were able to view some of the things already finished. Some of them were the lampstands and the High Priests breastplate. The lampstands were as tall as a man.

Now we walked the Via Dolorosa. It is a very narrow steep street and in some places lined with shops selling souvenirs. This is, of course, the way that Christ traveled carrying His cross to Calvary. Via Dolorosa is latin for "The Way of Sorrows." Unfortunately we did not go all the way. I really do wish that we had.

Next we did a little shopping and then went back to our hotel for dinner. Tonight we are going on our last tour. I am saddened by this. I will hate to leave this land.

After dinner we went into the old city again and toured the Herodian Tunnel. This is where they have excavated down to the level of the time of Christ. At one point I was actually standing on the stone street that our Lord stood. I got goosebumps! At one place in the tunnel there is a place where an archeologist reached the wall of the temple and this is called the "Warren Arch" after the archeologist Charles Warren. Interesting note here: My husbands name is Frank Charles Warren and this arch is the closest arch to the temples Holy of Holies. Another thrill for Frank!

Well that is the end of the tour my dear friends. The next day we flew to Frankfurt where we spent the night at the Queens Hotel and then boarded our planes back to the United States. I came to Israel thinking I was going to lose my heart when in reality I found it.

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