Day 9 - It Is Finished

Another early start.  On the bus by 07:30 AM because we were headed to the Temple Mount and there is always a line to get through security.  The early bird catches the worm and all that.

The Dome of the Rock

The Temple Mount, known to Muslims as the Haram esh-Sharif, a hill located in the Old City of Jerusalem, is one of the most important religious sites in the world. It is dominated by the easily recognized Dome of the Rock. Currently it can be reached through eleven gates, ten reserved for Muslims and one for non-Muslims, with guard posts of Israeli police in the vicinity of each.  Trust me, the security is tight.

The Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism because they regard it as the place where God's divine presence is manifested more than in any other place and was the site for the first and second temples built by Solomon and Herod, respectively.

View through one of many archways

Moreover, the Temple Mount is located on Mount Moriah, the location of Abraham's binding of Isaac.

Among Sunni Muslims, the Mount is considered the third holiest site in Islam, the location of Muhammad's ascent to heaven. The Dome was completed in 692 CE, making it one of the oldest Islamic structures in the world.

Whew, enough background.  Let's talk about the experience.

Tight security and bag checks getting in.  Also, no bibles are permitted.  Women must cover their shoulders and arms down below the elbows and be

covered up to their neck.  There can be no touching of men and women while on the Temple Mount and they are definitely watching for this.  I saw one foreign couple taking a picture together with their arms around each other and someone came up and threatened to kick them out.

Apparently there is no removal or picking up of anything from the area either.  A member of our group (no names to protect the guilty) picked something up (small rock or leaf, not sure) and security confronted this person and made them drop it.

Near the end of our time on the Mount we saw a near riot.  On the way to the Temple Mount we passed some Jewish people, mostly younger, singing pro-Israel songs on the path up to the Temple

Israeli's with security on the Temple Mount

Mount after security but before entering the Temple Mount (where it is forbidden for the Jews to sing).  They were quite loud and stirred up and Hela said they were trying to incite the Palestinians.  Well, this group made it up to the Mount and had a large security escort surrounding them.  As we were leaving the area we saw an Imam with other Muslims meeting the group.  It didn't seem friendly.  We left.

The peace here is tenuous.  There are both plainclothes security and uniformed security everywhere for a reason.

Anyway, the Temple Mount is a huge, mostly open area dominated by the Dome of the Rock.  We walked around it, took a ton of pictures,talked and secretly prayed for the peace of Jerusalem and then left through the northeast corner.

A short walk away was the Pool of Bethesda.  We read the passage in John where Jesus healed a man

Inside The Church of St. Anne

here and then we went into the nearby Church of St. Anne, a Roman Catholic church.

The Church of St. Anne was built between 1131 and 1138, is located at the beginning of the Via Dolorosa and has extraordinary acoustics.  Hela asked for "Find Us Faithful" again and I relented and sang the chorus for her.  The sound was phenomenal.  Not wanting to stop and also having an earlier conversation about the song "In Christ Alone", Kim and I led the group in that song as well.  It was another special moment.  At least I thought so until a choir group from Indonesia came up and sang for us.  That was simply amazing.  I haven't found any video yet of "In Christ Alone" but I do have video of the Indonesian group singing:

From here we started following the Via Dolorosa.  Contrary to what you might believe, this road is still used just like any other road in the Old City.  It has traffic.  It has shops.  It has people trying to sell you something all the time, and it has crowds of people.

Pilate's Judgement Hall

Our only stop on the Via Dolorosa was at Pilate's Judgement Hall or praetorium, located in the Antonia Fortress.  After so many years it is located slightly underground. (Sidenote - This is still confusing, Some stuff is buried and some is still on top.  What's up with that?)  I was sitting there on top of the stones where Jesus stood, where my Savior was scourged for me, where His blood flowed on the cold hard stones beneath my feet.  This location was the beginning of the end in one sense but in another it was the culmination of God's plan for His people's redemption.  I cannot help but think of another song, "I'm Doing This For You".

I stood there as they tried Him for crimes He hadn't done

No one else believed it, but I just knew He was the one

I slid back into the crowd, trying to go unseen

But when Pilot cried out, "Beat him", He pointed straight to me

My friends, they all cheered me as I took the whip in hand

Placing stripes upon the back of this guiltless Man

The way He turned and looked at me from my mind I can't erase

And I'll never forget the look on His face

He said, "I'm doing this for you

And I will still love you when you're through

I'm doing this for you"

Though it took me by surprise when I saw love in His eyes

He said, "I'm doing this for you"

We sang the first verse of "Nothing But the Blood" before leaving and returning to the Via Dolorosa.

Continuing downhill, we transitioned from the Muslim Quarter to the Jewish Quarter and came out

Via Dolorosa

near the Western Wall.  We climbed a bunch of stairs (Kim was thrilled) and ended up in the Hurva Square where the group split up to have lunch at various cafes and shops in the vicinity.

After lunch we left the Old City through the Zion Gate noticing the plethora of pock marks from bullets dating to the 1948 conflict.  We loaded up on the bus and headed to The Garden Tomb.

The Garden Tomb and nearby Skull Hill (Golgotha) are a more modern interpretation (19th century) of the likely location for the crucifixion and tomb.  The traditional site where the death and resurrection of Christ are believed to have occurred is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Not to get into the weeds here but it's hard to argue at least with Skull Hill being a likely location for the crucifixion.  Even now the hill looks like part of a skull and it's located near an ancient road and one of the gates to the Old City.  Looking at the hill, reading the scriptures, and singing "Wonderful Cross" was a very moving experience.

Old photo showing the Damascus Road in the foreground
and Skull Hill just left of center (find the 2 eyes)

Next, we moved to the nearby Garden Tomb.  It is only 100 yards or so away.  It's hard to say if this is "the" tomb but it is a typical tomb of the period including a channel at the entrance for a round stone.  We took turns going into the tomb.  It is indeed empty.

This area has some secluded areas for gathering and taking communion together.  We did that

Communion in the small chapel

although we barely fit into the small chapel building.  This group of people has been such a blessing on the trip, it was especially sweet to take communion together.  After communion we sang the first verse of "He Lives" and the first and last verse of "It Is Well".  Did I mention visiting Horatio Spafford's American Colony location and museum one night near our hotel and getting a copy of the original song handwritten by Horatio?  Argg.  Too much to write.

It felt like the conclusion of a great day but we had one more place to visit, the "City of David" and Hezekiah's Tunnel.

Hezekiah's Tunnel, also known as the Siloam Tunnel, is a water tunnel that was carved underneath

Going through Hezekiah's
Tunnel

the City of David in Jerusalem and dates from the reign of Hezekiah and corresponds to the waterworks mentioned in 2 Kings 20:20 in the Bible.  King Hezekiah prepared Jerusalem for an impending siege by the Assyrians by "blocking the source of the waters of the upper Gihon, and leading them straight down on the west to the City of David" (2 Chronicles 32).

The tunnel leads from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam and it still

Inscription in Hezekiah's Tunnel

flows with water.  It is open for anyone to walk through so about 24 of us did just that.  We donned water shoes and headlights and trekked through Hezekiah's Tunnel, a tunnel that was chipped and hacked out of the bedrock almost 3,000 years ago.

So that also was a great end to our adventure, although Kim might not agree.  That's for her to say.

But not quite the end.

After supper we all gathered in the hotel one last time.  Reggie spoke briefly and we shared highlights and surprises for the trip.  I shared some and then Kim and I sang one last song as a farewell to our friends, both old and new.  It was difficult to sing.  I wanted to look at my friends when singing but every time I looked at one they were crying and I can't cry and sing.  Not possible.  So we sang and hugged everyone and went to bed - a little sad but a lot full of love for our friends and the ties that bind and mostly for a God that loved us first and continues to love us no matter the broken road.

God be with you till we meet again

By His counsels guide uphold you

With His sheep securely fold you

God be with you till we meet again

God be with you till we meet again

'Neath His wings securely hide you

Daily manna still provide you

God be with you till we meet again

Till we meet, till we meet

Till we meet at Jesus' feet

Till we meet, till we meet

God be with you till we meet again

Sola gratia,

Randy

Thoughts on My Trip of a Lifetime

It's Saturday morning, April 1st, we've been home for 2 nights and jet lag is finally waning.  I went back to work yesterday morning as did Randy, and people keep asking me, "how was your trip?"  Such a simple question, but the answer, not simple at all.  I mean, this was no ordinary trip, it was , at least for us, the trip of a lifetime.  And...it wasn't just about traveling and seeing a new place, it was also a time for spiritual renewal and contemplation.  A time for focusing on our relationship with Christ and each other.  No, it was no ordinary trip, and Yes, it was indeed a life-changing experience.  I thought I might just give you some highlights of our time in Jordan and Israel. A woman's perspective on the culture and sights. Randy has done a great job of documenting our time over there, but I want to give you something a little different, perhaps a taste and look at the people and cultures we experienced.  I know many of you who are reading our blog will never have the opportunity to actually visit in person, but if you ever get the opportunity take it and go.  You will not be disappointed.  You will not be the same.

So, here's some random thoughts , enjoy:

1)  The food-OH my goodness, the food.  For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed our meals in both Jordan and Israel.  It was a little odd to see a salad bar spread for breakfast, though.  Most meals were served in the hotels we stayed in, except for lunches. It was buffet style, with bread, salad, hot entrees and desserts.  Salad bars were my favorite.  Fresh vegetables galore and of course, the staple of Israel and Jordan, HUMMUS.  Randy and I both love hummus, so it was part of every meal for us, well lunch and dinner.    The best hummus we had eaten.  Fresh peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, the oranges were phenomenal.  Native to Israel, the oranges were sweet, juicy and delish!  There was normally fish and chicken on the hot entree bar in some form or fashion.  Fried foods were very limited, barely any to speak of in fact.  Most meats were grilled, saute or roasted.  The chicken, however, was predominately dark meat, not really my cup of tea, so I stuck with mostly the salad bar.  The bread, though, OH MY, it was always good.  Thick, soft pita breads and lucious rolls of whole wheat, rye, and some white bread.  Delicious.  So, what about the desserts?  In my opinion, the desserts were very good in Israel, but Jordan desserts reminded me of what we had in Eastern Europe.  They look so yummy on the outside, but then you take that first bite,  it was like they forgot the sugar or something. Most, if not all the hotels we stayed in Israel were "kosher" serving hotels.  There was no milk, just soy, which did make the desserts a little different than what we are used to in the states, but Randy and I still managed to find PLENTY to eat and we didn't go hungry.

2) Safety & Security-I was asked many times, "Did you feel safe"?  Or, weren't you worried about security and safety?  Well, the answer is , Yes, I felt safe (except one time), and NO I wasn't worried about my safety.  I know where I'm spending eternity, I felt secure and safe the entire time we were in Jordan.  We did have a police officer who traveled with us, just in the event we were harrassed as American tourists, or whatever might come up, but I never felt "unsafe".  Would I travel to Jordan alone, NO, of course not, but being wise and traveling in a group was completely a safe choice.  Security in both Israel and Jordan are unbelievable compared to American security.  There were checkpoints throughout the countries, and even a metal detector/scanner in our hotel in Amman.  They take security very seriously which helps American tourists feel safe and at ease about visiting.  I was only nervous about my safety and my husbands safety when we were on top of the temple mount.  It is the most controversial spot in all of Israel and under Muslim control .  There were many, many armed guards, I'm talking MACHINE guns people, and countless other plain clothes guards that we didn't see.  Women were not allowed to have their knees, elbows, or necks uncovered nor were we allowed to touch our husbands or they us.  It was a little odd.  There happened to be a group of young jewish men on the temple mount the day they visited, and that made the uneasiness a little greater.  The Muslims don't want Jews on their HOly site, and these Jews were singing/chanting and doing whatever they could to incite a little ire in the Muslims that day.  Tensions were tight, and it was just a little uneasy for me, but, nothing happened, and that was an isolated event that was in fact a non-event.

3)Highlight of my trip-This is by far the most difficult question to answer.  I have thought and thought about this.  Honestly, the only way to answer this is to separate the question into parts.  Here goes, A)  Spiritually-The mountain top experience for me, spiritually, well, it's still hard to narrow it down to one.  Mt. Nebo, standing on the site where Moses was allowed to see the promised land, but not get to go to the promised land, wow, humbling.  The places Jesus walked, talked, etc., they were all amazing.  However, for myself, the Sea of Galilee was the mountaintop experience for me.  Riding on that boat, singing and worshipping on that boat in the middle of that Sea, that was the pinnacle.  There is absolutely no doubt Jesus was ON the Sea of Galilee.  It was mentioned so many times in the Bible and we know that he not only rode a boat on the Sea, but also walked on the water.  He taught all around it's shores, HIS footprints are all over that place.  That is what made the Biblical words fly off the page for me.  Reality hit me like a wave from the sea.  Yes, this was my highlight.  I loved the Sea of Galilee and I love thinking about Jesus sitting on that boat beside me teaching me about His word, His truth, Him!  I felt very close to Him especially in that place.  Some people in our group said that the trip helped the words of the Bible leap off the page in Technicolor.  I think that is an accurate description of me and my "Sea" top experience.

B)-  Personally-Again, not as easy as you might think.  Everything we saw, everywhere we went had a purpose, a reason for us to visit.  Whether it was Moses, Abraham, David, Saul, or Jesus and the disciples every place was significant.  For me in a personal way, not a braggadocios way in any manner, but personally, I LOVED singing in St. Anne's cathedral.  The acoustics were probably the best we've ever experienced, and the song, "In Christ Alone", one of my personal favorites, the words and tones reverberated around the chapel like nourishment to my body.  The sound and echos long resonate in my spirit.  Every hair on my body felt like it was standing on end, just an incredible experience.  Then, we had the pleasure of listening to a group from Indonesia sing How Great Thou Art, again, cold chills.  This was a true highlight and blessing for me from the trip.  I love music, I love to sing, I love the Lord, and it just all came together in a chorus of delight for me in the middle of that chapel.  WOW, AND WOW!!!!

C)-Most relaxing and low key spot-the Dead Sea.  What an experience and oh what memories.  The sea is so full of salt, flotation is not an option.  You float as soon as your body gets into the water about knee high.  My legs just went out from under me without any help.  It was so odd, but so neat at the same time.  The hardest part was laying still, not fighting the water so as to not splash any water in or near your eyes.  It was very dangerous to get into your eyes, or if you swallowed the water.  It was a great experience and I absolutely loved sharing this special memory with the man I love the most on this earth.  We will treasure our time at the Sea and the memories we made.

I apologize that this has turned into a novel.  I will close for now and thank you for reading and your patience as I go on about the awesomeness of our trip.  If you get the opportunity, GO, save up and GO.  So worth it and so wonderful.  Unforgettable---that's what it was!