Our Journey to the Center of the Earth- Israel

Tuesday, March 2- Depart Los Angeles for Frankfurt.

Wednesday, March 3- Depart Frankfurt, Germany for Tel Aviv, Israel.  Meet our Israeli tour guide.  Visit Jaffa beofre proceeding to Herzelya.

Thursday, March 4- Caesarea, Megiddo, Tiberias
     Today we pass through the fast growing towns and farms of the Plain of Sharon enroute to Caesarea, site of major events in the lives of Peter and Paul.  It's on to Megiddo, inspiration for James Michener's "The Source", and prophesied site of Armageddon.  Archeological digs reveal 20 layers of civilization, including fortifications of King Solomon and the water tunnel of King Ahab.  Megiddo provides a magnificent view of the fertile Jezreel Valey, at the crossroads of the ancient Via Maris.  We'll drive through the Jezreel Valley to Sepphoris, the former Roman capital of the Galilee and the famous seat of the Sanhedrin, the ancient Jewish ruling council, in the second centruy AD.  Sepphoris is comprised of a Crusader forttress, a Roman amphitheater and numerous impressive mosaics. Then through the rolling hills of the Galilee to Nazareth.  Nazareth Village brings to life a farm and Galilean village, recreating Nazareth as it was 2000 years ago.  It is a window into the life  of Jesus, the city's most famous citizen.  Overnight in Tiberias.

Friday, March 5- Sea of Galilee
   We will visit an ancient boat believed to be from Jesus' time found in the Sea of Galilee in 1986.  We walk into Old Capernaum with the ancient synagogue; on to the site of the Mulitiplication of the Loaves and Fishes (Tabgha), the Sermon on the Mount and the Mount of Beatitudes.  In the afternoon we  wil journey north to Caeserea Phillipi (Banias Spring) where Peter confessed "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16)

Saturday, March 6- Northern Galilee
   Today we will journey to Hazor originally conquered by Joshua in 1300 BC.  King Solomon began reconstruction here and King Ahab erected a magnificent palace here as well.  Later we visit  Bethsaida.  We will now be literally walking in the footsteps of Jesus.  We will take a most memorable boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, in a replica of the ancient wooden boat used in Jesus' day. 

Sunday, March 7 (Paul's Birthday!) - Jordan Valley, Jerusalem
    This morning we will visit the Jordan River and I will be baptized by water in the Jordan river.  Maybe Paul too, although he's already been baptized.  We will drive along tte Jordan Valley to Beit She'an to see the expansive excavations taking place at this ancient Roman Decapolis City.  We'll stop at Gideon's Spring where Gideon selected his soldiers to do battle against the Midianites.  Then we'll go up to Jerusalem.  We will enter the city as pilgrims did since ancient times to fulfill the words of the prophet "I was glad when they said unto me 'Our feet shall stand within thy Gates, O Jerusalem' " (Psalms 122:1-2)

Monday, March 8- Jerusalem, Bethlehem
   Start the day at the top of the Mt. of Olives.  Take the "Palm Sunday Walk" to the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of All Nations and drive across the Kidron Valley.  Enter the Old City through St. Stephens Gate (Lions' Gate) to the Muslim Quarter, visit the beautiful Church of St. Anne and the Pool of Bethesda, Pilate's Judgment Hall, and the Ecce Homo Arch.  Walk along the Via Dolorosa, into the Christian Quarter, and see the Stations of the Cross.  Drive to Mt. Zion to see the House of Caiaphas and the Upper Room of the Last Supper.  We will visit Bethlehem and see Manger Square, the Church of the Nativity, and view Shepherd's Fields and the Fields of Boaz and Ruth.

Tuesday, March 9- Masada, Dead Sea, Qumran
    Depart to Masada, overlooking the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on Earth, where we ascend by cable car to visit the remnants of Herod's Palace and where in 73 AD the Zealots made their last stand against the might of Rome.  Visit to Ein Gedi, fabled Spring of David, and proceed to Qummran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947.  We will go for a swim, rather a "float", in the salted waters of the Dead Sea. 

Wednesday, March 10- Jerusalem
    Today, we investigate the excavations at the Western Wall Tunnel.  Visit to the reconstructed Jewish Quartter, walk through the Cardo, the orginal Roman street and see the amazing remains of the massive wall built by King Hezekiah.  See the important excavations taking place at the Western Wall and the Southern Temple Staircase.  On the Temple Mount, where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac.  See the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque that now stand there.   Visit the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed and the recently opened Bible Lands Museum.  End the afternoon at Golgotha and the empty Garden Tomb.   Special time is planned for worship, communion, meditation and inspiration.  Paul and I are also bringing prayers from our people to put in the Wailing Wall, the foundation of the Temple.

Thursday, March 11-  Jerusalem, Petra
   This morning we leave Jerusalem and head to Petra, Jordon.  (Jordon is a country where you most definately MUST behave yourself.)  Before we cross the Arava Bridge into Jordan, we visit the Timna Tabernacle. 

Friday, March 12- Petra
    This morning we tour the city of Petra, lost to the world for centuries, the "Rose-Red City Half as Old as Time" lay hidden in the mountains of southern Jordan.  It had been a stronghold and capital for the Nabateans.  It had a fatally vulnerable fault:  its water came by aqueduct from nearby Wadi Musa.  When the secret was discovered and the aqueduct cut, it fell to Rome in AD 106. When Rome entered, already there were Nabatean tombs, temples and monuments cut directly out of the red rock.  This afternoon we travel part of the way on horseback and the rest on foot through the deep and narrow passages which occur naturally, carved millions of years ago be erosion.  The Treasury finally appears magnificently and immediately in front of us after we emerge from what seems like a hundred turns in the ravine.  Now we'll begin our exploration of what both the Nabateans and Romans left or us to witness.  The most adventurous (yep, that'll be Paul and I for sure!) will be invited to hike up to the spiritual "High Place", site of the sacrificial alter and offering a spectacular view of teh ancient city.

Saturday, March 13- Petra, Mt. Nebo, Amman
   Today we start our journey north to Amman.  En route visit Machaerus it is the place where Salmon danced in exchange for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.  Proceed to the city of Madaba.  It is well known for its outstanding Byzantine mosaics.  We will see St. George's Cathedral, including the earliest surviving original map of the Holy Land in a mosaic floor dating to AD 560.  Continue on to visit Mt. Nebo which is reputed to be the burial place of Moses.  Visit the recently opened Lot's Museum. Lastly, we will see Jerash, a very famous Roman ruins site.

Sunday, March 14- Begin our journey home.


*I keep thinking of Matthew 2:28- " a voice is heard in the desert...  Rachel weeping for her children..." .  That will be me in Israel (ha!ha!)    Missing my children and soooo wishing they could experience this with us.  Poor Paul will be getting an awful lot of attention seeing as I will need to put my mothering energy somewhere!  I don't think he'll mind though.

Paul's sister and her daughter are coming from Michigan to care for the children while we're gone. (I am so grateful!)  The kids are SOOO excited.  They are wanting us to leave. They love their Aunt and Cousin.  And Paul and I can really enjoy ourselves because we know they are in loving and capable hands.  I just hope the kids aren't too upset when we come back. (ha!ha!)

We feel so blessed to be able to go.  Thank you, Lord!