Merry Christmas, everybody!!!
OK, I know what you're thinking...the desert sun FINALLY melted what was left of Brian's brain. Well...true, but still...
MERRY CHRISTMAS! (that's what we celebrated today...but more on that later)
We have had a two absolutely whirlwind days, so let me try to catch you all up. (I hope I can figure out the pictures tonight, too...we have new technology here. So if I don't get the pictures, I'll at least tell you what we've done)
Sunday
We started out our day with yet another invigorating jaunt around the desert...yup...Camel ride #2. We went to a camel farm out in the country (it was really an oasis in the desert). This ride was great! Nice camels, good drivers, slow pace...Sunday camel ride in the country. Then...we took it into high gear.
This was a wonderful learning day. We went to Tel Arad to see the only remaining Temple remains in the Holy Land (I hope I stated that correctly...if it's not the only...it's one of them :-) Next we went to Beersheba. This is where Abraham dug a well. The well they excavated was about 90 feet deep, making it one of the deepest wells in the area. We finished our day at Azeekah, looking over the valley of Elah. This is the battle ground where David, with the help of GOD, killed Goliath. We held church service with a setting sun over our back.
On to our new home for three days...JERUSALEM!!! We're finally here! It seems I've been waiting the entire trip to reach the Holy City. Amazing!!!
Monday
Merry Christmas!!! We started out in BETHLEHEM! (now do you get it?) First stop, The First Baptist Church...no kidding! This was a special trip that was arranged by Pastor Stan and the president of E.O. (our travel company) There we met with the Pastor and his son who is also the Pastor of a Baptist Church in Jerusalem. What a blessing to meet our brothers and hear them speaking of how the Holy Spirit is alive and well in the Middle East!
We moved on to the Herodian which is a complex built by King Herod. It is amazing how close Jesus was born to this evil king. Next, The Church of the Nativity. There we saw a BEAUTIFUL building that is built over the historical sight where Jesus was born. Merry Christmas. Then, back to Jerusalem to finally experience the Western (Wailing) Wall and take a rare tour of the Rabbi's Tunnel to see the original bottom of the wall that has been built over.
We are once again exhausted yet exhilerated! We will never be able to put into words what we are experiencing. Thank you so much for all of your prayers! We have neededd them at times for encouragement. Thank you also to everyone out there that has helped or allowed us all to go. You'll never know how much we all appreciate it.
Until next time, God Bless!!! Shalom!
Love, from the Holy City,
brian
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