Last day in the Galilee

OK, so I'm going to fit one more day to blog before we leave.

First of all, we really do love the fact that so many of you have been following us along the way...we sure can feel your presence with us. This has been such a WONDERFUL trip!!! Everyone has been doing SUPER!!! Thank you so much for your prayers...they have been heard by HIM, and felt by us!

Last day in the Galilee region...so sad to think that tomorrow we are spending our last day in the Holy Land...but we are anxious to get back and share everything that we have learned with family and friends.

Today, we started our day in Capernaum. This is known as the Town of Jesus. It's considered to be His "headquarters" while He was ministering in the Galilee region...which was about 90% of His ministry. This is an incredible excavation site. There are olive presses, flour mills, MANY houses, and two very special places. First, is a synagogue. Most of this syangogue dates to about 500 AD (I think that's right...forgive me if it's not). BUT, there is a foundation there that dates back to first century Jesus' time...so more than likely, He studied and taught there. The other place is St. Peter's house...or better yet, his mother-in-law's house. This site is well preserved...there is a Catholic Church built over the top of it...literally. Most places have the site "shrined" within the church walls. This church decided to leave the site the way it was, but build the floor over the top...with a glass floor. So, you can either view it from the side on the outside, or from the top if you look through the glass floor...very cool.

From there we went on to Mt. Arbel. This is a short hike...not like the basic training exercise that Pastor Stan put us through yesterday :-)...to the top of a mountain which is said to have been the place were Jesus took His disciples to give them the Great Commission. You can see forever up there! It is said that you can see all of the "countries" of that time. So when He said go out into all of the world...you could see it from there.

Next, we went to Bet She'an. This is one of the best archeological sites that we have been to...wish we could have spent all day there...but there is so much to see here in Israel! The Biblical significance to this site is that Saul and his son's were pinned to the wall of the Palace following their death in battle. More recently, it was part of the Decapolis...a Greek/Roman town.

Finally, we went down the the River Jordan for one last look, and to hold a Baptismal. There were many from this trip who decided to get Baptized, some got Baptized at the same time as husband and wife...very special.

We will be so sad to leave this place, but we have so much to tell you all. Please pray for safe and smooth travel as we return. We will be leaving Tel Aviv early in the morning on Tuesday.

We love you all, see you when we get home!!!

Shalom,

brian