back home...

Scale model of Jerusalem at the time of the 2nd Temple (at the Israel Museum)

Norma, Gilda, Ryan at the Western Wall

view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

Golgotha-the crucifixion

the garden tomb-He is Risen indeed!

Well we arrived back home all safe and sound in San Diego. What a thrilling and amazing experience this trip was for the group. The Bible will never look the same. Here are some final pictures from the last couple of days in Jerusalem...Also stay tuned for an update on where we'll be posting all the photos from all the folks on the trip so you can see a more thorough view of the land of Israel... 

last night

Here we are at 10:49 at ben gurion airport in tel aviv waiting for the plane back to the states...A brief overview of the last day...started on the mount of olives, walked down to the garden of gethsemene, to the traditional holding place of Jesus at the house of the high priest Caiphas. From there we saw the remains of the antonio fortress where the scourging of Jesus happened at the hands of the Romans. Saw some of the via dolorosa and then finally to the area known as Golgotha and finally the Garden tomb, where it is highly likely the tomb Jesus was buried in, and resurrected from. We had a short worship/communion service there and ended the night with a going away dinner before heading to the airport...I'll post pictures when i get back to SD. Also I'm sure there'll be many flickr/kodak picture share sights with photos from all the touristas! Shalom and erev tov!

monday night in Jerusalem

So it's monday night in Jerusalem, the last night in town and of the trip, we fly back tomorrow night around midnight...We'll try to post some photos of Jerusalem if Jonathan's computer doesn't run out of juice...Anyways the update of what we did today...We started the morning at the City of David to the south of the Old City...We ventured down the tunnels and saw Hezekiah's tunnel and the pool of Siloam (read John chapter 9, Jesus healing the blind man). Afterwards we went to the Western Wall and went under the Muslim quarter to see how far the wall goes and how it was built. History dating back thousands of years! We ended the day on a somber note at the Holocaust museum, quite the experience. Tomorrow we walk the last days of Jesus, from the garden of gethsemene to the tomb, to the ascension, there'll be tears in the eyes tomorrow...
will try to get some pics up...at the coffee shop we're at tonight...If not check the blog on wednesday or thursday, I'll be home and cna upload a bunch of pictures of the trip...Shalom-peace...

Some pics

Dead Sea float!

sea of galilee boat cruise

Tel Dan

Jerusalem!

hello friends and family...After a couple days of low to none internetconnection we are back in Jerusalem for the final days of our trip.It's saturday night at 9 pm and a bunch of us are at a coffee housecatching up on emails and internet stuff like that. I hope to get somephotos from some cameras to post pictures of the last couple ofdays...The highlights since the last post, which was Wednesay night,with pictures from tuesday...Thursday we headed north to the Golanheights to see some antiquities...Tel dan (a tel is a hill that ismade from dirt and debris collecting around old ruins. you can tellthe difference between a regulat hill and a tel because a tel will bepretty sheer on its sides and a low in no amount of foliage, but Idigress) At tel dan is a 4000 year old canaanite archway and gate,which they say Abraham could have walked thru at some point in hisjourney to the holy land, how crazy is that, Abraham! Also Caesareaphilippi and then a dinner cruise on a boat on the sea of galilee, agreat way to end our time in the Galilee region. Friday we headed downto bet sha'ian (sp.) and to gideon springs (read judges 7) and finallydown to the Dead Sea where we floated in the salty water. I have alittle vial of the water for people to taste, it's pretty gross.saturday we headed to en-gev where David wrote some of the Psalms andhad one of his encounters with Saul when he was pursuing him (1 samuel24 i believe). We then made our way to Jerusalem where we are now,making a brief stop at the mt. of olives overlooking the old city.tomorrow we hit the town to see the holy sites and the craziness that will be Jerusalem. Until next time...

some more tuesday pictures

some more tuesday pictures...here is Megiddo, which has been built and rebuilt 25 times throughout the ages. it overlooks the valley of jezreel, where the final battle of armageddon will take place. the staircase goes down to the water source they dug out to be able to have water within the city walls when under seige (very similar to hezekiah's tunnel, which we'll be seeing in Jerusalem.) the picture of the city (2nd from top) is the city of nazareth, where we stopped at the mount precipice. That is where the people of nazareth tried to drive Jesus over the edge (Luke 4,  starting at verse 16). we headed back down the mountain and made our way to the hotel...p.s.- I try to put the related bible verses in hopes you readers will open up a Bible and read the stories that relate to the places we just saw, knowing that its not just a story but a historical account of a historical place with historical people...take care all of you...Kevin

Tuesday PIX

hi-here's somw pictures from tuesdays events. they start from the bottom up...we first hit Caesarea after leaving Tel aviv. At Caesarea there is ruins of a palace of Pontius Pilate and also an inscription of his name on a piece of stone, an important archaelogical piece to support the Bible. Also it is where Paul was held before his trip to Rome. Then onto Mt. Carmel (1 kings 18, starting at verse 20) and Megiddo (Armageddon) -which is the top picture of this post. I'll go for another post with some more pictures...

petra

so here's a couple shots from petra... 

Christian at the western wall

western wall

Victory!

Well, long time no talk...The adventures of wi-fi service overseas continues. It seems to be working at the place we're at now. Where's that you may ask? The answer is Gai Beach Hotel right on the Sea of Galilee. We made it here tonight, tuesday the 11th, after leaving Tel Aviv, going to Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, Mount Precipice, through Cana, up to the Sea. I'm gonna try to post a couple pictures, like the one above of me and John on the Mount of Evil Council overlooking Jerusalem. Hopefully a couple more pictures can be added. If not I am going to suggest that you may have to wait til we all get back and set up some flickr pages to view this amazing land...It is amazing, historical, Biblical, accurate, Holy. For instance the places we saw today coincide with scripture in Acts 10, Luke 4, Revelations-Armegeddon. Take care...

A little slow

So the internet service is a little slow in Petra, Jordan. Uploading pictures isn't happening as planned, slow going. Will try to take time sunday afternoon during some free time to upload some images. But a brief rundown on what's happened so far...flew into Tel Aviv Friday, drove over to Jerusalem and did some sight seeing. Saturday morning drove over the border into Jordan. On the way saw Jericho, the Dead Sea, Mt. Nebo (read Deuteronomy 34) and made our way down to Petra, which we'll tour on Sunday. Keep the prayers up and will once again try for picture uploading Sunday. If not hopefully when we hit Tel Aviv Monday it will have faster service and can upload pictures to show the beauty and history of this land-it's pretty amazing!

We made it!

After many hours in the air and over seas and in airports we made it safely to Israel. We are at the Caesar Hotel in Jerusalem tonight. I am typing this from their pay internet service so I aonly have 20 minutes (cost me 10 shekels! = 3 US dollars) and no chance to upload images. I believe the hotel tomorrow in Petra has wi-fi and free internet so hopefully pictures will be showing up tomorrow sometime...Until next time...Kevin

Waiting at SD Airport for the plane to New Jersey

It's 7:30 am New Jersey time and we are having Dunkin Donuts and waiting to check in to El Al Airlines. We're all here, a little tired but (a lot tired according to Shirley) looking forward to the next flight overseas...Will have pictures later...

Today is the day

The day has arrived. Tonight at 10 pm we head east. First a red-eye to Newark, then a non stop to Tel Aviv. Please be praying for our safety and for God to be evident in all that we see, do, read, sing, etc... Got to fit this stuff in my luggage now...until next time...

Isaiah 41:10-Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.