This morning, we packed up from our beautiful hotel in Jerusalem......
View of Dome of the Rock from our hotel upstairs balcony. The hill in the background you see is Mount of Olives and Garden of Gethsemane - how cool!
And we began an awesome day of seeing the Bible once again come to life is some really powerful ways. But first, we started with a trip to the Holocaust Museum, which was a very emotional journey through the worst that mankind has to offer, and understanding the influence that has had on the Israeli people.
HOLOCAUST MUSEUM:
Room of names. A very intense reminder of the millions of Jews who lost their lives....all named here.
A beautiful view of the land just outside the museum. Strategically placed to show that the Jewish people have returned home, and their future lies before them.
Probably one of the most emotional things I have seen in a while. This is a tribute to the millions of children that lost their lives during the Holocaust. Using mirrors, you literally see thousands and thousands of lights, while a child's name, age and country are read aloud.
TEL BET SHEMESH:
We took a quick hike to a site that gave a beautiful view of the Sorek Valley, which played host to many stories of the Bible....Samson, the Ark of the Covenant being lost and then returned, etc.
Just thought this was a beautiful picture of what we are doing....a disciples journey. This is how they would have followed Jesus around the country side as they traveled. "Walking in the dust of the Rabbi" takes on a whole new meaning.
This is a panorama of the Sorek Valley standing from the top of the Tel.
As we hear the story in 2 Kings 14, of Bet Shemesh. It also appears with Samson as he sends foxes with their tails on fire to run through the wheat fields, just like these! The entire valley is filled with them.
One of the coolest things they have uncovered here are 1st century tombs, probably hundreds of them. It gave this beautiful reminder of what we will experience in Jerusalem in Jesus EMPTY tomb, and how the angel's would have appeared.
TEL AZEKA:
This is a panorama of the Elah Valley, where the Philistines and Israelites would have squared off for the story of David vs. Goliath. The green mound in the middle is surrounded by this valley, and the little white area you see is close to the area we believe they would have battled. So, we headed down the mountain to walk the creek....
The stream bed that David would have chosen his 5 stones from. You could just imagine David out here, prayerfully selecting each stone as he prepared to do battle in God's name.
The most probable size of the stones (just smaller than baseballs) that David would have used, and been able to throw harder than 100 MPH. "Only a boy named David, only a rippling brook, only a boy named David, and 5 little stones he took!"
Can't you just see the armies on each side of the valley with David and Goliath squaring off in the middle.
So, tonight and tomorrow will be one of our biggest blessings. We are getting to spend two evening in the home of a host family just outside Bethlehem. These Palestinian Christians are beautiful people and they have a beautiful home with an absolutely beautiful view....
Anita, I and Bryce and Pat are together. Here we are riding their vehicle back to their home.
This is the view they have from their upstairs balcony. Hard to see, but in the distance is the Herodium where we did the birth of Jesus story yesterday morning.
Our DELICIOUS supper. Rice with meat, potatoes and veggies.
Some of our dessert!
Apricot!
The wonderful people we get to call family for the next 2 nights!
Thank you for your continued prayers. The heat sickness has left, energy has returned! Tomorrow will be a huge day for us to wrap our minds around as we begin walking the streets of Jerusalem. We are spending the whole day there - visiting Old City, Hezekiah's Tunnel, and just walking and becoming familiar with the city after seeing the model yesterday. God is good!
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