Hey, don't forget to check out the new blog site. We just returned from another moving trip to the Holy Land. Each trip is special and God led and He really revealed Himself to us this week! Check out the blog when you get a few moments and say Hello! www.leseatours.blogspot.com
Blessings! Kim
Hi everyone,
Just a quick note to let you know that we are changing the blog to a new link. Its located on our website where you can click on it - or you can go to www.leseatours.blogspot.com directly to find it.
We will keep this blog open but starting today we will be putting current blogs on the new site. If you were a subscriber (if you automatically get this blog emailed to you) on this blog you will have to subscribe on the new blog again. Sorry about that! Technology comes with some down falls!
Just a few days before we leave on another life changing trip to Israel...I've already blogged about it on the new site! Check it out and take the poll! :)
Blessings!
Kim
Dear Kim and LeSEA Tours,
We want you to know how much we appreciate traveling to Israel with LeSEA Tours. Between the two of us, we have gone to the Holy Land with LeSEA 16 times, and we are now looking forward to our next trip. There are so many reasons why we love going to Israel. The greatest reason is the spiritual experience of being in the place where Jesus walked. We never tire of going to the holy sites and reading scripture of the events that took place there. It's such a wonderful experience to go to the Garden Tomb, the Upper Room, Garden of Gethsemane and the Western Wall. To take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and then go to the Jordan River and watch the baptism...that is always such an emotional experience. The Bible comes to life in a deeper and more meaningful way in anticipation each time; because we know the Lord always connects with us in a special way. It's awesome to see how He always shows up. He may give us a special word of encouragement, or maybe an answer to prayer...but it is always something wonderful. We never know what to expect, be He always shows up and we feel so blessed.
The two of us met in Israel on LeSEA tour in Feb. of 2000. The Lord took us half way around the world to meet each other and to become best friends. He knew we had so much in common, but especially our faith in God and our love for Israel. We have also made many other friendships during our LeSEA Tours to Israel. We still keep in close touch with these friends, some of which have become great prayer partners. These are special friendships that were developed because of the incredible experiences we shared together in Israel. God knit these friendships together and they are such a blessing. We also have some special Israeli friends that we have met. They make us feel so welcome every time we see them. There is an Orthodox Jewish family that we keep in touch with during the year through email. One time they invited us to their home for Shabbat dinner. That was a real cultural experience!
The Israeli tour guides and the people associated with LeSEA are so wonderful. They take care of every single detail. We never have to worry about anything because they do it all. They make everything go so smooth while packing so much for us to do into each day. Even after going this many times, we continue to learn new things about Israel. There is so much to learn and see and do. Israel is a wonderful adventure, and there is nothing else like it.
We would be remiss if we didn't mention the incredible shopping! We believe the Lord wants us to enjoy that too while we're there. We definitely take time for that also. We love to go to the Old City and shop in the Arab Market, then have lunch in the Old City (one of our favorite things to do). We also enjoy shopping on Ben Yehuda Street. It's fun to find great bargains for our loved ones back home.
Often times people ask us if we feel safe while in Israel. We always tell them, "yes"...we feel very safe, even to go out for a walk in the evening in Jerusalem. It's common to see women pushing baby carriages out walking in the evening. Israel is very safe, day or night, and we have never felt fear any time we've been there.
The only hard part of going to Israel is when we have to leave. But we are so grateful for having the opportunity to go. It is truly "A Trip of a Lifetime." As Christians, it has deepened our faith and our relationship with the Lord. We have a greater appreciation and understanding of the Word. For anyone who has it in their heart to go to Israel, we encourage them to go and to trust God to work out the details. We are amazed at how he has done this for us.
God bless you for all that you do, and thank you for providing the opportunity for us to go to Israel. It means so much to both of us.
Much Shalom,
Mary & Naidean
11/25/2009
I could not leave for the holidays without letting you know personally; my trip was blessed. Israel is so beautiful and words cannot describe my wonderful experiences. I met so many Christian people and crossed paths with others who were not with our group. I was amazed to meet people from so many different tour companies coming to see the Holy Land. I thank you so much for making this trip possible. Again, words cannot express my sincere gratitude. May God forever bless you! Thank you so much for endless memories!
Lula Harris
11/30/2009
Hello Lumi:
God bless you this day! It is a grand day indeed! To have gone to Israel and walk the very ground that we only see in movies and television shows, I can't begin to tell you how it felt and how I will treasure the experience forever! It was even more overwhelming than I expected it to be and even more so traveling with my family. My husband, myself and Shirley have been dreaming about Israel every night since our return. We love Israel and the chosen people of God. Israel isn't just another country anymore, God's chosen people isn't just in the Bible anymore, worship and praise songs aren't just another CD anymore, EVERYTHING'S BECOME ALIVE!
God's been doing miraculous works among our (Navajo Native American) people since we've returned. Our Sunday services aren't the same anymore! And Shirley's been ministering ever since we got back. God is working! Our prayers are being answered!
Thank you Lumi for all the arrangements you have made. I know you work hard at what you do. Our sleeping arrangements were wonderful and I can't thank you enough. I know the Lord will bless you for it!
Michele W. Scott
"Welcome to the Holy Land!" The sun shouted to everyone this morning! We had an early start today because there was a lot ahead of us to do. Breakfast was humming with the excitement of our first morning in Israel and our first change to look around in the daytime. Wow! Beautiful! Lumi and I were not kidding when we told you about the hotel being just a few steps away from the Sea of Galilee.
Here is the sunrise as everyone got to see it today.
The kittens even came out to watch God's show of wonderment!
Our first stop today was a short walk behind our hotel to get on a wooden boat and cross the lake. The boat was a replica of the boats made right here at the time of Jesus. (just a larger version) After we got about ½ way they cut the motor and we drifted while Pete Sumrall welcomed us, Pastor Al said a few words about trusting God and Eli the tour guide told us about the lake and area in general. We sang some songs, took a lot of pictures and sat in awe. We are on the Sea of Galilee and we just opened our eyes to the light of day on day about 2 hours ago. What a great way to start a Holy Land tour!
Our lunch time stop was fun! St. Peters Fish is on the menu! Most everyone got the fish while the others chose soup, pasta, pizza or french fries. I think Peggy and Shirley got the fish just so they could take a picture of it!
Andrew's fish!
Lots of pictures were taken before the first bite. Personally I don't eat anything that looks back at me so I watched the fun over my cheese pizza.
After lunch it was off to work we go. The LeSEA Broadcasting staff were off working on future programs while the group headed to visit the Galilee area (Capernaum and Tabgha)
We ended the day at the baptism site. Our Israeli staff was amazed by how many people out of 104 people got baptized today... I think she said 89 people! It was beautiful and moving experience to watch.
Angela Sumrall reflecting on the waters of the Jordan River before everyone arrived.
Now because of technology we were able to use Skype and air the baptism live on the Harvest Show which was going on at that same moment in our headquarters in South Bend Indiana and on all the LeSEA Broadcasting stations!
What a day! So much happened today, our first day it was a little overwhelming! Time to process the day with our eyes shut. The adventure continues tomorrow with the 6:30am wake up call!
Have I mentioned our next tour is in February? Check out the website for more information!
See you tomorrow! Kim
So many thoughts are going through my head right now, so many things I'd like to tell you already I really don't know where to begin. And yet, here I am with my fingers on the key board motionless. Some things are just hard to put into words...
I greeted the group as they arrived to the hotel. It was fun to match the faces to the names and voices with those who Lumi and I have been talking to and preparing with for months. They were tired from their long journey but still smiling and in high spirits to have finally reached the place that they have anticipated for so long. Israel! As I helped pass out room keys and answer questions I told as many people as I could, "Don't miss the sunrise tomorrow!" You see 104 people arrived to Israel after sundown, drove for 2 hours to Tiberius but have not really seen Israel yet. The landscape is still a mystery to them. They really don't know what to expect! I'm so excited for them! As I sit here, trying to asleep tonight I'm thinking of them, knowing that in the morning their first view of the Holy Land will be the beautiful sun rising over the Sea of Galilee from their balcony or from the boardwalk surrounding the hotel. What a way to start the trip! Stay tuned for those pictures!
More tomorrow from our first day!
Kim
How many times this week have you caught yourself eating a meal standing up, going thru a drive thru or rushing through a conversation that you knew deep down that shouldn't have been rushed. I caught myself eating lunch standing up in the kitchen yesterday in the rush and hurriedness of my day. I had to ask myself, is this what God really wants me to be doing? Rushing through my day? How many times during my day do I take the time just to be still?
I'm thankful for my Pastor's Sunday message to remind me that God wants us to be still. He actually tells us to be still. Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God."
Being still is not easy for me! But it is my hope for me and the others joining me that the upcoming days will be filled with moments of stillness. To be still in the presence of God, in the Holiest place on earth...the place where He chose for His home.
In that stillness is the only place that we can truly hear from Him.
I challenge you today to take some time out for God, to be still in His presence. I really believe that the 110 people coming to Israel with us next week took time out to be still. Actually, I'm sure of it! That's when they heard from God, felt God's leading and guidance to come to Israel. Many of you feel it too. That pull, draw and urging to come to Israel and experience the life changing journey that God has in store for you. It only comes from God, I can tell you that much. Not everyone will receive this gift from Him. Embrace the gift, listen and come to Israel... I promise you will never be the same.
I promise!
Kim
...and when you get back drop us a note / picture for our bulletin board!
20 days and counting!
I love counting down the days! At about 30 days out I like to start "the countdown" on the big white-board hanging in my office (see below). I find myself looking forward to coming to work each morning and erasing the previous days number and lowering it by one. Others here at LeSEA know about "the countdown" and I catch them glancing at the number when they enter the office, joining in on the excitement. Today is 20 and as I wrote the number I couldn't help but stop and embrace the feeling of anticipation as my heart picked up its beat. For a brief moment I paused and let my mind drift; wondering what it will feel like to step off the plane...what exotic aromas will fill the air as I stand on my balcony looking over the Sea of Galilee.
In my mind I'm already there...gazing in wonder at the stars reflecting over the lake that Jesus walked on.
Anticipation is a wonderful thing...
I have no doubt that the 107 people joining me on this wonderful journey of a lifetime are pausing to wonder what God has in store for them as well. Each enjoying the anticipation of their own count down. Another thing I know to be true... God will move and move powerfully on the hearts and minds of each person on this trip to the Holy Land. So while I allow myself to entertain the day-dreams of what's to come 20 days from today, I am also reminded to open my heart for whatever it is that God has in store for me.
There's still time left for you to start your own count down. Join us in Israel this November!
Blessings,
Kim
Kims white-board with countdown...
"Wow!" "Amazing!" "The presence of God..." "I want to go back!"
Those are just a few words I've heard from some of those people who have called us since they've been home from their June trip to Israel with LeSEA. I love to hear from them! Lumi and I feel deeply privelidged to be a tiny bit involved in facilitating in these life changing moments that God has orchestrated. We love to talk to people "before" they travel to Israel... then hear the amazing stories upon their return. We can tell they are changed; we can hear it in their voice!
God is good...all the time!
Stay tuned and I will share some comments from those who traveled with us this June!
Feeling very blessed, Kim
