Jerusalem

I have noticed each day, at all the stops we visit, there are always groups from all over the world. We all share the same agenda here; to learn and experience Israel and grow our relationship with Christ. From all over the world, we are here together in Israel, right now - with one goal. We don't speak the same language and have very different lives at home... but we are all the same...inside. When our groups pass we greet each other with big smiles and nods; knowing that we are all Brother's and Sisters in Christ.

Today we got our first taste of Jerusalem with a group photo and scenic outlook from Mt Scopus. From there we traveled just a short distance to the Mount of Olives. I love this place! The Mount of Olives is the place where numerous events of the Bible occurred. Many of the most important people of the Bible walked upon it! I bet this was one of Jesus' favorite places since Luke 21:37 says that "Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives." There are many references to the Mount of Olives in the Bible, check it out for yourself and see how important it is!

Here are some pictures from the view at the top.

Here is Kay, Merelyn and Karen. Merelyn came last November with us too.

The Deborah, Steven, Marla, Bill and Linda... what a great picture!

From here we walked the Palm Sunday route down to the Garden of Gethsemane. We stopped at various places along the walk. One of the stops was to view and learn about the cemetary.

Here's Daniel getting some good video.

Here is the view from Dominus Flevit.

And here is the church at Dominus Flevit.

Here is a close up of the Eastern Gate - notice that it's filled in? Thinking to prevent Christ returning through the Gate, the Muslim conquerors of Jerusalem sealed it in the 1500's. (Like that's going to stop Him!)

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Pastor Everett shared scripture as we stood amongst the olive trees that are around 1500 years old. Try to image what it must have been like for Jesus; praying in the garden that night of his arrest. Knowing what He knew was to come... It humbles me a great deal.

From here I had to leave the group and do some "official LeSEA Tour's business" – but everyone had a great lunch at a Kibbutz! It overlooked Bethlehem. Then they visited the Upper Room where Mary told me it was an unforgettable experience and that the Holy Spirit showed up and showed off!! Sharon said that the Lord worked out the visit to Caiphas' house perfectly. When they arrived they weren't sure if they would be able to visit the whole place because of the amount of people that were already there. But as soon as they walked down the steps to enter the building, people started coming out and the entire place miraculously cleared out for them. I'm so glad that God loves us and blesses us like He does. Doesn't it feel good to be loved by Him?

Kim