90 degrees and goose bumps...Tiberius!

I'm having some trouble with my pictures... but come back soon – I'll add them when I can get some technical assistance! (Help Norm and Mike!)

Today we started out the day as usual with the wonderful Israeli buffet breakfast at our hotel and boarded our busses for the two hour drive to Tiberius. Two hours...but the time just flew by!

After about one and a half hours, we stopped at Beit Shean, the site of one of the most historical and archeologically rich discoveries in Israel. Wow is all I can say... This was a Roman town that was completely destroyed, covered and discovered just a few years ago, it is an incredible monument to a past civilization with great remnants of the old city. The group enjoyed walking around discovering areas of the city.

Next we continued on to Tiberius where we boarded a wooden boat for the traditional boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. The landscape has not changed much so it's easy to imagine Jesus walking on this water! After sailing for about half an hour, the boat stopped, the water was still and Pastor Al Nucciarone talked about the miracles and ministry of Jesus in that area. When he was done, Ronnie, our chief guide, proceeded to tell us all the facts about the sea (facts like... it's the lowest fresh water lake in the world at 600 meters below sea level), the boat docked at Capernaum where we boarded our busses again for a short ride to the Kibbutz En Gev. We had quite an experience eating wonderful St Peter's fish lunch!

After lunch, we finished our touring of the northern part of the Galilee with visits to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus ministered the sermon on the mount, Tabgha, where Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and another visit to Capernaum where there are great ruins of a synagogue that dates back to the first century - it could be one where Jesus lived and ministered!!!

Now... the highlight of the day, and possibly the whole tour for many people, was the baptism service in the Jordan River. What a great experience! It must have been about 90 degrees outside but I still had goose bumps! Around 80 out of our group of 100 participated in water baptism with Pastor Al officiating. It was a moment that will not be forgotten...

Our busses then journeyed again back to Jerusalem via the Jordan Valley Road where you can see Jordan and the Mountains of Moab, along with the Jordan River and a great entrance back into the city of Jerusalem with a warm dinner waiting for us.

A long but wonderful day for all of us; can't wait for tomorrow and our trip up the coast along the Mediterranean Sea!