Our first stop was Mt. Tabor: rising 1800 feet above sea level is this traditional site of the Transfiguration of Jesus. We had 19 brave walkers up the hill, who huffed and puffed and made it to the top (although the other 9 riders had to be a little brave to ride the taxi too!). We had a short worship service at the Church of the Transfiguration, and during the prayer Sarah said something to the effect that "we are still pinching ourselves" as we realize we are
really here, really in Israel!
Our second stop was the "Harod Spring," which bubbles up from the Gideon Cave at the foot of Mt. Gilboa - the site where Gideon's soldiers were tired and were selected for the war against the Midianites.
Next we had lunch and time visiting Bet She'an National Park in which we walked among the ruins from the late Canaanite period (Egyptian period, 1450-1150 B.C.), later taken by King David and destroyed in 732 B.C. and built upon again and again until being devastated by a severe earthquake in 749 A.D.
Then we drove by Jericho, stopped at a rest area and Jay Raymond, Joyce Wicklund got $1 camel rides, but later Ellen Anderson, Darla Sheldon, Mary Schieve, and Monica Simon had to pay $5 (quite an inflation rate!). Who knew, camel rides at the gas station/convenience store!!
Then we passed by the "old" Jerusalem-to-Jericho road, featured in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Then we arrived in Jerusalem, checked into our rooms at the Grand court Hotel,
feasted, and are going to be ready for another unbelievable day on our journey in the Holy Land.
Written by Sharon & Shawn Bubb
Hey! That is my mom on a camel! (How often does a person say that?) It looks like everyone is having a great time! I am checking the update everyday on this blog! Everyone enjoy every minute of your amazing journey! How is my dad's (Don's) hip doing?
ReplyDeleteKristy Landenberger (Don and Ellen's daughter)
Timothy and Teresa would love camel rides! It is fun to hear all about your experiences. Thank you for all your hard work on the blog.
ReplyDeleteKristy, Don has been a hardy and amazingly good-spirited participant in everything. In fact, the entire group is impressed with him, how he jumps in to "go, see, do" everywhere we go, crutch and all. ...Certainly his hip has been sore (esp. the day of our plan ride here), and Ellen has worried some (more than he has worried about himself), but so far they've been involved in everything without any major concerns. ...we pray that continues!
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