Today is our first full day in Israel and it was busy. While I am posting it is 8pm in Israel and noon in North Dakota. Some of our bodies are a little messed up timewise. We started the day with a wake up call at 6am, breakfast at 6:45am and on the bus, ready to roll, at 7:30am. Our first stop was at Megiddo, an important ancient city now reduced to a tel (hill) with 26 layers of ruins that have been excavated by archeologists. According to Revelations 16: 16-21; 20: 7-10 the last great battle is prophesied to take place at Armageddon (Har-Megiddo -the hill of Megiddo). Our next stop was at Caesarea where Herod the Great re-built an older city into one of the grandest cities in Israel. We saw the ruins of his theatre, swimming pool, hippodrome, vaults, and castle that are located on the Mediterranean Sea. We then drove to Mount Carmel for lunch and on to Nazareth, where Jesus spent his childhood. There we enjoyed a spectacular view of the Jezreel Valley from the top of Precipce Hill. Next we visited Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle by making wine out of water. Pastor Troy performed a wedding vow renewal service for 11 couples on the trip. It was odd to see signs advertising "Cana Wedding Wine Souvenirs". Posted by Mary Ann and Pat Devig

Ahab's Gate to Megiddo built in 1600BC

Herod the Great's Theater in Caesarea