Collecting our pilgrims
Half of our group arrived today in late morning. It was a joyful reunion of friends who had been doing planning and preparation. Our guide is great -- with an interesting name: Lazarus Kevorkian. We took off for Jericho, going through Jerusalem and then into the Palestinian Authority area. We had lunch at the Temptation Restaurant (the Mount of Temptation will be on our agenda tomorrow). We made it to our hotel and got a little rest before a supper with our tour organizers. Our day begins early tomorrow where Biblical beginnings are the norm -- the Jordan River. Some of our pilgrims have already had insights and experiences of note. Today's blog will feature Keren Pernini, who visited Masada earlier in the week and Carol Gurioli with some thoughts from today. My reflections on our trip to Masada. This was truly a wilderness journey. The desert was unlike any I had ever seen. We drove and drove then suddenly there it was, the plateau in the middle of the desert. When we got up to the top we heard the story of the Romans coming to get this Jewish remnant. We saw where the Roman ramparts had been. I had the dawning terrible realization that these people had watched with horror the Romans building this siege machine slowly over a year growing closer and closer to them. They must have begun to know what their fate was - the dawning horror of what choices were left to them. As I stood there looking down I was so moved. It is a moment I will never forget. Sincerely, Keren Pernini MILK and HONEY? In preparing for this pilgrimage to the Holy Land I found myself open to questions that I would have answered while here. Every passage of Scripture seemed to invite a new perception. I wondered for the first time,"Why is the Promised Land described as flowing with milk and honey?" (Deut 31:20) I watched a Rick Steves video and I saw desert; read about concerns over water rights. When we arrived on Thursday everything seemed so dusty; I drank water insatiably due to the dryness. Nothing lush. Even the Jericho oasis is primarily sandy. I was ready to hear the answer to this question and was delighted when our tour guide (Lazarus) raised it himself on the bus ride from Ben Gurion airport to Jericho! He explained it based on the history of the land itself and the life of a nomadic herdsman like Abraham. Milk would flow because there was ample room for goats to forage. Vast flocks of goats produced not only milk and cheese to sustain life but the wealth which came to the patriarchs of Israel. The honey was not from bees (which were wild at the time) but instead from the molasses produced from dates which flourished in the date palms in the oasis and river areas. Taking this land at face value it seems to have little to offer--no minerals, gold or silver; low rainfall that limits agriculture. Yet God provided an abundant life for his chosen people who knew how to see the possibilities and work with what He did provide. The answer showed another example of how God provides for us if we trust in Him and his promises. Peace, Carol Gurioli For a video of Carol riding her camel at our lunch stop, click here!
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Chris and I arrived Tuesday afternoon and have been watching Facebook posts to see our group come into Tel Aviv in waves the past couple days. The last of our 25 pilgrims come in Friday morning. I've seen Riva Heron making her way from San Antonio and Karen Meridith from Sewanee, TN. The rest of us were coming from Virginia Beach, by way of DC, Canada, Paris, Istanbul, NYC, Newark and who knows where else. So far, all the obstacles have been overcome. We will know that everyone is here safe and sound in the morning! If you click on "Who we are" above, you will have a list of the whole pilgrimage team.
Chris and I have spent our time sleeping and eating and trying to acclimate to a 7 hour time zone jump. I managed to develop a last minute cold so a slow start has been helpful. I believe Mike McGraw and Jim Pernini were headed to Masada today. Gretchen Hood helped us walk through the old city of Jaffa. I've loved the hummus and some of the other new flavors. Pray for all of us to get plenty of rest tonight and the remaining pilgrims to arrive without difficulty. Tomorrow our adventure begins. We are 25 friends from Old Donation Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. For a year, we have been planning a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We chose "Breaking Bread Journeys" for our tour provider because of its wonderful lineup of diverse peoples and experiences for our time. In addition to vital historic and spiritual sites, we will spend time with families from various different communities. Hebrew, Christian, Armenian Christian, Muslim, and Druze families will help us understand history and life in Israel.
Ten days in the Holy Land will begin with two nights in Jericho. From there we will move to the Galilee and end with Jerusalem as our hub. We will visit the Dead Sea, Capernaum, Nazareth, Tabor, Megiddo, Caesarea, Jerusalem, Shechem, Bethlehem and more. Watch for our daily blogs and you will be able to experience some of the wonder with us as we seek God in the places and in the people. |
We are 25!Twenty-five members of Old Donation Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia (including a couple of our 'diaspora' are on this spiritual journey together. See our names on "Who We Are"... ArchivesCategories |