Showing posts with label international travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label international travel. Show all posts

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Lost Photos of a Great Memory

If you are like me, you probably have a hard drive full of digital photos and then printed photos in a box. Ever since my first camera, I have loved taking pictures. Of people. Of places. Of things that I've seen. Some are so random. The best ones are of people when they weren't even looking my way. And sometimes, I even forget about photos. So stumbling on them again is like a flood of memories coming back.

But there were some priceless ones that I recently found. From our trip to Israel. We had asked another member of the tour group to use my camera and capture the moments of my husband and I being baptized in the Jordan River! 

Why was this such a big deal for us? 

My husband and I were baptized in our younger years. I, in the Presbyterian church. My husband, in his childhood, at a Baptist church. Neither of us making a conscious choice, but rather doing what our parents expected of us.

Personally, as I became an adult who was getting back into the Bible and really dedicating myself to the Lord, I came to realize that I needed to be truly baptized. To show that I really had given over to God and was ready to live the way He called me to. But when I came to this choice, we were not in a church that we called Home. And baptisms were not frequently offered. So I kept waiting. 

When were signing up to go to Israel, they offered us the chance to have the pastor that led the church group we went with, to baptize us. In the Jordan River. In Israel! My husband and I both jumped at the chance. First off, it was Pastor Ed Taylor of the Calvary in Aurora, Colorado! He had been the pastor we listened to at home. His church was the one where my husband rededicated himself to the Lord and we called that church our Home away from home. So that was an honor for us both. But even more so, was that we could be baptized in the Holy Land. What an amazing memory to make. For me, to make it with the man I loved, was the best part of all! We decided then and there, that this was where we would really and truly live like Christians are called to. No more halfhearted efforts. 

So having these photos, reminds us of that decision. 

What was it like? 

Cold. And dirty. 

You know that story of the Syrian, Naaman, coming to Elisha and asking to be healed of his leprosy? Elisha told him to go wash in the Jordan River. Naaman was furious! (2 Kings 5:1-14) Want to know why? That is the nastiest water! Smells bad. Your feet squish in slimy mud (even with my water shoes). There were what felt like rocks and sticks as well. And when we went in March, that water was freezing cold! I was glad it was so quick. I was shivering, with teeth chattering by the time I climbed out. The two pastors (father and son), had to wear wet suits to stay warm enough to get through all of us who chose to be baptized.

We were asked why we were doing this. For us both, it was to say with a deliberate mind that we wanted to do this. That we made the choice for ourselves. And that we were proud to have decided this. 
To say that I was nervous would be an understatement. First off, I felt very exposed. Secondly, I'm a bigger woman about to be dunked by a pretty thin guy. I was kinda worried he would lose his grip and it would be an ugly sight of me trying to regain my footing and come back up. And lastly, I did NOT want this water going up my nose! I was almost holding my breath the entire time we prayed before the dunking.
Is it strange that I worried I'd throw his back out? Thankfully, I didn't. Thankfully, he kept hold. Thankfully, it was a smooth journey back upright. And praise God, I've announced in this small way, I'm His child! And I will live like one to the best of my ability through His grace and mercy.
We can rejoice. Not because getting dunked makes us saved. Not because it changed us physically, emotionally or maybe even changed us spiritually. But because this reminds us to be accountable.
If you haven't, I highly recommend you give your life to God. If you have, but haven't been baptized, maybe you should consider it. It is a symbol of going under as a sinner, and coming up washed clean. Then live it out!

Monday, October 23, 2023

Looking Back on Israel

I can't believe it was only last year that my husband and I went to Israel. Surrounded by beauty and saturated with so much history. But here I am, organizing my laptop when I find a folder with more Israel photos I had planned to use in posts. Forgotten among all my other projects as a busy life sped by. But how fitting! As we are sitting on the edge of our seats, watching the terrible things happening to their nation. I have been praying for peace to be restored over there, and that an end to the death and destruction will come soon. I can only imagine how much the landscape and lives have changed since all this began. 

Taking the tunnel

One of my favorite places was the tunnel we walked through. If you know your biblical history, you will know of Hezekiah's tunnel. To bring fresh water to the city even when under siege. My husband and I chose to walk this one rather than David's tunnel, which is dry, but runs parallel if I remember correctly.
The water is mostly just above ankle high, though in some parts it was above my knee. As you go, there are 3 levels of height as well. Most of the tunnel was just high enough that someone about my height (5'9") could walk without stooping, but just barely.
In some places, it was carved as though they expected giants to walk through.
And finally, you reach the height of dwarves! (Okay, so we have been watching Lord of the Rings lately)
This is where my back began to ache from stooping down. If you are afraid of tight spaces, DO NOT enter this tunnel. Almost the entire way is only as wide as my husband's arm, as you can see here.
There wasn't much wiggle room to maneuver. I barely managed to get my jacket off while wearing my backpack. Why did I need to? Well, it gets really warm down in this tunnel. Really. Warm. The only cooling we had was the water flowing over our feet. There is even still an inscription from the time it was carved.
Dating back to Hezekiah's reign. It was as we neared this point that we had begun to sing old hymns. The resonance was absolutely beautiful.
We finally exited to the bright sunshine once more. It ends at another prominent biblical site. The Pool of Siloam.
It was the pool of Siloam that Jesus sent a blind man to wash in after healing his eyes. (John 9) Once the man had washed in the pool, he received his sight.
We wandered around so much of the land in Israel that I cannot pinpoint every location where photos were taken. I can only relate thoughts that came to me or stories that were told at certain areas. One of those, were these steps. 

Are you willing to take His place?

 
They had been buried and later found during excavations. Dating back to the time Jesus lived. But what stuck with me, was that they were in the area where Jesus may have walked while carrying a cross across his shredded back. Jesus didn't take the most direct path to Golgotha. The Romans would make the accused wander through the town as an example to the others as a "This is what we do to criminals". These steps might just be some that Jesus trudged along as he lugged the heavy beam that they would later nail his wrists to. Even if they weren't, it is a good visual reminder to those of us who believe. To be thankful and praise God that Jesus did that. So we can be free of our sins. 

The wheels on the bus...


Most tourists don't think twice about the bus driver. Or the bus. They just think about getting from point A to point B as quickly and smoothly as they can. Not me. This bus driver is Meir. He works with the guide we had, Shraga. I cannot praise the two of them enough! Meir takes driving to a whole new level. He can parallel park this monster as if it was nothing more than Volkswagen Beetle. It was spectacular! And he was always nice. Polite, well versed in places we went. He looked after Shraga like a son would. If I ever go back and want to do a tour again, these two are the ones I want to go with.

Lessons learned...

We checked into our first hotel with the group. Ready for some rest, we trudged to our gorgeous rooms. But then we realized how thirsty we were and that we had forgotten to grab waters from the bus. Our guide would let us take a bottle for free each day and then we could purchase further bottles for a $1. But we forgot.

So we had to call room service... Take it from me! Not worth the $12 we paid. Good water in pretty bottles, but I'd rather spend money elsewhere. On things I'm taking home with me. 

All the food! 

We ate. And ate. And ate some more. But isn't that what vacations are about? You typically view the sights and eat. And then repeat! That is what we did. We would be fairly full, but still eat a little at dinner just to try something new. Breakfast was served at the hotels we stayed in.

We would snack and have lunch while on the tours. These ice creams we got came with spoons that were shaped like little shovels. And they were delicious!
Then back to the hotel for dinners. Each meal at the hotel was a buffet! And they always had good things to choose from.
We even saw places we wanted to try on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem, but then we forgot and didn't get to.
Ben Yehuda Street is a popular place to walk and shop. We split a cab with others to get to it, but could also walk to and from the hotel we stayed in. I think it was only a few miles away.
There is an open market all along it with shops as well. I came across this candy stall and turned into a little kid again.
We bought several types and brought them back for the kids to try with us. 

We also tried something that is special for the Jewish holiday Purim. This pastry is called Haman's Ear. (I say Haman, you say BOO!) Purim is the holiday celebrated since Queen Esther in the Bible saved the Jews by going to the King and telling him the wickedness that Haman had planned for her people. The story of Queen Esther was always a favorite of mine. I have learned a lot more of the history of the time and why things were so significant. Take the former queen, Vashti. Why might she have refused the king? Which in turned angered him and triggered his advisors to tell him to get a new queen? Well, back in his reign, women were property. And at these big feasts, they were called to dress and dance provocatively for the drunken king and all his male guests. Maybe she didn't want to be degraded so that night. Or feared worse behaviors due to their drunkenness. Ultimately, we know God was working in the background to get Esther to be the queen. But back to the Haman's Ear (did you say BOO?) This pastry is shaped like an ear on purpose. Why? Because criminals in this time, destined for hanging, had their ears cut off first. Then were marched to the gallows where everyone could see their shame as they went. Haman meant for Mordecai to end up on those gallows. He made them tall so all could see and he (Haman) would feel victorious. But because of the underhandedness and because God used the gentile kings' love for Esther, Haman and all his family hung instead. The Jewish people were allowed to fight their attackers instead of being forced to stand there while being cut down. So during Purim, the Jewish people serve these. When someone says Haman, everyone else says BOO! As in booing his despicable deeds. 

That will be all for today's post. I'll have another one later. But I hope you enjoyed my walk through Israel. Please pray for peace to come there. For those lives lost. And may I just remind you. Every human being is made in God's image. No matter who they are, where they come from, what they do. We don't have to approve of their actions. Or show support in wrong-doing. But we are called to love and pray for each and every one of the people. 

Saturday, April 8, 2023

It Has Been a Year Already?! Israel

I was trying to clean up my laptop and realized that I had a folder with more Israel photos that I hadn't posted on here. That got me to thinking, it has been a whole year since my husband and I took that trip. We both look back fondly to our time there. It was amazing! Such a rich landscape of history, modern beauty, and friendly people. Even when we went to Palestinian restaurants. There was no animosity! Our guide was a Jew and he had great relationships with people from all walks there. It makes me sad to see the conflicts they have there now. However, I didn't get this post going to talk about what is happening there. I wanted to share some more great photos. My favorites. So enjoy! 

I love this one, because the serene land was speeding by, but we glimpse in stopped motion the divide that is meant to separate Israel from enemy lands. You could say it is No Mans Land there.
 
Jericho is not just a Bible story. It really exists and it really is as the Bible described. A ruin. Not one city that was built on it after its destruction was able to withstand the curse. You can see each level of a new civilization that was built on the previous one. Really was amazing to walk around.

My favorite memories often included walking the trails and just gazing at the beautiful waterfalls. Surrounded by rocks and scraggly brush, a lone waterfall just makes it all so magical.

Seeing military vehicles and personnel is a common sight around Israel. Instead of feeling intimidated though, it made us tourists feel safer. And they were always friendly! I think the only soldiers that weren't, were the Muslim ones on the Mount. They glared and made the kid in our group remove his IDF hat while on the Mount. Seemed childish to me.
Speaking of THE Mount, which has a different name depending on which group of peoples is talking about it, this really cool tunnel leads to it. They were doing some excavation work when we were there. Below the tunnel, to either side, you can see the men's side and women's side of the Western Wall, aka the Wailing Wall.
When we went, Israel had just opened up again after the pandemic. There was no one else on the Mount that day, besides the soldiers guarding it. It made for a peaceful visit. They didn't even heckle us, besides telling the kid to remove his hat. 

Well, I'll add more later. There are some more photos I found of places that we really enjoyed. I hope you are traveling! Let me know where you are going.

Friday, August 19, 2022

Israel Favorites: Part 8 - Genesis Land

If you want a fun experience that will take you back in time, in Israel, you need to make a stop in Genesis Land. A long ride out to a place that I refuse to pronounce in English, but it will take you back.
Way back. To Abraham leaving his family on God's command. To being served a delicious meal in a tent, much like they had back in his days. All this to show the biblical hospitality of Abraham. Just as he served the angels from the Lord, we were served.
You start with Abraham's servant giving you some information on his 'master'. He then hands out your stylish garb. I wouldn't look too closely. These were in need of some serious washing...

There is a camel ride involved. Sadly, I did not have my phone unlocked for others to take photos and I couldn't get to our camera in time as I forgot that my husband had it around his neck when we were climbing on.

So I'm sharing photos of what that process looked like with another couple instead. 
First, you have camels. These camels are actually ornery. One did NOT want to give rides. She was the lead camel. Ours wanted to eat the whole time so we did a LOT of leaning back.
                                Climb on - heaviest person on the back.
                 Lean back, as far as you can, but hold on tight too.
                      Brace yourself, as it is about to get a little bumpy!
                                                  Almost there....

Don't forget to have someone holding your camera so you can pose and make  it look painlessly smooth! 

I'm so glad I held off posting this one! As it turns out, someone was taking our photo while we were on the camel. We might not look as photogenic as the others I showed you, but we definitely enjoyed it! As I mentioned before, ours kept wanting to eat and had to be hauled back up to finish the ride. My husband was afraid he'd lose his hat the entire time. That or fall too far forward and send me head first over the camels head.
Now, that you have made it to Abraham's tent, you need to wash your hands for the feast that is to come. 
After a meal like we had, you definitely should take in the sights. There are bathrooms available here, so you haven't completely gone back in time. However, the untouched look of the land that lies before you is breathtaking to say the least.
                               Definitely bring your sunglasses though...
I was amazed to find these bright red flowers blooming in such rocky terrain. But they were sprinkled everywhere, adding color to the greens and browns that surrounded us.
Now, as you find yourself returning to the present day, watch your step. Camels don't have potties indoors, you know. Nor do the many goats that roam around.

Back in the present, you can check out some of their wares as well as get your license to ride a camel. Not to drive or own one! So don't get confused. In the gift shop, we were able to buy date honey, that I have since been able to make the wonderful date honey chicken they served us. It is fantastic! I shared their link above in the post. They should have an online shop you can check out.