Saturday Update from Israel
Greetings from Israel!
We have just now found real internet access, and our international cell phone has not worked as planned here, but all is well. In fact, the trip has been fantastic already.
Our flight to Amsterdam was right on time. We caught a bus into the city and walked up to the home of Corrie Ten Boom just 10 minutes before the next English tour. It was fascinating to learn about how Jews were hidden from the Nazi's in her home. We even crawled and stood inside the "hiding place." Since we were on our way to Israel, we became a bit of the attraction with respect to many of the Dutch who were on the tour. In fact, two college young ladies heard us asking for a lunch recommendation and offered to take us to the restaraunt were they worked just a few blocks away. We had a great meal, walked down beautiful old Dutch streets, and learned all about modern Dutch culture and life from them. It was a great cultural exchange for everyone involved. We found our way back to the airport, waited about 2 hours, then continued our trip.
We arrived in Israel right on time although with our systems very confused about the time due to our stop in Europe. We are picked up just as planned and taken straight to the hotel for about 3 more hours of sleep. While I (Matthew) am sure the team thought I was crazy for scheduling a full day of touring right away, it went great and prepared everyone to sleep through the night on Friday night.
We visited Bethany and the site of the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary; the Mount of Olives: point of ascension, Gethsemane which still has 8 olive trees that would have been there during the time of Christ, and the spot from which Jesus wept over Jerusalem; The Old City: Wailing Wall and catacombs, site of the Upper Room, the Via Dolorosa, the site of Calvary and the Empty Tomb, as well as the alternate Garden Tomb and Crucifixion site; as well as numerous lesser known sites. It was a great, full day!
It is midday Saturday and we have been working at the East Jerusalem Church, helping with the expansion of parking space within their beautiful garden area. it is a beautiful day (as it was in Amsterdam and our day touring Jerusalem) and everyone is doing very well. There has already been a LOT of laughter within this team and we look forward to moving to our quarters in Bethlehem tonight and then worshiping back in East Jerusalem in the morning.
Since the international phone we planned for emergency contact isn't working, Matthew purchased an Israeli SIM card and here is the number that can be used for emergency contact (remember we are 8 hours ahead of Memphis): 011 972 522779721
We will share more through the week as we can. Blessings from Jerusalem!
We have just now found real internet access, and our international cell phone has not worked as planned here, but all is well. In fact, the trip has been fantastic already.
Our flight to Amsterdam was right on time. We caught a bus into the city and walked up to the home of Corrie Ten Boom just 10 minutes before the next English tour. It was fascinating to learn about how Jews were hidden from the Nazi's in her home. We even crawled and stood inside the "hiding place." Since we were on our way to Israel, we became a bit of the attraction with respect to many of the Dutch who were on the tour. In fact, two college young ladies heard us asking for a lunch recommendation and offered to take us to the restaraunt were they worked just a few blocks away. We had a great meal, walked down beautiful old Dutch streets, and learned all about modern Dutch culture and life from them. It was a great cultural exchange for everyone involved. We found our way back to the airport, waited about 2 hours, then continued our trip.
We arrived in Israel right on time although with our systems very confused about the time due to our stop in Europe. We are picked up just as planned and taken straight to the hotel for about 3 more hours of sleep. While I (Matthew) am sure the team thought I was crazy for scheduling a full day of touring right away, it went great and prepared everyone to sleep through the night on Friday night.
We visited Bethany and the site of the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary; the Mount of Olives: point of ascension, Gethsemane which still has 8 olive trees that would have been there during the time of Christ, and the spot from which Jesus wept over Jerusalem; The Old City: Wailing Wall and catacombs, site of the Upper Room, the Via Dolorosa, the site of Calvary and the Empty Tomb, as well as the alternate Garden Tomb and Crucifixion site; as well as numerous lesser known sites. It was a great, full day!
It is midday Saturday and we have been working at the East Jerusalem Church, helping with the expansion of parking space within their beautiful garden area. it is a beautiful day (as it was in Amsterdam and our day touring Jerusalem) and everyone is doing very well. There has already been a LOT of laughter within this team and we look forward to moving to our quarters in Bethlehem tonight and then worshiping back in East Jerusalem in the morning.
Since the international phone we planned for emergency contact isn't working, Matthew purchased an Israeli SIM card and here is the number that can be used for emergency contact (remember we are 8 hours ahead of Memphis): 011 972 522779721
We will share more through the week as we can. Blessings from Jerusalem!
posted by CUMC Team | 4:07 AM
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