*Please note, for some reason I cannot post pictures on here right now. However, I can post on Facebook....so if you are on Facebook you can see some new ones there.
Friday, January 14, 2011
We began Friday morning in a meeting and dialogue with Rabbi Sinclair at the Center of Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation in Effrat, Israel (occupied West Bank). Following our meeting with Rabbi Sinclair we journeyed to the Arub Refugee Camp and met with a gentleman named Hisham. These two very differing perspectives were presented with much passion as we were attempting to dialogue and gain understanding as to differing views of these two groups of individuals and the role which the United States plays in each.
We finally had a free afternoon which most of us spent walking through some of the old shops in Old Bethlehem.
After dinner, several of our group ventured out to the local cafe/ice-cream shop for dessert. We concluded the evening playing a rather lively game of Catch Phrase.
It was nice to have some free time...finally!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Today we spent most of the day on the bus traveling from Bethlehem to Nazareth...the town where Jesus grew up. While enroute we made a lunch stop in Jericho...historically the oldest city in the world. We had a wonderful lunch and visited with some of the locals in the town square who were very friendly.
As we arrived in Nazareth our first stop was at the Church of the Annunciation. A Catholic church in Nazareth which is built around and over the home of Jesus as he grew up in the area. There was a beautiful service in progress as we entered and it was a truly wonderful feeling to experience worship in such a beautiful and historic place.
We arrived at our destination for the night, St. Margaret's Guest House. An old convent which has been converted into a hotel. (See pics on Facebook). I was able to the devotion time for our group tonight and I focused on Isaiah 45:9 "Change my heart, O God. You are the Potter I am the clay, mold me and make me after Your will." My one desire through this whole process is that God would use this journey to mold my life in a unique way....and I believe He has. This is kind of what I shared and challenged our group with tonight...that each of us would take away from this experience something that has transformed us.
Tomorrow is another early day as we venture to the Sea of Galilee for a boat ride.
The time here is winding down and this has been a truly lifechanging experience. I look forward to seeing you all soon and sharing in more detail about this experience.
Shalom!
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