Before the Journey Begins

Sunday, February 21st 3p.m.

The journey begins tomorrow morning. At church this morning everyone kept asking, "How do you feel?" "Are you nervous?" I've been thinking about that all weekend: How do I feel?

Every summer I spend a few weeks at the beach. When I'm preparing for that vacation, I feel very excited and I can't wait to get there. I can't wait to feel the sand between my toes and watch the sun rise over the ocean. The excitement grows as the day of departure gets closer.

This trip doesn't feel anything like that. I don't even know how to think about it. It's so much bigger than anything I could ever imagine. I read the Bible and study every day. But as I study, I never imagine actually being in some of those places. Here is the itinerary:

Tuesday: Joppa, at the home of Simon the Tanner. Diner and overnight in Tel Aviv, Israel

Wednesday: Caesarea, where Peter was imprisoned for 2 years. Visit the Crusader's fortress
and Roman ruins. On to mount Carmel to visit the Carmelite Monastery. Lunch at Megiddo before visiting the ancient chariot city of King Solomon and Ahab. On to Mt. Tabor and up to the Mount of Transfiguration. Dinner and overnight at Sea of Galilee.

Thursday: Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha (site of loaves and fish miracle), Capernaum, Gergesa
(where Jesus healed 2 demon possessed men and the pigs rushed down into Sea of Galilee). We will enjoy a St. Peter's fish meal followed by a boat ridee on the Sea of Galilee to Tiberias. On to the site of the baptism at the river Jordan. We will have an opportunity to renew our baptismal vows in the Jordan.

Friday: Cana of Galilee, Nazareth, Church of the Annunciation, Joseph's workshop and Mary's
Well, Roman well, then on to Jerusalem stopping at Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist.

Saturday: Western Wall, Temple Mount, St. Stephen's gate, Church of St. Anne andn the Pool of Bethesda and we will follow Jesus' footsteps along the Via Delorosa, reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Calvary. Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room and the tomb of King David.

Sunday: Day of leisure to visit other churches

Monday: Mount of Olives, Hill of the Ascension, Garden of Gethsemane, Tomb of the Holy
Virgin, Valley of Kidron to the Pool of Siloah, and the Tombs of Absalom & Zaccariah. On to Bethlehem, then to the field of Ruth where Ruth met Boaz; Grotto of the Nativity as well as the manger where Mary placed the Child at birth.

Tuesday: Dead Sea, Sodom, qumran Caves where Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Back to
Jerusalem.

Wednesday: Yad Vashem, memorial to the 6 million Jewish martyrs of WWII. Israel Museum
Garden Tomb where we will share communion.

Now do you see why I can't imagine this? I will keep you posted as the journey begins.