I came home from work one day and Frank, my husband, said, “Why don’t we see about a trip to Israel?” I replied that I thought that would be great. We had no up to date passports. So the first thing we did was apply for new ones. That was the year everyone had to have on just to go into Mexico or Canada, so we had to wait several months for ours to come. In September they arrived, Frank got on line and began looking at tour groups. He found one that went to Israel, but also to Egypt and Jordan. It was called the Exodus tour and began in Cairo and followed Moses trip from Egypt to Israel via Sinai and Jordan. I had plenty of vacation due. Frank called the company and we signed up to go leaving on Thanksgiving day and returning 15 days later.

We flew to Cairo and spent 3 days there. We saw much of Cairo, the pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx as well as the ancient city that was Egypt in Abraham’s day as well as Jesus’ time there are a young child. We saw many landmarks and our hotel was on the Nile delta. Then, we went through the Suez Canal tunnel into Sinai following the way Israel took. I could imagine hearing the griping of the Israelites as they passed through desert with all their wagons oxen, flocks and people walking and moving the animals they took with them. So very dusty and dirty. We waded in the Red Sea on our way to St. Catherine’s the town at the base of Mt. Sinai. We saw the springs of Myrra, the oasis at Elim. We walked through the valley of Rephidim where they had fought Amelek defeating them. Then finally arrived late for our dinner and stay at the cabins in St. Catherine’s. Some of our group rode camels and the walked many steps to the top of the mountain for the sunrise before coming down and betting on the bus to to on to the others side of the peninsula to get to Jordan. This was like being in a dream of the time of Moses. The country was desolate except for the oases. I can’t imagine walking with over a million people kicking up all that dirt and dust. We traveled by boat across the Red Sea into Jordan. The boat took us about four hours to cross. It was dark when we got to the city where we disembarked and were driven to the hotel in a large hotel in Ammon, Jordan.

The next morning we went to Petra. It took us a couple of hours to walk into the city and we were allowed to walk around it at will for about two more hours. It was so very fascinating and awe-inspiring because of all the structures that were carved into the limestone walls. All the buildings were carved out of the walls and the large temples were carved from the top of the wall down! There is a 2400 seat theater. When it was time to return, I decided not to walk but to ride a horse drawn carriage and one of the other ladies rode with me. Since there was only cobblestone in some areas and loose gravel in others, it was a bumpy ride. Our husbands walked up the same was we had gone in. What a great day it was. The next day we went to Medeba and saw the mosaic map of the region many years ago and finally made our way to Mt. Nebo where Moses was given a view of the promised land and we stood about where he did when he saw it. We looked to the east and saw the plains of Moab where Israel camped for several months. No one has ever found where God buried Moses. He died on the mountain, but Scripture says God buried Moses in a nearby valley.

After we left Nebo, we went to the transfer place into Israel. This was our only uncomfortable time/place of the trip. It was frightening because the arab police of Jordan took our passports and our baggage into their check areas. Since American passports are worth about 20k on the black market, we were very concerned. until they were returned to us along with our luggage. Breathing a sigh or two, we walked into the Israeli side of the terminal and found our bus. Thus began our ten days in Israel. We traveled to Joppa for the night on the Mediterranean Sea. I went down the hill and waded in the water. The sun was just setting in the west over the water and it was peaceful and beautiful. Back in the hotel we had a great buffet dinner. I like to try as much as possible the cuisine of the country that I am visiting. And in Israel we could drink the water! After a good nights sleep, we began our 10 day marathon traveling around Israel. We spent a night at the Dead Sea and went up Masada. Coming from the Dead Sea, Masada looked so high, but it is actually at sea level! The Dead Sea is 1250 feet below. We so enjoyed being in the Holy Land that God promises still to Israel. All the sights and sounds! We stayed four days on the sea of Galilee, even took a boat trip across it one evening. We saw an authentic first century fishing boat when we visited Capernaum. We went to Nazareth and saw the old town. We visited Bethlehem. All was very interesting and great to see. We walked up the Mt. Carmel where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal and proved our God is the Lord of heaven and earth.

We went to Caesarea and saw all that Herod the Great had built there. Then we entered Jerusalem and spent the rest of our time in and around Jerusalem. We went to the steps of the temple, then to the wailing wall and through the tunnel of the Rabbis. We saw where they believe was where the Holy of Holies was in the temple. We then went to the top of the Temple Mount and were able to spend time there. Then we walked out and followed the path that Jesus took to Calvaryd–the Via Delorosa to the Church where many believe Calvary is and the grave where Jesus was buried. Later we visited Gordon’s tomb which is near a hill that looks like a skull and a garden with a tomb in it. Much more like scripture states about these places. We participated with fellow believers in the Lord’s Supper in the garden.

Frank and I were blessed to take many trips together, but this one to the Holy Land trumps the all. We waited 43 years to go, but God made it possible because of the job He gave me after I retired from teaching we had the funds to do this. I can’t thank Him enough for making our desire a reality. Oh, how He loves us.