I woke this morning to a view out of our little cabin that was amazing! But I think I told you that already. Maybe even sent a picture. If so, please excuse me--and continue to excuse me as I am no doubt going to repeat myself often over the course of the next few days, months, years as I recount all I have been seeing and hearing and doing.
We left our little kibbutz (neat new word with a great meaning lending itself to the restoration of Israel) and headed out to the Sea of Galilee. The song to start our day was Bless The Lord Oh My Soul.
We loaded our company of pilgrims onto a boat and took out across the Sea of Galilee. They played the Star Spangled Banner for us and then played the haunting melody of the Israeli national anthem. We had a worship service on the boat. We laughed, we cried, we prayed ,we sang, we listened,we learned.
We saw Mt Arbal (I haven`t looked that spelling up yet so my apologies) and I saw the Valley of the Dove--cannot wait to spend a little time on that one!
We saw a boat from Jesus` time they have uncovered and partially restored. We shopped in a gift shop. There are alot of those here!!
We went on to the Mt Of Beatitudes.
Sunday School gals--it wasn`t what I expected and will not go into detail here but stay tuned, I cannot wait to share with you in person what God laid on my heart there. I cannot even begin. I think I have 5 pages of journal notes just from our short time there.
Then on to Capernaum. The headquarters of Jesus` ministry. We saw what they believe to be Peter`s mother-in-law`s home, a synagogue and walked on ground quite possibly the woman with the issue of blood would have walked on and reached out to Jesus for a healing on.
We also visited the, based on tradition, spot where Peter re-dedicated his life to Christ.
I hope it doesn`t seem like I am making light of all I have been blessed to experience, but it is hard to give the highlights and narrow down all the information.
We ended our day with a baptism at the Jordan River. The same river Jesus was baptized in. The same river fed by the same streams that are fed by the same snows that fall on the same mountain as in Jesus` time. I will admit I had not determined I was going to do this. My own baptism was special. My own baptism was genuine. But I did. I am glad I did. I took the same handkerchief I was baptized with, my son was baptized with, my niece was baptized with--and it went with me into the waters of th Jordan. So many emotions.
I think I will close for today`s post. To say I am overwhelmed is an understatement. To say I am mesmerized is an understatement. To say I am fascinated is an understatement. To say I will be forever changed is an understatement!
