I seriously thought I was going to the hot dry desert... apparently there is a rainy season. Seriously! After raining drizzling all morning the clouds parted just in time because we went on a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.
The American flag was raised and the anthem was sang. I was then surprised when the Canadian flag was brought out and raised. A few of the Americans even knew the words to our national anthem. The entire trip I had made sure everyone new I was Canadian and proud of it. I had Canadian pins and stickers everywhere! The Israeli flag was also raised and the anthem sung.
The owner of the boat was awesome! Below he is showing us how they would have cast the net to catch fish. He also taught us traditional folk songs and dances.
Swimmung prohibited?
Capernaum is where most of Christ's miracles were performed. He used this city as the base of his ministry after leaving Nazareth. Since He performed so many miracles here and even still many did not believe in him, He cursed the city. Capernaum is located on the Sea of Galilee and ten miles north of Tiberias.
Simon Peter's home. It kind of looked like someone built a spaceship over it.
Original wall of the temple. Side note: I bought the world's cheapest ponchos at the dollar store prior to leaving. They only kind of kept out the rain and Tim was too annoyed to wear his but I powered through to prove my point that the poncho was just fine!
Mount of Beatitudes was beautiful but I was sad that everything was changed and perfectly manicured. Although, I am grateful that religions have preserved the site even though it isn't exactly how I imagined it.
Being the young child that I am had to climb up on the fence and take a picture of what it would have really looked like. These sites are all traditional so I am pretty sure that everyone got it wrong and it was just on the other side of the fence...
Below is where when Christ would have stood when he called Peter off the Sea of Galilee and told him to lead the church and feed his sheep. My favourite general conference talk ever is By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, October 2012, The First and Great Commandment. The photo below is where what the talk is referring to would have taken place. Go read it. You won't regret it.
We went to the Golan heights and it was pretty awesome. This is border between Israel and Syria and is one of the most disputed areas. The border has moved back and forth over the years and so as we were driving up to the area it was crazy to see abandoned buildings and old bunkers. It is surreal for me to see this because living in Canada, war just isn't something I ever think about! I am very grateful for my rights and freedoms.
In the photo below, behind us is Syria. In front of us was a large hill and had lots of cameras and sensors that we weren't allowed to take pictures because it was Israel's "all seeing eye" for lack of better words!
Mt. Hermon is where the River Jordan begins and possible site of transfiguration. Here I told an Israeli I was from Canada and he told me that he was supposed to be from Canada....??? He said well when travelling in the wilderness they asked Moses where they were going and said Cacaca... Canaan.... but we all know he meant Canada. This area is absolutely beautiful.
Caesarea Philipi is also here and was built by Herod the Great, the city was embellished and and named Caesarea by his son Phillip.
Tel Dan is also at Mt Hermon and is the 2nd of 3 places where the Jordan River starts. This is where the City of Dan from ancient days later conquered by the Assyrians.
Tim sacrificed me...
Tel Hazor is a large ruin site. 21 levels of building over previous civilizations, covering 3000 years. That is about 142 years per civilization. Here is where Joshua destroyed the powerful Canaanite city.
Olive press
We ran all the way down a million steps to see the water well. I feel sorry for the people who had to carry the water up and down.
Tabgha is the possible site for the feeding of the 5000. Yeah... on the rock... that now has a church built on top of it....
My absolute favourite part of the trip was going to the Galilee branch house and meeting a LDS family. The husband's family was of Israeli descent and had fled years ago but promised to go back. So he married a girl from Logan Utah and then went back and started a family. This building is the only piece of land that the LDS church owns in Israel. They technically only rent the BYU Jerusalem center.
While going to all the different sites in Israel, I was becoming frustrated with the lack of sacredness and the fact that they had been enshrined with churches built on them. When we entered here I could feel the spirit so strong. We sang the hymn, I know that My Redeemer Lives, and I truly do believe that.
Seriously so beautiful! I am jealous that each Sunday they get to look out at the Sea of Galilee.
We got to ask this family why they continue to stay amongst so much turmoil. They replied that this is home. It is hard but it is home. They were truly amazing people and had been through so much. They said that even though it was hard to raise kids in Israel they wouldn't have traded being able to be and show them everything as they read the scriptures. Pretty amazing.
The site of the Jordan River where it is believed Christ was baptized.
It was awesome but I died laughing when I saw….
a massive crowd of Asians baptizing themselves in white robes. Don't forget that white is see through when it gets wet!!! Hahahahaha. Tim even talked to them in Asian:)
Beit Shean was destroyed by an earthquake in 749 AD. The ancient city contains 18 levels of settlements.
We tested out the acoustics of the theatre by having Stu (a judge from Utah) sing us opera songs in German. You could actually hear when sitting at the very top!
The tour group sitting and listening.
The bath house was the best! They seriously had the right idea going on.
Tim's favorite part of the trip was the Dead Sea. Seriously so amazing and everyone should go. The Dead sea lies 1300 feet below sea level making it the "lowest point on Earth." Annual average rain fall is less than 2 inches per year.
Seriously cool!
Oh and the land on the other side is Jordan...
Mesada is where Herod the Great (37-4BC) built his winter palace.When Rome marched on the Jews in 66 AD, a band of Jewish patriots, zealots, led by Menachem Ben Yehuda of Galilee fled to Masada and captrured. After a 3 year siege and the construction of an earthen ramp, the Romans broke into the fortress and found that all had killed each other and themselves, except 2 women and 5 children who had hidden. Masada has now become a shrine and symbol to the nation of Israel. "Masada shall not fail again!" was an oath of many cadets who graduated from Israel's military academy.
By hiking down the side of the mountain you could go and see Herod's special room. This is where the people who hid from the Roman's went.
The Qumran or Dead Sea Scrolls is considered the greatest archaeological find of the twentieth century.
A cave, such as this one, were where the scrolls were hidden. The scrolls were found by a Muslim shepherd boy.
BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies
Groundbreaking for the multi-million-dollar Center took place in August of 1984. Various arguments were raised by certain Jewish activists to stop construction of the center fearing the "Mormons" were building a "missionary centre" to convert Jews. Objections were met with the University and the Church making commitments to not use this Center or its study programs and tours to proselyte.
Years of free musical concerts were offered to local citizens and visitors, alike. World-class musicians are showcased. These efforts in the vein of a community offering, certainly portrayed the spirit of friendship and open-ness the center hoped to create and continues to generate.
Just out pressing some olives...
First look at the Western Wall! And it did not disappoint. The Western Wall is a portion of the wall Herod built around the west side of his Temple and is the holiest shrine of the Jewish world.
The wall is also known as the Wailing Wall for two reasons: 1. Early in the morning and late at night the wall is covered with drops of dew which legend says are tears that the wall sheds while weeping with the Israel in her exile. Legend also has it that in the dead of night a white dove representing the presence of God appears and coos sadly with the mourners. 2. The Jews come here to bewail the loss of there Temple. Today the tears shed are tears of joy, for Israel has returned from exile and is once more able to pray at the wall. Before the six-day war of 1967, Jews were not able to visit the wall.
Don't worry I was not shy and met and talked with lots of the Jewish people. I met an Orthodox Jew from Toronto! We good Canadians are just everywhere.
We also got to go under the wall. To get to the most western point of the wall.
Our tour guide Sam was awesome. He made sure to get us to Bethlehem first thing in the morning we could go the Church of the Nativity where Christ was born. Everything was so ornate and beautiful. You had to be super quiet. No touching, kissing, hand holding or even leg crossing or this guy would get mad at you!
We waited here to go into the cave which is where Christ was born. Honestly, if you hadn't told me I was in a cave, I would have never known.
In the cave where Christ was born.
Where the manger was placed.
The entrance to the church was purposefully made small so that back in the day people on horseback couldn't come in and loot the church.
The shepherds fields.
Caiaphas's house was the scene of Jesus' first trial. Here Peter three times denied knowing the Lord. The prison could have been the place where the apostles were imprisoned.
The steps where Jesus would have walked.
Standing on the Mount of Olives and looking out over the city of Jerusalem.
We went to Lazarus's tomb.
And then went on a camel ride!
The last full day spent in Jerusalem was definitely my favourite. We had loads of free time and were able to wander the streets. We went in to a shop where a guy just adored Mormons. He knew lots of the BYU Jerusalem and thought that they were the greatest. We spent hours in there and we tried on super neat hats and found lots of cool stuff including a picture taken on the mount of olives that we bought as a souvenir.
Our last morning, we woke up and went to where many people in the LDS church believe the garden tomb is. This site is beautiful, peaceful and amazing. On the inside of the tomb there is a plaque that says, "He is not here for he is risen!" That is very true and I am very grateful for my knowledge and testimony. It was fantastic to end on this high point.
We then packed up and headed to the airport. It was truly the trip of a life time and I am so happy that I was able to talk Tim in to it!
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