Virtual Tour
Join The Fellowship & Friends on our 2022 tour of Israel. Every day someone like you shared their thoughts about our adventure. This could be YOU!
בּוֹאוּ נֵלֵךְ
bon elech – let’s go…
February 4-5, 2022
Uncertain Paths
Humanly speaking, the future is unknowable. Who knew two years ago what the global impact of COVID-19 would be?
Percentage-wise, Israel is the most vaccinated country in the world. For most of the last two years, the borders have been closed to outsiders. As of this writing, we are en route to Israel with a small group headed for the land of the Bible. From departure to return, The tour lasts for 15-days. The obstacles to entering the country are many. Our group is flying from San Antonio to Houston to connect for Newark, where Lord willing, we will board our flight to Tel Aviv.
“Lord willing?” It is so easy to say. So hard to live by.
Roman Roads
In 63 B.C., Judea was conquered by Rome. Like Greece earlier, the rulers in Rome wanted to extend their influence around the known world. The Roman general Pompey laid siege to Jerusalem, took the city, and profaned the Temple. Later he appointed a High Priest that Rome could control.
As region after region fell to Roman soldiers, Roman slaves built roads to connect the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire with its capital. The expansive network of roads enabled armies to move quickly in response to rebellions and lawlessness. Ruling with an iron fist, Roman peace (Pax Romana) was the law of the land. Jesus and His friends knew well the roads built throughout Judea. Mary and Joseph likely used portions of this network on their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem preceding Jesus’ birth. Upon hearing of Herod’s plan to kill their son, the Via Maris (Way of the Sea) was likely the path of their flight into Egypt. When Herod was dead and no longer a threat, Joseph led his family back to Nazareth using Rome’s roads.
Most of the Jewish people in Israel during the days Jesus and His disciples lived matter of factly with the costs and benefits of Roman rule. One of the benefits of the road system built by Rome was that the Good News of the Gospel made its way to Rome by those willing to make the journey. Like it is for our group headed to Israel now, there were obstacles and dangers along the way. Who knew what could happen? Worry did not stop those willing to tell the story of the Bible to those who need to hear it beyond the border of Israel.
COVID – a blessing in disguise
The COVID pandemic has been both devastating and unique. Not even World Wars 1 & 2 impacted every person on the planet. COVID has. Our group is made up of people aged 22 to 67. There are five couples and six singles. Eugene, one of the singles, is married, but here without his family in Moldova. Another of our company is from Mexico. We are vocationally varied. You might even call our group eclectic. But COVID has impacted us all.
Access to airports and planes is limited by adherence to COVID guidelines. Once in Israel, our group will be one of the first to arrive since Israel opened the country to outsiders several weeks ago. We have been told that people are anxious to host us in their country. David Katz, the Deputy General Manager of Sar-El Tours, said, “I have to pinch myself because you are actually coming!”
The people in our group have empathy with others around the globe. Shannon, one of our group members, commented, “We have all been touched by COVID. This time is truly a unique in HIStory.” Alice added, “We have been given the gift of empathy with the people wee meet in Israel. Our common experience provides a platform for blessing others.”
We will already be in HaEretz, The Land, by the time you read this. Join us daily for a report from the road.
February 6, 2022
After jumping through all the hoops to get to Israel, we finally arrived at our first destination in Tel-Aviv. Warm greetings presented with sweet local treats, the Herod Hotel provided a needed respite from canceled flights, COVID testing, and endless documentation.
Hi! My name is Amy Post. I am a wife and a mom to four teenagers. I live in New Braunfels, Texas, and I’m so grateful to get to see and experience the places that I have only read about in Scripture.
We began our day by reading through Matthew 1-2. Then, all 15 of us loaded the bus and passed through Jaffa, followed by a short roadside stop in the Valley of Elah, where David defeated Goliath. Our first official destination was at Tel Maresha.
There, we excavated artifacts hidden and untouched for over 2,000 years, including bones, pieces of pottery, and an intact bowl. Next, we crawled through candlelit tunnels and squeezed through tight, muddy spaces while exploring the foundations and basements of the ancients. The Bell Caves, a unique rock quarry, was our next stop. These quarries created an unexpected acoustic experience as we sang, “How Great Thou Art,” a sweet aroma to the Lord.
After a fun, local lunch at the neighborhood gas station, we walked into a small Roman amphitheater. The entertainment enjoyed many years ago when animals consumed their human opponents was far different from entertainment today.
Our next stop was Lachish, to see the remnants of a great city, second in significance to Jerusalem during the Kingdom of Judah.
Our adventures today culminated in Beer Sheba for another’s night’s rest. Today was a day of discovery. We unearthed objects of ancient times. We unexpectedly walked in new places, and we witnessed things new to each of us. God is bringing to light new things as we walked ancient paths and experienced ancient peoples.
February 7, 2022
Hi! I am Jordan Post, husband to Amy (who wrote yesterday) and dad to the same four amazing teenagers. I am amazed that it is just day two of this blessed experience. My friends and family came together to make this trip possible for my 50th birthday.
We are traveling through Israel with Disciple Daily’s Fellowship and a few friends from our church. The Fellowship team consists of four young people (Dalí, Morgan, Blake, Alexis) and their leaders (Keith, Alice, Arlie Noemí). Together, they are investing a year of their lives in one another. It is a formal discipleship program, studying the Bible, practicing obedience through abiding, and finding their place in God’s grand story by teaching others about His creation.
As is The Fellowship’s practice, we began the day reading His Word. Today we read Matthew 3 & 4. Then we headed to Tel Beer Sheva, a settlement initially built before Abraham’s arrival around 2000 B.C. Tel Sheva has an extensive cistern system to preserve water brought into the city during times of rain and allow for water inside the city. One feature of Tel Sheva is a hand-dug, 250 foot deep well located just outside the city walls. This ancient well is on the suspected site of the location of the well where Abraham made an oath with Abimelech to establish his ownership.
We then boarded our bus to head further south in the Negev. Our stop was Mitzpe Ramon and the Makhtesh Crater, the most extensive geographical feature of its kind, an erosion cirque. Geologists believe it was formed when the center of the area fell due to erosion of the deeper landmass.
After taking this in for a short time, we were back on the bus heading south through the crater to a kibbutz known for its dairy products for lunch and, of course, ice cream.
Continuing to Timnah, we learned about the area’s rich copper deposits that the Egyptians used. Next, we visited a full-size replica of the Tabernacle. By traveling south through the Negev and Aravah, one gains a new depth of thought about the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years. Our guide at the Tabernacle reminded us that God has a purpose in all the details. Every aspect of the Tabernacle points to Jesus with the imagery and symbolism of the eventual covering of our sins by His blood.
The day concluded standing on the shore of the Red Sea. We were able to see Jordan to the East, Egypt to the West, and Saudi Arabia off to the further South East. Through all of today’s events, I am reminded of God’s provision, God’s attention to detail, and His purpose in those details. He has opened my eyes to be intentional about my role in His story.
February 8, 2022
Hello! My name is Caitlyn Stough. I am a registered nurse and a new wife to a wonderful husband. Boy, we’ve had a full three days!
We started the day at the Avdat National Park. The city was originally a Nabatean stop along the Spice Route. Spices originating in India and China made their way through the Negev en-route to Europe.
At our next stop, we paid our respects at the Ben Gurion Memorial of Sde Boker. We heard about Ben Gurion’s impact on Israel and the future he envisioned
Then, we made our way to Tel Arad, where we explored both the Caananite city that Joshua conquered and also the 1st Temple upper city. Both cities at Tel Arad have only one civilization layer, unlike most of the tels in Israel. It’s been incredible to walk in these cities built thousands and thousands of years ago.
We then scurried to our final destination, Kfar HaNokdim, in the desert near Masada. This location demonstrates the way of life for Bedouins. We rode camels. Yes. You read that right! Camels! What a once in a lifetime experience that was. We all laughed and enjoyed each other’s company. A wonderful dinner was prepared for us by the people of this community. After dinner, we went scorpion hunting, walking around in the dark, led by Max the scorpion expert.
Overall, it was a wonderful day, and we can’t wait to experience what the rest of this trip offers.
February 9, 2022
Hi, my name is Nathan Stough. My beautiful wife and I are blessed to spend our honeymoon in the Holy Land.
Today, we hiked up the siege ramp in Masada to see the excavated city. We saw where the Jews were trapped by the Romans and heard the tragically inspiring of the 967 Jewish patriots that died at Masada. “Never again!” We visited the synagogue where they found the writings of Ezekiel 37 concerning the “dry bones” of Israel coming to life again. That passage was read aloud, and we felt the power of life-giving Scripture.
Next, we hiked up through the nature preserve of En Gedi and saw a massive, gorgeous waterfall that feeds a stream ending in the Dead Sea. This is possibly the same area where David fled from Saul, found him in a mountain cave, and spared the life of the Lord’s anointed.
Qumran followed En Gedi. We learned about scroll creation, probably by the Essenes, using skins from kosher animals. Many Old Testament scrolls were found at Qumran, preserved by the dry and dense atmosphere at almost 1,300 feet below sea level.
At a location near the likely place Jesus was baptized, I witnessed the baptizing of my wife and many others in the Jordan River. There was an overwhelming joy watching others’ humble and hungry obedience to God’s instruction.
Finally, the Dead Sea! Yes, you’ve heard about it, but it’s definitely a box on the bucket list you’ll need to make sure gets checked. Once our day was complete, we traveled to Ein Harod to unload, eat dinner, and rest after a long day.
We are all excited to see what comes next.
February 10, 2022
Shalom, everyone! My name is Morgan Aragon. I am currently on The Fellowship 2021-2022 team and have the honor and privilege to share what we did today in the Holy Land.
If I could describe today’s theme, it would be… God’s promises. Again and again, we saw this theme spoken and seen through the places we explored today.
First off, on a personal note, God fulfilled a promise given to me five years ago. I was supposed to come to Israel, and then the trip got canceled. I am sitting here next to the Sea of Galilee typing this blog. God is a promise keeper. God put the desire to see the Holy Land in my heart years ago. He didn’t leave me with a desire He couldn’t fulfill. He was getting me ready to receive the anointing and power that comes from this experience. I wasn’t ready then, but I am now, with my hands wide open.
This morning the group started the day at Beit She’an, where the Philistines hung the headless bodies of Saul and his sons on the city’s wall. It’s truly amazing to see the ruins of this place. There is so much history in one place, from the exposed floors to the lush scenery to the toilet system. One thing that stood out to me at Beit She’an was when our tour guide connected this city with the prodigal son story. He connected it by sharing that the rebellious son would likely have run to a town like Beit She’an to party. It made the story’s weight more real and relatable.
Next, while still at Beit She’an, my roommate and fellow team member shared the story of Noah and the Nations. She did an incredible job sharing the stories! Before she shared, we quietly prayed that a rainbow would come out during the day. Later that day, a rainbow appeared on top of Mt. Arbel! It was a reminder of God’s unconditional promises!
Later, we headed to Nazareth. To me, the architecture and overall feel of Nazareth were so incredible. To visit Jesus’ hometown was a special moment for the group. We visited Nazareth’s village, where we got to tour an open-air museum that showcases the village life of Jesus’ time. We, as a group, got to pray for our tour guide. It was a powerful moment in our day.
Next, we visited Mt. Arbel, where we could see the entire landscape of the Sea of Galilee and the beautiful landscape of the area where so much of Jesus’ ministry occurred. We saw the rainbow that we prayed for earlier in the day come out right as we arrived. It was a special moment and acknowledgment from the Lord.
We concluded our day in Magdala, where a 1st-century synagogue was discovered, one of the few places in Israel that we are almost certain Jesus taught based on evidence and scripture. Overall, the day was full and rich in the presence of the Lord. From the moment we woke up to now sitting in a hotel next to the sea. God is with us here and continues to take care of His people through His everlasting promises.
February 11, 2022
Shalom from Israel! I’m Noemí Francis, and I’m with Disciple Daily.
One of my favorite places in the world is the land of Israel, and being here with a tour group is always a joy. I’ve been reminded many times that God has surrounded us with beauty.
This chilly morning we left the magnificent Sea of Galilee and arrived at Tel Dan Nature Reserve to the sound of rushing water. Since we’re here during the rainy season, we’ve been able to see, hear, and sometimes feel water all around us. We know the countryside needs rain now to get through the rest of the year. This northern stream is one of the sources of the Jordan River and flows from the rain and snow that fall on Mt. Hermon. We were overwhelmed by the beautiful snow-capped mountain this morning. Along the road, we could see the beginnings of colorful wildflowers.
Our second stop was Banias, also known as Caesarea Philippi, the site of several ancient pagan temples, including one to Pan. Amid much depravity, Jesus took His disciples to the area and asked who they believed He was. In Matthew 16, we read Peter’s stirring confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. May we always be so bold!
Our next stop was a delicious lunch of pita and labne in a Druze village. The Druze people are Arabs with a very distinctive and closed religious system. They are a small minority found in this area and southern Lebanon and Syria. Our next stop was the complete opposite as we visited the Talmudic Village, where we learned of the formation of the Talmud and saw the ruins of a once-thriving community. We ended the touring portion of our day with a stop at an olive oil factory.
After enjoying a delicious Shabbat dinner at our kibbutz back at the Sea of Galilee, I fell into bed exhausted but grateful for the beauty God surrounded me with all day long. Shabbat Shalom!
February 12, 2022
My name is Dalí Jácome and I come to The Fellowship from Vera Cruz, Mexico. Today it has been a week since we arrived in Israel 🇮🇱
The Sea of Galilee? It’s just a breath taker. Today we started our journey with a boat ride. By far, the boat was my favorite experience. Knowing the many miracles Jesus did around the lake, Jesus walking on water towards his disciples is very special to me. That gives me a picture of how God is always looking for us, walking towards us. As we can see in this passage, the only thing that He requires from us is FAITH (belief in Him).
But immediately, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” – Matthew 14:27-31
We all have been this person wanting to walk in faith on the water. But, whenever we pass through a trial, soaked in doubt, that is when we start sinking. It’s beautiful how Jesus, knowing what would happen, didn’t let Peter sink at all. He “immediately stretched out His hand.” Jesus is never going to let us drown. Being in that boat in the middle of the sea was so powerful.
Moving on, we went to Tabgha to see the traditional site known for the feeding of five thousand men and their families with five loaves and two fish. Capernaum was next, the place that became the home base for Jesus’ Galilean ministry. Jesus moved to Capernaum after He was rejected in HIs hometown, Nazareth. From Capernaum, Jesus traveled around the cities of Galilee, performing miracles and amazing hearers with His parables. Capernaum was one of three cities Jesus cursed for their unbelief. The others were Korazim, which we saw, and Bethsaida, which we did not.
When lunchtime arrived, we went to eat fish, right there on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and comes the story of Jesus asking Peter to go and fish and the first fish caught, “ Open its mouth and take the shekel out to pay the Temple tax for you and Me.”
We kept moving forward to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus saw the crowds, went up the mountain, and started teaching them. It’s incredible how the topography and the acoustics in that area were ideal.
We ended the day at Hippos, one of the ten cities of the Decapolis. Hippos was a vast, well-developed city on a high hill over the Sea of Galilee. There, we saw one of the most beautiful sunsets ever as the sun hid behind a mountain on the other side of the Sea.
February 13, 2022
Hello, how is everybody? My name is Blake De León. I am part of The Fellowship with Disciple Daily. I’ve had an incredible privilege to be blessed with this Israel trip. I have had so much fun that I forgot about my personal blogs for the past couple of weeks. So let me tell you some of the things about today’s journey that I really enjoyed.
We started with a museum that had an ancient Galilean boat. It dates back to the time of Jesus. The boat and the story of its discovery is one of the most significant discoveries around the Sea of Galilee.
Next, we made our way to Tel Megiddo in the Jezreel valley. From the top of Meggido, looking left to right, you can see many significant places on the hilltops. You first see Mt. Carmel, where Elijah the Prophet confronted and defeated the 450 prophets of Ba’al. Moving to the right is Nazareth, where Jesus grew up. Towards the middle is Mt. Tabor, the traditional site of Jesus’ transfiguration. Again, to the right is Mt. Gilboa. Many of the Judge’s stories occurred in this area, including Gideon’s. King Saul committed suicide nearby.
Meggido is mentioned in the Book of Revelation as the place where the enemies of God will gather for the last battle before judgment. Combining the view from the top of Tel Megiddo with Revelation was by far my favorite part of the day.
The journey continued as we “went up” to Jerusalem, the City of Peace. The drive took about 4 hours, retracing our previous route north through the Jordan Valley from Jericho to the Sea of Galilee. From Jericho, we loosely followed the Jericho Road to the area of Bethany on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives. I couldn’t help thinking about what it looked like during Jesus’ time. The sun was setting, so we made our way to Bethphage to walk the well-known route Jesus would have taken entering into the city during the pilgrimage feasts of Israel, including Passover. Walking close together, I was amazed by the Arab culture in that part of the city, the kids in the streets, and the setting sun. We made it to the top just in time to see the sun over the Temple Mount. Coming over the hill and seeing the Temple Mount for the first time was stunning. From the Mount of Olives where Jesus ascended to Heaven, we made our way on foot through the Kidron Valley, passed the Western Wall, and arrived at the Sephardic House in the Jewish Quarter, our home for the next four nights.
Just think, Jerusalem is the most sought-after place on Earth. What an incredible way to start the week. God bless, thank you for reading!
February 14, 2022
Hello! Today, it is Blake writing to you once again. WOW! Let me tell you, the first full day in Jerusalem was one to remember. Powerful and emotional.
First up was Yad Vashem, Israel’s national memorial of the Holocaust. The Hebrew term used to discuss the Holocaust is “Shoah,” meaning “catastrophe.” The memorial is a huge complex. First, we reverently walked through an area known as the Valley of Communities, a giant stone maze. The names of the cities where Jews were taken from by force by the Nazis were inscribed over all the stones. 6,000,000 Jewish people died in the concentration camps! Imagine. Today, some people deny this happened. The purpose behind the massive rocks is to give future generations an image of something the human mind can’t fathom.
We then made our way to the main museum. In high school, I visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. But, since I’m older now, I have a deeper understanding of the war. My mind was fixated on many questions, the result of personal studies, my Marine Corps experience, and now as a believer in Jesus.
I saw videos, pictures, diagrams, and letters I had not seen before. All those pictured carried their own burdens, sorrow, and hopelessness. I looked at them and felt their pain as I, too, have been very close to death. I could feel the evil of the Nazi regime and the demonic insanity of Hitler’s mind. The suffering and chaos in Jewish ghettos and concentration camps are beyond my understanding.
The uniqueness of the museum is in the way that it ends. As you exit the main museum, you walk out the doors to view Jerusalem today. Rolling hills, a beautifully green terrain with houses, birds are flying, and the sound of peace. I asked myself. “Could Israel be where it is now without the Shoah ever happening?”
Jews returning to Israel after WW2 in 1945 went straight into another war with Israel’s neighboring countries. Their Arab neighbors saw them as weak, presenting a perfect opportunity to take Israel as their own possession. In 1948, David Ben-Gurion declared the re-creation of Israel as a modern nation. Battles were waged. Miraculously, the rag-tag Jewish army secured the State of Israel against all odds.
During the afternoon, we visited Gush Etzion. The Gush is an area of four communities forced to defend themselves against Arab neighbors who wanted their land. We participated in a multi-media show that told the story, represented by the central Lone Oak of the area, with a group of Jewish fathers and sons from Great Britain. The presentation put the audience right in the middle of the fighting. The settler’s experience became our own. Our guide, Shlomo, and his wife created a beautiful mosaic displaying the Gush Etzion communities.
Truly incredible. God bless.
February 15, 2022
Shalom, this is Alexis Corley!
Today was our first day in Jerusalem. It is a blessing to stay in Jerusalem for four nights; the part of the trip was what I have been looking forward to the most. I am particularly interested and learning about Jerusalem’s people.
We started the day in the City of David, where David likely once resided. Afterward was the exploration of Hezekiah’s Tunnel, a tunnel cut through a solid granite mountain that is 533 meters long. Hezekiah’s engineers built the tunnel to protect Jerusalem’s water source from Assyria’s Sennacherib, who would besiege the city. Water still flows through it to what was once the Pools of Siloam.
Climbing up to the Old City underground through an ancient drainage system, we made our way to the base of the Western Wall. Herod the Great expanded the platform around the Second Temple built by Zerubbabel. Then he renovated Temple itself. The Southern Steps leading up to the Temple were spread apart in such a way to cause worshippers to approach God’s House slowly, allowing for the contemplation of His Word, likely the Psalms of Ascent. I thought it was interesting how each step was spread apart so that worshipers would approach the Temple slowly and thoughtfully. On the Southern Steps, where Jesus likely taught 2,000 years ago, we heard the personal story of Shannon Marek. What a sweet time!
Finally, we made it to the Western Wall. We have seen many ancient cities and learned about the history of this country. However, I am also curious about modern-day Isreal. Before this trip, I knew very little about Jewish culture and beliefs. Walking the streets of Jerusalem, you one gets immersed in it. Like people everywhere, the Jews are not of a single mind in what they believe. Some are religious; others have no religious belief at all. The same is true of the Arab population.
Religious Jews pray and study the Tanakh and Talmud in the Jewish Quarter. The Tanakh is the Hebrew Bible known to most as the Old Testament. The Talmud holds the is commentaries of the famous rabbis of Rabbinic Judaism on the Tanakh. Many men wore kippahs or large black hats on their heads. Women dressed modestly, some wearing wigs to hide their hair from anyone except their husbands. On Shabbat, almost all Jews hustle to prepare for a day of rest. The city grew quiet. It was so intriguing to see a whole nation prioritize rest and family.
For me, our visit to the Western Wall was the most eye-opening. Men and women have separate sections of the wall for praying. Virtually none of the Jewish people pray personal prayers. They pray from a prayer book called the Siddur. I entered the women’s side, observing and taking it all in. Women in all stages of life and different socioeconomic statuses were making their way to the wall. Many rocked back and forth praying from the Siddur, touching the wall reverently. The rocking motion is a focusing technique called “shuckling.”
Looking around, I felt convicted by the people’s devotion to prayer and study. Both practices were such a significant part of their everyday life. I aspire to become as disciplined in my faith. I also felt saddened, aware that these Jewish women were still living under the burden of the Oral Law of Judaism. They have not experienced the freedom available to all in the New Covenant. Yet, they devote so much time and energy observing what someone else taught about the Bible. I thank God that He sent His Son for this very reason, or else I too would not have experienced that freedom.
We got a taste of what day-to-day life is like for a local. The Lord continues to work on my heart concerning the Jewish people. While Jesus did so much of His ministry in Jerusalem, most Jews don’t know Him. Leaving Israel, I will continue to pray that the Jewish people will be open their eyes to what their Messiah has already done for them, that one day they experience the freedom Yeshua offers.
February 16, 2022
Shalom, this is Alexis Corley, and I am from New Braunfels, TX. I am a teamer in The Fellowship program.
Israel has been a bucket list trip for me for years. It has been a privilege and joy to experience this amazing country. This is not “your grandmother’s tour,” as Arlie says. We have traveled most of the country from Dan to Beersheva.
Nearing the end of our trip today, we saw the two suspected burial sites of Jesus. One was the Holy Sepulcher. This location is where most of Christendom believes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus occurred.
Approaching the Garden Tomb, the site I was most eager to see, I had many expectations. I thought that I would experience a flood of emotions. To finally see the place where the culmination of the Gospel took place. However, it wasn’t the tomb that moved me. It was our tour guide, Allison.
Within minutes of meeting her, she broke into tears. “You are the first group I have guided in over two years!” How grateful she was to finally be back at her job, sharing the Good News. Allison explained the Gospel in such a passionate and personable way. Her love and gratitude for her Savior were evident, and we were all touched by her.
In the end, it wasn’t the tomb itself that reminded me of Christ, but rather it was Allison. The tomb is empty! While it still holds significance, He isn’t there anymore. Today I was reminded of His Spirit. I saw Christ through Allison. We don’t need to go to Israel or a Temple to experience His nearness. His Spirit dwells within us. What a sweet reality that is!
February 17, 2022
It’s Arlie’s birthday, so we sang to him. Finally, after walking almost twenty miles the last two days, we are back on the bus with Aharon. Schlomo sang the birthday song in Hebrew, which was awesome! We went to Sheperd’s Fields in Bethlehem, giving us an idea of what the area where our Lord Jesus was born could’ve been like. It’s a little shocking to know that the manger was pretty much made of stone and not wood. The stable may have been a cave. There wasn’t a lot of wood around.
We kept moving, leaving Bethlehem for the Herodion. We watched a video film about how Herod the Great created a fortress by making a mountain. When Herod died, He was brought back the Herodion and buried there. The mountain palace was made to be a high place to overlook all the area, even Jerusalem. The Herodian was destroyed under Herod’s orders after he died to keep anyone else from using it.
After a delicious lunch back in Bethlehem, we started our journey to Shiloh. The ark of the covenant was placed at Shiloh after Joshua’s conquest of the Promised Land. It was fantastic to know that there was proof that Shiloh was there, and it was a big city. Even if we believe by faith, every proof of evidence from that time is of real importance to the storyline.
We left Shiloh headed to our last destination of the day, our hotel in Hadera by the Mediterranean Sea. Our rooms were on the 13th floor with a fantastic ocean view. God is so good. Day by day, we have all been amazed.
February 18, 2022
Hello everyone, Morgan again!
Today was our last day in Israel. We went to Caesarea Maritima and walked along the water’s edge. We saw the aqueduct, hippodrome, and theater! It was fascinating to see this part of Paul’s journey in the Bible. As a group, we enjoyed pizza and ice cream near the beach. Then, we explored Jaffa and spent time near the water again. We all enjoyed a final farewell dinner before most of the group headed to the airport!
This trip has been one that we will remember forever, both individually and as a group.
Thanks for following along on our Israel journey. I pray you get to experience Israel one day as well. Prayerfully consider joining Disciple Daily on future trips!
May the Lord bless you and keep you. Shalom.
February 19, 2022
We’re home.
If you look back through the images and videos on this page, you may notice something important. There are very few churches and religious sites profiled. During 14 days of the exploration of Israel, our people experienced the unfolding design structure of Scripture. This itinerary introduced participants to the entire story of the Bible, from Genesis through Revelation.
Along the road, members of The Fellowship demonstrated the hand-signs and keywords of the biblical narrative to establish a biblical timeline on which twelve key stories rest. All doctrine and theology rest on the storyline of the Bible. For the rest of their lives, the people who traveled with us will have an imprint on their biblical understanding that they are ready to share with those they will disciple at home, in their neighborhoods, at work, and wherever else they engage others.
Experience Israel tours with Disciple Daily are not the dream vacation of your grandparents. They are an excellent way to kickstart your disciple-making ministry, the work you have been commissioned to by the Lord Jesus. We would love to have you join us on one of these tours soon!
