Reflections after the Pilgrimage

Written by Susan Parish

The first questions my friends have asked since I returned home were typical ones - How was the trip and did it meet your expectations? My answer of course was that it was an amazing journey on many levels, but I really didn't go with any specific expections.

A trip to The Holy Land has never been “on my bucket list”, but when I heard Melissa Maher was leading the trip, it caught my eye. After several years of attending her ladies Bible study, knowing how she always tied her “rabbit trails” to the scriptures we were studying and brought out creative and thoughtful perspectives from the Bible, I gave the trip more serious consideration. I knew she would be the catalyst for an amazing journey - and she was! This was the trip of a lifetime on many levels!
There were so many places that were deeply and intensely spiritual, largely through the peace and serenity they provided. To walk on the paths that Jesus walked, to sail on the Sea of Galilee where He had been, and to stand in the prison where He was held hours before His death and feel the torment He must have been feeling, were all very powerful and emotional places for me. And of course I have to mention the cable car discussion! We were talking about the different ways we hear God speaking to us, sometimes very softly, sometimes very clearly. I mentioned that I remind God how hard headed I can be and he needs to hit me over the head with a 2x4 sometimes! No sooner than it came out of my mouth, our cable car banged against the side of the platform with a very loud clang! God does hear us and He does have a great sense of humor!

But a couple of things really surprised me. There were places that were so crowded you could hardly move and long lines we had to wait in to see the “traditional” sites. What kept going through my head was the fact that ALL of these people (Jew, Muslim, & Christian) were here for one reason - to worship the one true God, sincerely and intensely, and it was a beautiful. The other thing that finally dawned on me was that even with all the chaos and commercialization in many places, God was always there IF we listened for Him. It was a reminder to me that here at home with all the “stuff” and “to do’s” that we have in our daily lives, God is still with us and always there for us. It has given me a better plan to deal with the traffic and the lines and the crowds. If God can be in the middle of the masses in Jerusalem, I know He is always with me in the chaos and the calm here in Houston, and that gives me a stronger sense of serenity and connection! 

Back home

We weary pilgrims made it home late last night. Due to poor internet connections and some trip exhaustion, the blog trailed off. We will post some more pics from our last days in Jerusalem as well as some reflections by some of the pilgrims. 

Here we are on the steps of the Church of the Holy Sepulchure built in the 4th century. 

Truly, we became church family these last 14 days, sharing in the depth of the bonds of Christ's love. 

Qumran, Masada and the Dead Sea

As the pilgrimage nears it's final stage, the miracle in the Holy Land seems to be that we are packing 36 hours into each day! Sorry for the lack of posts but the internet has been sketchy and the "readiness for sleep" factor has been high!

On Monday we visited Qumran where large portions of OT scrolls were found in 1947. A shepherd was chasing a lost sheep that fell in a cave. Then, a discovery beyond all biblical discoveries. The scrolls were from the Essenes who methodically copied the scriptures. The entire book of Isaiah was discovered along with fragments and portions of many other books. We have more copies today of biblical books than of any other major work such as Plato or Socrates or Shakespeare!

Cave #4 where many of the scrolls were found. 

Cable car up to Masada. 

Looking down from Herod's palace and fortress. Also you can see the roman encampments from when they overtook the last of the survivors at Masada near 73 AD. 

Dead Sea in the background. 

Peter Johns, Gail Casson, Melissa Maher and Amy Eggert walked down Masada. Much better than walking up!!

A few yoga poses on the hike down. 

Our tour guide Jacob who never tires!! (Even with our numerous questions!)

We all agreed there we would NO pics of us floating in the Dead Sea. Rest assured for the 15 of us that did, the belly laughter and child-like moments were priceless. 

From birth to triumphant entry

We began the morning with a visit to the tomb of Rachel (the wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin). We arrived first thing in the morning and there was a steady group of women and men coming to pray. The areas for prayer are separated--men on one side and women on the other. Each coming for morning prayers, reciting the shema or other prayers from the psalm books. Because Rachel died in childbirth with Benjamin, many women also come to pray for those who are experiencing a difficult pregnancy or who are desiring to become pregnant. 

The tomb is right next to the wall which divides the West Bank from Israel. Next, we crossed into the West Bank and went to Bethlehem where we met our Palestinian guide. He informed us of the dwindling number of Christians who live in the West Bank. Many are leaving because of the difficult circumstances. After some tremendous shopping at a shop owned by a family that has relatives in Kingwood, TX (small world!), we went to see the grotto where Jerome translated the bible into Latin in the 4th century. Because today was Sunday, we were rushed in to see the grotto in between catholic mass services. We had a chance, though, to sing O Little Town of Bethlehem. I reflected on our recent Advent series at chapelwood where we spoke of the paradoxes of the birth of Jesus, particularly of the line taken from that Philip Brooks hymn--"yet in thy dark street shineth, the everlasting Light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight."

On. To the church of the nativity. Talk about a crowded place with "ownership" by three churches--Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian. To be honest, it was difficult to wrap our minds around the significance of the place while we stood in a queue waiting for our turn with some people pushing and trying to jump ahead in the line. But we took a moment to pause and breathe in the significance, read John ch.1 and give thanks for the Word which dwelt among us. Each of us had the chance to bend and touch and/or kiss the star which marks the traditional spot of Jesus' birth (since about 356 AD).  We all gathered then at the back of the grotto and knelt with our faces to the ground as Melissa read Philippians 2--(paraphrased here)

Have the same mind of Christ Jesus, who though he was Divine, took the form of humanity. Becoming like one of us. Submitting himself to death, even death on a cross. Yet God exalted Him above all--Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess. He. Is. Lord. 

Next we had a delicious lunch on the shepherds hill where it is believed the angel appeared to the shepherds. Perhaps but regardless the local Palestinian food and hospitality was exceptional. 

The day ended with a walk down the Mt of Olives, pausing to read from the gospel of Luke, Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, his triumphant procession into Jeruslaem (as a symbol of His Kingship), and his prayer in the garden of gethsemane. Gethsemane means olive press. Here, a familiar place where Jesus would have prayed during his trips to Jeruslaem Jesus was pressed in His grief--to the point of his sweat turning into blood. Here, in the garden, the angels attended to him as He prayed asking for God to let this cup pass--yet not my will but thy will be done. In Genesis, the dove returns so Noah with an olive branch as a sign that creation has come out from the flood waters and chaos. This time the Savior of the world (in whom all things were created) is attended by angels in an olive grove and soon he will demonstrate and proclaim to the world that creation has emerged from the waters of chaos and that life will swallow up death. 

In one day we traveled from manger to garden. Each of us considering how we've experienced Christ being born in us and our struggle to have the mind and spirit of Christ within us. 

Church of the Nativity

All nations, tribes and tongues are gathered in this place!

Waiting to take our turn and stoop down to touch/kneel before the grotto and place where Christ was born. 

Palestinian lunch

View from the Mt of Olives

We had many moments for prayer and reflection and silence today. We were lucky that the sites were mostly empty. I guess not every other pilgrim group is as used to the cold as were are. 

Allison Wegenhoft and Don Ratteree (father daughter enjoying this experience together)

Exterior of the Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Garden of Gethsemane (olive press) where Jesus prayed. No doubt this was the place. Some of the trees date back to Jesus' day with the oldest dating almost 2,050 years old. Quite surreal to see snow on the ground there!

We've arrived in Jersualem

We have journeyed along the Jordanian plains and mountains the last three days. Today we bid farewell to our tour guide Ahmed (see pic below) and entered back into Israel, into the West Bank to see Jericho and the Mt of Temptations (traditional site).

Early morning along the Dead Sea. Shortly after this picture was taken, you could clearly see Jerusalem!

Ahmed and Jeff Hoye

Pam and Terry Davis at the Dead Sea this morning. We will float in the sea in a few days :)

Driving across the Judean wilderness. Quite stunning compared to the other terrains we've seen--fertile plains, snow topped mountains and dry river beds. 

Jim Ledbetter has been our resident photographer and may make a lot of money when we return with some of the photos he's taken (read--he's got blackmail on a few of us!!)

Cable car up to the Mt of Temptations with a monastery on top. 

Panoramic view from tel of Jericho looking back towards the Dead Sea and Jordan. 

Jericho is one of the oldest cities with walls discovered dating to around 8,500 BC. This picture shows one of the oldest watch towers discovered. 

Home from Jericho times when Joshua and the Israelites took over the city. The wall in the background dates to around this same time period.  

And then we made it to Jerusalem!!

Frozen tundra of Petra

The weather has continued to be interesting. We are currently hanging out in the hotel waiting to see if the roads will be clear enough for us to leave. This morning we braved cold temperatures and made the hike down to the Treasury. The sites were stunning. Here are a few pics.

The brave pilgrims are off! Compliments of a pilgrim who stayed behind (perhaps wisely so!!)

Victory pose for making this hike!!

Statue of a man leading camels into and out of this cavern--an important road and trade route. 

Ahmed leads our group with our eyes closed for the last little bit. We rounded a corner and he said, "Open your eyes!!" The view was breathtaking. 

Curt Wegenhoft and Melissa Maher amazed!

Carla Williamson and Terri Blair.

We need eyes of faith to see

Written by Jeff Hoye

Being one who is always searching for context, especially after having experienced so many amazing, historical and meaningful Holy Land sites over the past seven days, it was with great anticipation that I began the journey today from Jordan's capital city; Amman.  I was really looking forward to the visit to Mt. Nebo (2,700 ft. elevation), the site where the Lord showed Moses the promised land, but prohibited him from entering and where, "the Lord, not the people of Israel, buried Moses" in a secret grave in a valley near Bethpeor, in Moab.

I wrestle with this end for Moses.  God had a purpose for Moses, but if such a faithful, ordinary man of God, who accomplished such meaningful works, was prohibited from fulfilling his life's goal - setting foot on the covenant land, promised by God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, what chance do I have?

Since our visits have been more regional than chronological, and having visited Mount Tabor on Monday, 1,400 ft. above the flat plains of the Jezreel Valley, I was looking forward to completing this circle.  For we know, that Jesus was transfigured before three of His disciples; Peter, James and John on Mount Tabor.  His glorified appearance was a preview of His future glory (Matthew 25:31).  Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began speaking with Jesus (Mark 9:2-8 ).  WOW!  That does it - Moses did enter the promised land after all.

God uses ordinary people, throughout time and history, to accomplish amazing things.  For me, the lesson of today, is connected to our visit to Mount Tabor on Monday and that is, as Melissa has noted in our study guide, that we need eyes of faith to see, to believe in God's faithfulness.

This amazing trip has opened my eyes of faith, in ways I could never have imagined.

How can it be this cold??

We braved another day of cold weather, but everyone agreed that the weather has made for tremendous adventures. Carrie Hoye commented that the weather has punctuated and accentuated every site we have visited. So true. We've all commented that we couldn't imagine Jesus in a snowball fight but the odds are pretty good that He experienced snow (especially given the biblical references to whiter than snow).

We drove around Amman this morning, but the government had declared today a national holiday because of the impending snow blizzard! So, most sites were closed, but we still enjoyed incredible vistas of the "white city" formerly known as Philadelphia. And, yes --another rainbow. This makes four days of rainbows!

Pam Davis, Jim Ledbetter, Inez Hodge, Melissa Maher and Susan Parish. 

We then drove to Madaba where we saw a replica of an ancient mosaic floor from 557AD which depicted the Holy Land from Mt Sinai to the Jordan River and Jerusalem/Bethlehem. The detail was stunning.  Jordan is known for their mosaics which we saw icon mosaics at the modern-day St George Church in Madaba. 

Then we began the long drove to Petra trying to stay ahead of the blizzard and descend into the mountains before temperatures really dropped. The rain and sleet was a challenge but we pressed on and even stopped at Mt Nebo, despite the conditions. Appreciating the view into the Peomised. Land in the midst of such harsh conditions was quite inspiring, actually. (See the reflections from Jeff Hoye above). 

Ahmed our tour guide is a real trooper for taking us around in these conditions. He has shared his faith and his life with us in such gracious and eye-opening ways. 

View from Mt Nebo into Jordan and Israel. 

Sun setting in Petra

A local artisan making and art.