Traveling North

Well Hello Iowa. Hope that your weather is not bad. Sounded like you might be getting some winter today.

We loaded up the bus this morning and headed out North Caesarea. On the drive we saw quite a few changes. They had some rain in the night and it looked like they were not as dry there. The grass was much greener. Pastures green and it's not desert like around Jerusalem but green valleys and pastures. the soil is much redder in color but the area is much more agricultural. We saw our first cows of the trip. They have lots of fruit trees and other crops but not sure what all they are. I saw my first McDonald's of the trip - or McDrive as it was called. We also saw a Toys R Us and Ace Hardware Caesarea also has the ONLY golf course in Israel.

Caesarea was amazing. This is a town that King Herod built.It is on the Mediterranean Sea. He built it for the

same purpose as he built Masada. It was a place for him to come and get away - or hide - and was also a stronghold that he could watch who was attaching. As it is on the sea he built a port there so if they were being attacked he could hop on the boat and be in Rome in 9 days.

Herod built the city in true Roman style so it has a Theater that holds 4,000 people. This theater is till being used for plays, concerts, and musicals to this day. Got some great pics that will come when I get home.

The city also had a prison, and this is the prison (well one of the prisons) that Paul was in. In fact it is the last prison that he was in and then was taken to Rome to die, as he was a Roman citizen. I am still in awe that I am standing at these places. I can't tell you how much more alive the Bible is becoming for each and every one of us - including the pastors. Our guide is so good at putting all the peaces together and helping us see how things fit.

Also in Caesarea is a Hippodrome. This is where the Chariot races took place, Jessie - I stood where Ben

 Hur would have raced. It is also the place where the gladiators would have fought. At the time it was being used it would have fit 17,000 people into the stands. A tsunami took half of it some years ago and the other 1/2 as well as 1/2 the city is under the Mediterranean sea at this time. They are excavating under the sea also.

We then headed to Megiddo this. Is the place of the first recorded battle and according to Rev. it will be the place of the last battle ever. Lots to tell you when I get pics up to explain them. This is a chariot city built by Herod. Lots of things learned here.

Our next stop was Nazareth and Mt. Precipice. If you read in Luke 4:16-30 about Jesus going to his home town, reading the scrolls, and the towns people got upset and took him to a mountain to throw him off, this is Mt. Precipice.

We then went to Cana and the place where Jesus changed the water into wine. No we didn't have any wine. We didn't even have any water.

It was a wonderful day. We worshiped on the bus on the way to our first stop as it's about 2 hours from where we were. tonight and tomorrow night we are staying in Tiberius right along the Sea of Galilee. Tomorrow we take a boat ride on the sea, hoping someone walks on water - we go the Mt. of Beatitudes, Capernaum and the Baptismal site. about 15 of the 41 of us are remembering and celebrating our baptism in the Jordan. We as pastors get to do the honors, but I'm remembering mine also.

Will be another fun filled, educational, and blessed day.

All for now, more to come,

grace and peace,

Pastor Deb