Day 8

May 6, 2010

…still flying to JFK…

For our last day in Israel we started by going to the Old City and seeing some of the ruins that have been and still being excavated from David’s palace. We walked for a while beneath the city in the tunnels, which is how David conquered Jerusalem.

The rest of the day we saw the Upper-Room, walked through the Jerusalem, and saw the Holocaust Memorial. The Memorial was very simple and moving. The opening of the exhibit is a lane of trees, and each tree is dedicated to a person who assisted the Jews during the Holocaust. The first tree we saw was Schindler’s and the second one was Corrie Ten Boom’s which was dedicated to her, her father and sister. The Ten Boom’s original tree died within the same week that Corrie died, so they had to replant it. Being led through the Memorial by Hezzie, a Jew who was a little boy when the Holocaust happened was a very neat experience. At times he got very emotional as he spoke about his people. We didn’t go into the actual museum, since you have to have a reservation and we did our tour last minute, but we were able to go the tomb for the unknown dead and the children’s memorial.

The last thing we saw in Israel was the Garden Tomb. It was the only way to end a trip to the Holy Land. It was especially uplifting after seeing the Holocaust Memorial. The Garden Tomb is owned by a non-denominational Christian organization in the Arab quarter of Jerusalem. The tomb sits a little ways from Golgotha where Christ was crucified. Unfortunately, the site of the crucifixion is owned by the Arabs who have a bus stop on top of it. The Christians have tried endlessly to buy the site from the Arabs, but they won’t sell the area. There were flowers everywhere in the Garden. There were little paths that lead to alcoves were people were praying or doing communion together or separately. This was the perfect way to end this trip for me. Before we took communion, Pastor spoke to us and was able bring the entire trip into perspective for me. I feel so blessed to have been able to go on this trip, to stand where Jesus stood, to see with my own eyes what His people are like.

One of many this that this trip taught me was to start praying continually for the peace of Israel, that they would know and believe that Jesus Christ is their Messiah and Savior. That they would realize Jesus is the One they have been seeking to release not only their political oppression, but a refuge for their souls and endless joy in their hearts.

L.s.R