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 |   | 2007: Guyana | Jamaica | Uganda | Rwanda | Israel | Tanzania
2008: Guyana | Uganda | Tanzania | Burundi | Egypt/Israel |
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A beautiful view of the sunrise on top of Mount Sinai
I was privileged to join the End-Time Glory team of 24 for another pilgrimage to Israel – this time via Egypt! There is no way one can see all of the sites in a land dating back to creation in just one trip. This proved to be the best of my trips there yet as God again blessed us with the best of guides, a Messianic Jewish patriot, Arie Ben David.
We’re convinced that Arie’s qualifications can’t be topped. Most importantly, he loves the Lord, Yeshua. Therefore, with his intimate knowledge of Israel’s history, topography and culture, he brings Spiritual insights we could never glean on our own. We’re challenged as he shares so much more than we can retain. He’s been a commander in some of the wars, a carpenter, a professional musician, and a mentor and teacher to many. He proves to be a walking commentary.
All of us encountered a number of trying or testing times, and experienced God’s sufficient grace for each one.
First, we were quite sleep deprived as a result of a long layover in Amsterdam, airplane repairs and a 5 hour detour necessitated by blocked roads. But we had the strength to enjoy a tour of the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam, and a full day visiting the pyramids and Mokattam Mountain and the climb up Mt. Sinai on just one good night of rest before Sunday night.
To get to Mokattam Mountain we had to go through the Cairo garbage dumps. Our hearts were so touched to see people, young and old, scavenging to make a living there. In 979 AD, this mountain is reported to have moved in answer to 3 days of fasting and prayer to prove to a challenger that their Christian faith was indeed of God. An outdoor cathedral seating 50,000 is now on the site. They say it is filled every week. Beautiful carvings of scriptural scenes in the rock surround it.
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"We made it to the top!" (Mount Sinai) |
The Wailing Wall |
A view of the Eastern Gate from Mount of Olives |
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After a long Saturday bus trip, we rested briefly, then left our rooms at 1:15 AM in order to climb Mt. Sinai in time to see the sun rise from the top. Praying for safety, we conquered fear atop camels which plodded along in the pitch dark. I called out several times to see if there was anyone close enough to hear me other than the camel’s Bedouin owner who didn’t speak English and was following the camel - there was no answer. The stars were brilliant and seemed so close and numerous. Finally, I began to sing, “How Great Thou Art”, and was so blest to hear some one ahead of me begin to harmonize with me in another language. Soon, I could also hear Pastor Nzwalla and another gal from our group not far from me. After an hour and a half, the path became too rugged and steep for the camels and we had to climb the last 750 “steps” to the top by foot – stopping often to catch our breath in the cool altitude of this 7400+ foot mountain that Moses climbed twice. We were so blessed to have a wonderful service on the top, joined by another group of worshippers from Brazil. What a universal language worship is! Our hearts were united as we worshipped in the awesome presence of God and experienced His Glory on the top of this very significant mountain….it was unforgettable and truly life-changing!
It was wonderful to arrive in Israel at Eilat, Sunday night. Monday AM we stopped Timna Park at a near authentic sized replica of the tabernacle out in the dessert where the Israelites may well have stopped. Some of the oldest copper mines are there. Closer to the Dead Sea we saw miles of irrigated green houses where peppers are grown for export only – enough for the whole world, I think!
On Mt. Tabor, we had a blessed time of worship just before the Lord rent the heavens and we experienced a rain and hail storm. (Up to quarter size.) We were all drenched, but passed the test – no murmuring – with another unforgettable experience. That evening many of us were baptized in the Jordan by Debra. This was especially meaningful to me as she prophesied over each of us.
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Other sites in the area included Gideon’s spring where he tested his army, the Megiddo water source where we overlook the site of Armageddon, Banias, one of three springs that are the source of the Jordan, and of course an anointed praise session on the Jesus Boat on the Sea of Galilee. One evening we had the opportunity to go to a meeting where Debra preached to group of Drews who have accepted Christ. The room was filled with about 60 of us. When we left the leader expressed a desire to have her back for several days of meetings. Praise the Lord!! – More open doors for ministry in Israel!
Finally, it was on to Jerusalem, the Mt. of Olives, Gethsemane, the Pool of Bethesda, and the House of Caiaphas the high priest where Jesus was first judged to be worthy of death, spit upon, and beaten – probably the first place He shed some blood for us. Rarely can a group find themselves alone there, but we were so blessed and took advantage of the time to read Is. 53 and worship a few minutes before another group arrived. We visited the other traditional sites of the Upper Room, the Garden Tomb, the Western Wall, the Model of Jerusalem, and the Holocaust Museum. At Ella Valley, we saw where David slew Goliath. How these sites help us visualize as we read and contemplate the Word!
We left with hearts overflowing, Spiritual truths driven deeper and gratitude for the opportunity to make this pilgrimage!
We highly recommend that you begin planning to join the next one. An exciting footnote is that Arie, although booked for the next 2 ½ years has volunteered to call Debra first, should he have a cancellation for next year! I so hope that you can join them. You’ll be so glad you did! |
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2008 Israel Tour Group |
We had an "open heaven" experience on top of Mount of Transfiguration |
Jan Geroy being water baptised in the Jordon River |
The Garden Tomb - "He is risen!" |
The Golden Dome of the Rock |
Eric Stein ready for his camel ride up Mount Sinai |
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