2 Days of Israeli Adventures!

Greetings Friends and Family,

We have had two very full and wonderful days here in Jerusalem. I know I say it each day, but it is hard to distill and summarize all that we have seen and felt while here, it truly is a life-changing experience. Everyone here has been so friendly and we have seen some amazing things and have had a very special time together!

Yesterday morning we spent the day in the Old City of Jerusalem. We began at the Pool of Bethesda (where Jesus healed a lame man). Next door to the pools is St. Anne's church. Here we sang some songs and the acoustics were amazing.

the Pools of Bethesda

After St. Anne's we walked the Via Dolorosa (the way of the cross). Most of the specific route that Jesus took on Good Friday is unknown to us but some of the spots we know for sure, and those we visited. It was a humbling experience to be walking the same path that Jesus walked on our behalf. The streets were packed with pilgrims walking the path as well and every so often we came to a 'station' where something significant that happened on Jesus' walk to Calvary took place. It was very moving to stop and read from Scripture in each of these places.

Sign marking the Via Dolorosa

Mosaic in the spot where Jesus was given His cross

the street today, lined with vendors

along the Via Dolorosa

Finally we arrived at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional place where Jesus was crucified and buried. I was expecting to be moved and overwhelmed with appreciation. Instead, I felt squished and sweaty. There were a ton of people in the church and so some of the spirit of what I hoped for wasn't there. However, I tried to remove the people and remove the church to visualize the scenes that are so significant to all of humanity. Kealy and I both took time to reflect and thank Jesus for His willingness to forgive our humanity and die on our behalf.

the Church of the Holy Sepluchre

Ancient pilgrims would scribble crosses inside the church when they arrived there

Huge domes inside the Church

And that was all before lunch...

After lunch we went to the place that I have most looked forward to on this trip: The Western Wall. The Western Wall is that last remaining foundation of the 2nd temple, the same temple that Jesus taught in and was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Many people from all over the world have come here for centuries to offer prayers and petitions and I have dreamed of coming here to pray as well. It was an amazing experience. I spent time in prayer at the wall and put a written prayer in the cracks of the stones.

The Wailing Wall...3000 year old stones

my prayer is on the yellow sheet of paper

Finally we spent time on the southern steps on the Temple where Jesus taught. Some of the original stones that Jesus sat and taught on are still there today!

Southern Steps of the Temple Mount

Sitting on the steps where Jesus taught

Kealy and the Temple Mount

We came home exhausted from our full day of sightseeing. Not only are we active going from place to place. We are stopping to listen and learn from our guide, who is phenomenal. Then, on top of that, there is the emotional energy of trying to absorb and appreciate everything that God is trying to show us and teach us through this experience. I'm sure it will take a few months to fully process everything we have seen and done.

Today was a more low key day out in the desert again. We traveled to the mountaintop fortress of Masada, Herod's amazing desert fortress and the last spot of the Jewish Revolt in 73 AD. We rode a cable car up and down and saw amazing excavations and sites from 2000 years ago.

Store Rooms from Herod's Temple (2200 years old)

a Rabbi writing the Hebrew Scriptures in a room on top of Masada

The Cable Car and view of the Dead Sea in the background

Ryan and Kealy on top of Masada

We continued on to the Dead Sea for a chance to swim in its salty waters. It was AWESOME! The Dead Sea is so salty that you literally float in the water...not tread water...or bob...but float. It was so much fun...Kealy was laughing the whole time! The mud from the Dead Sea shore is also supposed to be great for your skin...so we rubbed it all over ourselves multiple times!

Mud Bath! 

at the Dead Sea beach, a cozy 96 degrees! 

Tonight after dinner Kealy and I went on a date! We walked the Old City of Jerusalem just the two of us, shopping and enjoying the light show that comes on at night here in Jerusalem. It is our last night in Jerusalem and we had such a fun and romantic time walking the streets together, people watching and soaking in all the sights and smells and experience.

beautiful lighting walkways and a beautiful woman

the Damascus Gate at night with light show

Today is our last day here in Jerusalem. We have some time in the morning on our own and then we are going to the birthplace of John the Baptist, the Jerusalem Holocaust Museum and the Garden Tomb. After dinner we leave for Tel Aviv and the long plane ride home.

We are so thankful for this experience and wish we could fully articulate what it has meant for our faith and our marriage. We hope each of you have an opportunity to come here someday...it will change your life.

We will post sometime on the trip home and perhaps once after we have arrived safely with our kids back in Corvallis.

Thank you all for your love, prayers and support.

Shalom,

Ryan and Kealy