Travel Quest: Trip to Israel brings Bible to life for Fannin County ladies

TRIP TO ISRAEL

What an exciting time for Jane Dodson and me. The trip was all we had hoped for and more than we expected.

We got to Jerusalem around 5:00 P.M. on the 8th of March, 2006. The tour group was from South Canyon Baptist Church in South Dakota and 8 people from the Dallas area.

We arrived in Jerusalem at night so we really couldn’t see much. Our hotel was great and overlooked the Mt. of Olives.

Jerusalem is a beautiful city. Very modern (the new part) and the old city is fascinating. We are all told about Jerusalem with hills around it, but you can’t imagine. They are ALL around it. In fact some of the mountains (actually BIG hills) we are told about in the bible, are in the city, such as: Mt. Moriah, Mt. Zion, Mt. of Olives.

Also, some of the valleys we are told about in the bible are in the city of Jerusalem, such as Kidron, Hinnom and Tyropoen valleys.

The homes and businesses are built on the side of hills and are absolutely beautiful, all being made of white stone. There is stone everywhere. Not much wood. Yards with exception of a few, are no where to be found. They are mainly little courtyards. Jerusalem is very green this time of year.

The sites we saw in Jerusalem for 2 days were: The Temple Mount (where the 3rd Temple is to be built); Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Pool of Siloam, Potter’s Field, Upper room, Garden tomb; Pool of Bethesda, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulcher (where Golgotha and Jesus tomb is supposed to be), Western Wall (Wailing Wall), Temple Institute, Israel Museum, King David’s tomb.

We then traveled to the Dead Sea (lowest place on earth) and Wilderness area. We saw Jericho (known to be the oldest city in the world), Dead Sea, Qumran, (where the Dead Sea scrolls were found), En Gedi, and Masada. We swam in the Dead Sea. (We floated in the Dead Sea - no one sinks there).

We visited the Jerusalem Baptist Church in Judah, for Sunday morning worship and went to the Elah Valley where David slew Goliath. We had a couple of hours of free time to shop in the Arab quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. (That is quite an experience in itself).

After seeing the sites in Jerusalem, we traveled to Tiberias. On the way we saw the Inn of the Good Samaritan in the Judean Desert, a monastary, Jericho, Beth Shean and the baptismal site of Jesus.

We stayed in a motel on the Sea of Galilee. Around the Sea of Galilee we went to Mt. Arbel, Horns of Hittim, the Jesus Boat, Capernaum, Tabgha and Mount of Beatitudes.

In upper Galilee we saw the Jordan River, Bethsaida, Golan Heights, Mt. Hermon (possible site of transfiguration) and Caesarea Philippi.

The last day before we left we saw Mount Tabor (also possible site of transfiguration), Nazareth, Mount Gilboa, Mount Moreh, Megiddo, Jezreel Valley, Mount Carmel, Druze (Arab) Villages and Caesarea. Caesarea is on the Mediterranean Sea and it was absolutely beautiful. The water is so blue; you can’t believe that it is also clear.

In Jerusalem, among the other things listed, we saw the Dead Sea Scrolls and visited the Holocaust Memorial. Also, we went to the Temple Institute (which I mentioned) and there we saw replicas of utensils, priest’s clothing, and other items to be used in the 3rd Temple.

The original items have already been prepared and are waiting for the completion of the 3rd Temple. They presently have a place in California that is trying to produce a red heifer. All of this was

really interesting. We also saw the place where Jesus was scourged.

We walked the Via Dolorosa where Jesus carried his cross to Golgotha and the 14 stations of the cross.

When we visited the Garden of Gethsemane, we had scripture reading, a few comments and prayer and when we went to the Garden Tomb, we took communion there, which were very special times. We went through tunnels, water systems and a secret passageway next to the Wailing Wall. (Of course, it really isn’t secret because everyone knows about it.)

They are still excavating in the tunnel and everywhere around Jerusalem and other cities. We got started at 8:00 in the morning and went until 5:00 to 6:00 in the evening. Our day consisted of seeing sites, scripture reading, short devotionals and walking.

We walked up and down hills, stairs, streets, etc. Our hearts, eyes and minds are full to the brim.

When we went to the Galilee, we went out on on the sea, and had a short devotional and prayer. This was a very special time. The Sea of Galilee is 7 miles wide by 15 miles long, 150’ deep, and 675 feet below sea level.

Even though one of Israel’s main incomes is from tourism,

you still get the feel of biblical times when you visit the

various sites. Another main source of income is agriculture.

In the Jezreel Valley, 16 alfalfa crops are produced

each year, one occurring every 21 days. The valley is VERY

fertile and known as the bread basket of Israel.

We never felt threatened at anytime during our trip. It was

completely safe. We did see armed Israeli soldiers many

places, but never felt uneasy.

We gathered water from the Dead Sea, Jordan River, Sea

of Galilee and Pool of Bethsaida. We also brought rocks

from where David slew Goliath, pottery pieces from various

sites and salt from the Dead Sea.

This is a trip we will remember and cherish for the rest of

our lives. It certainly makes the places in the Bible more

alive. If you ever have a chance to go - GO!

Sea of Galilee - its surface is 675 ft below sea level. The lake, occupying a downwarped basin, is fed and drained by the Jordan River. The Syria border follows part of the eastern shore, now occupied by Israel as part of the Golan Heights. In the time of Jesus there was a flourishing fishing industry in the lake; some fishing is still carried on. In the Old Testament the Sea of Galilee was called the Sea of Chinnereth or Chinneroth. In the New Testament it is named variously from nearby geographical features—Galilee, Gennesaret, or Tiberias.

Jane Dodson taking a camel ride in the Judean Desert, visiting the nearby Qumran where the 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in ancient pottery jars.

They sailed on the Sea of Galilee, in Jane’s words “An enlarged version of Jesus’ fishing boat.” The Sea of Galilee provides the water supply for half of the Israel Nation.

Jane floating in the Dead Sea - Jane and Nancy were blessed with the opportunity of floating in the Dead Sea. As they were swimming they could feel what felt like rocks on the bottom and when they reached down to retrieve what they were feeling, it was large rocks of salt. The Dead Sea is a puzzling geological factor that is created of a remarkable body of water, which lies further beneath sea level than any other spot on earth. It is extremely crystal clear, dense and has a greater concentration of minerals than any of the oceans in the world. It is unable to support any life form at all. They also received a therapeutic black mud foot massage from the mud surrounding the sea. After their adventure of floating in the Dead Sea, they were offered a shower and a place to change their clothing. Their clothing became stiff as a board from all of the minerals and saline from the Dead Sea water after they dried.

Nancy floating in the Dead Sea

Jane waving at America from Israel!