Our Awesome Bus - Number Two

Here is our group picture from the top of the Mount of Olives. As you can see we were being photobombed. I'm not in the picture as I was off video taping. I will add some more random photos as time allows. It was definitely a life changing trip that will change the way I view/read the Bible forever. I would highly recommend you make it to Israel someday. 

The best bus in Israel is...Bus Number Two

Communion Time

Our final time together was communion on a hillside overlooking Jerusalem. Very powerful. 

A Land of Contrasts

Love on the streets of Jerusalem. Our Jewish guide told us he had a Palestinian who was his best friend. He got a call one day from him and said he could not talk with him anymore because his phone was tapped and he feared for his life. He never heard from him again. 

More Tension

Here is the evidence of the tension in Israel between the Jews and the Palestinians. This police van has been pummeled by rocks and paint. 

Tension

Here the Israeli Army detain someone right across the street from the restaurant where an American born Rabbi was shot the night before. I took this from our bus as we drove by. 

Site of Peter's Denial

This is very close to the High Priest's home where it is recorded that Peter denied Jesus three times before the cock crowed. 

Caiaphas - The High Priest

This cave is possibly where Jesus was detained after his arrest. It was known to be the area where the High Priest lived. There are shackles in the wall used to restrain prisoners. 

Exiting Bethlehem

Poor Box

The Care Fund Offering just like at Bayside.

The Manger

You can touch the original cave floor by kneeling down. It has been covered because so many people chipped away pieces. 

The Manger

This is said to be the exact spot of the manger (a cave not a barn) where Jesus was born. 

Mosaic

The original mosaic floor buried under the current floor. 

Inside the Church of the Nativity

The original columns on the left. 

The Entrance

The entrance to the Church of the Nativity. This is the small door we had to duck through to enter. Some had more trouble than others. We call this the Zacchaeus Gate. 

Church of the Nativity

This is the site where Jesus was born. 

Mugs

Several of our loyal Starbucks folks had to have a Bethlehem Mug.

No Starbucks in Israel

Starbucks was in Israel briefly a few years ago but it closed down. But there is a Star & Bucks Cafe in Bethlehem. 

Bethlehem

We ventured into Bethlehem which is under Palestinian control. This is the way and checkpoint installed by the Israelis. Our Israeli guide was not allowed to accompany us on the trip. We had a Palestinian guide named Johnny. He was a Believer and asked us to pray for the church in Bethlehem which is shrinking rapidly. It has declined from 75% of the population to under 25% of the population as the Christians have left to live somewhere else. 

Wailing Wall

I thought this was an interesting photo I took at the Wailing Wall. It kind of made me chuckle after I looked at it closely. 

Pastor Ray at the Wailing Wall

I'm going to jump around a little bit here. I've taken some photos off the website from my fellow travelers including Dave Diaz and Jeanie Bryers. This was a very cool moment. 

More Food

As I mentioned, we had great food on our trip. I didn't take as many food pictures as normal. But i particularly like this plate of pasta. 

Ancient Mall in Jerusalem

This mall near the Jaffa Gate dates all the way back to the time of Ray Johnston. 

Typical Bus Day in Israel (Jeannie Bryers)

All Star Nancy Heath

Nancy was an all star in helping us video much of what we saw. We bought her a special necklace made from ancient Roman glass and coin as a thank you gift.  

Ancient Philistine discovered in Tunnel

Could this be a relative of Goliath? 

Walking through the Ancient Tunnel of Hezekiah

Tunnel

In 800BC the Assyrians were on the march to attack Israel. King Hezekiah knew their one weakness was their exposed water supply. So he dug a 1700 foot tunnel under the city as a way to access the spring.  They dug from both sides of the mountain and met in the middle (which is quite an impressive feat in and of itself). We were able to walk through much of the tunnel. 

The Upper Room

This is the site of the Upper Room where Jesus and the disciples had the Last Supper.

Original Wall of Jerusalem (The City of David)

This is remnants of the wall built by the Jebusites and dates back over 7000 years. 

City of David

This is the City of David (on the left). the right is a current Arab community. There has been a lot of tension here recently. Tour buses have been pelted with rocks when they drove down the center of this valley. For that reason we had to walk down and up the hill. 

The City of David

This is the original site of City of David in Jerusalem. It is located on the lower south side of the city. It was here because of the access to water. This was originally inhabited by the Jebusites which go back 7000 years. 

Jesus Praying

Great statue of Jesus praying in the garden. 

Garden of Gethsemane

The Garden of Gethsemane is an olive grove. The word Gethsemane refers to on olive press. This is where Jesus spent his final night praying with his disciples the night he was arrested. The disciples fell asleep. Our guide said that would be easy to do after the Passover meal (Last Supper) which would mean at least four cups of wine. The olive press is significant when you think of all the pressure it takes to make olive oil and the pressure that Jesus faced heading to the cross. 

The Garden of Gethsemane