Hello from Israel!
 
The word for today is "speechless."  Most of us woke up this morning at around 4:00 AM, as we are not yet acclimated to the time change.  At the retreat center, where we are staying this week, we are able to walk out onto the roof and gaze upon the Sea of Galilee as the sun is breaking the horizon, which is a breathtaking view.  With the rise of the sun we could see where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).  To read the scripture and look out and physically see where Jesus spoke these words was a feeling I will never forget. It is amazing to be able to walk out of your room and see places that Jesus taught and ministered. 
 
The breakfast at the retreat center was awesome. We filled up on eggs, toast, fruit, and of course for most, coffee, while getting ready for a very busy and exciting day!  On the two and a half hour bus ride into Jerusalem we were able to see the dynamic nature of Israel. It goes from modern and green near the Sea of Galilee, to the dry dessert of Judah. Along the way we observed the farming, which consists of thousands of palm trees, that produces dates.  We were informed that Israel is the number one date producing country in the world.  We also passed the city of Jericho which is the world's oldest city.
 
Our first stop in Jerusalem was the Mount of Olives where Jesus stood and looked over all of Jerusalem on his journey from the Jordan River (Zachariah 14:4).  From there we went to the Garden of Gethsemane (Mathew 26:36-46), which reminds us of the obedience of Christ and His willingness to die for us. We followed the Via Dolorosa, which is the path Christ took on His way to being crucified on the cross. We also visited Antonia Fortress, the place where Jesus was put on trial and forced to drag the cross (John 19:1-19).
 
Following that we visited Ecce Homo and went under the city of Jerusalem and walked on and touched the actual stones from the road that Jesus drug the cross. In this moment we attempted to understand the suffering He endured even before He was brutally crucified on the cross. The last stop for the day was the Garden Tomb, where historians believe Jesus was buried and resurrected.
 
In conclusion and reflecting on our day in Israel, being in Jerusalem and seeing all of the different cultures who come here is simply amazing. Witnessing the different cultures worship and realizing no matter your skin color, culture, or past, God loves you and wants a relationship with you is an unbelievable experience.  Worshipping as a group after taking Communion will forever be stamped in my memory and the joy in my heart from hearing everyone sing, proclaiming the name of Jesus was truly amazing.  Physically seeing the places Jesus walked, was imprisoned, and crucified allows us to try and to further understand the immense suffering He endured for each one of us.
 
The grave is empty, He is alive, and you are set free because of Him.
 
Lord, I pray that your spirit continues to overflow in me and that we can show others your unconditional love. Thank you for creating this life changing opportunity!