Today we begin our travels from Denver heading to Tel Aviv, Israel.
SLEEP: Plane
Sunday, May 31 Day 2
Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Turn down early to beat jet lag
SLEEP: Mediterranean Coast
Monday, June 1 Day 3
We begin the morning with a devotional and time of worship and prayer. We travel into Jaffa to visit the seaside port where Jonah and Peter had encounters with God. We come back to the hotel early for a stroll along the coast line and dinner. SLEEP: Mediterranean Coast
Tuesday, June 2 Day 4
Today we visit Caesarea Maritima and see the Ancient Roman city built by Herod. The Apostle Paul was imprisoned here before he appealed to Caesar. From there we head up the coast to visit Mt. Carmel where Elijah called down fire from heaven. We move down into the Jezreel Valley to visit Tel Megiddo and see the raw power it held as it controlled the ancient trade route that crossed through this valley. On our way to our hotel at the Sea of Galilee we make one more stop to see Nazareth, the village of Jesus childhood. SLEEP: Sea of Galilee
Wednesday, June 3 Day 5
We celebrate fellowship and teaching this morning as we travel the Galilean region that Jesus made his home during his 3 year ministry. Today we will visit the village of Capernaum, the Mount of Beatitudes, and Misgav Am along the Lebanese border. We finish the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. SLEEP: Sea of Galilee
Thursday, June 4 Day 6
Today we journey from the Galilee along the Jordan river and stop at Qasr Al Yahud baptismal site for baptisms in the Jordan River. We then head to the Dead Sea resort area to enjoy a night by the water. SLEEP: Dead Sea
Friday, June 5 Day 7
This day sees us "turn our face towards" Jerusalem, however we stop at significant places in Jesus' life and ministry along the way. We stop at Masada and make our way up to the top of the mountain either by cable car or 45 minute hike. Ein Gedi is a short drive away. We go there for a short walk to see the place of David's encounter with King Saul near the springs of fresh water. We then make the climb up from the Dead Sea up to Jerusalem and enter the city on Mt. Scopus. SLEEP: Jerusalem
Saturday, June 6 Day 8
We trace the events of the final three days of Jesus life on this day. We venture up into East Jerusalem and onto the Mount of Olives to look over the Old City. We walk down to the Garden of Gethsemane to see the Olive press and ancient Olive trees nearby, stopping at the Dominus Flevit Church to consider Jesus' heart for the people of Jerusalem. From there, we walk a short walk up into the Old City and begin the walk along the Via Dolorosa that Jesus walked on His way to the cross. We dart into the courtyard of the Church of St. Anne to see the Pool of Bethesda and contemplate the healing ministry of Jesus along the way. We then make our way out of the Damascus Gate to Golgotha - the place of the Skull - and the Garden Tomb.
SLEEP: Jerusalem
Sunday, June 7 Day 9
We begin our day with a visit to the Israeli Holocaust Museum called Yad Vashem. We then move on to the Israeli Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls that validate the books of the Old Testament. While there, we see the Pontius Pilate stone which affirms the rule of the Roman leader that sent Jesus Christ to the cross. We then make our way to the Mehane Yehuda open air market for lunch and then free time in the Old City.
SLEEP: Jerusalem
Monday, June 8 Day 10
Our last full day in Israel includes seeing the City of David, Mt. Zion, the Western Wall and the Temple Mount. Free time in the afternoon to roam around the Old City seeing sites of personal interest and shopping round out the day.
SLEEP: Jerusalem
Tuesday, June 9 Day 11
We transfer to the airport to depart Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport for the journey back to the States. Our travels take us from Tel Aviv to Denver.