Thoughts On [insert religious topic(s) here]

We only spent a half day today sight-seeing, coming back early so people can get a head-start on packing. Many of us are leaving in only one day. Jac’line and I are staying for another two weeks. Additionally, Nancy Cappo and Jacky Saeger are also staying a few extra days to spend more time in the Old City.

It was a somber day. Ruthie took us to Yad Vashem–the Holocaust Museum–and the Israel Museum to educate about her people from her perspective. We all formed a strong bond with her this trip, so we were anxious to hear what she had to share with us. (more…)

Only two more days left with the group. This has been an amazing experience with the other 37 pilgrims from Anona. I have seen myself grow so much over these days and I look forward to being in classes with them in the future as we continue exploring our faith together.

Today we spent the majority of our time in the Jewish quarter of the Old City. A little background: Jerusalem today is a bustling modern city covering a many square miles. It has mass transportation, modern roads and modern buildings. The Old City is the part of Jerusalem found within the walls of the old city, hence the name Old City.

The Old City is divided into four sections called quarters; Jewish, Muslim, Armenian and Christian. Each of the quarters has a different flavor and that’s what makes the city so unique. Four different religions live within one square mile of each other. On the eastern side of the Old City is the Temple Mount with the Western Wall, the Southern Steps, and the Dome of the Rock. (more…)

Besides a little Benadryl hangover, I was alright today. That’s a great blessing because today was packed with sights.

After breakfast, we drove to the Church of the Ascension outside the Old City. The church is located on the site where Jesus supposedly ascended to heaven after visiting the disciples for forty days after his death. I was caught off guard when we stepped off the bus and street sellers in the city immediately started accosting us trying to sell cheap goods and trinkets.

We pushed through a crowd and got the Church. It was very small, barely big enough for our group of 38. Inside the church was a single footprint, believed to be the last place Christ walked on the Earth. There isn’t any real evidence of this; historically, Crusaders in the 12^th and 13^th centuries CE would claim sites as holy without much proof of its authenticity. (more…)

We have reached the halfway point in the Journey to Jerusalem; I’m in Jerusalem as I write this post.

Our day began 140 miles to the north in Galilee having a sunrise service on the shores of the Sea. The service involved practically everyone on the trip. Our congregation was also the choir and an acappella group. There is a wonderful communal feeling to worship when everyone contributes their gifts to the overall experience-ironic that this was the same Sunday Anona did an acoustic worship service with budding musicians serving in worship leadership. (more…)