Bethlehem - This is as close as you get these days

The Holocaust Museum - This is a tough one.

Sunrise in Jerusalem

From the Mount of Olives Looking towards the Dead Sea

Western Wall

Garden of Gethsemane

Hezekiah's water tunnel

Some Camera Shey Muslim Youth

Via Dolorosa - Jesus' Final Walk

In the Old City

Qumran - Dead Sea Scrolls

Just checking for any overlooked scrolls. None found.

On Top of Madada

Bob the Bobber

Dead Sea Float. Nothing sinks it's 34% salt and minerals. Just don't get it in your eyes.

Capernaum

Where Jesus taught

Caesarea-by-the-Sea

Our guide takes us back a couple thousand years to Paul's imprisonment

Sea of Galilee

In Jerusalem

View from our motel patio with the old city of Jerusalem in the background

Day 2

Incredible and exhausting. Our guide - a Jewish Believer merely uses these incredible sites as a backdrop to teach us the Bible. At Caesarea-by-the-Sea, you could almost here Paul's confrontation with Aggripa II. You really felt as if you had been transported back in time. Our guide is former Israeli military who has fought in three wars, a musician, a carpenter for 20 years and now guides full time. His stories are truly amazing and his passion is limitless.

We visited Mount Carmel and Meggido. And drove through Nazareth. Not much left to see there. It is now a city of 110,000, mostly Arab.

We are now camped out at the Holiday Inn in Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Just ready to go exploring for an hour before the day starts.

God Bless.

Made it to Israel

My vocabulary is not extensive enough to describe this trip. Arrived in Tel Aviv a few hours late but in good shape. Went swimming in the Meditteranean Sea last night at midnight. Feel great this morning as we head out to see the sites of the Bible. Our guide is phenominal and promises to take us deeper into the Bible than we have ever been. Hope to post some pics soon.

Biker Bob

On Top of Independence Pass

Colorado Bikers

Next Stop - Israel

One Star Tour
Itinerary
September 14-25, 2008


Day 1: Departure for Israel, overnight flight.

Day 2: Arrival in Tel Aviv. Travel to Caesarea-by-the-Sea with overnight in Haifa.

Day 3: Travel to Galilee with visits to Mt Carmel, Meggido, Zippori, and the Mt. of Beatitudes. Overnight beside the Sea of Galilee at Ein Gev Kibbutz.

Day 4: Tour Capernaum, Korzin, Dan Nature Reserve, Caesarea Phillipi, Nimrod's Castle, boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Overnight at Ein Gev Kibbutz.

Day 5: Leave Galilee for Jerusalem. Enroute tour Jordan River, Herod's spring, Beit Shean, ascent to Jerusalem on the Jericho Road (Wadi Quelt). Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 6: Tour of Jerusalem's Old City, which includes Mt Olives, Gethsemane, Pools of Bethsaida, Herodian Quarter Museum, Ecco Homa Arch, Antonio's Fortress, Praetorium, and the Southern Steps. Overnight at Jerusalem.

Day 7: Garden Tomb, Solomon's Quarries, with time to shop, and explore. Overnight at Jerusalem.

Day 8: Jerusalem's Temple Mount, Western Wall, Rabbi's Tunnel, Upper Room, Caiphas' House and King David's Tomb. Overnight at Jerusalem.

Day 9: Jerusalem New City, Shrine of the Book, Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, survey of Model City. Overnight at Yad Hashmona Moshav in the Judean hills.

Day 10: Travel to the Dead Sea to explore Masada, Ein Gedi Waterfall, and the Qumran Caves. Return to Jad Hashmona for overnight.

Day 11: Tour the Shephelah Valley and visit Old Testament sites of Beth Shemash, Lachish, caves of Beit Guvin among others.

Day 12: Departure for airport. Farewells.

A Tired Crew and a Happy Family

End of a Hard Day

A Special Dinner Treat - Pablo's Tacos

The "Up Top" Crew

Day 2 - Good Progress

New Life Experience #17 for 2008

Driving a 34 passenger bus in rural Mexico at night.

Back at Camp Mike Conducts a Fooseball Clinic

SCORRRRRRRRRRRRRE

Power Tools - Good

Taking Shape

First Wall Goes up - Day 1

Back in the USA

We did it! 56 St. Luke's missionaries - four days - four houses. What a trip. Admitttedly, the houses are small and simple, but are certainly comfortable and from the reaction of the the familes - very much appreciated. YUGO is a very well run organization and are quite effecient at this house building effort. In addition to our four homes five other homes were built this past week by volunteers out of the Ensenada Outreach Center. The foundations had been prepared, the materials were on site and their national construction foreman was very experienced.

I wasn't able to update the blog during the week, partly because of limited internet access, but mainly due to lack of time. The days were quite full from beginning to end and sleep usually won out as a priority.

I am rambling as I am riding through sunny CA. I will post some pictures.

AND WE'RRRRRE OFF

We are on the road. I needed to take the first driving leg since I was so anxious about all the little details, but it went fine and I am now comforatably settled in as co-pilot while the passengers are watching a movie. It took about an hour to get comfortable driving the rig pulling a fully loaded trailer and - always concerned about blow outs, especially with a single axle trailer - I thought it was all over when my potato chip bag burst near the top of Loveland pass.

Our send off was really special with all the family members there. Hold us in your thoughts and prayers this week.

Getting Ready

Last minute work on the bus with the help of the youth (Kayla & Josh)

Next Great Adventure

This next great adventure is the St. Lukes UMC youth mission trip to Ensenada. 56 brave and hardy church members (now 57 with the last minute addition of Mike - Yea!!!!) will set sail on Saturday, July 5 for a 22+ hour bus ride into Mexico. There the goal will be to construct four adobe houses in one work week. Tall order - but we think we're up to it. Already the trip has had its challenges, certainly from my perspective as transportation coordinator trying to arrange for Mexican insurance on our church bus, the Boy Scout troop trailer and a 36 passenger rented bus from Davey Coach. But the excitement is building - one week to go.