Holy Land Trip Nov. 2019

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Holy Land Trip Mon., Nov. 4 - Tues., Nov. 12, 2019

Sometime in January 2019 Pastor David W. Dendy of Mountain View Presbyterian Church (MVPC) Las Vagas, NV, mentioned his recent trip to Israel. A few weeks later David asked if anyone would be interested in going on a trip to Israel. A number of MVPC members indicated interest and the ball started rolling. Then David invited a member of Collette Travel to meet with MVPC members and friends. Nearly thirty showed up for this meeting. Tami Samek, Ministry Coordinator at MVPC, was selected as our go between person with Collette. Another meeting was held with Collette and they reported twenty-two spots were available to MVPC members and friends. Melody and I thought this would be a once in a lifetime event, so we put our names on the list. A number of information meetings were held during the summer.
The next thing we knew it was Sun., Nov. 3, 2019, at MVPC during the 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM church services the members going to Israel were called up front and Pastor David prayed for a safe and enjoyable trip. The church provided us with nice shirts.

Mon., Nov. 4, 2019, we all gathered at MVPC for the bus ride to the McCarran airport for our two-hour flight to San Francisco. At 9:40 PM we boarded a United Airlines Boeing 777 plane for the 14-hour non-stop flight to Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel. The flight was 7,403 miles. Melody and I sat in the economy plus row 32 seats B and C. We felt comfortable in this section on all our flights. We arrived in Tel Aviv around 9:40 PM, Tues., Nov. 5, 2019. Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s only international airport, which is one of the most contemporary and well secured in the world. Tel Avia was founded in 1909 on the ancient port city of Jaffa. Our tour guide Miky Orest was waiting for us with a Collette sign. On the bus headed for our Kfar Maccabiah Hotel for a one night stay. Our welcome dinner was cancelled because of our late arrival.

On the bus Wed., Nov. 6, 2019, 7 AM for our journey to Tel Avia - Jaffa – Caesarea – Cana and Tiberias. We visited the Roman Aqueduct and Theatre at Caesarea. Here David lead the crowd in the doxology. The Theatre seats 4,500, which is still in existence today and sits on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. On to Cana, the site of Our Lord’s first miracle. We check in to the Leonardo Hotel Tiberias for a 2-night stay. This hotel didn’t have very good internet service. Our first stop James one of our tour members got lost. Our tour guide with his cell walked James through the crowd to our waiting bus.

Thurs., Nov. 7, 2019, we boarded the bus and headed to the Sea of Galilee – Capernaum – Golan Heights – Caesarea Philippi – Tiberias. We crossed the waters of the Sea of Galilee aboard a replica of the boat in which Jesus would have sailed. Traveled to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the “Sermon on the Mount”. Nearby Tabgha is the traditional location for the calling of the disciples and the feeding of the five thousand. In Capernaum, Jesus performed many miracles and it was the center of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. Our tour day ended at the River Jordan at the Yardenit Baptismal site. Here Pastor David baptized those from MVPC and other friends. While David baptized one a white dove flew over him. We visited the Chapel of the Primacy and had lunch at a communal settlement (kibbutz) in the Golan Heights. As Pastor David pushed the (printer) around parts of Matthew 16 appeared in the sand.

Fri., Nov. 8, 2019, our bus took us to Tiberias – Tel Megiddo – Bethlehem- Jerusalem – Nazareth. We stopped at Tel Megiddo (Armageddon), the site of the final battle before the coming of the Messiah. In Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. Entered the Church of the Nativity, the oldest continuously functioning church in the world. Stopped at Shepherds’ Field, where the angels appeared on that first Christmas night, spreading good tidings of great joy for all the people. Later, arrived in one of the holiest cities in the world, Jerusalem. We stayed four nights at the Jerusalem Hotel. In Palestine I noticed garbage along the roads and around buildings.

Sat., Nov. 9, 2019, Jerusalem – Mount Zion – Ein Karem. First we visited the Mount of Olives. Next the Church of the Pater Noster, built on the traditional site where Christ taught the Lord’s Prayer; its name refers to the “Our Father” prayer. Continued to the Church of All Nations, built over the rock on which Our Lord prayed the night before He was crucified. Here is a grove of ancient olive trees. Olive trees don’t have rings, so their age can’t be precisely determined, but scholars estimate the age of these trees to be anywhere between one and two hundred years old. `Nearby was the Tomb of the Virgin Mary and the Garden of Gethsemane, the site of Christ’s betrayal by Judas. After eating the Last Supper with His disciples, and before His betrayal and arrest, Jesus spent the night in the Garden of Gethsemane. The name of this garden, Gethsemane, means “olive press.” Just as the olives here were pressed, crushing the oil out of them. He too would soon be pressed “pouring Himself out even unto death.” On to Mount Zion in the Upper Room, near the traditional site of the Last Supper. Then, continued to Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist and the place to which Mary traveled to share her good news with Elizabeth. Saturday evening we walked through Jaffa gate to the Old City (UNESCO), which combines ancient beauty with timeless allure, and visit the Citadel (also known as the Tower of David). The walls of the Citadel serve as a stage for a “Night Spectacular” show which is a celebration of sight and sound. Amidst the archaeological remains in the Citadel’s courtyard and set to the sound of original music, the story of Jerusalem unfolds through giant breathtaking, virtual reality images.

Sun., Nov. 10, 2019, we boarded the bus at 6:40 AM for the start of a long day. When we arrived in the Old City of Jerusalem, that is precisely the feeling you get. Just walking through the narrow streets and alleys – knowing that this is a holy place to three of the largest faiths in the world – gives you the sense that you have stepped back in time. And it’s not just that you are studying history, for you are actually walking through it. The Old City was originally built by King David in 1004 BC and has long been considered the center of the world. The Old City covers roughly 220 acres and the surrounding walls date back to Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566 AD). Surrounding the Old City is a limestone wall. Today, the Old City is roughly divided into the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, and the Armenian Quarter. To get in or out of the Old City you walk or drive through one of its numerous gates. There were a total of 11 gates, but only seven are open: Jaffa, Zion, Dung, Lions’, Herod’s. Damascus, and New. The main entrance to the city is the Jaffa Gate, built in 1538 AD. We toured different parts of Jerusalem. Enjoyed a day excursion to some of the most historic regions in Israel. We stopped at the Qumran for a view of the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Next a cable car ride to the top of Masada. Toured the remnants of the palace fortress, complete with Roman-style bathhouses built by King Herod, as well as storehouses, ritual baths and synagogues built by the Jews. Viewed the Dead Sea and the surrounding Judean Desert. Some MVPC members floated in the Dead Sea the lowest point on earth. Some of us enjoyed refreshments at “The Lowest Bar in the World”. Then off for a stop at the oldest city on earth, Jericho, for a distant view of the Mount of Temptations.

Mon., Nov. 11, 2019, more time in Jerusalem. Our first stop is at St. Stephen’s Gate where St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death. Continued to the Church of St. Anne, marking the place where the parents of the Blessed Mother lived. Visited the nearby Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the paralytic. Then, followed the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross, walked by Our Lord on the way to His crucifixion; passed by the Ecce Momo Arch, the site where Pontius Pilate presented Our Lord to the crowds. Next, we visited the Western Wall of the Temple Built in the 1st century by Herod the Great as part of the Temple Mount complex, the Western Wall (sometimes called the Wailing Wall), commonly refers to a 187-foot section of ancient wall on the western side of the Temple Mount. The Western Wall is the holiest place still accessible to Jewish people today. At times tens of thousands of people gather here for prayer. Here you are supposed to write a prayer on a piece of paper and tuck it into the crevice in the Wall. Pastor David placed notes in the wall. A number of the group were seen with hands on wall praying beside Pastor David. Our next stop was at the Garden Tomb, the possible site of the garden of Joseph of Arimathea and site of the resurrection of Jesus. Here Pastor David lead the group in the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Catholics and Baptists of our group gathered with MVPC members. Miky provided us with communion cups. Back to our hotel to get ready for our farewell dinner with our traveling friends to celebrate the end of this unforgettable experience of the Holy Land.

Tues., Nov. 12, 2019. We gathered for breakfast in the hotel before boarding the bus at 7 AM for the ride to the Ben Gurion Airport and our 13-hr. flight to Newark, NJ. We flew on a Boeing 787 plane coming back. A few members from our group continued on to Jordon for another 5-day tour. Distance was 5,659 miles. After arriving in Newark, NJ, we had a 5-hour layover. Part of the layover was because our plane for delayed. We arrived back in Las Vegas around 11:45 PM. A bus picked us up and took us to MVPC. Eighteen hours on an airplane made us all very tired.

Our bus driver Rayek (top left) worked for this bus company. He's been driving buses for some twenty years. The last three with Nazarene Express. Miky our tour guide has been in this busy some twenty years after two years of training.

This forty-eight passenger bus was our way of traveling while in Israel. Amazing how Rayek our driver could move this bus around.

Final thoughts. We found sitting in the economy plus section on the planes was a comfortable place. On our flight to San Francisco we sat in row 11 seats C and B. The flight from San Francisco to Tel Avia we sat in row 32 seats B and C. Same area coming home. We flew United Airlines all the time. Collette was our travel agent and they did a good job. They took our American money all over Israel. We ate all our evening and breakfast meals together at the hotels buffet style. Some lunch meals were planned, but some we stopped and ordered as we wanted. The bus had bottled water for us. We were told we could drink the tape water also. I can’t remember climbing so many steps in my life and walking on such shiny rock. The bus driver, Rayek, was amazing how he maneuvered this 48-passenger bus around the narrow streets, parking lots and narrow roundabouts. No complaints about our hotel rooms. The rooms had no clocks in them, so we used our cell alarms. Room service was known to give us a wake up call around 5 AM. Pastor David lead the group in a number of scripture readings and hymns. David was the shepherd of our group and boy did he keep an eye on his sheep. Tour guide Miky sometimes referred to him as the rooster of the group. He could be seen ministering to his group from time to time. He offered pray at mealtime and helped those that needed an extra hand. He and our tour guide Miky (a practicing Jew) really hit it off good. Nineteen from MVPC members and friends made the trip. One MVPC member was joined by her two daughters on the way. In Tel Aviv we were joined by other members, so most times our tour had forty-one. Miky spoke a number of languages and used them as he chatted with folks on the street and our bus driver. Security was at its best everywhere. Lucky to be on a bus, as we were waved through all the check points. It wasn’t uncommon to find security with rifles around malls and at checkpoints. I felt every time we entered Palestine we saw more trash along the roads and garbage stacked all over. The weather was above normal for this time of year and no rain. The first day of our tour after our first event, as our bus was pulling out someone yelled "James is not here." We all said a prayer that James would be found. Miky found him with his cell and directed him through the crowd to our bus. During the communion service we had some Catholics and Baptists worshipping with us. Some days the temperature got in the 80s.
Thank you Pastor David and Tami Samek for putting this amazing trip together.