Israel 1

Attempt two of my post from yesterday!

Currently I am sitting in a museum next to our hotel/inn, it is host to a boat that's 2000 years old. Quite impressive!
The hotel/inn is the nof ginnosar and is situated next to Galilee. It is so unbelieveably gorgeous. I'm debating whether to get up at sunrise tomorrow just to watch it rise over the lake.

Yesterday was our one and only chilled day so far! My roommate and I explored the museum and visited the ajoining kibbutz. Then the whole group went on a 'replica Jesus boat' across the lake to Tiberius (please excuse spellings, not got time to check!). Was a little disappointed - was just like Great Yarmouth!

We arrived in Galilee on Tuesday, via the Dead Sea (amazing!), Jericho, Masada and have explored Caperium, mount of the beatitudes, Jordan River, seen where the dead sea scrolls were found and a number of other places around the lake. In fact, there is so much that I cannot remember! I can't even remember where we're going today, but it will be jam packed. It's like we just wet our appetites for places, and don't really get a proper look round. Because of that tho, it feels like we've been here for months!

We had lots of security checks at Stansted, apparently we were just the chosen ones! It filled our 3 hour wait nicely though! Tel Aviv was beautiful to watch as we circled and landed, and in arriving I felt like I was coming home and definitely realised that I want to come back!

The first evening we wandered through the Arab streets to the Western Wailing Wall. Being the start of the Sabbath there were many Jews dancing, praying and singing. It was amazing. Unfortunately I have no photos for that reason.

Around Jerusalem we visited the garden tomb, mount of olives, david's city, hezechiah's tunnel, tomb of the kings and so much more! We also went to Bethlehem. This really opened my eyes. Will post more later.

On Monday a number of us joined the Jerusalem Alliance church in sending aid into the West Bank. This was not part of our tour, and so I missed a few things, but I'm glad I did it. I feel like I've experienced the real Israel. In our team of four, I was the only girl, so in many of the houses we visited I went alone into the back to sit with the ladies. Language barriers and all, this was an eye opening experience. They were all muslim families. It's horrible in these villages. It's like time has forgotten them. 60-70% are unemployed (same in Bethlehem), they cannot leave their towns/villages. There are big walls and many guns. You can be shot for being the wrong person in the wrong place. The guy who took us said that he's been shot at and escorted out of the West Bank. But still the church works hard to make contact with other believers in the West Bank, and other poverty striken people.

I am very tired and it is very hot, but I'm enjoying it!

I've met a guy in our group called Mark who went to Dereham Road whilst at uni, he knows Helen and Julian, Peter and Wendy, Brian and Doreen etc. He played the drums!

I also met a girl called Chagit who goes to Manchester Vineyard and knows Rachael and Andrew Fulford!

It's a small world!