Holy Land Day 4

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I will not be able to come up with enough words to express the overwhelming emotions we are feeling as we continue our tour. Plus, we continue to read more and more scripture, hearing the traditions, which help us to understand even more about this place...

We began the day in Cana of Galilee...you know the story. The site of Jesus' first miracle was at the wedding, probably of one of his relatives, as he was approached by his mother to handle the problem of not enough wine.

Six couples renewed their vows in this place. I must admit that after 40 years of being married to Dean, I have never felt any more blessed, than to be able to repeat that I would love and cherish him...forever.

We then left Galilee, drove the hills of Samaria and into the hills of Judea. We stopped in Nazareth and visited many churches and museums. Churches are generally built over or near the sites that are believed to be important places in the life of Jesus. Nazareth was no different. We visited Mary's Grotto (her home as a child), where Gabriel informed her of her future. Artifacts and even ancient grafitti (Carvings in the stones) are all ways that archeologists make these sites a probable match. The huge Church of the Anunciation is the largest church in the Middle East. It's property covers (literally) most of the village of Nazareth. Excavation, continues, and we visited what could have been Jesus' childhood home after the family's return from Egypt.

We piled back on the bus and headed for Jerusalem. Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel is HUGE!!! 1 million residents..80% Jewish and 20% Muslim (holding Israeli passports). We decided to go on to Bethlehem for a lunch and a short shopping opportunity, before returning to our hotel in Jerusalem. There is a border complete with soldiers and guns at the checkpoint...one way in..one way out. You leave the beauty and affluence of Jerusalem to enter the poverty of Bethlehem. The unemployment stands between 30 and 40%. Sam has Christian friends who have a great sandwich shop (The Christmas Tree??), where I had my second delicious Falafel. Then Bassam and Sam have friends who operate a shop specializing in jewelry and olive wood carvings.

After the shopping, we were greeted by independent entrepreneurs, ladened with bags and shawls and beads and fluffy camels and flutes. Though they were not allowed to enter the bus, they would pass their bargains up to one of the riders, and we would sell for them. What a hoot...We ended up with more wonderful bargains, which we of course, did not need...

As we crossed back over the border to Jerusalem, two young, smiling, gun toting soldiers glanced at our passports and we got to go on to our hotel.

The lessons remembered from today?? They come from Cana and Jesus' first miracle. The guests who came late to the wedding feast received the very best wine..not the tradition. The message? It is never too late to accept Jesus' amazing love and grace...you will still get the very BEST!