I found it really interesting that September 11th was the day that I first step into a plain with a heading to a different country. When most of the USA is totally afraid of flying, here I was with 87 other people bound to the Middle East, Israel!
I was so excited I love to fly, to have that freedom that it brings. To be able to check my luggage all by myself without my parents seems amazing to me. I remember growing up and having my parents do all the work and seeing the example of what they taught me to do, is so surprising to me.
When we got to the terminal I was so excited that I went right to the gate, it was my understanding that the rest of the group would join me. When I found the gate I was surprised to see that there was only 5 others that went to the gate first. The rest of the group and not gone though security but had went to find food and to shop before the 13-hour flight. Some from our group left but I stayed and finished the packages of reading that was required before we got to Israel.
Little bit, by little bit, others joined. Not really knowing the whole group at this point I had no way of knowing if we were all here, or if we were missing people. I chose to leave it into the hands of God and my leaders, for there was nothing that I could do about it.
Some of my friends began playing cards, and I joined in on the game of jin-rummy. Josh, JD, Josh G., and Kara all played for the rest of the time until it was could start to board the flight.
When we were seated I ended up sitting next to John Barr. I really nice man. We sat in the very, very, very far back. There was only to seat in our row, and we took them. I had never met John, and we talked for about 3 hours, talked about family, work, dreams, plans and hopes for the trip, about religion, we shared our testimonies, it was really nice and a relief to know that I was not seating next to a wired man or woman that did not feel comfortable with.
I had the chicken for dinner, with Hummus, and vegs. It was really good, I could not really complain, at that point I was so hungry, I would have eaten anything. Then I took a sleeping pill and started to fade in and out of the movie Ocean 13 and my music on my I-Pod Classic.
When I woke up it was breakfast time, Hummus, fresh fruit, yogurt and granola. Amazing fruit, and at this point I am falling in love with Hummus. For the rest of the trip and kept on sleeping or watching my I-Pod or the movies over again.
We Land!!
It is so green and the sun is setting with amazing colors. Everyone is so happy and excited to see what will happen next. After getting out luggage we break into 4 teams (just for counting sake). Once we are all there we are put into buses and off we went, over the Holy Land!!
A guide Amara comes onto the mike and welcomes all of us. As we start driving it begins already, the tour! We are able to ask questions about the town and villages that we pass, about why there is traffic and how can you tell the difference between one village and another.
At one point we make a stop and Amara gets on the other bus and Britt get on the mike and tells us that we are in the middle of and are passing in the valley of Armageddon. WOW!!!
We stop at a McDonalds, for the bathroom, and the sign is in Hebrew! It was so cool, and the big "M" was backwards, odd but really cool!
We get to the hotel and but our numbers on our bag and go right up to dinner! It was really interesting, trying new food for the first time, unsure of what is good, and wanting to at least try it all. It was indeed an adventure.
After dinner I ran to find my room change and then go right to the Sea of Galilee!!
AMAZING!!!!
At first it is so rocky but once you get in deep enough for forget completely, it was so dark that first night! I seemed as though all the youth of the trip were in the water, yet we still could be by ourselves. The sky was filled with stars and the surrounding hills you could see how close they were. The city on the hill gave out a great light that reflected onto the Sea and it shimmered.
I will never forget that night! Being in the water that my Jesus walked on. In the land that He loves. Being around the people that he died for. With Jesus in my heart and feeling His presence in this place that is how I fell asleep wrapped up in his love, and with the hope that this is just the beginning!
