Well folks. The time has come.
Tomorrow we will travel 3 hours to Raleigh to board a flight at 5 p.m. to New York City. At midnight, we will get on an EL AL flight and twelve hours later, we will land in Tel Aviv. (Which is seven hours ahead.) Then we’ll get on a bus to Jerusalem where we will check into the Olive Tree Hotel, have dinner and (this is the most important thing of all) go. to. bed.
It will be about thirty hours between getting out of our bed in Manteo and lying down in our new bed in Jerusalem. I hope I manage to stay somewhat coherent during the in between times.
Don’t even ask about how my packing is going. I am pretty much overwhelmed at this point, even though I have been pondering my packing for the past two weeks and have even spent a couple of hours getting things laid out and organized. trying to keep things simple and comfortable.
We will have Wi-Fi on the tour buses and at the hotel so I will do my best to post some pictures and stories along the way and then do a few longer posts when we get back home.
So the next post you read from me will be written a long, long way from this favorite recliner in Manteo. It sounds kind of funny to say, but I actually can’t wait to see what stories I will write, or what pictures I will post!
Since I don’t yet have any pictures of my own to share, I’ll close with one from Nathan’s college trip to Israel. I especially love it because the look I see on his face shows that he is a dreamer, a thinker, and an enjoy-er. I think I will have much the same look on my face as Steve and I embark on this adventure and begin to explore the richness and glories of the small and mighty country of Israel.
It sounds like a wonderful trip. I know I wouldn’t like the time that it takes to get there. Looking forward to seeing the photos!
Kari,
Yes, a 12-hour flight is pretty long–but well worth it!
I hope you had safe travels and are being filled with wonderful sights and experiences in such a humbling and inspiring city. My sister was there many, many years ago and I still treasure the few items she brought back to me.
Mary,
I know you truly treasure those items your sister brought. They are full of memories of a great country.
I have been enjoying Steve’s photos on Facebook, hope you both have caught up on some rest.
Thank you, Cindy. Rest is a pretty hard comodity to come by! 🙂
Becky!! I’m sooooo happy for you that you get to go on such a dream trip to such an amazing place!! You deserve a wonderful adventure! I am really looking forward to hearing all about your trip and especially to seeing the beautiful photos I know you will take! Have a magnificent time !!! ✈️ ? ? ? ? ? ?
Jenna,
An adventure it will be! Still not quite sure what to expect but very much anticipating finding out.
Have a wonderful trip. Looking forward to your posts!
Thank you, Lesley. I’m looking forward to my posts too, because I can’t yet picture what I will be seeing or writing about!
Prayers for a safe and wonderful trip! I can’t wait to visit Israel through your beautiful pictures and words.
SueEllen,
Well, since I can’t pack all my wonderful readers in my suitcase, the picture tour will just have to do the job. Glad you’re excited, too!
So excited for you and Steve. I agree with Barnestormers that you sleep over the Atlantic. It will be dark and you need the rest. I did that to and from Germany in the early 70s and on flights to and from Japan and Guam. Loved looking at Paris during the night flight. Have a great time, stay safe and well. Looking for lots of pictures and interesting stories. Prayers for you both.
Ann,
You are quite the world-traveler! Isn’t it great to get to see all those interesting places? Thinking of you as you go to Duke.
Safe flight! Looking forward to hearing your stories and seeing your photos!
Thanks, Tobi. The adventure begins!
I remember when you first started talking about this trip. Hard to believe it is time to leave and step on the shores where our Lord has walked. So excited for you. Know you will post some of the best pictures you have ever taken. EXCITEMENT!
Sharyn,
I know. The time went by SO fast between finding out about it and leaving in a couple of hours. A little nervous. A lot excited!
Have a wonderful,safe trip. Did you ever think about using a packing list? It has made a big difference in what I take.????
Margie,
Yes, that’s a great idea and I DO use one just about every trip. But then I got overwhelmed by all the things on the list and feel like I will NEVER get finished! 🙂
I went to Israel with my grandmother while I was in college. It was a beautiful place to visit, and to think that Jesus walked along those same streets that we were walking was just amazing. The dead sea was awesome… I got in to float! And I loved Jerusalem and Bethlehem… I know that you will enjoy everything and have a wonderful time! I can’t wait to see the pictures and see what has changed in the 20 years since I was there!! 🙂 Have fun and enjoy!
Tiffany,
What a great trip to be able to take with a person so special to you! I know you will carry those memories forever.
Have a wonderful trip. I can’t even imagine the city or countryside. Looking forward to the stories and [ictures!
Diane,
I’m right there with you as far as not being able to imagine it all. Can’t wait to start the discovery!
Happy travels and wonderful new experiences! Ruth
Thanks, Ruth. I know you would love to be there right beside me!
I can’t believe your journey starts tomorrow! I know you’ve been looking forward to it for SO LONG!
Sleep on the plane on the transAtlantic leg – it’s a must! Hopefully there will be a few empty seats so you can claim an entire row to yourself. (I love flights where I get the entire three or four seats in the middle to myself. Stretch out and SLEEP! Of course, that’s rare, but it does happen.
Can’t wait to see the pics and read your stories. 🙂
Stefanie,
I can’t even dare to hope for an empty seat beside me. That would be a dream come true! So far I have been picturing myself squashed into my one tiny space for 12 hours. I am taking Benadryl along and definitely plan on conking out. Hopefully body will cooperate with that plan!
i loved following Nathan’s trip, and look forward to following you, too
Mrs. Pam,
I loved Nathan’s trip too. So fun to get to do the same thing and compare notes with him.
Have a great trip! Can’t wait to see your pictures and hear all about it.
Thank you, Phyllis! It will be quite the adventure.
Oh My Goodness! Eeeek…I’m so excited for you! I can’t wait to see pictures and read your stories.
I went to the hotel website and it looks very lovely! Comfortable. Classy. I giggled when I read “Jerusalem’s Most Popular Hotel”. I guess to me, I still picture the Holy Land as big rocks and dirt. So, I guess I thought the hotel would be a couple of concrete beds in some building. =)
Stay safe and God’s Blessings on your travel!
Krista,
I have to say, I wouldn’t be QUITE as excited about the trip if I knew we were going to be sleeping on concrete beds in some building. That made me smile!
So excited for you and Steve. Can not wait to see your pictures.
Mel,
It’s a wonderful experience to get to do something out of the normal routine and a little out of my comfort zone. Adventure awaits!
You are incredibly lucky to be able to go. My friend Mai, whose grandmothers were both born in Ein Karem, isn’t allowed to go to Ein Karem or Jerusalem because she is Palestinian. Her mother and dear Auntie Hiyam were born in Ramallah, so she’s likely to be able to go there, but the indignity with which she would be treated with to get there is just not worth it for her. I understand you don’t want to get into that side of it, but the land of Christ is full of dichotomies. Abuna Elias Chacour, a Palestinian Christian wrote a great book called “Blood Brothers: The Dramatic Story of a Palestinian Christian Working for Peace in Israel” – I highly recommend it. He founded the only school in that land that employes Muslim, Christian and Jewish teachers, and the only school that has Muslim, Christan and Jewish students. It’s been 10 years since I’ve been to Jerusalem. I miss that city. If God has ever existed on earth, it’s in that city, the city where all 3 Abrahamic faiths come together. It’s simply amazing, that city. I never experienced God’s presence like I did in that city. I’m jealous you are going. The last time I tried to go I was stripped search and sent back to Jerusalem. They [the Israelis] aren’t fans of those of us [even Americans] who are friend of the Palestinians, even those of us who are Christian pacifists. Sometimes we can get in and sometimes we cant. *sigh*
Ooops..that sentence “I was stripped searched and sent back to Jerusalem” should have read “I was tripped searched and sent back to JORDAN”.. I was coming from my friend Mai’s house. 🙂
Brooke,
You are so right about that land being full of dichotomies. But with all the strife and stress that has swirled around it through the centures, your words about it being an amazing city are so true. We often pray for the peace of Jerusalem in our church services; when Steve said those words Sunday, they hit me in a whole new way because I knew I would be sleeping there in just a few days.
I am sorry to know that Mai has suffered so much because of being Palestinian. She is fortunate to have a friend like you in her life who supports her in word AND in deed. The book you mentioned sounds wonderful. The fact that he founded a school that employees Muslim, Christian and Jewish teachers is amazing. I love hearing and reading stories like that.
Have a GREAT time and enjoy the trip! Can’t wait to see all the pictures you will take. My dad, as a pastor, went with a group of other ministers on three different trips to Jerusalem. I always loved all the little trinkets he would bring home for all of us. He would buy them at little markets for a really cheap price. He bought my aunt this beautiful necklace on one of his trips and when my grandmother passed away 3 years ago, my aunt gave it to me along with the little change purse my dad had also given to her. She put a note in the bag which stated that she didn’t have any daughters to pass the necklace to and she wanted me to have it. I wore it when my son graduated from NCSU so I could feel like my dad was there in my own little way!
Be safe and have a blessed time on your once-in-a-lifetime trip!!
Donna,
How wonderful to be given the necklace that your dad bought in Israel. I loved that you wore it to your son’s graduation as you remembered your dad and celebrated your son. Beautiful story.
Safe Travels and enjoy
Patti–thank you! Can’t believe the time has come.
Have a great time, and take lots of pictures / videos! I’ll get there some day…
Thanks, Nona!
I really appreciate you holding the fort in the media department while I’m gone. Such a relief not to have to worry about anything!
Oh I totally forgot that you were going on this trip….have a really wonderful time! Safe travels!! I can’t wait to see what you post! 🙂
LeeAnne,
Yep. Off we go! 🙂