Day 15, June 15, Saturday, Luke 24:5-7

Itinerary:

·       10:30AM Jerusalem Assembly/House of Redemption

·       Lunch, time for packing

·       3:30 PM: Garden Tomb

·       6:00 PM: Dinner, The Legacy Hotel

·       8:00 PM: five of our group head for Ben Gurion to begin their trip home.

Today was, of course, quite exciting for Cindy and me as we were in places we were very familiar with.  Church at House of Redemption/Jerusalem Assembly was time well spent.  The singing is from the screen that has words in Hebrew, the English translation AND the “anglicized” pronunciation of the Hebrew words so we could sing and also know what we were singing.  The mini-lesson on the weekly Torah portion as well as the teaching from Psalm 120 were in Hebrew & English.  Pastor Menno speaks Hebrew (& English) and another man does the English translation. Interesting: we just finished the Pilgrim Songs (Ps. 120-134) the last Sunday before leaving for Israel and Menno is just starting.


We again used the Arab bus lines, since the Jewish bus was not running because of Shabbat.  So they make stops very near Jerusalem Assembly.  They brought us back to Damascus Gate area where we went to a nice restaurant in the Legacy Hotel for our final meal together before we begin to split.

After late lunch we then went to the Garden Tomb for our final site.  What great reminders we have there of the death and resurrection of Christ, the weekend that changed the world.  We enjoyed a worship service together with communion.  Then in various ways we went back to our hotel.  One guy, Art, wasn’t feeling well and we got him a taxi.  4 people were going to get a taxi but Sammi, a Muslim man that people who have been to the Garden might remember, offered to take them for the same price they paid to get down to the Garden.  Apparently, he really didn’t know where our hotel was but our folks were able to get their bearings and guide him.  5 others did the uphill hike while Cindy and I remained to greet various folks at the Garden.  What a joy to see them and to enjoy the Garden and its ministry.


As I write this I am in Frankfurt airport waiting for our second flight, FRA-Denver.  (Inet at FRA was not great.  Now we are on board, a 747 Jumbo Jet, and somehow we were upgraded to "Premium Economy" which means an extra few inches leg room, an actual menu, and complimentary OJ when we boarded, water bottles already at our seats, etc. I didn't do this.  But it sure feels good.)  It’s the long one.  Will be excited to be home.  Will miss Israel. Again.  As always.