Last full day in Israel

Our last day in Israel we spent around the Sea of Galilee. It was a beautiful place to spend the day and was a great culmination of our trip to spend time walking in the footsteps of Jesus. We were able to go to many ancient sites that are not inhabited today so it felt more like we were seeing things as Jesus did than it did when we were in modern cities.

 

Matt and his "twin" Scott in Galilee. People kept mistaking them for each other the whole trip - I even did it a few times!

We stopped at a cove called the cover of the sower because when Jesus told the parable of the sower, he was out on a boat close to shore in a cove. The layout of the land make it like a natural amphitheater and you are able to hear someone speaking from the waters edge all the way up on the hill. Todd did not shove out in a boat, but stood out at the tip of the land and (when there were no cars coming down the road) we were able to hear him speaking as he read the parable of the sower to us like Jesus had done. It was an amazing natural phenomenon and really showed us how Jesus could have easily addressed large crowds in an area such as this one. In the picture above, you probably can't even see him, but our leader Todd is at the tip of the land in the center of the picture and we are up on the hill above him.

We were also able to spend some time in Capernaum that day which is where Jesus lived and did most of his ministry. Above Matt is standing in the synagogue at Capernaum which was built in the 4th century. It was however, built right on top of the synagogue from the first century where Jesus certainly taught.

• Mark 1:21-39, 2:1-12, 2:21, 31
• Matthew 8:5-13
• John 6:29-71

4th century synagogue on top of the 1st century synagogue (darker stones)

We were also able to see the remains of what is traditional held to be Peter's house (above)

Some of my traveling buddies Susan and Jenny!

We were also able to visit a boat from the first century that was preserved under water and was discovered when the water level was really low in 1986 and then carefully removed and soaked for 10 years in a solution that replaced the water that was soaked into the boat with wax so it would not turn to dust in the open air.

We were dropped off by our bus at the top of the Mt. of Beatitudes and were able to walk down it. We were encouraged to walk down in silence and it was a good time of reflection over the past 2 weeks in Israel. Amazing to see the views of places we have only ever read about.

After that we headed to the dock in Galilee and took an hour long boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. The weather was gorgeous and it was a very pleasant ride getting to look out across the region of Galilee. We landed and went to a restaurant on the waters edge where most people were able to have St. Peter's fish (your truly chose pasta). I was very happy with my choice too when the full fish, eyes, tail and all, were served up to my fellow diners :) Also, while we were sitting there, the beautiful weather turned suddenly stormy only a few minutes after we had gotten off the boat. The waves started getting higher and all boat traffic was called off. We were so thankful we had gotten to take our ride and were also intrigued to see how quickly a storm can blow up on the sea like it did in Jesus's time as well!

Matt on the boat!

We stopped at the Jordan River and were able to reflect on the many things that happened here;

• Israel crossed the Jordan with Joshua
• Elijah and Elisha crossed on dry land when Elijah was carried off
• Jesus was baptized here
• Naaman was told to go wash in the Jordan by Elisha (2 Kings 5)

Our last stop of the day was at Beth She'an - which was around during the time of Saul and was also a city of the Decapolis in the time of Jesus and was called Scythopolis. It was a huge area of ruins that we were able to explore. It really gave a good feeling for what a major Roman city was like during the time of Jesus.

After this stop, we headed back to Jerusalem for our last night in Israel. For our last day, we were able to visit the Israeli Museum and see some truly amazing artifacts (no cameras allowed) and also spent some time walking around the city one last time. We headed to the airport that evening around 8:30pm to begin our LONG trip home. I was able to sleep on this flight (thanks to two Advil PM) and lasted pretty well through the hours and hours of waiting at the Ben Gurion airport in Israel and going through customs and security again at JFK in New York. Bleh.

Matt and I were SO happy to finally be home with our kids!  It was such a sweet reunion - my heart was just so full being with them again! They were all happy and came out to meet us when we were walking up. I loved that moment. Melia was just happy and talking up a storm. Gabby was very sentimental saying lots of "I missed you's" and the like. Oli let me hug him and kiss him a lot. And he was happy too in his own way. It truly felt like home and there was no where else in the world I would rather be.

We are so thankful to God for the blessings he poured out on us, our fellow travelers and our family while we were away. It was a life-changing trip and has inspired me to read the Bible like never before! Thank you LORD!