Headed North

Authentic Roman road Jesus and disciples walked down to Kidron Valley and Garden of Gethsemane following the Last Supper

Group shot outside Lion's/St Stephen's Gate. (Click on and enlarge if you dare!)

What a great day we had today as we visited Masada, Qumran, and Beth Shan before arriving at our hotel above the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee late this afternoon. We heard stories about the last of the Jewish Zealots who revolted against Rome and chose death instead of slavery when their valiant resistance on their mountaintop fortress was obviously at an end. We listened as Gila told the interesting stories surrounding the discovery and revelations of the Dead Sea Scrolls. We sat in the remarkably preserved ampitheatre of Beth Shan/Scythopolis and recounted the tragic story of King Saul and how his great potential as Israel's first king never was realized. We gazed at the ancient walls from which the bodies of he and his sons were hung.

As we pulled up to our resort hotel we discovered our rooms have balconies and a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee. Many words of excitement were shared among us. We are having a good time. We have been blessed with wonderful weather. We anticipate three more days of exploration, information, and inspiration together before heading home on Thursday. God has been so good to us. Continue to pray for us. Thank you from all of us and God bless! (Pictures of our hotel and the sea to follow tomorrow. Here's a couple from the last few days...)