September 6

Friends,I apologize for not having more posts but I find that between our schedule and somewhat limited wi-fi access I have had trouble getting connected.So here's my update - Last Thursday was a day of respite - much needed and much appreciated. A quiet day on the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Friday was a travel day leaving the Mt. of Beatitudes and heading for Jerusalem. Our first stop was Megiddo - or Armegeddan as we know it. This hill (one of many that we have traveled) actually was a resultof 27 different cultures building upon on site. Can you imagine? It is just amazing the amount of history here.Megiddo was one of the most famous and strategically located fortress cities of Bronze Iron Age Palestine. I look forward to sharing more about this place with you. Here is much too much to begin here. From Megiddo, we traveled to Caesarea Maritima -- first mentioned in written records from mid-third century B.C. It had been governed by many rulers including Cleopatra when Caesar Augustus turned it over to Herod (later to be known as Herod the Great). It was names Caesarea and was converted into a major Roman style city with a deep water seaport, city wall and aqueduct system. Herod’s Caesarea also had a royal palace, administrative center, a theater and race track (which held 4,000 spectators) where chariot races were held and sometimes also gladiator battles took place. The population of Caesarea was Roman oriented but also Gentile and Jewish mixed. Again, there is so much more to share--I look forward to that at home.Friday late afternoon--arrival at Jerusalem. So different from the quiet mountainside of Mt. of Beatitudes. This is a major city with the Old City within the walls. Streets are crowded with cars and sometimes people but everyone just seems to keep walking and driving. Pedestrians do not have the right of way unless at a traffic light. We checked into our hotel, Pontifical Institude Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center--located just minutes from the Old City.Saturday--we began our day with a panoramic view of the Old City from the Mount of Olives. We continued on foot passing an ancient Jewish cemetery and arrived in the Garden of Gethsemane, walked the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrow) to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built during Constantine’s time (A.D. 326) over the place that was believed to be the place of Jesus’ tomb. Along the Via Dolorosa are the 14 stations of the cross. Some are clearly marked others are not. There is so much to absorb and it isn't all processed yet. That's all for now.ShalomPastor Pam