The Continuation of Galilee

Galilee was a WONDERFUL experience but it was very exhausting.

My class at the watchtower at Hazor. Hazor was a very important, huge city in Old Testament times. It was destroyed by the Assyrians. We took this picture because we talked about Ezekiel’s teachings about being a watchman on a tower for Israel. A watchman could see the enemy army, long before they came close to the city. It was their responsibility to warn the inhabitants of the city so that they could prepare. We then talked about our modern counterparts (the Prophet, and the Twelve, parents, etc) and our personal responsibility.

Me at Har Ben Tal. This is up on the Golan Heights, on the border with Syria. We could hear military fire from the Syrian civil war while we were there. While we were there we talked about Paul’s experience on the way to Damascus, and I used Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk that encouraged people not to be paralyzed in their spiritual journeys because they are waiting for spectacular spiritual experiences.

Jill and I in an old canon turret at Har Ben Tal

Me at the Roman aqueduct which took water from Mount Carmel to King Herod’s Caesarea Maritima. The aqueduct is 12 miles long. Caesarea Maritima is where Paul was imprisoned for 2 years before being sent to Rome. The theater is still standing where Herod Antipas died (Acts 11).

Me at Chorazin. The picture is about the Sermon on the Mount teaching about the beam and the mote (Matt. 7:3-4). You can see the stone beams acting as the roof, and in my hand is a tiny speck of stone, which is a mote.

Abby and I at Yardenit. This is where the Jordan River leaves the Sea of Galilee on its way to the Dead Sea. This is a baptismal site. There were people being baptized the day that we were there.

Christmas in Jerusalem

It is Christmas day! Merry Christmas! Yesterday we went in to Bethlehem. It is not something that we’re normally allowed to do. We spent the afternoon lining up to get into the Church of the Nativity. We made it, but only just. They were chasing us out at the end telling us that they were closing. But it was a great opportunity to be there and think about Christmas from a different perspective. There was a real festive atmosphere in Manger Square. I loved it! Then we walked out and went to the Bethlehem Branch for a Christmas social. It was about a 30 minute walk. On the way the street was lined with police and army because there were some dignitaries in a huge motorcade rushing past us. The street that we walked along was Hebron Road, the same road that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob walked along and also the road that Mary and Joseph would have travelled between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. So that was fun to think about it. At the Branch we read Luke 2 in English and Arabic; sang some carols, including O Little Town of Bethlehem, and then had some refreshments. It was a lovely evening.

Us at Manger Square in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. The Church of the Nativity is in the background.

Cherie at the Manger in the Church of the Nativity

Cherie playing the organ in the auditorium of the Jerusalem Center

Christmas Eve with the Bethlehem Branch

Bro & Sister Hopkin (service couple in the Galilee), Becky, Cherie, and me in the back—waiting in line to get into the nativity grotto

This morning we got up, had brunch with other people in the Center, and now we just came home, opened presents, and are cooking dinner. We have invited one of the Service couples to come and eat with us. They had family come and stay and unfortunately one of them had a stroke while we were in Galilee. So they've had to stay a little longer. So it will be fun to share our Christmas meal together. Then we’re going to go up into the auditorium where the Jones will play Christmas carols on the piano and organ.