Sharing Israel with Friends from Home!

Friends from Tampa, Florida came to visit us this past week - Allen and Nadine Pelham. We had an incredible time showing them Israel.

They were only here for a four day weekend and we kept saying that we felt as though we were doing Israel on speed - from Jerusalem to the Galilee to the Dead Sea and back again. Of course we started our tour of Israel in the Garden with Al guiding a group through the Garden.



... and the Garden at night, a sight that most tourists do not get to see. How did they do that? Their guides hold the keys to the Garden! One of the perks we enjoy!




Our first stop going North was Mount Carmel - had to take their breath away! We love Carmel. The Biblical account of Elijah and the Prophets of Baal has always stirred our hearts and the view is just drop dead take your breath away incredible!



Our journey around the Sea of Galilee took us to the usual stops. Our favorite is the Mount of Beatitudes and Capernaum. The ruins of the ancient Synagouge at Capernaum are incredible.

Our whirlwind tour of Israel brought us back to Jerusalem to overnight and then Down to the Dead Sea.

On the way to Masada, we stopped off at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

Caves at Qumran

On to Masada and the ruins of one of Herod's Palaces. This one hangs over the cliff overlooking the Dead Sea.

The day was perfect. In this last picture you are looking across the Dead Sea to Jordan. Hard to believe that one day you could be in Tampa and the next in Israel.

The Pelhams are on their way home and we miss them already. But in a very short few days we will be headed home too. We will be back in Tampa April 1st and NO that is not an April Fool's Joke! Our tour of duty in Israel is rapidly coming to a close. We shall forever be thankful to God for the opportunity that has been ours to serve Him here at the Garden Tomb for these past months. We are looking forward to returning home, seeing family and friends and are looking forward to new adventures for Christ. Our plans for 2009 include a Missions Trip to the Philipinnes in June as well as a trip back to Mali in December. We are also praying about returning to the Garden later this year.