Israel

Well, We have Internet at the hotel for the last three nights of our stay here. I have more time this time, so I am going to write a lot. If you don't have time now, come back to this later and read it then. HERE WE GO:

We left Detroit for a 6 hour flight to London. I will tell you, the plane was amazing and it was quite comfortable, other than I was sitting in the middle of a row with two guys on either side who felt that the arms to the seats were their possession. I hugged myself for six hours which I guess is healthy and I did feel much better about me at the end of it all.
Each seat had a television with 18 channels so yes, I channel hopped the entire time over the Atlantic Ocean. Amie understands that I don't watch any show for more than a few moments. I might miss something.

Anyway, we landed in London and them people there talk funny. It was neat to hear the dialect and I found myself trying to pick it up. The only problem is, unlike when we are in Kentucky and it is easy to say things with a draw, they get somewhat offended and think you are making fun of them. SO I Quit.

We flew out two hours later and arrived in Tel Aviv 4 and a half hours later. It was miserable because the lady and her three children who sat behind me were so disrespectful and she let her kid kick my seat and run the aisles. It was almost more than I could handle. When the plane stopped she let him take off again and asked me to stop him. I told her he was not my responsibility and I was not touching her kid. I was so ticked.

Anyway, we went to our hotel the first night in Netanya. The room was right on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was beautiful. Randy Darrell, Jim and I took a walk after dinner which was weird and enjoyed some of the city. It is a neat place. We left there the next morning and drove to the Sea Of Galilee for the next three nights. During the next three days we were on Mt. Carmel which is where Elijah called down fire from heaven. At the high point of this mountain we looked out and saw Nazareth. It was overwhelming to me to see the place where Jesus grew up. He also pointed out several other cities which were just not as neat to me.

    One day we took a boat out on the Sea Of Galilee. It was also really cool. We also traveled to the the mountain where the Be Attitudes were preached. The mountains here are like huge hills at home. It is quite different. They are not really that high.
    We left there and drove three or more hours to the Dead Sea last night. I floated in the sea. It is like floating in motor oil they say. It is really thick water, and when you touch your skin that has been in the water it feels like you have covered yourself in oil.
    The hotel last night was amazing. It was one of the nicest places I have ever stayed. I loved it.

Today we left there and visited a few more places on our way to Jerusalem which is where I am now. We looked over the city and saw the temple and the eastern gate. It was an overwhelming site as well. They also pointed out the place where they think Christ was crucified. It left us all speechless.
We will be in Jerusalem for the next three days before coming home.

Things I have noticed.
America is unlike any other place in the world. We have more of everything except the danger.

Israel is beautiful. The northern part is like driving through gardens. There are flowers and flowering trees everywhere.

The food here is not good. It is different. Not easy to find too much to eat.
The people here don't always like us. Some are quite rude and others just don't care.

Everything is a tourist trap. They want your money. Nothing else.

Home cooking is a blessing. Amie I will try any crazy thing you make from now on.

I have had Humus for every meal now for three days.
McDonalds is not trashy food.
Does anyone see a pattern here.
and lastly

I want to come home.

Love to you all.

I will see you soon and be in contact when I can

Brock

5-26-05

Ok gang,

    This is our final night in the country and wow what an experience. It has been so overwhelming at times.
Today was the best by far. We have spent the last three days in Jerusalem and we have seen so many things.
    While here in town, we visited the site of Gethsemane and we walked the traditional route to the foot of the hill. It is a small garden with some olive trees and roses and then a huge church that is supposed to be where Jesus sweat drops of blood. Again this is all so touristy that you really don't feel much like it is a holy site. There are buildings all around and the min. you step out of the garden there are street vendors who want to sell you something or they want to pick your pockets. So it is not as solemn and somber as you might expect. Also you don't know if this is a site that some man has chosen to be the site or if it is real. What you do know is that it happened. It happened on the mount of olives and I stood there. That is the most incredible thing I will take with me.
    We also toured the Temple Mount. It is where the temple was and we stood on the actual original steps where Jesus taught. We also saw where he turned the tables and rebuked so many. That was amazing.

Today though, we walked the Via Delarosa, It is a humble small narrow street. It is pretty to the eye as far as looking like you are far back in history, but it is dirty and smelly and all. Then we left and went to Bethlehem, where we went to a Catholic Church that claims to have the site of where Jesus was born and the manger and all.
By the way, we learned that when they say there was no room in the inn, that inn means house here. It was not a motel. It was just no room in the main house, so the cave below it was the where the animals were and that is where they think Jesus was born.

After that site we made it back to go to the Holocaust museum. I don't really have words to describe that. It was sad. Sad is not good enough, but then what I can say.

Finally we went to the tomb. This was by far the most amazing thing I have seen on this trip.
Our guide didn't go in. It was just us and a guide from the spot and he was a pastor. It was amazing to hear him speak. I wish the last 8 days we would have had him to tour with. He told us why they believe this is the site. Skull mountain is where they believe the crucifixion took place. Then the tomb is not too far away and it is in a garden and he had so many reasons that were sound as to why this is a possible site, but his words were the best. He said it doesn't matter if this is actually it or not, the truth is that it happened and he rose again. THAT MADE US ALL WEEP. So did the actual tomb. It is amazing to know that Jesus was there and he rose from there and he is alive. It is amazing to know that he cares enough about all of us that he went through it all. It is amazing that he knows me on a personal level and cares enough about me that he would leave paradise and suffer and die so he could be with me. I AM NOT WORTH IT!

I am so thankful to have been here. I am tired and ready to come home. We live in a blessed country. We take it all for granted too much. All of us. I am ready to see people I love and to breathe the air that is at home.
I hope you have somehow tasted a little of this country. If nothing else pray tonight and thank him for loving you.

I love you all and will see you soon,

Brock

May 27, 2005: Somewhere over the Atlantic.

Right now we are flying home. HOME, What does that mean?

How can home be somewhere you've never been? I think home is defined as a

safe place where you invest your heart. Home is always the final destination to

any trip. A good home is where you are loved, where you matter, where you

long to be.

We are all on a journey home. No, not the geographical location, but the place

where our heart is. For some of us, we've been traveling quite some time, while

others may be in the first leg of the journey. Regardless of the time line, we are

all on our own pilgrimage. We will arrive at different times, some before others,

there is no promise of when. So we need to invest in home. Our travels, our studies,

our constant communication, all focused on home.

Homeward Bound has just left Israel, and we are different now than we were just 10

days ago. We have walked where Jesus walked; we have sung on the very hills and

mountains where He taught. We have wept where they laid Him, and just like our Savior, we

have walked out of that tomb. That has to change you. You can't help it. We have

seen it, and we are coming home with a new fervor to go. Go into all the world and proclaim

truth.

We want to thank our widowmites. You sent us. You provided the ticket and God has used each of you in a mighty way in the heartbeat of this ministry. We are thankful for you and forever indebted to your obedience to Him in supporting us.

We have so many stories to share with each of you. We love you. Journey On.

Where He Leads,

Brock

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