It’s 5:51 AM (9:51 PM CST) Israel time and we are sitting in the Airport waiting for our plane.  We will be flying from Tel Aviv to Madrid to NYC.  We’ll see you soon!

Our first stop of the day was Yad VaShem, the Holocaust Memorial Museum of Israel. Through extensive audio visual displays and numerous original artifacts we learned about the systematic murder of over 6 million Jews under the Nazi regime, the heroic actions of those who tried to save them, and the hope offered by the establishment of the modern State of Israel (Ezekiel 37).

From Yad VaShem we traveled to the Israel Museum, where we visited the shrine of the book. On display are the Dead Sea Scrolls-the collection of two-thousand year old documents and scriptures, including an entire scroll of Isaiah that is almost identical to our modern translations.

We also saw a model of what ancient Jerusalem would have looked like two-thousand years ago, including the City of David and the Temple compound.

For lunch we stopped at Suq Mahane Yehuda, a traditional Middle Eastern market. Some of us were more adventurous with our food choices than others (and we hope it doesn’t come back to haunt us tonight).

We ended our day with a visit to the Valley of Elah, where the Israelite and Philistine armies faced off, and where a young shepherd boy named David defeated the Philistine’s champion warrior with a tiny stone (1 Samuel 17).

And now a dramatic re-enactment of the Story of David and Goliath as told by Brett Bishop and Rob Styler.

The Giant:

The Weapon:

The Throw (No Sling Available)

The stone in flight:

The smack-down:

The routing army:

The End.

After a much needed afternoon of relaxation at the pool and sauna, we ate dinner and then held an evening session overlooking Bethlehem.

Tuesday began with a visit to an Israeli army base in the Golan. Our group had the opportunity to visit with a few members of the 605 Engineering Battalion (most of them were out in the surrounding areas conducting field exercises). We learned about their role within the military and their experiences in Lebanon during lat year’s conflict.

Our next stop was a special museum commemorating the battle at the Valley of Tears in the Yom Kippur War. We watched a film relating the clash in which 140 Israeli tanks held off an invading force of 1500 Syrian tanks.

Next we visited Ceasarea Phillipi, site of an extensive Roman temple complex. The key focal point is a giant cavern, known as the Sanctuary of Pan, once used for animal sacrifices. It was here in Caesarea Phillipi that Yeshua asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” (Matthew 16).

From Caesarea Phillipi we journeyed up to Tel Dan. What were we supposed to tell him? No idea.

After dinner, we all went outside by the Sea of Galilee to enjoy the sunset over the lake, and Rob led our last evening session at kibbutz Ein Gev.

Our next day began with a visit to the Nazareth First Century Village. Our group had the opportunity to step back into the past and experience a complete recreation of a first century farm from the time of Jesus.

(a mustard seed!)

From Nazareth we travelled to Megiddo, site of continuous conflict for thousands of years. We learned about its strategic position and source of water, as well as its role as a chariot base for ancient kings. We also discussed its role in future events, when the nations of the world will descend upon Israel (Revelation 16).

After Megiddo our group stopped at Mount Carmel, where God used Elijah to confront the prophets of Ba’al. Everyone agreed that one of the best parts was reading Elijah’s taunts to the prophets of Ba’al and asking whether or not their god was busy using the restroom.

Our last stop of the day was to Caesarea Maritime, a major port built by King Herod and place where Paul embarked on his journey to Rome to stand before the Emperor for trial as a Roman Citizen.

We arrived at our final hotel for the trip, Ramat Rachel, late in the evening and ate a late dinner. Everyone was exhausted, so we decided to go to bed early in preparation for our wake-up call at 6 AM the next day.

Thursday, our busiest day of the tour, began with a tour of the Rabbi’s Tunnel, an excavated area at the Western Wall. We explored the foundations of the Temple Mount and walked at the ground level from the time of the Second Temple.

Once out of the Rabbi’s Tunnel, we walked over to HaKotel, or the Western Wall. This intact portion of the retaining wall of the Second Temple is a site of prayer and worship for Jews because of its proximity to where the Holy of Holies would have been located.

Our next stop was the Davidson Archaeological Center. We went through a virtual tour of the Second Temple and then took a walking tour out among the remains of the compound. The highlight was a reading of one of King David’s Songs of Ascent as we ascended the Southern Steps to the Temple Mount- the very same steps Jesus walked as he approached the Temple.

After a quick falafel or pizza lunch (or, for those with a more discriminating taste, schwarma ) our group visited the traditional site of King David’s Tomb. A quick walk upstairs took us to the Upper Room, traditional site of the Last Supper.

On our way out of the Old City we made a stop at the Cardo, or ancient Roman main street.

After walking down the Palm Sunday Path, we made our last stop of the day at the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent all night praying and was then arrested and taken away for trial (Matthew 26:36).

Later in the evening, after dinner, our group went out to Ben Yehuda Street for the evening. We explored, shopped, hung out at cafes, listened to street performers, and soaked up as much of modern Israel as we could.

An adventurous taxi ride back to the hotel ended our evening and, except for those who drank espresso, we’re all ready for a good night’s rest.

After breakfast and a time of prayer, our group began our fifth day of touring with a visit to Qumran, where we watched a film and explored the ruins of the ancient Essene community that lived in the area during the time of Yeshua. We also saw the caves where, in 1947, a Bedhouin shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls.

From Qumran, we drove north to Beit Shean, the ancient trading center upon whose walls were pinned the bodies of Saul and Jonathan after their defeat. In spite of an earthquake that damaged the city in the eighth century, much of the city infrastructure remains intact. How amazing to explore the huge Roman amphitheatre, the ancient Cardo, or main street, and the ancient bath system (which several of us are in need of at this point in the trip). Before leaving Beit Shean, we all enjoyed a lunch of falafel, or pita filled with salad, hummus, and fried chic-pea balls. Sound a little weird? Probably. Indescribably yummy? Definitely.

After Beit Shean, we visited the remains of the synagogue at Bet Alfa, whose beautiful mosaic tile floor remains as vibrant and colorful as it did two thousand years ago. A short Oscar-nominated* film told us the story of the mosaic artist and his son who fashioned the work, and of the leaders of the synagogue who gave in to Hellenistic influence and allowed signs of the Zodiac to be displayed in a house of worship.

From Beit Shean, we moved further north and stopped at the Springs of Harod, where God commanded Gideon to choose his troops according to the way they drank water from the springs located there. Gideon chose the three hundred who lapped the water from cupped hands, sent the rest home, and God used Gideon and his three hundred to defeat an army of Midianites who were, “as numerous as locusts.”

After the Springs of Harod, we arrived at Ein Gev, the lake-front kibbutz that we’ll be staying at for the next three nights. After swimming in the Sea of Galilee, we ate dinner and then had a sunset teaching session by the water in preparation for tomorrow’s activities.

*hilariously corny
Our first stop on day six was the Yardenit baptismal site on the Jordan River, where several people took advantage of the opportunity to renew their commitment to Messiah.

From there, we drove on to Kfar Nahum, or Capernaum, where Yeshua made his “base camp” during the early part of His ministry. We saw an ancient house that might be where Peter came and stayed with his mother-in-law, and we walked inside of the synagogue where Yeshua read a portion of Isaiah to those assembled.

After Kfar Nahum, we travelled on to the area where Yeshua delivered His sermon on the mount.

Our next stop was Tabgha, traditional site of the miracle of the loaves and fish. After talking about fish, we went to Ein Gev to try some of the “St. Peter’s Fish,” a type of fish unique to the Sea of Galilee. None of our group found a four-drachmae coin in any of our fish, but everything tasted pretty good.

We wrapped up our day with a boat ride out onto the Sea of Galilee. We had a relatively strong wind today; several of the group now have a much better appreciation for what the apostles would have felt as the waves crashed against their ship and the storm clouds brooded overhead. Wonderful experience? Yes. Dramamine a necessity? Definitely.

NOTE: Carabs, while seemingly a delicious treat, may cause increased stomach activity if eaten before fully ripe.

Our third day of touring began with a very, very early wake-up call and a quick bus ride from our hotel in Eilat to the border crossing with Jordan. After going through customs, we joined our Jordanian guide, Omar, and headed straight to Petra.

The bus ride to Petra was long, but our guide was a Believer and it was amazing to hear him speak about his experiences within the Jordanian evangelical community. Once at Petra, we grabbed our hats and water bottles, and hit the trail down the deep ravine to the city. Petra, an ancient Nabatean trade capital, features mind-boggling architecture carved straight out of the rock. A few of our group members (nerds like Michael and Jeremy) who are familiar with the Indiana Jones films were dissapointed when they entered “The Treasury” only to find that, unlike in the film, it’s just a big empty room. Did that discourage them from searching for “hidden entrances?” No.

After a day of hiking around Petra, our group headed back to the bus and then straight to the Israeli-Jordanian border crossing and on to our hotel in Eilat. After dinner and a message from Rob Styler, the group went out to experience the Boardwalk and explore the shops, the music, and the people of modern Israel.

Day Four began, like every day, with a big breakfast filled with delicious treats. Breakfasts in Israel are especially tasty because of the yogurt, cheeses, and milk products from the world-class Israeli dairy industry. Goat cheese? Bring it on.

Our first stop of the day was the ancient Egyptian copper-mining city of Timna. After some hiking, climbing, and some 2,000 year old hieroglyphic graffiti, the group visited a full-scale replica of the Tabernacle and a local guide gave us an in-depth look at the Biblical sacrificial system.

From the Tabernacle, our group headed North to the Dead Sea, near where Abraham gave Lot his choice of the land. We were met by a Desert Jeep guide who brought six off-road dune buggies, but not enough drivers. The solution? Live the Land staff channeled their inner Evel Knievel. While not hanging on for dear life, the group saw the Salt Mountains. Several brave people even tasted the rock. Weird? Maybe. Fantastic? Certainly. Our group even discovered a naturally air-conditioned cave. Was it hard to get the group back into the heat? Perhaps.

After saying goodbye to our desert guide, we headed north to the lowest spot on Earth, where we ate a light lunch and then floated in the Dead Sea. A couple of us had a few tiny scrapes from our rock climbing earlier in the day. Surprise! Wow, was that uncomfortable.

After our Dead Sea floating lesson, we headed to Kibbutz Kalia, where we enjoyed dinner (pot roast, rice, roast chicken, green beans, oven potatoes, mixed vegetables, off-the-chain corn, and all sorts of Middle Eastern sauces). Later, under a starry desert sky, Fareed led an evening session preparing us for the transition into Galilee and Jerusalem.

Shalom from Israel! On Tueday, after an overnight in New York, two flights (12 hours total flying time), a stop in Madrid, and a mass attack of AltiToots, the 2007 Live the Land group made it safely to Israel. After a traditional Israeli dinner (pita and hummus!) at hotel Ramat Rachel, everyone crashed early.

Our first full day of touring started in Jerusalem, with a quick visit to the Garden Tomb, and rappelling and rock climbing in the Valley of Gehenna. Our next stop was at the desert oasis of Ein Gedi, where David took refuge while fleeing from Saul (1 Samuel 23:29). Our day ended with a visit to the top of Masada, an ancient mountaintop fortress built by Herod the Great, and later used by Jewish Zealots as a refuge from the Romans during the Jewish Revolt. Our day ended with a camel ride in the desert and a special cultural experience with a crash course in Bedhouin hospitality at Kfar HaNokdim. After a devotional and desert hike, we all did our best to get some rest. Our sleeping arrangements, while a little “rustic”, made for a lot of fun and very little sleep. How amazing that they were probably very similar to what the Israelites had available while wandering in the wilderness for forty years!

Our second day began with an early desert wake-up call, courtesy of the camels. After a quick breakfast, our group headed south and stopped at Limas’ Wall, a Middle Eastern version of Hadrian’s Wall in Northern Britain. Passing through the possible sites of Sodom and Gomorrah, we continued south to Eilat, a beautiful resort town situated on the Red Sea. Our group spent the rest of the day on a chartered boat and enjoyed snorkelling, parasailing, swimming, and Middle Eastern barbecue. Our second evening ended with a devotional time after dinner and an outing to the local Boardwalk.

Tomorrow will be our day trip to the Red Rose City of Petra, in Jordan. Check back for more updates- our Live the Land team will continue to keep you updated on the awesomeness of our trip.

Everyone made it to New York and the Crown Plaza hotel just fine yesterday. After a good dinner meeting last night and a good night’s rest the whole group has now made their way over to JFK to get ready for their 6pm Eastern departure to Madrid. The group should arrive in Madrid about 7am local time, catch their connecting flight to Israel, and arrive in Tel Aviv about 3:30pm local time.

Keep checking the blog for updates from Israel!

Brian Nowotny
Director of Marketing & Media Relations

Live the Land staff arriving in New York

Welcome to the Live the Land 2007 tour blog. We will be departing from New York City on June the 11th and will be posting messages and photos from the tour over the following two weeks. Please check back often to see our progress.