A Day Around the Sea of Galilee

WOW - what a day around (and on) the Sea of Galilee. After a night of several rainy squalls we were off to our first event: A wooden boat trip across the Sea of Galilee. The rain held out for us to load on the boat and get going but the wind was pretty strong. About 1/2 way across it started raining and windy. It made the hair stand up on my neck as I envisioned Christ sleeping in the boat and all of us nervous about the storm. Absolutely incredible journey across the Sea. Look at the many pictures of all of us wet and rejoicing in the Lord.

Off to the Mount of the Beatitudes where it is thought that Christ gave His Sermon on the Mount. Rained on us a bit there as well - but we sat and listened to Pastor Carl give a passionate sermonette about how we are to be the salt and light of the world. We visited the area where it is believed that Christ had his talk with Peter asking him "Do you love me?" We all wandered down to the water where they cast their net on the right side of the boat and caught 153 fish. (John 21)

Back on the bus to the Jordan river where we all got into 6-man rafts and floated the river for about an hour. Chaille tried to baptize herself as she ended up OUT of the boat and UNDER the boat and popped out the other side. She came up smiling and they dragged her back in the raft. Sorry, no pics of that event - use your imaginations. At the end of our journey Dave Ross was re-baptized in the Jordan. Dave of course had to make sure that Pastor Carl didn't leave the river with any part of his body dry. :-)

I have heard that several of you have missed what Curt is up to.... Well today, he should have kept a better hold on his wife. Just a humble observation. :-D

Final site was Capernaum; Christs center of operations. Saw the synagogue where he preached. The original foundation of that very synagogue is still there! Had to just sit and soak it all in. I find it interesting and a bit heavy on my heart that the Catholic Church has taken most of these sites and built churches or "shrines" around, or at times, actually on top of the site. They have missed the message - it is merely a location or a rock. What is important is the message that Christ spoke AT that location.

We are getting filled to overflowing with sights and teaching - I'm not sure how I can do this for the next 7 days. Thanks again for all your prayers and support. Be praying for Dave Ross as he left today to head back to the states for his fathers funeral in Minnesota. He passed away to be in the presence of the Lord the day after he left for Jordan. We pray his travels will be uneventful.

We are all very encouraged by all the notes letting us know you are following along with us. We consider it a great privilege to be on this trip and to share it with all of you in any way we can.

I have added many more pictures to the TWO picassa websites.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EZsi53Ca35jXgNR9gp8k8A?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/promgmt/Israel20092?feat=directlink

More sharing tomorrow.