Tears formed in my eyes as I hugged my sister good-bye. Our trip had come to an end, and we were both so thankful we had taken this journey together, but it was hard to leave. This beautiful country had stolen both of our hearts.

We also knew we probably would never have gone to Israel if it wasn’t for our precious mother. You see, she had this trip booked, paid for, and planned to leave in November of 2007 with the others. Unfortunately, because of the unrest, the trip was cancelled. In the end, Mom wouldn’t have been able to go, as she began a different journey. She would soon actually walk WITH Jesus, while we only followed His footsteps throughout Israel.

When the unrest settled, the organizers re-booked the trip and Heidi asked Sue if she wanted to go…in Mom’s honour. Sue talked to me about it and wanted to know what I thought. I didn’t even have to really think about it. I said, “Yes! Let’s do it!” We did. It’s not your normal vacation destination, but we’re glad we went.

When people think of Israel, the thing that comes to mind is turmoil, war-torn, and a peace-deprived country. But when I think of Israel, one word comes to mind. Amazing.

This word kept popping up on the pages of my travel journey like a dandelion after a day of sun. It was everywhere! That is how it truly felt to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. We floated in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. The very sea He not only walked on, but calmed. We visited synagogues He taught in. We were baptized in the same Jordan River. We followed the Palm Sunday Road and pictured Him as He rode on a donkey. We bartered in the shops of Old Jerusalem. We imagined Him carrying His cross along the Via Dolorosa. Finally, we visited His empty tomb.

Amazing is the only word to describe it.

We also learned an Israel expression that went with amazing and wow. Wow-a-wee-whoa! (Not sure I’m spelling it correctly though!) It was our tour group’s slogan during the 10 days we spent visiting the beautiful land of Israel.

A land God chose to send His son. The country where He died for our sins, and gave us the gift of salvation. Wow-a-wee-whoa!

Say it with me. AMAZING!

Ezekiel 20:42 (KJV)

“And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.”

Random pictures of Israel

Our tour group standing on the Mount of Olives

Haifa – Baha’i Shrine

These pink flowers were everywhere!

Sue and what looks like a giant pineapple!

Lush greenery at Haifa – beautiful!

Having my “St. Peter’s Lunch” – look closely and you’ll see the head still attached – it was yummy!

Beautiful old church on Tamal Beach – where Jesus fed the 5,000

Darlene dipping into the Sea of Galilee

Amnon – Mount of the Beautitudes

Beautiful sunset at the Mount of the Beautitudes

Taken along the Sea of Galilee

Nazareth

“Nazareth Village” – made to look like it was in Jesus’ day

Church of Emmunization – where Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her she would carry the Son of God.

Beautiful mosaic flooring

Novotel – where we stayed in Jerusalem

“Church of all Nations” in Jerusalem

Shops in Old Jerusalem

Wailing Wall

Sue and Dar leaving the tomb

Bethlehem

Sue packing to go home – will she get it all to fit? HA!