I had about a year to prepare for our Holy Land trip in February. I was on a roll getting into good walking shape, eating well, and reading about the places we would go. Then everything fell apart again, and I was stressed getting ready, getting everything I left in place, and just not feeling as ready, prepared, and organized as I meant to be! But God worked it all out. He gave me my sister to take care of ALL of Sam's stuff. And she did a great job. She had Andrew and Will to help some, but she had to learn to change his new insulin pump site and wake up to give him something to eat when he got low at night. She was up a lot one night when Lucy, our Golden Retriever, decided that thunderstorms were just not her thing. She took on organizing projects and cleaned, of course, while she was at my house! And I did not worry about Sam one bit like I thought I would. I only talked to them a little and texted a little. And they were great. The others were all fine too. I had lots of other help in many different ways, and I appreciated it all!
The trip to Charlotte was great. I did well on the long flight, once I figured out how to open the bathroom door! And we had the very best group of people. We only had 17, which ended up being a great number to get in and out of places pretty quickly. We had a wonderful guide, and we could not have had a better bus driver. I got quite attached to everyone and cried when I left them!
One of the first few days, we were on the Sea of Galilee; and I sat by myself in the middle of a pretty good sized boat. We thought that would lessen my chance of being sea sick. So I sat still and enjoyed the boat ride and watched the others. I was listening to the music being played, and a song I knew came on. I knew when I got home, I would have things to deal with. I just didn't know exactly what. But I felt like God was giving me that time to be still. Not only to be still, but to be still in the place of the storm on the sea. Where Jesus walked on water. Where Peter did until he took his eyes off Jesus. Where Jesus calmed the storm. What a blessing that be still time was on the Sea of Galilee.
While most of my trip was documented on my Facebook to help me organize and remember my pictures when I got home, I am still working on my photo book. I am excited to get it done. The pictures are all of the trip through my eyes.
I wasn't sure what Pete was talking about when he talked about going HOME. But the minute we got to Israel, I felt at home. I felt at peace. I was not worried or concerned and never felt unsafe. We walked around at night in Jerusalem in groups, and it felt safer than downtown Boone! It was special to be in the land of God's chosen people, the Jews. And to be where my Lord and Savior walked on this earth. He is a Jew. And it's hard to understand why there are so few Christ followers there. So hard to understand. But then, I look at myself. And all around me. I stick to what I know and have been taught to some extent at least. And that's what they do. So I should not be too hard on them, when I do the same with other things. And people around me do too!
Going to Bethlehem with a special guide, George, was one of my favorite days. I did not plan to buy many gifts for people - I just did not want to be caught up in that - not knowing how my time would be. But we did have time to go into shops and the market (multiple times!), so I made a point to look for the most primitive Nativity sets. I found some simple ones for some of my special people. There is just something about having a simple Nativity set from Bethlehem or Jerusalem. It just takes me back. So we went down under a big church to the place where a star is there to represent where Jesus could have been born. We are in Bethlehem at a site, and it's representing Jesus' birth. And I was overcome with thankfulness for the birth of my Savior. It's hard to describe. That Mark Schultz song "When Love Was Born" kept running through my head. We went in a small door to enter the church - not the big front door. It was the line that says, "Bethlehem, through your small door, came the Hope we've waited for. The world was changed forevermore, when Love was born." Chills!
Another day, we saw this beautiful rainbow over Jerusalem. We saw so many rainbows on this trip. A lot of them were while we were in a moving bus. They were extra spectacular and are always such great reminders that God keeps His promises. Every single one.
On the last day, we went to the Garden of Gethsemane. I brought home olive branches from there to make something special for my boys. That is where Jesus prayed in anguish before He was arrested. It was hard to imagine him arrested at night and lowered into a hole into a stone cave at Caiaphas' house to be held as a prisoner. It was hard to be the place where He was beaten and scourged. It was hard to imagine what we've seen on TV and seen in our minds - that we were standing in those places. It was so real. We don't have to go to Israel to know that and be thankful for it. But to be there was a gift of remembrance. He did all that for me. And you.
And then, Golgotha (Calvary, Place of the Skull) where our special guide Allison from Scotland talked to us about "her" Savior Jesus. And I wanted to come home and talk about Jesus like she does. She told us how He would have been more at a crossroads instead of up on a hill, for the utmost humiliation and suffering. She got tears in her eyes talking about Jesus. She then took us to the EMPTY tomb. Then we had communion and sang some praise songs. What a special gift to be there and experience what we did. I got a special gift or two in that gift shop just because of where it was and a prayer shawl right outside. It was the hardest place and the most special, where my Lord and Savior laid down His perfect life for me. And everyone else.
The last night, I took this picture out of our hotel window. We stayed in nice, safe hotels. The air, the calm, the atmosphere was something I was not ready to leave. It's hard to explain, because I was ready to get home; but in some ways I wanted to stay. I think that's the pull of the Holy Land. Being where Jesus was while on this earth was an amazing gift and experience. And I am forever thankful and changed because of it. I don't know if I'll get to go back, but I would never go on a big trip anywhere else. I would choose Israel first! I know the second trip would be just as wonderful - even though it's hard to imagine a better guide, special guides, or bus driver.
So we came home and got caught back up in life pretty quickly. And things were going on that I did not know about. And then the COVID-19 came and is still here. I still work three days a week at the Peds office. I still clean at a church and just spring clean in place of things I don't clean while we don't have church. I help sometimes pack the meals to be delivered twice a week to church and community members. I had to cancel our Easter Egg Hunt but sent our gifts and prizes to another place for children to have before Easter. I've had the hardest time not seeing baby Emma as she grows faster and faster. And I've been sad for the weddings that have been "changed" by some of my favorite young people. I miss Peter in Charlotte. I miss so many. But in some ways, this unexpected change has been a break. It's been a time to spend more time with Sam and his school work. We walk/run some days and get to talk and work on his running form. We've worked on some things that are always on the back burner. We finally got the training and code to update his insulin pump.
It's been a time to stop and look back. I don't want to lose that special feeling that I had in Israel. I don't want to forget how Allison talked about her Savior Jesus, who is my Savior too. I don't want to forget the horrible imaginings of what Jesus endured for me. I want to be bold like the Peter who taught about Jesus until his last day. I want to be strong and courageous like Joshua at Jericho. And while I am always busy during this time it seems, it has been a good little break in the midst of the unknown. It's so stressful for some because of their jobs or because they cannot work or open their businesses. So I pray a lot for our country. And I pray God will show me when and what I need to do. Because no matter how hard it gets, God is still in control. He is still with us. And He wants us to turn to Him. What a load off my shoulders that is.
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." I Peter 5:7
