March 24th
Today we excitedly prepared for our trip to Israel-closing up living quarters and cleaning the kitchen. As the time approached, we grabbed our luggage and gathered on the base. As we waited for the bus to arrive, Matt instructed us what to expect going through customs and gave last minute instructions for travel. The flight to Israel was only about 45 minutes. As we walked through customs, Marie was pulled aside and questioned, and denied entrance into Israel. We were all disappointed, but trusted God’s sovereignty and expected that all we would receive in the Land, she would also. We left the airport for Gilgal in Tel Aviv, a hotel built and run by Messianic Believers. We were all ready for a good night’s sleep!
25th
This morning we began by eating a delicious breakfast of eggs, cheeses, salad, etc. After breakfast, we parted ways with the second year and headed towards old Jaffa. Walking along the sea, we passed the Dolphinarium where a suicide bomber murdered many young people. The site remains pretty much untouched-boarded windows and doors created an eerie sight for us and it was hard to comprehend how the friends and families of the victims feel passing this every day. We continued on to Jaffa where Peter had his vision and Cornelius came to find him. We walked around Old Jaffa, picked up some fresh humus and returned to the beach for a picnic lunch. Some of us went swimming and the water was so refreshing. That evening, we split into groups and walked in downtown Tel Aviv looking for what kind of bargains we could find. When we all met up again, people showed off scarves, jewelry, shirts and hats. For dinner we ate Schwarma and Falafel and returned to the hotel.
26th
Today we packed our bags and headed north towards the Galilee. Our first stop was at Caesarea where Peter preached to Cornelius and his family and the Holy Spirit was poured out on Gentiles for the first time. We did a quick run through of the old city -the amphitheatre and Herod’s palace-took pictures and got back on the bus. Our next stop was Gan Hashlosha National Park, where there was a spring-fed lake overflowing into a stream. It was surrounded by the shade of many types of trees. We ate lunch at this beautiful oasis and most of us swam. The water was clear and the weather beautiful. We continued on after this to do grocery shopping for the week. At the store, we had to go through security checks at the entrance and it was a first for many of us. Five shopping carts and an hour later, we began the last leg of our journey to the Yavne-El. We stayed in villas nestled in the hills of the Galilee. After a macaroni and cheese dinner, we worshiped and spent time together. We began to bond on a deeper level and become more unified.
27th
Today we drove to Tiberias and met Mike Nieber, Jeff Collins and the Netzer team. Our first stop was the museum which holds an ancient boat discovered along the shores of the Galilee during a time of drought. It is estimated that the boat dates back to the first century, and is similar to the boat Yeshua and His disciples would have used. After this we went to the Mount of Beatitudes and read through them together. It was powerful thinking that Yeshua stood somewhere nearby and taught the people; the presence of the Lord was tangible. Our next stop was Capernaum where Yeshua lived for a time. We saw Peter’s home and the remains of a synagogue from that time. After we boarded the bus afterwards, Jahi exhorted us to pray for the sick among us and we began praying for them. Several students had colds/sinus infections. As soon as we prayed, there were testimonies of healing! We made our way south along the Galilee to where it flows into the Jordan River. It was a powerful time as several students were baptized. Here’s one testimony:
-For the past three weeks the Lord has been stripping me of all false identity I have had. I am first His daughter and that is where I must find my identity. Who does He say I am? God is truly showing me what it means to die to myself. To die to the flesh is to die to pride, to identity in anything other than God, and to die to believing lies that I have lived with for my whole life. This baptism is dying to identity in these things and coming up under the resurrection power of Christ and in the identity of being a daughter of God. Father, continue to teach me and show me how to walk in this new identity-of love and acceptance! –Maggie Foster
Friday 28th
This morning we met with the Netzer team and headed just north of the Galilee to hike Yehudiah. After loading up the water and “wet gear” we began, single file down the rocky path through fields. After spring rains, they were green and beautiful, but we were warned not to wander from the trail due to land mines left over from past wars! The trail descended into a valley and we walked along a stream, coming upon deep pools where some of the braver among us decided to jump from a 25 foot cliff into the water. We continued on out of the valley, making our way up the “new eternal stairs” and back to the kiosk area for lunch. It was a three hour hike through the breathtaking beauty of the Galilee. We headed back to prepare to rest and prepare for Shabbat. Many guests came. Jahi prayed that the Lord would come and mess up our schedule. We began with a time of worship on the back patio and His sweet presence surrounded us as we worshipped Him together. People began praying out in intercession, some began crying, and all were touched by the Lord. It was as if He walked among us, sticking His hand inside each of us and stirred. Let’s just say dinner was late! We invited Him and He came and messed up our schedule. Fellowship during and after dinner was sweet.
Saturday 29th
Today we dressed up and headed to Tents of Mercy, Eitan Shiskoff’s congregation on Haifa. Upon walking in we felt the anointing in worship. We joined the second year students and Papa Shish greeted us warmly. We danced and sang, and both teams were given the opportunity to sing over the congregation. Afterwards, we headed to the beach where we ate lunch with the local Believing young adults. Some of us played volleyball and soccer with them, while others sat around and shared their hearts. We were encouraged to get out of our comfort zones and mingle with new people. As a result, Saphraine got to pour into the life of an Israeli young person who needed His touch! After this time, we headed back to the Galilee and the second year students remained in Haifa for a time.
31st
We began the day with team worship time from 10 until 12:30 p.m. After a lunch of hamburgers and hotdogs, we headed to Mount Arbel for a short hike. We got off the bus at the top and made our way down, passing fortresses that were carved into the cliff sides by rebels. After the hike, we drove into Tiberias and did some shopping for around two hours. Then we boarded a boat and sailed around the Sea of Galilee. We listened to music for a time and fellowshipped, but ended in worship together. As we sang, all the clouds parted and seemed to group up along the horizon…but over the sea itself there was an “open heaven”!
Monday, April 1st
Today we cleaned our houses before loading and heading towards the desert in the south of Israel, on the Egyptian border. We stopped on the way at Beersheva. Avner Boskey was supposed to give us a guided tour, but something came up and Jahi and Isaac did a good job of filling in. We saw an ancient cistern in the ruins and it was amazing to see how intelligently they constructed this underground water storage system. The walls were hand plastered and the builder’s handprints were still visible…after thousands of years!! After eating lunch, we continued our journey and arrived 2 ½ hours later at Nitzanei Sinai. Avishai Pinhas welcomed us to his home. Even though we were tired from the journey, we were excited to see how beautiful the desert actually was.
April 2nd-Today we woke up around 6 a.m. to eat, pack lunches and begin our first desert hike. We began the hike with a lot of energy. We made our first stop at a small rocky place (kind of like a mini canyon). Before we were released to explore, Avishai exhorted us. I don’t remember everything, but one thing stood out to me. He said, “Everything God makes is good and He made us…so we are good, beautiful, lovely, etc. I’m just agreeing with God when I tell you that.” I really liked that. As the hike continued, we got hotter and more tired and realized we didn’t bring enough water. After a 7 ½ hour hike we were exhausted. After showers and dinner we collapsed into our beds.
April 3rd-This morning we awakened at 5:30 a.m. and ate the breakfast that Jahi had prepared for us. We packed lunch, loaded up, and drove an hour to Sede Boker for another desert hike. It started off slower, since we were all tired from yesterday and loaded up with extra water. Today’s hike dealt with fear in several people’s hearts. As we began up the steep, rocky path it came out that several people had a fear of heights, and didn’t know if they could go on. Avishai started speaking about how there is no fear in God and that He is not the author of phobias…they come from the enemy. In typical Israeli-style (with an “in-your-face” delivery, but from a heart of love and concern), he exhorted them and they overcame their fears and finished the hike up the cliffs! We continued on to a small lagoon oasis where we ate lunch and swam in its frigid waters. Afterwards we made our way back to Sede Boker. Today’s hike was around eight hours…we now have a taste of what it means to wander in the desert!
Friday, 4th-Today we packed, cleaned and boarded the bus for the last leg of our journey in Jerusalem. We stopped on the way in Arad and Rick Weineke’s studio. He showed us his bronze sculptures depicting the last seven sayings of Yeshua in relationship with the Holocaust. It is a powerful visual that has already touched Israelis and Holocaust survivors. I know God will continue to use it and other prophetic art to reach His people. Afterwards we continued on our journey. As we ascended the hills surrounding Jerusalem, staff members read different psalms of ascent, penned by David thousands of years earlier. We meditated on God’s word and His faithfulness. The guys were dropped off at their accommodations in the German Colony and the girls at theirs off Hebron Road to get ready for Shabbat meal at Youval and Valerie’s house. Asher, the Revive Israel team, and the Netzer students met us there and we spent the evening feasting and fellowshipping.
5th-Today we traveled to the lowest site on earth-the Dead Sea. Everyone was still blistered, sore and slightly sunburned from our 20+ hike in the desert. We visited Masada first. Some people decided to run, but most of us walked to the top. We learned of the famous last stand of the Jewish people against Roman rule. Afterwards we visited the area where the Qumran scrolls were discovered and ate lunch and then headed over to swim in the Dead Sea. We floated in the salt-saturated water and covered ourselves with the mineral rich black mud. It was a packed, long day but we learned so much history and saw such beauty in the desert.
April 6th & 7th-Today was a relaxing day. We worshipped together, spent time shopping downtown Jerusalem and ended the day at Succat Hillel (”Tabernacle of Praise”) for two hours of worship and intercession for Israel. We also spent the next day experiencing downtown Jerusalem, shopping and eating Israeli food.
8th-This morning we had a powerful team time of worship. The Lord really poured Himself out on Sietske, Gwen and Denice. We spent time praying for their callings in taking the Kingdom of God across Europe. We rejoined the 2nd year team for dinner and went together to Succat Hillel for another time of worship. This evening Israeli believers from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem joined us for a powerful time of worship.
9th-Today we walked to the City of David and visited Hezekiah’s Tunnel. After watching a well-made 3-D movie about the history of the City of David, we walked for 45 minutes through water tunnels that were carved through solid bedrock. Amazingly, the ancient workmen began chiseling through the rock hundreds of feet apart and met in the middle, joining the two tunnels. The resulting water tunnel enabled the city to get water even when under siege by attacking armies. We all enjoyed this experience.
10th-We visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem. For two hours we walked through, looking at pictures, watching testimonials of survivors and reading the horrific accounts of the Holocaust. It’s hard to describe feelings adequately after being bombarded by such evil…but it was good to see it-to remind ourselves of what’s possible in the absence of righteousness and to know the Lord’s faithfulness through all things. The rest of the day was spent cleaning and preparing to leave for Cyprus.
April 11th-Early this morning, around 1:00 a.m., our bus driver began picking everyone up for the airport. We arrived around 3:30 a.m. and all of us made it through in time to grab quick naps before boarding the plane at 7:00. W were warmly greeted at the base in Cyprus by the community, and pleasantly surprised to find that Faith Collins and Marie Durant had baked cinnamon rolls for all of us. It was a delicious ending to a wonderful journey.
