Some thoughts on the experience from the people who went
My Top Ten ‘Wow’ Words
Claire Soderman
Amazing – to sail on the same Sea of Galilee where Jesus calmed the storm.
Encouraging – to travel alongside so many Christians from all over the world, each on their own journey of faith.
Beautiful – to visit so many different churches, each with its own story to tell.
Powerful - to stand overlooking the edge of the desert on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho.
Uplifting – to sing songs of praise in beautiful churches venerated by Christians for hundreds of years.
Awesome – to visit archaeological sites from the 1st century where Jesus and the disciples began their ministry.
Poignant - to share communion in the Garden Tomb and on the Mount of Beatitudes.
Fascinating – to learn so much about the history and politics of the Holy Land through our extremely knowledgeable guide Jan.
Inspiring – to experience the Gospels come to life and know that God was and is in this world.
Unforgettable – to share the most wonderful week ever with friends from St Peter’s.
When I embarked on the pilgrimage to the Holy Land I had an image in my mind which I had gleaned from various travel guides and my long held beliefs about the life of Jesus. On my return everything awas turned upside down. Visiting the holy sites, each one of so much interest and beauty and explained to us so wonderfully by our very knowledgeable and humorous guide, Jan everything came alive.
We had so many amazing experiences: beautiful churches; peaceful oases like the Garden of Gethsemane and the Shepherds’ Fields; a hair-raising ride in a cable car up to Herod’s Fortress at Masada; travelling in a taxi with a crazy driver up Mount Tabor; paddling in the River Jordan; floating in the Dead Sea and sailing in Galilee. We had a surfeit of lovely food, beautiful sunshine, getting lost in the dark in the side streets of Tiberius (well three of us did but thanks to God and a man in a shop we found our way back to a hotel) and bargaining for souvenirs in the suq in Old Jerusalem.
In all of this I was always aware that we were walking where Jesus had walked 2000 years earlier but feeling his presence everywhere we went. I heard from Jan things about Jesus’ life which were different from what I had always believed and some of the sights we visited, we were told, may not be the actual places they were believed to be. Did these things matter to me? Well, not really, 2000 years ago is a very long time. What matters to me is the knowledge that Jesus lived, walked and talked there and that he was cruelly put to death but rose to life again that we may all have eternal life.
My pilgrimage to Israel was all I hoped it would be - and much, much more. To have actually been to the places He had been, to have walked where He had walked, to sail on the Sea of Galilee as He had was just unbelievable. Now, when I read or hear about these places, the Garden of Gethsemane, The Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the River Jordan and many more, I close my eyes and I am there. It truly was the most wonderful experience in my life and one I wouldn't have missed for the world. I thank John for helping to make this possible; he looked after us very well and our Tour guide was simply outstanding, the best we could have had. How blessed we were on our visit to The Holy Land.
Betty
A wonderful experience, never to be forgotten. So many special moments from Bethlehem, the crowds at the Wailing Wall, the Stations of the Cross, the boat trip over the Sea of Galilee, all were special moments. To float in the Dead Sea was a childhood's dream fulfilled. Every part was well organised, Jan was an excellent guide, the hotels were good and the services at various cites, with the green books, were very special.
Thank you John & Julie.
Have a look at some of the photographs taken
Claire Soderman
Amazing – to sail on the same Sea of Galilee where Jesus calmed the storm.
Encouraging – to travel alongside so many Christians from all over the world, each on their own journey of faith.
Beautiful – to visit so many different churches, each with its own story to tell.
Powerful - to stand overlooking the edge of the desert on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho.
Uplifting – to sing songs of praise in beautiful churches venerated by Christians for hundreds of years.
Awesome – to visit archaeological sites from the 1st century where Jesus and the disciples began their ministry.
Poignant - to share communion in the Garden Tomb and on the Mount of Beatitudes.
Fascinating – to learn so much about the history and politics of the Holy Land through our extremely knowledgeable guide Jan.
Inspiring – to experience the Gospels come to life and know that God was and is in this world.
Unforgettable – to share the most wonderful week ever with friends from St Peter’s.
When I embarked on the pilgrimage to the Holy Land I had an image in my mind which I had gleaned from various travel guides and my long held beliefs about the life of Jesus. On my return everything awas turned upside down. Visiting the holy sites, each one of so much interest and beauty and explained to us so wonderfully by our very knowledgeable and humorous guide, Jan everything came alive.
We had so many amazing experiences: beautiful churches; peaceful oases like the Garden of Gethsemane and the Shepherds’ Fields; a hair-raising ride in a cable car up to Herod’s Fortress at Masada; travelling in a taxi with a crazy driver up Mount Tabor; paddling in the River Jordan; floating in the Dead Sea and sailing in Galilee. We had a surfeit of lovely food, beautiful sunshine, getting lost in the dark in the side streets of Tiberius (well three of us did but thanks to God and a man in a shop we found our way back to a hotel) and bargaining for souvenirs in the suq in Old Jerusalem.
In all of this I was always aware that we were walking where Jesus had walked 2000 years earlier but feeling his presence everywhere we went. I heard from Jan things about Jesus’ life which were different from what I had always believed and some of the sights we visited, we were told, may not be the actual places they were believed to be. Did these things matter to me? Well, not really, 2000 years ago is a very long time. What matters to me is the knowledge that Jesus lived, walked and talked there and that he was cruelly put to death but rose to life again that we may all have eternal life.
My pilgrimage to Israel was all I hoped it would be - and much, much more. To have actually been to the places He had been, to have walked where He had walked, to sail on the Sea of Galilee as He had was just unbelievable. Now, when I read or hear about these places, the Garden of Gethsemane, The Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the River Jordan and many more, I close my eyes and I am there. It truly was the most wonderful experience in my life and one I wouldn't have missed for the world. I thank John for helping to make this possible; he looked after us very well and our Tour guide was simply outstanding, the best we could have had. How blessed we were on our visit to The Holy Land.
Betty
A wonderful experience, never to be forgotten. So many special moments from Bethlehem, the crowds at the Wailing Wall, the Stations of the Cross, the boat trip over the Sea of Galilee, all were special moments. To float in the Dead Sea was a childhood's dream fulfilled. Every part was well organised, Jan was an excellent guide, the hotels were good and the services at various cites, with the green books, were very special.
Thank you John & Julie.
Have a look at some of the photographs taken