Day Two

We had wonderful day today. It was a long day again, but a wonderful day of visiting many places such as the Mt. of Beatitudes, and the border of Lebanon and Seria(not sure if I spelled that right). We went on to visit the Tel of Dan, and an Olive Oil company just around the corner of Dan. We ate lunch at a Lebanese restaurant (wonderful food) as well as seeing the Jordan river (at a distance, the real visit is tomorrow) and Caesarea Philippi where Jesus questioned the disciples as to who they said He was. So that is a snap shot of our day with more short details and pictures below. Tomorrow we will both be baptized in the Jordan River, and I will get to assist in the baptism of some of the others. Very exciting and humbling all at the same time. The food is wonderful, the relationships are growing and the weather is absolutely beautiful. We are being told that we are seeing Israel at it's most beautiful time. Everything is green with grass and vegetation due to the rains they received shortly before we arrived. In just a short period of time, things will all turn yellow then brown and it will remain like that till next spring, so we lucked out.

Mt. of Beatitudes
Is located opposite side of the Sea of Galilee from where we are staying and the church located on the hill is currently being run by the Catholic church, se we didn't get to stand on the actual hill, but I could see the hill through the gate and approximate where Jesus would have stood to give his sermon. What an amazing place to see how the wind,topography and surrounding area made it possible for Jesus to speak to so many at one time.

The Tel of Dan was neat to see. This tel is only two layers thick so it was easier for the excavators to dig through to find the layers and walls of the last civilization. Herod's sacrifice alter was there, a total pagan place, but in terms of architecture, wonderful to look at.

The Golan Heights - Ancient Qasrin - A Talmudic Village and Synagogue
This place so very cool in that we were able to see a synagogue and an excavated village that dates back to the time of Jesus. It is not a replica, but the actual thing. Pretty cool to see how the houses were built, laid out and all together in a group.

Lunch at the Lebanese Restaurant

Caesarea Philippi
What a place, so many misconceptions I had prior to coming here. The place, it's distance from the Sea of Galilee, and what was here when Jesus visited. Now it all makes sense.

That's it for now. More to come tomorrow!!