Becoming Living Water

“He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” – Mark 3:14-15

“We are blessed that He chooses you and me to tell the story and to make a difference in this world.”

On this cool spring day (around 40 C) we leave the Dead Sea at 7:15 am and travel North to the “Craigs of the Wild Goats” (1 Samuel 24:2), enjoying the sights of Ein Gedi.  Beautiful waterfalls provide an abundance of fresh water in this hide-out of David.  We are challenged by Marty this morning to, “Want the living water” and to become living water for others who are thirsty and wandering through the desert of their lives.

Mid-morning we stop at Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.  Here we had the honor to get instructed by 1 of the 11 Master Penmen (women in this case) in the world, who is also a guest on this tour.

After a delicious lunch at Qumran, we travel North on highway 90 along the Israel and Jordan border with its high fences and are again made aware of the conflict, which exists here in the Middle East.  After leaving the West Bank (Judea & Samaria) we go through a military check point before entering Israel proper.  The farmers in our group enjoy the sights from the bus of crops of grains, corn, legumes, vegetables, orchards and acres of green houses as well as the occasional barn, some cattle and farm equipment.

After the scenic two hour bus ride, we are brought to Mt. Arbel by the Sea of Galilee.  Here we “wrestle” with the importance of prayer and take a closer look at Jesus’ prayer life, possibly on this very mountain, overlooking this beautiful lake and the lush valley below.

Our accomadations for the next 3 nights are at Kibbutz Ein Gev on the east shore of the Sea of Galilee, which lies 300 feet from our “back porch.”  ~ Alex & Ann Wildeboer

Photos by Phil & Carolyn Tiemstra