Day 09 - Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, St. Anne's, Pool of Bethesda, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Hinom Valley, Southern Steps

Today was our last day in the Holy Land and what an experience it was! Our goal for today was to walk the ancient path of Jesus that he took from entering Jerusalem to his resurrection. So, we started on the Mount of Olives and went to the place that is considered to be the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed before his arrest. From there, we took a detour to St. Anne’s Church and sang “Amazing Grace” on the stage and then saw the Pool of Bethesda. After that, we made a pit stop for falafel for lunch. It was delicious! Our final destination was The Church of the Sepulchre, the location, that is agreed upon by archeologists, of Jesus’s crucifixion and burial. We did take one last hike in and out of the Hinom Valley. Our final session was on the South Steps of the Temple Mount where it is believed that Peter preached during Pentecost. We had a wonderful farewell dinner in a local restaurant to honor our time together and everything we learned. Please pray for us as we begin to travel back early tomorrow morning. Shalom, Israel. May the Lord bless you and keep you; make his face shine upon you, be gracious to you. May the Lord his countenance upon you and give you peace.