Day 01 - Kiriath Jearim, Beth Shemesh, Azekah, Caves of Adullam, Dead Sea

We all made it to breakfast after only a few hours of sleep and then headed out for a great day of learning. The day started at a location known as Kiriath Jearim, were the ark of the covenant spent 20 years. Our next site was Beth Shemesh where we spent some time learning about Samson. We learned that Samson was meant to be a light to those who didn’t know God, and yet his life was full of compromises. We then visited the site of Azeka and talked about David fighting Goliath in the name of the Lord. We even had a few moments to grab five smooth stones from the brooke. We ended the day at our final sight which was the Bell caves and Adullam. At this site we compared Samson’s experience in a cave (all alone) with David’s (in the community). The challenge we were given was to think of who we are in community with? We ended the day with a drive south to the Dead Sea.

One trip participant on our trip was Bev Huiner. Read what Bev has to say about the experience of taking your community (family) with you on a GTI trip to the Holy Land:

"It was November 2020 when God put on my husband's and my heart to take our kids and grandkids to Israel. In March 2019, we took our three adult kids and spouses on their first trip to the Holy Land. They all returned home saying they wanted to bring their own kids someday, but knowing it was going to be several years before it could be possible. So, when God wants to nudge you, he can make it clear, like he did for us.

We can’t say it’s been smooth with some of the roadblocks, most of them having to do with COVID-19. God continue to show us we needed to have faith and trust in him and he will make it happen. And he certainly did! Unfortunately, not all the grandkids could go, but we have six of them with us. They have been great troopers with the long flight and even the heat today.

As we are driving to our hotel at the Dead Sea, they are looking forward to enjoying some pool time. God has been so incredibly faithful. We look forward to getting into the Bible as we travel throughout the land where Jesus walked and he taught."