We have arrived!

Howdy y’all! We’re in Israel! Thank you so much for following our trip through this blog and praying for all of us.

We were all able to get through each airport with only minor issues (that may have caused some nervous sweating and a few tears) but God was gracious and we made it on both flights. Most of us grabbed some Chick-fil-a at the DFW airport since it was right next to our gate. The flight to Newark was uneventful. We had quite a bit of time until our flight from Newark to Tel Aviv, so we wondered the airport, exploring what was there and looking for food. A handful of us ended up at a pizza place, Forno Magico, and it was delicious. Then we relaxed, played some card games or continued to explore. As boarding time approached, we gathered at the gate, got our documents checked again, and boarded the plane. Most of us either watched movies, read, or chatted with our neighbors. The in-flight meal was a choice of chicken with vegetables and quinoa or pasta and vegetables. I had the chicken and it was great, very flavorful and filling. The rest of the flight was a blur; trying to stay awake, ready to get off the plane, needing to get up and stretch. And then we were here, landing in Tel Aviv, getting through the check points, only had one person get pulled aside and questioned, and got our PCR nasal swabs. We met up with our GTI friends on the ground and boarded the bus to the hotel. After getting blood drawn, we ate dinner: a delightful buffet of various meats and vegetables, with a pleasant array of desserts. After dinner most of us went out to see the spectacular sunset, then headed to our rooms to shower and get some much needed rest. A couple of us stayed out and heard singing/chanting in Hebrew, and we able to see a wedding reception going on in a different part of the hotel.

Over all, God was good in getting us here, especially since we weren’t sure 2 weeks ago if it was going to happen. Praising our Father for His perfect plans and goodness. Praying our time here is eye opening and worshipful.

Thanks for reading!

—Michael