Setting our internal compass

We are so happy to be a part of the GTI Passion Church Israel Tour for 2018. What we have learned about Israel is that this tour has as much to do with setting each of our internal spiritual compasses as it does with historical research and excavation. The internal compass we're talking about is permitting the Holy Spirit to speak to us in very specific terms.

Our tour group is made up of all ages, temperaments, personalities and physical abilities which has made for an interesting experience. For instance, when we went to the City of David today, some of the group decided to wade thru Hezekiah's Tunnel which included wading thru 1600 feet of cold water in a dark narrow passageway. The rest of the group chose to take the dry but narrow winding tunnel, which tailored the tour for all. Both tunnels led to the Pool of Shiloah where we had our daily devotion. We learned that as more research and excavation is done, some locations, like the Pool of Shiloah, have had to be revised.

We saw a vibrant living olive tree over 700 years old and beautiful flowers lined the sidewalks as we walked to the southern steps of the Temple Mount. We took some time to snap a few pictures sitting on the over 2000 years old steps where many Jewish people entered the temple so long ago.

After a delicious picnic lunch we went to the Israel Museum where we got to see portions of the Dead Sea scrolls up close. We also walked around a large model of Jeruselum from the 2nd Temple Period as our amazing tour guide pointed out the historical features of the city.

Our final stop of the day was the Yad Vashem - the Jewish Holocaust Museum. It gave us a somber reminder of the evil of man's inhumanity to man.

The tour is almost ended with one more day to go but what we have gained is immeasurable to the nurture of our spiritual health. We would encourage everyone to make a trip to the Holy Land.

Brett and Linda