Day 01 - Fri Aug 31

Erev Tov -- good evening from Israel! What a full day we've had! We started our morning in the Jerusalem Mountains and Yad Hashmonah where we saw accurate reproductions of an ancient wine press, olive press, threshing floor and burial caves. Ancient Israel started to come alive to us!

1 Samuel 7:1 says "So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab's house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. We saw where this event took place! A very cool moment!

Also very cool was Beth Shemesh, an ancient city that is being excavated. It played an important role in the ark of the covenant being returned from the Philistines and also in the life of Samson.

During our travels we saw olive trees, tasted carob pods and grapes. We walked several miles, explored caves and did a lot of climbing. We learned that pigeons were raised in columbarium caves and stood at the bottom of ancient cistern where Jeremiah 2:13 came to mind.

One of the high points of the day was to look over the plain where David fought Goliath. We heard the story from 1 Samuel 17 and thought about the giants in our own lives and how God wants to help us through those situations that look almost insurmountable. Then we went to the Valley of Elah and picked up stones from a dry stream bed - stones about the right size to slay a giant! Just like David did!

And for you New Testament nerds - we saw the road where Philip and Ethiopian had their encounter. The Bible is starting to come to life!

We are learning about the history, geography and culture of this land set against the backdrop of the Bible!! And, folks, this is just day one!! We're in a beautiful hotel on the Dead Sea tonight. We're getting to know one another and are becoming a team. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!