Day Three

Monday, March 13, 2006 – 8:29 a.m. Texas time

I am sitting on the bus as I write this after a very long but eventful day. This morning we traveled to the Temple Mount to see the place where Jesus would have toppled the money changers tables, where Peter preached to the many pilgrims coming to the Temple. The stones that make the courtyard are believed to be the actual stones that Jesus would have walked on.

After that we boarded the bus, passports in hand and headed for Bethlehem. This city is beautiful. Not because it has massive temples or mosque but because the people are wonderful and they are proud of their city. It has been made almost fortress like now and is guarded by many armed guards. It is like entering an entirely new country. You must have a passport to enter. What makes it even more wonderful is what happened there 2000 years ago. The spot believed to be the birth place of Christ is heavily protected and underground due to many years of churches and temples built on top of it. Obviously, it is a Holy place and very sacred. There is a fourteen point star in the exact spot believed to be the place of his birth. Very…overstated in my opinion. I think that Christ would probably be a little embarrassed by its glam and glitz.

Our guide Ramses (as in ‘the III’) is a new father. His new baby girl was born six days ago and her name is Hannah. He was smitten with Kate. It amazes me that even in Israel people are taken with her red (not so much anymore) hair and dimple. We are blessed.

We also visited the Wailing Wall today. This was a moving experience for me. I'm not even really sure why. I'm not certain if this wall is a special spot that is more anointed than my bedroom, but I definately felt the Spirit of God there. What was interesting was that we were surrounded by Muslims. No matter. God is great.

On another note, our luggage has still not arrived. I will probably have to go and find more clothes to wear tomorrow. Last we heard, some of our luggage was as far away as CHICAGO!!! Here’s to one more day of dirty blue jeans and roll on deodorant (bleah!)

Shalom, Susan