Arrival

We're here. We're exhausted, but we're here. It's been a long journey to get here, from Indianapolis (or Chicago) to Newark, then a late-night departure from Newark to Tel Aviv. From there, we made it through customs and passport control, picked up our luggage (which all arrived, thank the Lord!) and met our guide.

I am very excited that the guide I had five years ago is once again assigned to us. Mike knows the land of the Bible and the stories of the Bible so well, and he has a deep passion not only for his Lord but for this place. As we made the two-hour bus ride from Tel Aviv to Tiberias (and to some 700 feet below sea level), he showed us what is changing in Israel, what we will be seeing, and some practical advice for the time we spend here.

We arrived at the hotel, got our luggage checked, and then had dinner. A wonderful Israeli buffet, compete with duck (no, Doug, it was "really" chicken), tilapia, beef and many fresh fruits and vegetables. The cucumber salad looked really good...until I realized it was mixed with jalapeño peppers. A bit spicy!

So now we are settling in, unpacking for a few days here in the Galilee. Tomorrow morning we begin with worship on the Sea and then off to explore. It's so good to be back and to share this experience with so many friends who have not been here before.