We have arrived safely and smoothly, if not a bit beleaguered and bleary-eyed, in Israel for a ten-day tour of the Holy Lands. It’s the smallest, by far, of the five trips I’ve taken here and the four I’ve led–it was understandably difficult getting people to put a deposit down on a trip to the Middle East this year–but what we lose in quantity, we more than make up for in quality. Along with me are three great friends from Midland: Patrice, Jana, and Stacy; six friends of my sister, Rhonda, from Edmond: and–Yes!!–my sister, Rhonda. Honestly, I think I’m most excited to share this Israel experience with Ro. I can’t wait to see everything through her eyes and her expressions and her reflections as she visits these biblical sites for the first time. We sat by each other during our flights and completely annoyed everyone around us with our loud catching up and over-the-top gut laughing.

We sleep fast tonight and hit it hard tomorrow with visits to Caesarea Maritima, Mount Carmel, Megiddo, Nazareth, and Sepphoris. These are full days and we’re going to be exhausted at the end of each one. And, I pray, also refreshed in our relationships with our Lord and one another, renewed in our knowledge and experience of all we have from our gracious God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and resolved to follow him and his ways closely until he returns.

Shalom!
Allan