Flexability – Saturday, May 25th

Sunday, May 26th from Jerusalem 5:45 AM

Dear Family and Friends,

Arrived at hotel in Jerusalem later than planned yesterday. We accomplished more than planned thanks to our guide Gee (Nickname) being so flexible to change plans as necessary. One destination yesterday was Bethlehem but because of the Fire danger on Thursday the town was closed. Yesterday it opened again and the wait just to get in would have meant standing in lines for hours, so we came back to Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives.

Leaving the hotel we drove in very little traffic from Tiberias down the Jordan River Valley toward Jerusalem. We learned about the farming that has been developed since Israel became a nation in 1948. We saw fields of wheat that had been harvested and the hay bailed, banana groves under white tarps, corn, date palm farms, mango orchards, even fields of giant sunflowers. Then we saw the evidence of fires due to the heat. It was probably not reported in the states, but Thursday and Friday saw a large number of wild fires due to the heat and other causes. (Our fire next door in Tiberias was small in comparison.)

Our first stop yesterday was at the Jordan River where six of our members were baptized by Gary in the Jordan River. What a joyful time for them and for us as witnesses. The place of baptism on the dividing line between Israel and Jordan. There is a rope line down the middle of the river with armed soldiers on each side. Baptisms were taking place on both sides of the river.

This was a day of driving and geography-history- topography lessons from our guide.

Plan number one was a day in Bethlehem. But because of the long lines and a multiplicity of buses our only stop was the Christmas Tree Cafe In Bethlehem for lunch then a purchasing stop at a famous carver’s shop.

Back on the bus and a drive around to the other side of Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives. We toured four small intimate churches or chapels on the Mount and walked down hill to the Garden of Gethsemane.

One takeaway from this walk is that we are outside of the city walls and the hillside is covered with raised tombs from many generations. This area along with other locations around the city walls are similarly covered with ancient and modern graves. When the end time comes this area will have more inhabitants than it has today with the tourists and pilgrims.

Wifi in very limited except on the bus. I hope that this can be published today. Any errors today is to my account not my excellent editor, Linda Dillon Perkins! Time is short, editing can come later!

Ellen and Linda

PS downloaded with wifi in the bus. Delay in future posts possible