Rob and I had the amazing opportunity to visit the Holy land of Israel this past spring. It was a ten day chartered tour and we got to see just about every biblical sight imaginable, as well as some other historical and political sights. We were blessed to go with Kenneth Copeland Ministries and were accompanied by Pastors George and Terri Pearsons (Kenneth and Gloria’s son-in-law and daughter) as well as the daughter of Billie Brim, Miss Shelli Brim. We also got to meet many amazing people on our tour, including our tour guide, Harrison.
Our journey began with a drive from Latrobe, Pennsylvania to JFK Airport, New York. We left the States around midnight and landed in Tel Aviv the next day, which was already evening in Israel. Talk about jet lag! Upon arrival, we were bused to our hotel and had dinner. Our second day in Israel was Memorial Day here in the United States. Our tour planted trees for the reforestation project. While we were there, the guides commemorated our Memorial Day. They held up both the American flag and the Israeli flag. It was my first real glimpse of just how much Israel loves the United States.
After planting trees, we went to Galilee and the mount of Beatitudes where we listened to a sermon by Pastor George. There were a lot of sermons on our tour at each of the sights, which made it that much more amazing.
Day three, we went to ancient synagogues and sailed the Sea of Galilee. Imagine sailing where Yeshua sailed!
Day four, we visited the Kibbutz and Druze village, as well as the borders of Lebanon and Syria. There was a wall between Lebanon and Israel and a Druze outpost with a citizen army protecting the border. You may be wondering how safe we were on this tour. I never at one time felt like I was in danger. Of course, we avoided the Gaza Strip, but otherwise, everywhere else was relatively safe. An interesting point about the source of this safety, aside from the Hand of Elohim, was that all Israeli youth were to enlist for military service; the girls for 2 years; the boys for 4 years. Young military personnel where often seen in heavily populated areas with big guns!
Day five, we went to Samaria and then to Jerusalem. Rob and I took a long walk around the city of Jerusalem in the evening. There were many interesting sights. First, a pay phone! Yes, there were still pay phones. Next, there were cats. Lots and lots of feral cats. I learned later that the cats were released in order to take care of a rat problem within the city! Another interesting point, there were signs throughout the city praising the United States and thanking President Trump. They really like us over there!
One of the more interesting things I saw was the relatively peaceful living between the Muslims and the Jews. They lived in the same neighborhoods, houses were side by side. The Muslim houses had a flat roof (for praying, as well as for building up when the family expanded). And the Jews had ceramic roofs. Apparently, they like this California style roof and put it on most of their houses.
Day six, we went to the Garden Tomb, Bethesda, and Gethsemane. Let me tell you, seeing the place where the Messiah rose from the dead is an experience I recommend. Words cannot express what I felt in my spirit. Later on, we welcomed in the Sabbath Day. How nice it was to see a country actually honor the Sabbath by shutting everything down!
Day seven, we went to the Western or Wailing Wall. This was a moving experience. I prayed for my children at the wall and did indeed weep.
An interesting thing about the Wailing Wall, we were in Jerusalem during both the Muslim Ramadan and the Jewish Jerusalem Day (which is like our July 4, Independence Day). Because of these two events, extra security and traffic control was out in droves. I heard there was a single incident during these two celebrations in which one person got stabbed. Overall, the events went by relatively uneventful. Surprisingly, when we got home to the States and turned on the news, the news reported that law enforcement was called in to take care of “civil unrest.” The way the news made it sound was that the Jews and Muslims were bordering on having an all-out war at the Wailing Wall. But that just simply wasn’t the case. The “law enforcement” was called out for traffic control, much like how our police are called out to direct traffic for a Steeler’s game or a Kenny Chesney concert.
Day eight, we went to the Western Wall again and had our farewell dinner. Our tour had roughly 175 people and used four tour buses. We were on the red bus. Saying goodbye to all our new red bus friends was bitter-sweet. But, on the plus side, we made some new Facebook friends!
Day nine, we got to do some shopping! I bought a Menorah and a beautiful skirt, as well as some souvenir gifts for family and friends. Rob got a T-shirt that said Steeler’s in Hebrew! Later we went to the Holocaust Museum. The travesty that was the Holocaust will forever be in remembrance.
After leaving the Holocaust Museum, we went back to our hotel, said our final goodbyes and where bused back to the airport. Our amazing pilgrimage to the Holy Land had come to an end.
“What was my favorite part,” you may ask? I have several moments that blessed me extra. Praying at the Wailing Wall was one. Another was singing “Shabbat Shalom” while overlooking the City of Yerushalayim Friday evening to ring in the Sabbath. Getting immersed (baptized) in the Jordan River with my husband certainly stands out, as well as swimming in the Dead Sea. Yes, you really do float! But my most favorite moment was being in the Upper Room as so many had been on the Day of Pentecost and singing HalleluYah. I could feel the Spirit of Elohim amongst us and, as we sang, other groups (not part of our group) began to sing with us. And when the song was over, we all stood silent in a moment of reverence.
In His Service,
Rebecca Hamilton, Founder/ Executive Director
For Every Great Battle, There is a Great Victory!!