ISRAEL- TIBERIAS, SEA OF GALILEE

IN SPITE OF PREDICTION OF HEAVY RAIN, WE MADE OUR BOAT RIDE EARLY THIS MORNING UNDER PERFECT SKIES. THE CREW RAISED THE AMERICAN FLAG NEXT TO THE ISRAELI FLAG. THE WIND CAUGHT AND TWISTED THE TWO FLAGS TOGETHER AS WE ROSE TO SING THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER  IT WAS A PRECIOUS AND EMOTIONAL MOMENT.

THE CREW PLAYED A PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD. ONE CREW MEMBER JOINED IN WITH HIS MANDELIN. IT WAS INDEED A WORSHIP EXPERIENCE SAILING THE SEA (WHICH IS REALLY A FRESH WATER LAKE 7X14 MILES IN AREA) JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES LOVED.



IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA, OUR GUIDE JOHNNY SAID WE WOULD BE STOPPING TO TAKE A WALK ON THE WATER. IN UNISION AS IF REHEARSED WE REPLIED, “WE WILL FOLLOW RIGHT BEHIND YOU.”



CHURCH OF MULTIPLICATION


WE CROSSED THE SEA TO CAPERNAUM TO VISIT THE ANCIENT RUINS OF THE FIRST SYNAGOGUE WHERE JESUS PREACHED. THEN ON TO THE MT. OF BEATITUDES WERE JESUS PREACHED THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT AND ON TO TABGHA, THE CHAPEL DEDICATED TO THE MULTIPLICATION OF THE LOAVES AND FISH. WE NEXT HEAD TO UPPER GALILEE AND THE SITE OF PETER’S CONFESSION (WHEN JESUS ASKED WHO DO YOU SAY I AM) AT CAESAREA PHILIPPI AND TO MT. HERMON AND ON TO BEAUTIFUL PILGRIMS PARK AT THE JORDAN RIVER.



THE POURING RAIN DID NOT HAMPER OUR SPIRITS AS WE PAUSE TO
READ SCRIPTURE, 'WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?'


WE HAD A SPECIAL LUNCH TODAY. IT WAS ACTUALLY IN A VERY NICE RESTAURANT. WE ALL HAD GROWN WEARY OF ‘ISRAELI HAMBURGERS’. FALAFEL IS THE MIDDLE EASTERN VERSION OF FAST FOOD. IT BASICALLY CONSISTS OF CHICK PEA INSIDE OF PITA BREAD. THESE WERE GRABBED ON THE RUN FOR THE MOST PART. I UNDERSTAND MCDONALDS HAS THIS IN THEIR EGYPTIAN RESTAURANTS. NO SURPRISE AT THE NAME; MCFALAFEL. OH WELL, WHEN IN ROME AND ALL.



AT THIS RESTAURANT WE WERE GIVEN THE OPTION OF WHOLE OR FILET PETER’S FISH. THE MEAL RECEIVED RAVE REVIEWS. WE WERE EVEN OFFERED SOFT DRINKS, FOR A PREMIUM OF COURSE. THE LEAST EXPENSIVE BOTTLE OF SODA WE FOUND WAS $3.00. GENERALLY THEY GO FOR ABOUT $5.OO.



WE VISITED THE SYNAGOGUE OF CAPERNAUM AND THE RUINS OF PETER’S MOTHER IN LAWS HOUSE. AGAIN, THE VEGETATION HERE IS BREATHTAKING.



STATUE OF PETER





SYNAGOGUE RUINS



AFTER A SUPER, BUT STORMY AFTERNOON, WE HEAD BACK TO THE HOTEL OVERLOOKING THE SEA. TOMORROW, WE WILL PACK UP AND HEAD TOWARD TEL AVIV.

WHILE DAN NAPPED, I WALKED DOWN TO THE SEA SHORE.  I WAS LOOKING FOR SMALL STONES BUT RECEIVED A BIGGER SMILE FROM THE HEAVENS.  A PERFECT  RAINBOW APPEARED AND STRETCHED FROM ONE END OF THE SEA OF GALILEE TO THE OTHER.  IT WAS JUST A BRIEF FEW MOMENTS BUT IT WAS A PERFECT END TO OUR LAST DAY HERE IN GALILEE!