Our Final Day we spent re-living Jesus' death and resurrection. We started on Mt Scopus with a great view of the city and an explanation of 1st century Jewish burial customs.

Next we headed to the Mount of Olives. Look what we found there!

After walking down the Mount of Olives we arrived at Gethsemane where Zjeaus prayed before His arrest.

After a stop at The pool of Bethesda (see John 5). and a beatiful chapel there, we headed up the supposed (but probably not) via Dolorosa.

We went to the traditional site of Jesus death and Resurrection.

After lunch we went to the garden tomb, another potential sight of the tomb and resurrection of Jesus. Here Kishkush demonstrated what happens just before one is resurrected... :)

Overall a great day and fitting to end our trip. Now it is to bed for a 12:30 am wake up call for a 1am departure for the airport. Pray for safe travel home. It's been an amazing trip! Shalom!

While the adults visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem, David and the kids went shopping in the old city. We met at lunch at the Israeli Museum to see the Jerusalem replica and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Next we went to Bethlehem and walking to the Church of the Nativity we saw this...

Here we are entering the Church of the Nativity

We went shopping in Bethlehem, headed back to Christ Church, and after dinner heard a great talk by a Palestinian Christian who works for the Palestinian Bible Society seeking to share the gospel with Israelis and Palestinians. Great stuff.

Ray Padron sent me these "floating in the Dead Sea" pictures. Between the mud and the levetating feeling, it really was worth the price of the trip. I'll try and get a few more and post them up on the blog.

Monday we got up early to make our 7:45 Temple Mount appointment. We walked through the old city Jewish Quarter on a beautiful day.

After waiting in line and going through security we got a tour of the Temple Mount. Here we are in front of the Shrine of the Dome of the Rock.

Later we toured the ruins of a Sadducees palace, perhaps the sight of Jesus' interrogation.

After lunch we walked through the Temple Mount tunnels along the western wall.

Inside was a great 3D display of the temple area during time of Jesus

Next we stopped at the Wailing Wall and many offered prayers.

Here we are for a group shot on the original Southern Steps where Peter preached his Acts 2 Pentecost sermon and 3,000 Jews and God-fearers came to faith in Jesus.

We ended the night with a great Jewish Passover meal together.

We awoke on Sunday and some of us made our beds (Keating) and some of us ... er... forgot (Dad).

We started off the day with great worship at Christ Church and a sermon on Luke 4:1-13, the temptations and suffering of Jesus.

After lunch we headed to the Tower of David museum for a history of Jerusalem and view of city.

Overall a great day. After dinner we heard the Rector of Christ Church give a talk on the history of Christ church. A great day of rest although rumor has it a lively game of UNO and the loud voice of the tour host (Sorry everyone!) kept people awake!

Here we are heading down Masada squashed like sardines in the cable car.

This is the sign that greeted us as we gathered for devotions on Day #6.... Can you tell we are having fun? :)

Day #6 had been a highlight as we traveled north along the Salt Sea on a beautiful day. First stop Masada, almost a thousand feet high and yet still 400 feet below sea level.

My old friend John Dicamillo and I decided to run up while the group took the tram. Here I am about a third of the way up, before the steep part.

We made it in 23 minutes... A record or so Kishkush said!

Here are some great shots of Masada, nckuding another video. Here Herod built a palace fortress. Jewish Zealots took it over during the rebellion in 66 AD. The Romans built a rampart and finally conquered it in 73 AD only to find all 960 Jews had committed suicide.

Next up Ein Gedi- see I Samuel 24. A "stream in the desert" where David hung out fleeing from King Saul.

Here is a group shot under in the "David pool".

And me and Keating ...

Remember this is on a desert people!

After lunch it was off to Qumran - home of the 1947 Dead Sea Scroll discoveries.

Next stop: Climbing 3,000 feet to Jerusalem! We arrived at Christ Church to find cozy accommodations, great food, and the temperature had dropped 30 degrees!

And you think your winter home has a nice view...