Leaving Sunday - Please Pray!

Shalom Israel Blog Readers!

We are SO excited to be flying out to Israel on Sunday, February 5 and arriving Monday, February 6. Please be in prayer for us as we depart. We will have the church pray for us as a group and "send us off" during the 11am service on Sunday. While we're there, we've created a day-by-day prayer calendar for anticipated prayer needs. We will update the blog daily with additional prayer requests as they present themselves. Thank you so much for committing to praying for our trip and the 35 people going

Israel Prayer Calendar February 5-17, 2017
Israel time is EST + 7 hours (12am midnight in Baltimore = 7am in Israel)

• Sunday, February 5 – Travel Day – Safe & timely travel, good departure weather, stamina for the long journey with little to no sleep.
• Monday, February 6 – Afternoon Arrival in Tel Aviv – For all people luggage to arrive intact and on time. That we all different traveling members of our trip would connect and that our first night’s sleep would be restful and that jet lag would be minimal. (Overnight in Netanya, Mediterranean Coast)
• Tuesday, February 7 – First Day of Touring: Traveling Mediterranean to Sea of Galilee. Stops at Caesarea Maritima, Mount Carmel, Sepphoris, and Nazareth – That all would have a good first day, and that it wouldn’t be too overwhelming. Additionally, pray that the group would “gel” and bond well together on this first day. (Overnight in Sea of Galilee)
• Wednesday, February 8 – Second Day of Touring: Around the Sea of Galilee with stops at Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Tabgha (loaves & fishes), boat ride on Sea of Galilee – That Jesus would meet each of us as we spend time in the places of most of His ministry. Continued prayer for good adjustment and sleep. (Overnight in Sea of Galilee)
• Thursday, February 9 – Third Day of Touring: Northern Israel – Golan Heights, Winery Tour, Mount Hermon, OT city of Dan, Lebanon border, and headwaters of the Jordan River – For safety as we enter disputed territory and that we might learn more fully the meaning of “living water” as we see the beginning of the Jordan River. (Overnight in Sea of Galilee.)
• Friday, February 10 – Fourth Day of Touring: Travel Day from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea with a few stops along the way – Pray specifically for safety today, as we spend most of our day driving through land that belongs to the Palestinian Authority. Pray also for no “snags” at any border crossings. And finally, pray for a fun time floating in the Dead Sea that evening. Pray also for Kari Edwards, celebrating her birthday today. (Overnight in the Dead Sea)
• Saturday, February 11 – Fifth Day of Touring: Traveling through the desert to Masada & Ein Gedi on our way to Jerusalem – Pray for safe and timely travel and “Shabbat rest” as we visit sites that encourage us to explore and hike. Please also pray for our transition to city life as we move to Jerusalem for the remainder of the trip.
• Sunday, February 12 – Sixth Day of Touring: Worship at Christ Church Jerusalem and visiting the Tower of David Museum – Pray for good time of worship together in the morning and engaging trip to the Tower of David museum across the street from Christ Church. We will have the rest of the day free to explore, rest and reflect, so please pray that that time would be fruitful.
• Monday, February 13 – Seventh Day of Touring: Temple Mount, Western Wall and Tunnels, Southern Steps – Pray for stamina today, as it’s largely on foot. We will be exploring many aspects of the Old City today, pray that God would show Himself to us in the city in which he dwelled. Simon, from the Palestinian Bible Society will come and speak with us in the evening.
• Tuesday, February 14 – Eighth Day of Touring: Bethlehem and free time – Pray for us as we do another “border crossing” into Palestinian Authority territory. The rest of the day is free for exploration in Jerusalem, rest and reflection. Pray that God would meet people in their chosen activities that day.
• Wednesday, February 15 – Ninth Day of Touring: Israel Museum, Yad VaShem, Seder Dinner – Pray for us as we visit Yad VaShem, Israel’s holocaust museum which can be emotionally draining and that the time of worship and fellowship through the Seder Dinner would be filling. Pray also for Kelly Czech, celebrating her birthday today.
• Thursday, February 16 – Tenth Day of Touring: Tracing the steps of Jesus’s Crucifixion, Death, Burial, and Resurrection – Pray again for stamina on this, our last day, but a very heavy walking day. Pray for a good time of learning and reflection on Jesus’s death and resurrection.
• Friday, February 17 – Travel day – Safe & timely travel, good departure weather, stamina for the long journey with little to no sleep. We will arrive back in the US around 4pm EST and back to Resurrection around 8pm EST.