Take Me to the Promiseland - Part Two

- Before I jump into part two of our Israel trip - 

*gets up on box* In light of the news in the past 24 hours or so I feel like breaking my FB status silence by sharing a little friendly reminder that as we go about our lives we begin &/or continue to lift up in prayer the people that are hurting in our world. So many are right now AT THIS VERY MOMENT grieving the loss of loved ones. So many are living shellshocked and scarred in need of healing and our love. So many are currently literally scared for their lives - wondering if they'll make it out alive.

Oftentimes some of these situations can feel so far from us, but the reality is that they are actually crazy close. It really is a small world. These are our fellowman. These are people whose lives & homes we may not know personally but are of value - they are the people who make this world a wonderful, diverse, beautiful and I would dare say - a better place. Whose names we might not know, but who are of worth and are worthy of our prayers and compassion or however else we can help and stand alongside those hurting.
From those in the U.S. to Kenya to France to those now literally stuck in chaotic Turkey - (just to list a few) - my heart is with you and I am praying. Praying for protection, for hope, and for healing. Mark 12:31

- DAY THREE -

The morning of day 3 we were ready to make the drive for our 3 nights in Jerusalem. I must've completely missed the memo (more than likely) because as we neared the city I realized our first stop was the holocaust museum, Yad Vashem. *insert panicked Esther* I am not a crier. It's actually something I need to work on...feeling. Or allowing myself to feel. Or to express rather. It takes legit effort for me to show sadness. I'm quicker to be mad about injustices or sad situations than sad. Anyway...I knew that if anything can make me cry, and this has only been strengthened by being a mom, is the loss of innocent children. Well our first stop was the children's memorial. OH DEAR GOSH. Going into it our guide Yoav (who btw is the best and if you're ever in need of a guide in Israel UMMM...highly recommend) said that as we heard the names being said as we walked through the memorial to pick one and think about that specific name & child. Well as I walked and listened to name after name all I could feel was my mama heart and it was as if my own son's name and sweet face was melting into these precious children's names and faces and all I could feel was the love and grief of a mother as each name echoed throughout the darkened sobering space. Needless to say walking out of there I could hardly breathe and holding back the tears wasn't possible anymore. These emotions only set the tone for the next several hours as walked through the rest of the museum. As much as this trip was full of sobering, emotional moments this was, for me, the most emotional experience. Okay, moving on before I cry twice in one month....

It was Friday afternoon. Which means Shabbat is coming. After lunch in the incredibly busy market (everybody was getting ready for their Shabbat meals and workless next day) we checked into our new hotel. With the sun beginning to set we made our way to the Western Wall.

As I laid my hand against the warmth of the wall and I began to pray the peace, joy, and freedom I have in Christ and how thankful I am for it was all that my mind could focus on. That I have no barriers separating me from the holy of holies. My relationship with Him is not limited to a place or time. That I have the Holy Spirt living inside of me. It's beautiful and freeing to know that wherever I am He is with me.

After our time at the wall we headed to our Shabbat dinner with a Jewish family. Such a great experience and a must do if you're ever able. Friends, wine and celebration. We owned that Shabbat.

- DAY FOUR -

Day 4 began with hearing from an Israeli Arab journalist which was the perfect start to our day as we next made our way to Bethlehem to visit an Palestinian Christian pastor there. His story was encouraging and after sharing what his life and ministry look like there and the struggles and dangers - His challenge to us was to continue to make Jesus our first love.

We made a few more stops on our way out of the West Bank - lunch and a quick view of the shepherd's field. Then off to an afternoon at the Dead Sea. Okay I'm going to do another picture post just from that excursion because - IT WAS AMAZING. I loved it. Smearing the mud from the Dead Sea on myself? Floating along covered in said mud? Yes please. It's all of my childhood flooding right back to me. Needless to say with the 110 degree weather and all of the hard work of floating I slept like a baby that night.

OH...and on the way back we stopped at the incredible St. George's Monastery. BEAUTIFUL.

- DAY FIVE -

Our day 5 morning started off with two separate men sharing with our group both of which were fascinating and provided even more insight. First was Calev Myers who is a lawyer in Israel and founder of Jerusalem Institute of Justice. Second was Colonel Danny Tirza who is the architect behind the security fence between the West Bank and Israel. So you could say our morning was highly educational and eye opening.

The afternoon and evening we went to the Garden of Gethsemane and to the Mount of Olives. No big deal.

- DAY SIX -

On day 6 we went to one of the supposed sites of Jesus' death and resurrection. The Garden Tomb. Whether it was the actual site or not it put everything in perspective and to feel the walls of the tomb with my own fingers and to think about what Christ has done so that I can be fully alive. It was only natural that when we had all taken our turn inside the tomb that we went around the corner for a time of worship. A definite highlight of our trip worshiping together at the place of Jesus' died and rose again.

After this we went to the Jewish Quarter for lunch and then to the Southern Steps. Couldn't ask for a better crew to share so many powerful experiences with!

Our time in Jerusalem had come to an end and we got back on our bus for our last few days in Tel Aviv.

- DAYS SEVEN & EIGHT -

Tel Aviv was like our chill & playtime after a packed past few days - emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically - we stayed in the beautiful Carlton hotel on the Mediterranean where we rode seaways, swam in the sea, swam at the rooftop pool and just enjoyed time with each other. A perfect way to wrap up our time - processing all that we saw, heard and felt together. Plus...there was NO other way you'd get me on a segway soooooo....(it was actually pretty fun...)

Have a fab weekend friends!

Esther

Take Me to the Promiseland - Part One

YOU GUYS. No seriously...you guys. *lets out overwhelmed-can't-contain-myself-sigh*

So Phil and I were blessed, and when I say blessed I mean blllllleeeeeesssed, to travel with our Socality team on an ahhhhhmaaaaaazing trip to the Promised Land!

Honestly Israel/Palestine has never been in my top ten must travel places - and definitely wasn't on my radar 6 months ago, but now having gone I can't imagine not having been.

Our trip was a match made in heaven as the Israel Collective invited us at Socality to invite our own group for our leadership summit Israel edition. So basically a perfect combo of vision casting for the future and at the same time getting to experience such a vibrant, complicated, spiritual place.

I have no words to describe what a 5 star experience this trip was on every level. Just all the feelings. From visiting the holy sites to the incredible food to the time spent with friends to the informative and eye-opening time with influential locals who took the time to share their perspectives & wisdom with us. It was all just #sogood. Can't believe we got to take such an amazing trip with so many wonderful people!

As a disclaimer - on our trip we were able to hear so much information and enlightening perspectives concerning the Middle East, Israel, Palestine, Jews and Muslims, the history, the conflicts and complicated nature of the area. With that I'm not going to get into any of that right now - or at least I don't think I am - because if I learned anything it's this...it's complicated.

As a person trying to learn and grow in this area my advice to myself is this - unless I understand not only the whole story, but also the many different side stories, or how my "opinions" effect those people then curb those opinions...be curious, ask humble and respectful questions, show grace and love and be careful to seek unity vs division. Support and pray for all sides. For me that's the best thing I can think of to do right now as an outsider looking in. Share the the good you see and highlight the beauty. Though on the flip side of this I am so thankful for how purposefully educational this trip was. Israel Collective did an outstanding job widening our outlook and offering  us a clear message of unity and hope for the nation of Israel.

Now I will continue to share about all of the other parts of our trip - the fact that we got to walk where our Lord and Savior walked, where he healed and preached?! Mind blowing. To enjoy platter upon platter of my new favorite foods with so many of our friends?! Unreal.

DAY ONE -

We jumped into our trip by taking our bus from Tel Aviv Airport to beautiful Caesarea where we enjoyed our first Israeli lunch - the food. I can't even with the food. I am naturally not a vegetable person, but this trip has me upside down...all of the salads. I literally just ordered groceries from AmazonNow/Sprouts with ALL THE VEGGIES. //*looks in the mirror and whispers sadly* Who have you become?//

We spent the first couple of nights in Tiberius. TIBERIUS. Okay, sorry little freak out session there. Am I the only one who watched (and enjoyed) the forever long A.D. series?? (cause Phil sure hasn't....it's on 'the list')

(our view from our hotel room...that's the Sea of Galilee my friends.)

DAY TWO...

Started off the day with a fabulous hotel breakfast of those funky cocoa puffs that every foreign hotel serves to try and appease Americans like me. Okay, I promise I ate a pretty good variety...croissants and all of the other bready goodness that awaited me every morning. *happy dance*  Plus cheeses and dips and stuff...okay so I ate a good amount of pastries. Thank goodness we were walking like those super fit *cough//Southern Californian//cough* fitness moms (respect not hate) cause carbs were my jam. Or jam was on my carbs.

Then off to the Golan Heights...where we drove past the Israeli army deactivating land mines...and right to where we could stand and look into Syria. What we thought was just some haze from the hot morning sun our guide said was smoke from weapons being fired. Okay then. Lunch anyone?

One of the many highlights of this trip was getting to listen to our pastor read the Beatitudes on the Mount itself. Game changer.

Having watched pretty much every That the World May Know video that Ray Vander Laan has put out getting to go to Caesarea Philippi and hear the words of Jesus from Matthew 16:13-20 was pretty much awesome. It was day 2 and already so much of the Bible was coming to life.

Now this is where it got real. Capernaum - a town that plays part after part in the the New Testament. Passage after passage it comes up - Jesus calling out for them to drop their nets and to follow him, Jesus performing miracle after miracle in this place, teaching in the synagogue - and as we stood surrounded by ruins Jesus' words in Matthew 11:20-24 became especially sobering.

The sun was quickly fading and we made our way for our sunset boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Photo ops for daaaaaaayz. The fact that our crew is made up of insanely talented photo junkies mixed with the fact that we were on an epic boat at sunset on the sea of galilee made for some pretty awesome, albeit intense, BTS videos.

(the newlyweds)

After we docked back in Tiberius we walked to the fabulous Decks for dinner. It was super cool to have our tour guide's grandfather join us who was a holocaust survivor. He spent 2 years hiding out in the forest during the nazi invasion. Pretty powerful story and was an honor to have him with us for an evening!

(snapchat photo - didn't get a better one, but at least Donna is looking)

Dinner was crazy (read...so.much.food.platter after platter). Dancing was fun. And sleep was sweet.

Hope you enjoyed the first portion of our trip. More later!

xoxo,

Esther