The Pilgrims are Home!

The pilgrims made their way home, although a day late. Due to a 2 hour late departure from Tel Aviv Friday morning, we missed our connection in Frankfurt. Lufthansa rebooked us on Saturday's flight to Seattle, and provided hotel rooms and meals for the entire bunch.

While everyone was happy to finally be home, the day of rest in Frankfurt was at least beneficial to the chaperones! We enjoyed the opportunity for a comfortable rest!

When we finally arrived in Seattle, we were thrilled to be met by parents, friends, and Kathy Hamilton!!!! It was a wonderful way to be welcomed back.

-JR

Final Day by Nate R.

Well today was our last day in Israel…it was a sad but fun day.

We started off by waking up at 9AM (which was a well earned late wake up). We then had breakfast and around 10ish we decided to walk (one more time) to Jaffa. It was about a 1 mile walk and it took us about an hour. We saw the port that Jonah was supposed to have left from. Afterwards we stopped off at a Schwarma restaurant and got food. We then were “free” until 5:45. The guys and I walked around Tel-Aviv and shopped a little bit, then I went to the beach with the girls in our group while the other guys looked for post cards. After we went to the beach we came back to the hotel and hung out until it was time for dinner, we went to a restaurant near the Sea.

Then we got gelato and walked around the beach for the rest of the time.

The time is 8 o’clock at night and our plane for Frankfurt leaves at 5:00 in the morning so we have to be at the airport at 2 in the morning. This will be very interesting (trying to maintain a positive attitude with the security people at 1:30 in the morning). Look forward to seeing everyone soon.

Departing Jerusalem - by Riley G.

Today was a bittersweet day; we had to say our goodbyes to all of the new friends we made at St. Georges College. While we were waiting, a small blind kitten ran into the driveway. Cats run around like squirrels. We played with the Kitten and tried to give it food although it didn’t want anything. It made many of us, especially Nate, sad to leave the kitten behind. Our bus finally arrived, after all of the other groups had left, to take us to Tel Aviv. The city is one of the only major cities in the country so it is like the Las Vegas, New York, Miami and LA of Israel all mixed into one. More on this later.

Our rooms were not all ready, so we left our luggage in one of the available rooms and toured around the city. Ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel owned a house, which has been transformed into a Museum. The history in this house showed the serious attempt that the country had at unifying its people and creating a peaceful country.

After walking around for about 2 hours, our rooms were ready. We all changed into our swimming gear and took a dive into the Mediterranean. In comparison, the Dead Sea contains 14% salt; the Mediterranean has only 7% salt content. It still left a bad taste in my mouth, but was enjoyable to swim in such warm, yet refreshing water. The waves came in as perfect waves, which many people in the water were either surfing of body surfing. I tried to body surf although the salt water would get into my nose and burned for a long while.

We returned to the Hotel to dry off before leaving for dinner. A group of kids, about our age walked in from a tour bus that was parked outside. There were so many of them, and they all spoke French. I was told they were “ Birth Right Jews.” I didn’t know what that meant. From what I am told, Jewish Youth have the option of traveling to the Israel (which is commonly known as the Jewish Homeland) and is paid for by many American Jewish Communities. Because the Israeli Government sponsors it, I don’t believe that those visitors have an accurate representation of what is happening in the country. We’ve seen so much more than the local government wants us to see! We’ve talked to Arabs and Palestinians and seen the discrimination from locals. Water is the biggest issue.

Mt Tabor - by Riley G.

Unfortunately, today was uneventful although we saw some very historical sites. In the morning, we left Pilgarhaus for Mount Tabor which is almost a perfect dome surrounded by flat valley areas. The parks department told us that we were not allowed to climb up the mountain (or what they call one) because the leaves that fall on the hiking path this

time of year are very slippery and hikers should not climb up or down, so...we took taxi's.

The mountain is VERY steep and the road is extremely curvy and the taxi's drive very fast around those turns. When we got to the top, we held a Eucharist. Later we discover the church at the top of the mountain which is where is was claimed the transfiguration took place.

Most of the rest of the was a day of moving around and heading back to Jerusalem. Our bus was having major problems however and the path of our road, was very desert like and the air conditioning was broken and the bus was slowly shutting itself down. We made it safely back to Jerusalem although not without a stop at Bet Shian. These are just another of an infinate set of Roman/Egyptian ruins.

Our scavenger hunt didn't sound too appealing in the 100+ degree heat.

So I stayed and viewed the ruins from a distance while others took a more hands on approach (climbing to the top of the Tel, a mixture of several civilizations). I wich I took the more hands on approach although one of the girls from the Canadian group became dehydrated and came down with heat sickness.

After a long day of traveling and a short day of sightseeing, we return to Saint George's College. Some of our final shopping bits were taken care of at the small Bazzar across the street as souvineers and gifts for family and friends back home. As tomorrow will be the last day of the course, featuring the Stations of the Cross and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Church of the Resurection), our groups discussed the proceedure at the Tel Aviv Airport. These are much more strict at this airport in particular although I will blog about that when I experience it. Until tomorrow!

Birthday - by Riley G.

My day started much earlier than expected at Midnight. I was sleeping in my room at a Hostile along the Sea of Galilee when I heard the door to my room open and I woke up to see what it was. A large group of people from the youth course were standing in the doorway. I said, “What are you doing in my room?” and then they serenaded me in bed hitting me with pillows singing Happy Birthday. What a way to start my 18th birthday…with a group of friends in Israel!

When we woke up and ate a great breakfast (they have Coco Puffs here!!!) we traveled a short way to Capernaum. This is where Jesus moved to after his youth in Nazareth which was becoming much too dangerous for the sun of got to be living. Capernaum was a much larger city than Nazareth although has become ruins later in time while Nazareth has flourished into a major city. The morning was spent in the ruins where I received my first birthday present from my parents (a kiss from JR and Irene, my parents away from home).

Our next stop was to the Temple of Pan, another common god during the time of Jesus. This fortress was built by the sons for Herod following his death. The architecture of this fallen village was amazing. A Highlight at this site was the sand scriptures. A large rod attached to a cone sitting in a sand pit has reversed lettering on it so when it was rotated in the sand, the result would be a scripture. I’ll put a picture up which will make much more sense. After seeing this area and Banyas Waterfall (which had a French Fry Vending machine) we returned to the Hostile on the Sea of Galilee.

On the ride back, we saw signs along the road which read, “Caution, Mines" I wondered why and was told we were in Israeli occupied Syria. Through this trip I have visited multiple countries, the US of course, Germany, Israel, Occupied Palestine and Syria. The territories throughout the country are very different than when we look at them on a political map. Everything isn’t as clear as a line which divides state from state. It is argued land and since the United States supports Israel, we see the country as the Israeli Government wants us to see it and what seems right in the eyes of the powerful Jewish rulers.

Returning to Pilgarhaus, we changed into swimming gear to go to the water for a baptism service. It was a traditional baptism device where Emily was dunked into the water on the Sea of Galilee. Following this service students from the coarse swam for a while in the refreshing water. It was not cold, although it seemed like a public pool that was slightly warmed. For us Seattleites, it was VERY warm water.

It’s my birthday and many people wished me a Very Happy Birthday. I feel like I have so many more privileges and responsibilities although I don’t feel any wiser with the responsibilities. At dinner, people bought me my soda and following the group reflection time, they threw me a birthday party with cherry chocolate cake. When the amazing cake came out, it didn’t have candles, but rather fireworks spewing sparks out from the top. What a way to end the day sitting next to a lake in Israel with a group of friends eating my birthday cake with fireworks on top!

Nayas blog 7/18/10

Hey guys! sorry im not blogging a lot! i am having a lot of fun and im sure you have been keeping up with what we have doing throughout this time so i am not going to repeat saying it lol however i will say that we had a great reflection today and it really made me think that i really enjoy my faith and that i dont need to see to believe that god is always with me!. i am really sad about this really confusing and complicated conflicts that is going on here, im sad for all my friends i have made here, and us christians should really try to help!

I had a roommate named Sally who is going home tomorrow because she is really sick and i will miss her lots, i think that it is awesome that we have made future plans to get togther and keep in contact! love you sally, bahebek!

today was exciting with all the events that went on like Rileys 18th bday and Emilys BAPTISM congrats to them both!

for everyone at home i miss and love you all!

love from naya

Katie W's post from Galilee

Today has been wonderful. It's Riley's birthday, so at 12:04 about 15 of us woke him up to sing to him. It was so funny. When Steven let us into the room Riley woke up and was like "what are you doing in my room??" which was hilarious cause then we started singing and turned on the lights and he freaked out. But then we all left and let him go back to sleep. He pretended to be angry with me at breakfast cause it was my idea:P. We started at Capernum this morning, which was lovely. There were cats everywhere, really small ones. They were surprisingly friendly. I climbed a tree, which was cool cause I could look down on the whole ancient city, including a beautiful view of the coast. We also went to a great waterfall, it was such a great little hidden wonder. Then we lunched at Cesaera Phillipi. Standing in the Jordan river was such a powerful experience. A couple of the other girls and I were standing in it and it was so peaceful. I splashed my knees with the water, and it felt so calming. They haven't hurt since then. Last we did Emily's baptism, which was amazing. It's so great that she was able to be baptized in the sea of Galilee. After that it turned into a huge swimming party, which was so much fun. Buying a waterproof camera was so smart. I have some awesome shots of the chicken fight. Love from Israel! Katie