Following a touching visit to the Haifa Home for Holocaust Survivors, our tour bus made it’s way to Carmel, the site of Elijah’s battle with the Baals as described in 1 Kings 18. That site also provides an incredible view of the surrounding area, including the Jezreel Valley, also known as Armageddon.

The Jezreel Valley is filled with some of the most lush and fertile ground you would ever see! And in the midst of it lies Ramat David, an Israeli Air Force base with all aircraft bunkered underground.

Nearby is Megiddo, the site of a well-preserved Canaanite altar and excavated remains of King Ahab’s hilltop stables, grain silos, and a water tunnel. We ascended the hilltop, then descended through the water tunnel before enjoying a late falafel lunch.

Afterward we headed to Nazareth where we, again, engaged the people of Israel. This time we were blessed to meet a Messianic Jewish pastor and his brother in Christ, a Christian Arab pastor. I first met Pastor Saleem Shalash (the Arab pastor) in Washington DC in 2018. Hearing his testimony and the fire in his heart for Israel…both Jews and Arabs…was inspirational, so we connected and we make a stop at his church, Home of Jesus the King, during each tour to hear about the work of his congregation among Jews and Arabs. He remains “on fire,” and the ministry is unbelievable!

But this visit was different! The Messianic Jewish pastor, Israel Pochtar, was also on hand to share with us about the work his congregation is doing, and how the two churches…one Jewish and one Arab…are working together to minister to Jews and Arabs throughout the land and around the world.

Similar to what we saw and heard at the factory where Jews, Arabs, and Palestinians work together as “family,” so too, these congregations are bridge-builders for the glory of God’s kingdom!

Again, many were moved to tears hearing these men honor and respect one another, enabling them to have impactful ministry to those in need, despite ethnic differences.

We’ve moved on now to the Galilee area, arriving at our new hotel in time for dinner and bedtime! We’re staying at the beautiful Nof Ginosar Village, operated on the kibbutz. Tomorrow we will spend our day at sites surrounding the Sea of Galilee. This is where 80 percent or more of Jesus’ ministry took place, so we’re about to walk where Jesus walked! Stay tuned and I’ll keep you posted.

There seems to be some internet issues, so posts are coming from my phone. Please pardon typos, and please pray I can get photos transmitted to you!

Aly instructing us at Carmel, our group overlooking the Jezreel Valley, view of Ramat David AFB.

Archaeologists at Megiddo, our group at Megiddo, our descent into the water tunnel at Megiddo

Pastors Saleem Shalash and Israel Pochtar (brothers on Christ), pastor Israel, a dinner picture of our group at Nof Ginosar