Welcome back, friends! Let’s pick up where we left off in our last post. We woke up to rain which subsided as we made our way to the Mount of Olives. There, we enjoyed the overlook of the Kidron Valley and Temple Mount as the rain began to fall again. We made stops at Dominus Flevit and the Garden of Gethsemane before joining a Messianic congregation for worship. Lunch at a monastery build in the Crusader period followed.

After lunch we headed to the Israel Museum to see the model city of Jerusalem during Jesus’ day, and the Shrine of the Book. The model city never fails to impress, as we get to see Jerusalem laid out in its entirety before us. It is one of the most effective teaching tools in all of Israel. But we had one problem…it is outdoors and the weather was a bit nasty at the time! Nonetheless, most of us bore the rain and chill in the air long enough for Yoyakim to point out important details such as features of the Temple and Temple Mount, the location of the City of David, places Jesus may have been illegally tried on the night He was betrayed and arrested, and the two possible places of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial.

Then, we went inside the Shrine of the Book where the replica of the original scroll of Isaiah can be seen. Many of the Old Testament manuscripts were found in the caves of Qumran, near the Dead Sea. Thus, they are called the Dead Sea Scrolls. Isaiah happens to be one of those, and is very prominently displayed.

Next, it was on to Bethlehem, which we know to be the birthplace of Jesus. Today, however, it is a Palestinian controlled city almost totally dependent upon tourism. With so few tours in Israel right now, you can imagine the excitement when a tour bus crosses the checkpoint into the West Bank and heads to the Shepherds Fields. That is exactly where we headed and were met with street vendors very desperate to sell trinkets and scarves “for a special price!”

Once through the vendors, we made our way into an area where there are several caves overlooking a shepherd’s field. As we know, shepherds kept watch over flocks just before Passover, as lambs were required as a sacrifice from all who wished to enter the Temple. We were looking at the very fields some of those lambs would have grazed.

We also know that Jesus was more likely to have been born in a cave than in a wood-framed stable depicted in Nativity scenes. We entered one of those caves for a time of teaching, prayer and signing Christmas hymns! As we left, it was still raining, but God gave us a rainbow! What a sweet time it was.

After a stop at the olive wood factory owned by Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem, we made a very significant stop at the First Baptist Church of Bethlehem. Yes, you read that right. There are faithful Palestinian pastors doing unbelievably difficult work in Palestinian controlled Bethlehem. We heard the incredible testimony of Nain Khoury, a Palestinian who has pastored for about 50 years and is very obviously on fire for the Lord, despite the hardships and dangers.

Pastor Khoury exhorted us to be faithful in prayer, and is convinced prayer is what sustains them in Bethlehem. They have been the target of bombing (from other Palestinians) as well as attempts on their lives. His family came to know Jesus through the years, including his brother after 27 years of prayer for him. Once saved, his brother went about the Lord’s work until he was mugged and attacked by thugs with an ax and many knives. He gave his life living for Jesus. Their congregation is a light in a dark community and we should pray for Pastor Khoury, his family and his congregation.

Finally, we closed out the day hearing from Sisi Soref, head of women’s ministry at One for Israel, and Alice, a women’s program graduate who is a fireball! She will soon lead a special women’s program at her congregation, helping women become secure in who they are so they can minister to others!

Again, it was an amazing time witnessing the Lord minister to so many women in the room. God is in the business of healing the wounds life brings, and Alice touched the heart of many tonight!

Stick with us friends! Tomorrow takes us to the Israeli Knesset, Temple Mount, the Southern Steps, and the Western Wall (including the tunnels). It’s another jam-packed day. Israel needs the rain, but I’m asking the Lord for some reprieve from the soaking rain we encountered today. Yet, as Jesus said, “Not my will, but Yours be done, Father God!”