Over the past 4 weeks, we have chronicled the adventures of two fantastic tours to Israel. Just over a day ago we concluded the second of the two and all tour guests who flew out immediately after the tour are now safely home. Here are some reflections from those tours…
First, the very thing that launched my trip leading career was on full display during these tours. Namely, abundant opportunities to connect with the people of Israel and share the love of Christ each time God gave us opportunities. We intentionally scheduled service opportunities, but both groups were also very conscious of unscheduled opportunities to show their love. For example, most tour bus drivers are Arab, and that was true of our two drivers. Yet, both groups immediately began interacting as much as possible and by the time the tours were over, we had very friendly drivers who laughed and joked with us. They were treated very kindly and want to drive for us again!
These men are also incredibly skilled at maneuvering 60-passenger busses through the most congested and narrow roads imaginable. At times when it appeared absolutely impossible to turn or to be where we needed to be, our drivers would somehow pull it off! A good bus driver can make or break the itinerary, so we are grateful to have had good drivers! I believe both were blessed by each of our groups as well.
Consistently, one theme was woven into virtually everyone’s comments: Being able to “touch and feel” (engage with) the people was equally or even more impacting than seeing the sites. Most people come to Israel to see important things to their faith. They come to see the ancient stones. Our tours add an element known as “living stones,” the people (specifically followers of Jesus). So, how did we engage? Let’s review:
- Between tours, we offered a 3-day extension in which guests from either tour could join together to engage in specific service projects. Day 3 was also an airport drop off day, so in 2.5 days, we served 4 different congregations including a painting project, food packing projects, and special goody packages of gifts and candy for kids at an upcoming Christmas parade.
- The very first thing on the agenda for our second tour was a service project! We packed food packages for an elderly club of primarily Russian-speakers. When we delivered them, we may not have been able to communicate with words, but the heartfelt smiles on faces and hands on their chests let us know how greatly they appreciated it. Through a translator we also let them know that we are Christians who love them and pray for them.
- We stopped at a Messianic retirement home to hear about the work and meet a resident who was more on fire for the Lord than most! We left them a financial gift.
- Each group worshipped with a different Messianic congregation and were able to meet and engage with some of the believers in the land (living stones!)
- We met with Arab and Palestinian pastors, and had an Armenian Christian guide when we went to Bethlehem. Each of those men love the Lord and are sharing the love of Jesus with Muslim background people throughout the land.
- We sailed on the Sea of Galilee with a Jewish crew who taught us the Hava Nagila (a traditional Jewish circle dance) and provided a very lively and fun adventure for us.
- An Arab guide led the way when we went to Petra. We were also able to engage with him during that day trip and he became part of our family for a day!
- Both groups made stops at ONE FOR ISRAEL to meet those in our Israel office who are actively spreading the gospel to Jews, Arabs, Palestinians and others. Thankfully, most speak English, so we were able to not only hear and understand reports from each department but also enjoyed lunch with them and had occasional evening visits by some of them.
- We met Christian Palestinians at an olive wood store in Bethlehem. As with other encounters we heard about the challenges for the Christian church.
- We enjoyed meals at Samaritan, Druze and Arab restaurants throughout the land and shared smiles, greetings and love with them.
I’m not sure who was more encouraged in our encounters…them or us? What I can tell you is that every tour guest was impacted by these encounters with the living stones of Israel!
We are also grateful to our guides, a son/father team of Yotam, who led our Return to Israel tour in October, and his father, Yoyakim, who guided us on the Ancient Stones and Living Stones tour in November. These men love the Lord and were faithful to bring His word to life onsite. Our guests provided devotionals each morning and I had occasional opportunities to share brief teachings onsite. When that occurs, God’s Word goes from black and white words on a page to living color that changes lives.
Finally, our groups became like families. They got to know one another. They spent time with one another. They helped one another. They shared joys and burdens with one another. They prayed together, laughed together, and cried together. Going to Israel absolutely does something to the believer. It is impossible to describe, but you know it when you see it! The Lord showed up in incredible ways, and we each met Him in ways that will change us forever.
Thank you for following! I hope you were blessed in the journey as well. If you would like to join us live on a future tour, please see our Israel Tours page.
Also, I have not forgotten my commitment to post pictures and video from our visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum. I have run out of space on one particular platform, so I am still working on getting those videos and pictures in a format I can use. It is coming, so stick around if you would like to see them.
