At the top of Masada

Have you ever dream of visiting a place that you never thought you would ever actually get a chance to go? If I were to ask you to name a place in the world that if you had the opportunity and the expense was not a concern where would it be? I have a top 10 list of places to visit and this year I was privilege to travel to number one destination on my list. This destination is the place where the Christian faith was born over 2000 years ago. For 10 days I traversed across the Land of the Book-Israel at a time when the nation celebrated 60 years of independence and yet also considered a very politically volatile period.

My aunt and I, along with 500 plus North Americans Pilgrims journeyed to all the significant historical and Biblical places read, studied and believed for generations.

It was a dream come true to experience the sites, sounds and taste that has influenced our culture.

The mere fact I got to go seem ordained from above.

Not many believers take the opportunity to go until later in life but it’s my opinion now that the sooner you go the better. It is such a rich blessing to your spiritual growth learning the culture and the background facts of the Bible.

It started with the flight to Tel Aviv on Israel’s national carrier, El Al, where airplane food was very fresh and tasty; travel along side other nationals returning home for the summer break or to take part in the many festivities taking place. I didn’t know what to expect other than I knew that with the tour group we were going to cover a lot of ground and I was a bit apprehensive about being “prepared” for a trip of a life time such as this.

Don’t you have to know the entire book, memorized scriptures, know Hebrew, and be mature or even clergy to go?  No! Absolutely not, anyone can go, Israel is very welcoming to anyone who is willing and interested in historical facts, world history, politics, story-telling, geography, archeology will appreciate all that this land has to offer.

The Best way to explore for the first time is with a reputable and license tour guide who has taken a 2 year intensive course covering all standard tourism components, a good guide will bring extensive knowledge of the land and partner it with your faith that heightens your discovery.

You want to ensure that the tour operator is organized, reliable, competent, hospitable and willing to go beyond your expectation. Our tour guide Smulik was a national who loved his home land so much you could sense his national pride in all he did and wanted each person to get a true sense of what the land had to offer, taking us to his favorite café, or even some guides may entertain you in their home.

Next and most important is having a well planned itinerary that the tour Company will provide to ensure that you get to the major sites of your faith. Places to discover are the Old city in Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, the Sea of Galilee, and Bethlehem which is situated in Palestine, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Beatitudes, and the Jordan River. There are beautiful nature parks with Biblical significance that are mentioned in scriptures. Places where you can imagine King David writing the psalms about the being in a dry desert or the cliffs that are his fortress and refuge from the enemy.

 What a trip to Israel does is bring the historical background and scriptures to life.

Your faith grows to a new capacity because everything you read becomes more visual and colourful knowing first hand that these place really do exists.

 Spend the money at least once in your life and see the real facts, the real story for yourself and you will be completely amazed at the impact it has on your faith.

 It truly impacts your understanding and you approach your faith with new eyes.