by Wendy Torres
"The first stop of the day was the Mount of Beatitudes. From the first steps we took, it was breathtakingly beautiful; the flowers in full bloom, the cool breeze, and the amazing view of the Sea of Galilee drew me in and gave me insight as to why Jesus chose this location to preach to the crowds."
It is now day five of adventures in Israel. Each day has made the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament come to life. This trip has also brought me to a closer understanding of Jesus and why He chose to do His ministry in these specific locations in Israel. Today started in the most humbling way. The first stop of the day was the Mount of Beatitudes. From the first steps we took, it was breathtakingly beautiful; the flowers in full bloom, the cool breeze, and the amazing view of the Sea of Galilee drew me in and gave me insight as to why Jesus chose this location to preach to the crowds. When we arrived, we were all given the opportunity to pick a quiet spot on the mountain, read Matthew 5-7, and immerse ourselves in the lessons Jesus taught in that area. It made the words I read from the Bible so much more significant and meaningful because it made these chapters incredibly real.
Afterwards, we went to Capernaum, where Peter mother-in-law’s house is located. The ruins of the town and the synagogue overlooking the Sea of Galilee was such a wonderful experience. I will never forget seeing the ruins of the streets and houses where Jesus actually walked and spent time. The details and work that went into this town was intriguing and intricate. After Capernaum, we had the opportunity to visit a Greek Orthodox church. The red rooftops, complex trees, and mesmerizing murals inside the church were so peaceful. The murals on the walls told the stories of the Bible, which traditionally were used to expose people who cannot read to the gospel. It was such an amazing opportunity to learn what other denominations practice and their reasons for it.
We have the best tour guide, Eitan. He took us to the kibbutz he once lived in. A kibbutz community is built around two ideals: 1) sharing a mutual responsibility to one another; 2) maintaining equality by giving the community what you earn and taking what you need. Seeing the kibbutz gave us a deeper insight into who Eitan is and how some people in Israel live. We finished our fifth day of adventure with a refreshing swim in the Sea of Galilee. It was surreal being able to swim in the very waters that Jesus walked on and be in the area that He performed miracles.
This trip has been such a blessing in my spiritual life. Like I previously mentioned, it has made Scripture come to life. Now when I have my quiet times while watching the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee, I have a deeper appreciation to the ministry of Jesus and the gift of the Bible to learn from and live out. Seeing the stories I have read my entire life come to life has been so sweet and an amazing learning experience. Every day has been filled with lifelong memories and I cannot wait to see what the next five days hold.
