Israel Trip 2023 with Pastor Marty
Today begins our 10-day journey in the “Land of the Bible”. Forty-one people from three different churches (18 Mainstreeters!) began to have their minds and hearts opened more deeply to the amazing pages of the Scriptures. What follows and what will come in the days ahead will give you some snapshots of their life-changing experience to walk where Jesus walked. - Pastor Marty
Updates will be provide here and on social media.
Day 9
On our final day in Israel, we retraced the steps of Jesus’ final few days on earth. We began visiting the place of the Upper Room and then visited Caiaphas’ house, the Via Dolorosa, and finally the two possible places of the crucifixion and resurrection – Holy Sepulcher Church and Gologotha/Garden Tomb.
Continue to pray for us as we start the long journey home tomorrow!! - Marty
Day 8
Day 8 was a ‘free day’ for our group, but some of us took an off-roading excursion into the desert where we saw a mountain oasis, an ancient aqueduct, St. George’s Monastery built into the side of the mountain and we visited Qumran, site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. - Marty
Desert Aqueduct
An amazing, ancient aqueduct which still carries water from Jerusalem down to Jericho…in a desert!!!
Day 7
Today we visited the Western Wall and the ancient walls of the Holy Temple buried beneath it. We explored the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. We spent the afternoon visiting Yad Vashem, the Israel Holocaust Museum and finished the day visiting an outdoor Farmer’s Market!! - Marty
Entering the Old City
Celebration of a bar mitzvah at the entrance to the Dung Gate of the Old City! This was pretty cool! - Marty
Day 6
Today (Day 6) included visits to the Old Testament City of David within Jerusalem, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the Pool of Siloam and the Garden of Gethsemane. The Hezehkiah's Tunnel walk was very cool!
Day 5
This morning we visited the mountain fort/oasis in the desert called Masada…amazing ruins and story. In the afternoon we visited Bethlehem, the town where Jesus was born! - Marty
Day 4
Hello everyone.
We are having a great experience here in Israel. Hopefully, the pictures we’ve been posting are displaying this well!
In case you are not aware, there have been significant protests going on throughout Israel which are political in nature. These have nothing to do with the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians…a conflict that can become violent and that is a daily reality here. The current protests are regarding their system of government, are to this point peaceful in nature and we have not been near where they have been held. We are all good and the Lord will continue to protect us regardless. Nonetheless, we appreciate your prayers on our behalf and encourage you to continue to pray for the Lord to work in us and through us while on our journey!
- Marty
Day 3
DAY 2
DAY 1
