Adventures in Israel: DAY THREE and FOUR - Jordan: The source, Yerusalaim and Shabatt

Big day today. We were at the the Source of the Jordan and after a few places moved on to jerusalem. O Jerusalem. The Western wall, the last remain part of the old Jewish temple. (called sometimes the wailing wall) and the prayers and the orthodox Jews Wow wow and wow. It is awesome to think that Jesus came here quite a few times and taught, drove off money changers and quite a bit of drama leading to his eventual cruxifiction took place here. We visited the Western wall while it was still not filled with too many people, BUT our Jewish brothers mainly were there praying and meditating. Tables for study and books. Shaking their heads back and forth and close to the beginning of the Sabdath started to sing and increased the intesity.



Day Four

It's Saturday. There is something about this Shabatt /Sabbath. It is very serious business here. It is REST for creative activity we learnt. Even Lifts are customised! You have the Shabatt lift that starts and goes to every floor without you having to select the floor you are cgoing to. Got back to my room after our outings and met an unmade bed in the hotel. Called reception and duh.. they nicely explained that it was shabatt! Today , after eating we headed for the Old city of Jerusalem again, got first to the mount of Olives (which is on the Arabic side while Mt. Scopus is on the Jewish side) and visited quite a few places: first stopping to take a group photograph. No mean feat with 200 plus people! Then I saw a panoramic view of the golden city, Breathtaking. It blows your mind. This is the city that is the source of lots of contoversy, is fought over and is a 'holy city' all in one.



We then descended the steep steps into the valley. You could see tombstones of people that wanted to be buried them to be the first to ressurect! We visited as well Bethesda were Jesus healed the man who'd been sick for 38 years, and Gethsemane garden (Jesus prayed and dripped sweat of blood here. We visited the Santa Anna Church and I had the priviledge with Sisiter Esther Tims and Pastor Zijlstra to lead the 200 plus group in a few songs in this church with amazing accoustics!We then went through the Via Dolarosa and even the traditional place for the last supper with the disciples. Very moving