12 Days Itinerary
May 6 to 16, 2008
Hosted by: Pastor JOHNNY ENLOW
Day 1 –May 6 En route
Depart USA to Tel Aviv, Israel. Enjoy a hot dinner served aboard the airplane.
Day 2 – May 7 Tel Aviv
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport, our representative will meet the group assist us on the way out through customs. Should time permit, we will then step back in history as we tour Old Jaffa (Joppa) by the Mediterranean Sea.
From Joppa we will transfer to our seaside hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3 – May 8 to the Galilee
After a rich, Israeli breakfast, we will leave the hotel and drives north along the famous highway, biblically known as the “Way of the Sea”. We will arrive at Caesarea, where we will explore the ruins of the roman and the Crusader City. We will see the reconstructed Roman city and Theatre, the walls from the times of the Crusaders and the prison where St. Paul was held in captivity before being sent to Rome. This was also the place where the first gentile was converted to Christianity. As we leave the beautiful walls and moat, we will pass the remains of the Roman horse racing theater, the Hippodrome. We will top at the amazing remains of the Roman Aqueduct which has been beautifully preserved under the sand dunes for 2000 years. We will continue to Mount Carmel and visit the Mukhraka, the site where the prophet Elijah debated the 450 prophets of Baal. Visit Acco. From here there a breathtaking view over the whole Valley of Jezreel, better know as the Valley of Armageddon. We invite you to your first lunch in Israel, a typical Falafel, in a Druze Village. We continue to Tel Megiddo, the archeological mound, which inspired James Michener’s book, “The Source”. Here we can see the remains of King Solomon’s stables, an altar from the time of Abraham (4000 years old), and the magnificent water tunnel. We continue across the valley to view Mount Tabor the site of the Transfiguration. We arrive in Nazareth where we visit the Church of the Annunciation, and the Synagogue where Jesus learnt to read the Bible. On the way to Tiberias we pass Cana of Galilee, the village where Jesus performed his first miracle –the miracle at the wedding. Arrival at our hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight. In the evening we will stroll the streets of Tiberias.
Day 4 – May 9 Galilee to Jerusalem
Wake up to a beautiful morning in the area where Jesus spent three years of his ministry.
Today we will dedicate our time to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. After breakfast, we will drive north through the Golan Heights to Caesarea Philippi and the Banias, one of the water resources of the Jordan River. Continue back to the Sea of Galilee to visit Capernaum, the “Town of Jesus”, walk along the ruins of this Biblical village, and see the synagogue where Jesus preached and the house of Peter’s mother-in-law. Drive up to Mount of the Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon of the Mount. Visit the beautiful mosaic floor at Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the multiplication. On to Beit Saida where we will see the remains of the ancient walls and gate from the Canaanite days. Continue to Korazim, a city Jesus visited and preached. See the ruins of the Synagogue, dating to same time of the one in Capernaum.
We will sail in a wooden boat across the Sea of Galilee, and then have the famous St. Peter’s fish for lunch in a restaurant on the lakeshore. We will finish the day with a baptismal service at Yardenit. Drive to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 – May 10 Jerusalem
We will begin our pilgrimage after breakfast with a spectacular panoramic overlook of the Old City from the Mount of Olives. Walk down hill to the Kidron Valley and enter the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of All Nations, also called the Basilica of Agony and we will have a short Communion at the Garden Tomb. In this area the oldest Olive trees in the Holy Land, dating back to ancient times – a living witness to Jesus’ arrest by the Romans. We continue along the Kidron Valley, viewing the Tomb of Zechariah and the Tomb of Absalom – King David’s son. We will enter the Old City through one of its ancient gates, than proceed to the Wailing Wall.
We will visit the Upper Room and King David Tomb. Continue to Israel Museum to visit the Model of Jerusalem showing the city as it was during second temple time. We will continue to Chaiphas House, where Jesus was imprisoned. Dinner and overnight Jerusalem
Day 6 – May 11 Sunday Free day (Bus for transfer)
THE CALL JERUSALEM with Lou Engle, GOD TV, IHOP, etc….all day prayer and fasting for Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight Jerusalem
Day 7 – May 12 Massada to Jerusalem
Today, after breakfast, we will visit Massada, the site of the Zealots last stand against the Romans that was originally built as a magnificent palace for Herods the Great. We will ascend by cable car to observe impressive construction, the beautiful mosaics, the synagogue, a bathhouse and a Byzantine Church. After descending by walking the Ramp built by the Romans, we will drive to a Bedouin Camp and enjoy an authentic Middle Eastern hospitality. Continue to Beer Sheva, the capital of the Negev. We will visit the city where Abraham dug the seven water wells. Continue via the Negev Desert to the Ela Valley, site of the famous battle between David and Goliath. We continue our ascent to Jerusalem, 2400 feet above sea level, passing on our way Beit Shemesh and Emmaus. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 8 – May 13 Jerusalem and Bethlehem
Today, after breakfast we will enter the Old City of Jerusalem and visit the Wailing Wall, the remnant of King Solomon’s Temple – and touch its ancient stones. We will ascend the Temple Mount and view the Dome of the Rock. We will continue through the Western Wall Tunnels to the Via Dolorosa and the Arab Market. We will visit the Holy Sepulchre – the largest Church in Jerusalem. On to the Jewish Quarter, where we will see the renovated Cardo (the once main north-south colonnaded Roman Street) and its excavations. We will also visit the Pools of Bethesda and St Ann Church. Visit the Seven Mountains of Jerusalem and pray to release God’s purposes into this city and nation.
The afternoon will be dedicated to visiting the birth place of Jesus – Bethlehem (if it is open). We will visit the Church of Nativity and the Shepherd’s Fields. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 9 – May 14 Free day (Bus For transfer)
Suggestions to visit: Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial.
In the evening you may walk and shop the famous pedestrian street – Ben Yehuda Street.
Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 10 – May 15 Jerusalem (Bus Only)
Free day for pursuing personal interests or revisiting some sites and shopping.
Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 11 – May 16 Free day
In the evening, we will celebrate with a Banquet Farewell Dinner with presentations of Pilgrimage Certificates. Late evening transfer to the airport for our flight back to the US.
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Day 12 – May 17 Returns to US Arrive back home.