Israel - Galilee

After Masada, we had a 2.5 hr bus ride north to the small city of Tiberius on the West side of the Sea of Galilee.  Upon reaching our motel, we met up with the other half of our tour arriving from Greece, along with our guest speaker, S. Michael Wilcox.  He is a retired Institute instructor at the University of Utah for 25+ years, and has been touring with FOL tours for several years. I enjoyed his insights into the scriptures and the Holy Land.  Sadly his wife Laurie, died of cancer a few years ago.

view from our motel room 

The Sea of Galilee reminds us of Clear Lake in Lake County back home in Northern California.

Sunday 24 May

We drove around Nazareth, which is now a Muslim town, to Mount Carmel - where Elijah had his showdown with the priests of Ba'al.

We were pleasantly surprised at green Galilee and all the agriculture; very different than the Judean wilderness/desert around the Dead Sea.

A stop at the Jordan river, which is much bigger than I had imagined.

It shouldn't have been a surprise to  find out, it is still a popular baptizing place for many churches.

white-throated kingfisher 

We ended the day with an after dinner cruise and fireside on the Sea of Galilee, aka Lake Gennesaret or Lake Tiberius.

Sadly, a little out of focus 

Michael's thought: 4th watch God.  He will come, in his time.  We have to trust and have faith.  

Musical solo: Be Still My Soul.  Wonderful.  

Monday 25 May

North to Capernaum, the site of many miracles and the calling of the Apostles as they were fishing on the Sea of Galilee.  

A synagogue where Jesus taught.  Rebuilt by the Byzantines on the original  

foundation in 400 AD.  

An orginal stone where Jesus might have walked!  

Right next to the synagogue are what many believe to be the foundation of Peter's house.  Now a beautiful Catholic Church is built on top of the ruins.

A short bus ride to the site of the Sermon on the Mount.  Beautiful gardens surround a small Catholic Church.  An "interesting" bowl on a nearby hillside that is reported to have amazing acoustics.  

Michael taught that the Sermon On The Mount is about moving people from the Terrestrial to the Celestial.  

Terrestrial = honorable

Celestial = valiant and just 

How to be forgiven of sins?  ASK and forgive others.  

Beautiful solo by tour member - Consider the Lilies of the Field.  

Back on the bus continuing north to a Nature Preserve to the ancient headquarters of the Kingdom of Dan.  

The Jordan headwaters look like they could hold trout - very cool water.

 It was a good hike on a warm day to see the ruins and this little pool was a refreshing, quiet rest stop until.....

a school group invaded 

Massive stone walls.. like the walls of Jericho? 

A short ride to Mount Hermon.  Site of the Transfiguration?  Or Mt. Tabor?  Michael and Elder McConkie lean toward Hermon.  Pres. Kimball said Mt. Tabor.  

Beautiful clear headwaters of the Jordan River. 

Back to the motel by 5:30.  We were exhausted.  Roy went out and found us pizza and salad for dinner, which we had in our room while enjoying our great view of the Sea of Galilee. Spent a quiet evening relaxing with our feet up.  I am inspired by 86 year old Audrey at the end of these long days, as she is keeping up with us amazingly well. She is on the tour with her ~25 year old granddaughter Lori from Bakersfield.  I hope I am still traveling internationally at that age!