Tel Hazor and Tel Dan

The next day we headed to Tel Hazor.  This is where Joshua conquered and destroyed a wicked Canaanite City.  While at these ruins Sam the Israeli tour guide was telling us about Tel Hazor and there began to be a whole bunch of loud bangs in the distance.  It sounded like bombs and then machine type artillery weapons after.  We all looked around and you could tell the anxiety level raised a bit within the group.  I remember looking at Sam and thinking that he would say something about it, but he never did.  He just kept talking as if everything was normal.  Later that day after we were on our way to Tel Dan we found out that Lebanon had bombed Israel the night before and so what we heard was Israel fighting back.  It was crazy to actually be there and here it! You see it all the time on the news, but do not really get it until you are over there and how much unrest there is in these countries.

Gates to Tel Hazor

The Kings Palace

The watering system.... They would walk down all these stairs to the cave that held the water!

Olive oil press

The old stairs that they used to use in the watering system

Almost down to the cave

Cute arch in Tel Hazor

After Tel Hazor it was on to Tel Dan.  We went for a short hike to see the ancient city of Tel Dan.  The thing that was weird was that it was a forest.  It was very green and lush and oh so beautiful.  There is a spring here that joins with the Jordan River.  I would have never thought that Israel had anything like this.  While we were at the Temple ruins Sam pointed out to us that across the way from where we were was some white houses.  Come to find out they where in Lebanon.  I did not realize how close we were to Lebanon and it all made so much more sense why we could hear the bombs so well that morning. 

Tel Dan Spring

Tel Dan Spring

walking through the spring

Little waterfall in Tel Dan

Me in Tel Dan

Sacrificial Alter in Tel Dan

Patty and Ron in Tel Dan

White houses in the background are in Lebanon

Me and Travis in Tel Dan

Tel Dan

Mount of Beatitudes and Peter's Primacy

Ok..... So I have a little time today that I could add some more pics from my trip.  I know it has taken me forever, but I have been super busy.  I figure I will eventually get them all on here.  After visiting Capernaum we headed to The Mount of Beatitudes.  What a beautiful area it was.  I remember walking around and feeling the spirit so strong.  When we got there the sun was beginning to set and made for perfect picture taking.  It was also nice because we had a wonderful devotional on the Beatitudes.  I felt so peaceful here and there was a calmness and stillness in the air.  It gave you time to really reflect on life and ponder what the speakers where saying during the devotional.  I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to come to this place and to be able to feel of the spirit that is there.  What an amazing experience it was and the feelings I felt were very real.  I know that the Savior delivered a beautiful sermon here and I am so thankful for the knowledge that I have and also what I learned from being apart of this tour.

Mount of Beatitudes

The group for the devotional

The sun started to set and made for the perfect atmosphere!

Beautiful Flowers  with the Sea of Galilee in the background

Cool tile floor around the grounds

Mount of Beatitudes

Me at the Mount of Beatitudes

The next stop that evening was to Peter's Primacy.  This is where a church was built around the rock or area that they believe that the Savior stood and told his disciples to follow him.  It is also a possible site of where one of the feedings took place.  It was really pretty to be down on the shore of the Sea of Galilee as the sun was setting.  We all went down and found sea shells from the Sea of Galilee and while we were down there Ron began to give us a short little thought.  He said to all of us do you realize where we are?  We are standing in an area where the Savior asked his disciples to follow him..... If we would have been there would we have left our nets and followed him? Better yet are we willing to do all that we can now to follow him? I love Ron because he always says the best things to make me really think about my life and if what I am doing is good enough.  I am always wanting to be better and going on this trip really put things into perspective of what I need to do better in my own life.  What a great evening it was to be able to contemplate and ponder about my own life and to feel of the spirit that was so abundant in this land!

The Rock inside the Church

The Church at Peter's Primacy

Sunset on the Sea of Galilee

Getting Sea Shells

Sunset... What a beautiful way to end the day!

Me at the Church at Peter's Primacy

Sea Of Galilee and Capernaum

  So I am finally getting a little time to update my blog. I am sorry that it has taken forever to get these pictures on here from my Israel trip. So here it goes..... On the fourth day we visited Nazareth and then went to the Sea of Galilee. We went on a wonderful boat ride and had a lesson on when the Savior walked on the water.  We also got to enjoy some music and dancing while on the boat. We also got to see what a fisher's net looked like and how they would cast it and then bring it back in.  It was really cool!  The water was so calm and peaceful. I could imagine the Savior standing on the shore and asking the disciple's to come follow him. After the boat ride we went to lunch at a little cafe.  We had the choice of chicken or fish.  I usually love fish.... but this was something I could not handle.  The fish still had its head and tail and scales.  Ron was brave and got it! I was glad someone did so I could get a picture. :)  I also bought the most expensive can of diet coke! It cost me over three dollars for my little diet coke.  It was delicious though and I did not waste any of it!

Sea of Galilee

Walking down to get onto the boat

American, Israeli, and Canadian flag... we had all three nations on the boat :)

The two couples on the tour with us from Canada!

Sea of Galilee

Sea of Galilee

Me on the boat ride

Our hotel that we stayed in

Teaching us how to cast a fishing net

Casting the Net

The boat

Ron's Lunch

They had dates and I had never tasted one... Lets just say I was not a big fan..
The only reason I tasted it was so that I could tell Nik that I had a "date" in Israel :)

My can of Diet Coke

After they all ate the fish they throw them over the side and the stray cats eat the left overs.

  After lunch we went to Capernaum.  This little ancient city was where the Savior healed Peter's Mother-n-law.  They have uncovered the house which they believe was where the healing took place.  The city also had a beautiful synagogue that contains the footings from the Saviors time period.  It was really cute because Ron got down and had to touch the footings and also sat in a spot and patted and said, "Maybe I am sitting exactly where the Savior sat?" It was awesome!

Capernaum

The dark bricks are the footings from the Saviors time

Ron touching the footings

Ron saying that Jesus sat here

The white trough is what would have been used as a manger for baby Jesus

Me in Capernaum

Travis trying to get through the door

Oh look Ron fit just right

Capernaum

Capernaum