Let it Snow? Last Day in Galilee, Arrival in Jerusalem

     We concluded our time in the Galilee today with more cold, wet temperatures. In fact, 10 inches of snow fell last night in the Golan Heights, just a few hours after we had left the region and returned to our kibbutz.
     It is actually supposed to snow tonight in Jerusalem and drop to 32 degrees.
     This is not the Israel we are familiar with, and even natives do not see snow in Jerusalem but every few years. I will let you know if we awaken to snowball fights and snow shoes :)
     Another thing that seems unusual to me: Israel is quite hilly and mountainous. Now, I remember Jerusalem (of course) as being quite high in elevation, and places like the Golan Heights and Nazareth. But as we took the two-hour journey south from Galilee to the Holy City this afternoon, it was nothing but hills/mountains.
     Jesus and his disciples must have had the legs of soccer players, as they walked around Galilee and made the trek north-south from Galilee-Jerusalem. They obviously followed well-traveled routes that cut between the mountains, but these are no easy trips to take in a bus, let alone on foot.
     The highlight today, no doubt, was our visit to the Jordan River. Two in our group were baptized. The rest of us renewed our baptismal vows with water from the Jordan. It was my honor to renew the baptismal vows of my pastor, Bill Harter.
     This was a strange but powerful experience. Bill is "just another guy" -- just another follower of Jesus in need of renewal. And yet, he is also the man who baptized two of my children, and he has been a strong spiritual leader in my life for years. And so, it is strange to have the roles reversed and have me pronounce a blessing on him!
     I'll remember it fondly for years.
     I am excited to hear that we have so many from Grace Presbyterian Church-Plano, attending North Texas Pilgrimage this weekend. Amy, Anne, and I will keep the pilgrims and staff in our prayers, as dozens renew their faith in Christ.
     I'm sure I speak for Anne and Amy, our friends Julie and Dave (from Baton Rouge), and the 35 others in our tour group when I say we miss friends and family. My prayers are with Max and Ben as they get braces today, and of course, Kim.

A special moment at the Jordan River.

These yellow signs on the Golan
Heights indicate leftover mine fields
from the 1967 war with Syria.

Pastor Lloyd receiving a blessing
at the Jordan River this morning.

A spring at Caesarea Philippi is one of
the three sources of the Jordan River.