Shalom,

Today we sadly left Jerusalem and headed for the Coastal Plain, where along the way we passed memorials to fallen heroes of Israeli Wars.

Our first stop was at Caesarea Maritima, the administrative headquarters of Herod's Regime for the Romans. It is not only a beautifully restored site, but gave us great insights into Roman life during the period. Additionally it is the place Paul left Israel from to begin spreading the Gospel to the Gentile world.

We left Caesarea filled with new things to absorb and headed for Megiddo, another important site in Israel's history and Biblical understanding. Megiddo is located at an important crossroads both in the ancient world and in future considerations as well. We learned and were able to see first hand, the significance of the concept of a Tel and the various changes that have occurred through the ages. The location is important and availability of water also plays a key role in Megiddo's past, as in most Mideastern communities. We were able to see the genius of providing access to water from within the city's walls, precluding having to expose themselves to danger by leaving the city to replentish their supplies.

The water supply is at the end of a tunnel that has 183 modern steps down to a tunnel about 100 yards long and was hidden from the outside. Currently that end of the tunnel has been opened and there are 80 steps back out of the water source, where we boarded the bus for our trip back to Joppa.

The included picture is of an alter where pagan ceremonies occurred, honoring several gods, one of whom was Baal.

We arrived at Joppa, another important site in Israeli and Christian history, where Peter was given his vision of the sheet full of animals and told not to reject anything God provided. The upshot was the conversion of a Roman Centurion, marking the first Gentile convert, opening the Gospel to the rest of the world. Joppa, once an isolated city, mostly inhabited by Arabs, over the period of centuries has become a suburb of Tel Aviv, a modern Jewish City and the largest and most influential business center of Israel.

Our time in Israel has come to an end except for our dinner this evening when we'll reminisce about our experiences and relive the wonder of our pilgrimage to the land where Jesus walked and the underpinnings of our faith have come to life. Our lives have been changed in ways many of us didn't expect and will effect us forever.

We are sad to have to bid adieu to nine of our fellow pilgrims yet have valued our time together and will remember always how special this time has been.

Please pray for travel safety as some travel home and some to Turkey and Greece. We are all looking forward to seeing you and being home once again.

Doug