Ann's Birthday - Capernaum - Mt of Beauitudes - Baptism in the Jordan River

Feb 24 - ANN'S BIRTHDAY!  Started the morning with a BEAUTIFUL sunrise over the Sea of Galilee

Ann shared her special day with another gal on the tour, Julie Evangelisto, from Redland, CA.  The group gave Ann a card and sang Happy Birthday to them both at dinner.

At Capernaum, Rebecca Bauer taught from Luke 8.  Capernaum was especially moving because lots of sites are probable, some are possible, some are preposterous, and a few are POSITIVE.  And this was a positive sight, home of Peter, Andrew, James and John and the headquarters of the ministry of Jesus in the Galilee.  Rebecca shared the story of two women.  The woman with the issue of blood and Jarius' daughter.  One woman took initiative on her own and Jarius' daughter had an advocate.  Jesus met both of their needs. One woman's faith had made her well and the other had her spirit returned to her.  Which woman are we--both at times.  She also shared her personal story of the sudden death of her husband, Scott, 8 years ago.  She needed both--faith to press into the future without being trapped in grief and as she pursued the Lord; her Advocate, Jesus, returned her spirit  to go on.  We had a long time of personal meditation, prayer, and quiet at the Greek Orthodox Church that now occupies the spot.

Pictures from an ancient synagogue where Jesus taught

Mount of Beatitudes, the traditional site of the Sermon on the Mount.  The area is a natural amphitheater.  Seeing the area we now have a better understanding of how 5,000 people heard Jesus' message.  Several times while Rebecca and Kimberly, our tour leaders were sharing, we had to be careful to not make too much noise because the sound carried so easily to the church below.

Baptism in the Jordan River - Take a look at the pictures below....ENOUGH SAID.  It was indescribable!!