Our Youth Venture Group arrived into Tel Aviv on Wednesday July 9 at 5:30 in the evening.When we first arrived to Israel I was shocked at how modern it was here. It was nothing like I was expecting. A few of the team members who have never left the U.S.A were facing a bit of culture shock.

  On our drive from the airport into Nazareth, Dave pointed out Mount Precipes to us. It was really funny, because our van driver tried to tell us that Mount Precipes was the mountain that Jesus jumped off and lived. Dave tried to explain to him that in the Bible it says that the jews wanted to throw him off the cliff, but instead he turned around and walked through the crowds.

  Once we arrived to Nazareth we all got settled into our Inn and then went out for Schwarma. It was fairly good! By the time we were done with supper we went to bed early since we were all suffering from jet leg.

  On thursday we all slept in, had a late breakfast and Dave shared devotions with us. We went out on a walking tour of the old village of Nazareth. It was a recreation of Jesus’ hometown as to what it was like when he was growing up.

  A few of us girls went out shopping to the market where we bought ourselves fancy scarves to wear over our heads while touring throughout the mosques.

  On friday we spent the day touring churches and hiking. Each church had a specific purpose. We visited Mount of the Beattitudes where Jesus preached  and we read sermon on the mount. (Matthew 5) It was terribly hot that day. We were all hot and tired, but we were able to cool off in the sea of Galilee, which was really refreshing. After our swim we hiked part of the Jesus trail. It was amazing, because we were able to see all the way to Syria and Lebanon.

  It was hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that we walked where Jesus walked. I found it to be a calm and peaceful feeling while I sat and reflected.

-Kristin Friesen