Day 2 – TJ and the Sea of Galilee

Day 2 – Sea of Galilee

Today was one of the Best days that I’ve ever had. I have done so many things in just one day. I am going to be honest with you all, I wasn’t so thrilled of the idea of writing and journaling my experiences each day, but now I see why it is so important. Without journaling or at least jotting down some things that i saw, I would have never remembered all of the things that I did today. We have done so much in so little time that, to be honest with you, I am still trying to process everything that went on. Well that’s enough pre-talk, so sorry for boring you all. Let’s get down to the action of my first day in Israel.

I woke up this morning and looked outside and everything was even more beautiful than I could imagine. It was better now because, for starters, I could actually see everything now that it wasn’t pitch dark out side, and also I had more energy now and a better mood. There were huge hills dominating my view from outside. I turned around and saw the absolutely stunning Sea of Galilee. Today, We were able to go around some parts around the Sea of Galilee, which Is in the northern part of Israel. We started our trek with Mount of Beatitudes, which is just like it sound it is beautiful. Though I later found out that meant blessings. In fact, the Mount of Beatitudes is where we believe Jesus had delivered his Sermon on the Mount. There, was the Church of the Beatitudes. It had scripture readings all outside of the church, reminding us on our walk of Jesus’s Influential sermons. 

Next, we went to Caesarea Philippi. Now, this place was interesting because it was the was where the pagans, Roman and Greeks, built temples for pagan worship for their gods, such as Baal and Pan. Now during this I was thinking, “Oh how nice, it was like in the Disney film Hercules, where they honored and respected their gods. But boy was I wrong. Compared to real life the movie Hercules was a fuzzy little teddy bare. I’m not really trying to offend anyone but the pagans- Greek and Roman- where just down-right awful. They had morbid sacrifices in a pool of water under a cave to try and please their gods, which is where it is alluded by Jesus was the Gates of Hell. That wasn’t even the worst of it, but that’s  too far I will say no more. This place where the Pagans built their temple is where Jesus and his disciples took a countryside retreat-not a very peaceful place though-and is where Jesus asked the disciples who they thought he was. Simon-Peter answered that Jesus was the “Son of the Living God,” and that is when Jesus gave him his Name Peter- meaning “Rock.”

Though these famous and “Holy places”  were awesome, i just loved seeing the nature and Wildlife. During our first day in Israel, we got to see all kinds of different birds, a lot of cattle and sheep, a bunch of cats and a big old dog. The foods here is amazing, and I’ve challenged my self to try new foods every day, even if they don’t look good. Because i can try American food all i want back home, but i wont be able to try real authentic Mediterranean food everyday.

We went to mount Hermon area up in the north, and it was cold! As we went up mount Hermon it was interesting to see how the climate and temperature changed.But it was still great.

We went to Capernaum which called the town of Jesus.Where Jesus was Healing people and a crippled man was lowered down from a roof top to see Jesus’s miracles and be healed. It also has remains of where Peter’s house was believed to be, and on top of it were the remains of the 3rd century AD Byzantine Church. On the side of the area you were able to walk down to the Sea of Galilee and i was even able to touch the water!

Later we were able to go on a boat ride through the Sea of Galilee. I’ll tell you though, it was windy! But, that was pretty ironic because that’s where the storm was so strong while Jesus and his disciples where on the boat, that they woke him up and asked him to calm the storm.

So we sat on the boat with raging wind beating against us. We sang songs and praises, remembering what happened so long ago on the Sea. But, though the conditions were rough I wasn’t complaining one bit. I got as close as the real experience on Galilee that I will ever get. I loved it and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than where I was at that moment. It was the most wonderful experience that i will never forget.

For now, I can’t wait to go on another whole new adventure. And to think, this was just my First day here!