Megiddo- Uncovering Ruins Dating back to Solomon

our guide-Yaniv with his handy Israel Map
I found a lap map here, and it helped tremendously

We ate in a beautiful Kibbutz area here at the base of the mountain. There were pomegranate trees, orange trees, and an amazing fragrance from one or more of the lush plantings. All of Israel is on the drip irrigation system which saves 70 percent on their water bill and makes terrific looking flora.

Here we are at Tel Megiddo. A "tel" is an elevated man made mountain, where men over the centuries have built, an area becomes conquered or eroded, and then a new "group" of people build on top of what was there. The Greek name for Megiddo is Armageddon. Excavations have unearthed 26 layers of ruins here-Megiddo is strategically located at the head of the pass overlooking the Jezreel valley from the west.

The area has been excavated three times, and is currently being excavated again. As time has passed, excavation techniques have grown more intricate, and less is being destroyed in the excavation project. There is a city gate entrance, walls, stables, water system, and in 2005 the remains of a church dating back to 3 AD was found a few hundred meters south of the Tel. There was a mosaic found at the church site consecrating the church  "to God, the Jesus Christ".

stone steps we take "up" to the Tel

City Gate

The City-Gate is where the people would have entered. Kings and judges will sit OUTSIDE of the city gate so that access is restricted to foreigners. Many believe Solomon constructed these gates in 10BC

Some of the ruins are "rubble" like because older excavation
techniques were not as good at preservation

I loved the horses someone stuck here. The two stable areas could have
accommodated over 400 horses, and still have the "mangers"
in tact as they were made of a stone

horse trough-Manger

Every place we visit, has some sort of ingenious
water system that has been "dug"-this one was
hidden over 100 feet down, so someone could
"pulley" the water up, but the enemy would not
know about the water source

The Tel of Megiddo is the first of many sites in Israel that are carefully preserved. The excavations have uncovered jewelry, vases, lamps, and more. Well known battles have occurred here starting in the 15th century BC-the last battle was in 1918 between allied troops led by General Edmund Allenby and the defending Ottoman army.  Futuristically, it will be a battle site again according to the book of Revelation.

Herod's Theatre-Our First Amazing Stop

Herod's Theater

Stepping off the bus and into the area where our first "site" was in Israel, transported us from the present day, to a very modern yet ancient Israel. Herod's Theater named after Herod the Great is where we first stop, and where Max Lucado first addresses the entire group of 500. After amazing worship he delivers his message on Jesus' love, and acceptance of the unlovely. 

Max's Message:

Jesus was big about moving IN. He spent so much time with questionable people ...he got accused of being one.

His Facebook page had Zaccheus, Matthew the tax collector, and other vagabonds. Ye shall be witnesses in Jerusalem...and in Samaria-instead of a country club ministry, he created a lighthouse for everyone... 2000 years later, we are sitting here in the area where Cornelius summoned Peter- 

Cornelius was the impassable uncool person-the Gentile-the non Jew-any racial tension you may have experienced, multiply that by 10, and you have the tension that existed between the Jew and the Gentile. To get a feel for the atmosphere that Jesus was born into, Jews could not aid a gentile mother in child birth, Jewish physicians could not attend a non Jewish patient, Jews were to be totally separate and therefore "clean"…UNLESS you were Jesus Christ, and there you see someone begin building bridges to the Gentiles. Jesus, in His goodness, welcomes all. He is touching, and loving the untouchable and unlovable. Come all, is His message. Not one person, based on race, background, job description, will ever be barred from My kingdom. This is not a country club, my welcome sign is out for all people-all mankind.

We are working "backwards" through the land of Israel, starting at Caesarea in the book of Acts, where Peter is summoned by angels because of one man's persistent prayer. It is a turning point for the Christians of the day, because they were mostly Jews, and this is the point where God supernaturally unveils His plan of love and salvation which is to include the entire world.

Acts 10:

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually- And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.  Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,  And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.  And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.  And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.  And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.  Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Awesome. Enveloped in His love. Looking out over the Mediterranean Sea, sitting in a theater where people sat over 2000 years ago….the trip is off to a good start. I have to admit, I only partially got this sermon as I was completely distracted by a beautiful bird singing behind me-more on that later.

As the sermon wraps up, we get background information on the area in which we are sitting. 

description of Herod's Theater

Butterflies, Flowers, Breathtaking Fragrances abound

copies of artifacts found during excavation 

Max getting ready to speak-it's SUPER SUNNY every day

arches-typical Roman era

this is a pool that is still there, despite the Sea's wild beating for  centuries

The old city Caesarea required a steady flow of running water.  Initially its waters came from the local wells. However, as the  population grew to several hundred thousand people, a large scale aqueduct was required to bring the water from a distance.  The aqueduct was built in several phases, starting from King Herod.

About the Theater and the Adjoining Palace Area

The area of Caeserea was previously an independent Jewish state-ruled by the Maccabees- Herod the Great takes over this part of the country between 25 and 13 BC. He names the area in honor of Augustus Caesar. He is an Edomite, he is a Jew, his ancestors converted into Judaism, but he was raised in a Hellenistic way-and learned to admire Greek architecture. He had some ruthless ways, but was considered "great" because of the level of building he accomplished and the peace he was capable of keeping.  He reigned around 40 years and is involved in many of the buildings we will see all over the country of Israel. 

The theatre was just the beginning. As we roamed the area, there were artifacts, and an entire "site" where Herod's castle had been. There is a hippodrome (horse racing area), and an amazing pool that had been surrounded by columns, mosaic tile floors and rooms coming off of the pool area.

 the remains of what had been a gorgeous large pool surrounded by columns

The remains give an idea of just how massive an area the palace occupied. An entry from the east leads into the large courtyard of the place. This courtyard was surrounded on all sides by a roof covered colonnade and was most likely landscaped with trees and bushes. The courtyard was surrounded by rooms, the largest to be seen on the north side. This room was named the Audience Hall-a possible place where Felix met Paul in Acts 24:26. The palace itself is situated on a promontory into the Mediterranean Sea. 

Unrelated to Herod,the Pilate Stone was found here in 1961, an important archaeological find with a partial inscription mentioning Pontius Pilate-a prefect of the Roman controlled province of Judae from 26-36 AD-the only other place Pontius Pilate is mentioned is in the New Testament, as he was the one who sentenced Jesus to death. This was his palace as it had been Herod's, and he travelled to Jerusalem as deemed necessary-)

Pilate Stone-this is a copy. the original is in the Israeli Museum

And so, began our journey.How to condense each site into a bite-sized capsule? This is the first two hours of an 8 day incredible journey, yet, I feel I must capture some of what we experienced and put it into paper before it leaves the forefront of my mind.

….these are a few things we took that HELPED A LOT!

"live" map on the back of airline seat

So…we are back. My goal in this blog to is to share all, but before I can share all about the most amazing trip in the world, I feel like I would be remiss not to share some of the "gear" we took with us that helped make the trip even more spectacular than it already was. 

Prior to going, I read a few articles on traveling abroad and some items to take with you to Israel-some of the items mentioned were washrags, toilet paper, and a hat. Many things mentioned did not come with much explanation, and when someone mentions "bring your own toilet paper", my eyebrow goes up. Had I less responsibility in my life, I could have made a micro blog called "toilets across the Holy Land", as the toilet areas were so varied and so different from one stop to the next, that the rest areas could have had their own documentary section. That being said, bring your own toilet paper. In my case, I just brought several "travel tissues". Every stop, the guide will talk about the toilet areas, which is what makes this topic so funny. MANY of the areas do not have a hand drier or way to dry your hands-and just a few did not have toilet paper. A few of them also charged to use the toilet (50 cents a pop-mainly at the Catholic sites) and although I tried to wrangle a second toilet visit after having paid once, the nun insisted I pay a second time, so no two-for-one deals on the toilets. 

-travel kleenex

Many of the holy sites recommend that you wear a head covering, as well as cover your knees and shoulders. The tour would let us know if it was a "modesty" day. For some reason, I was nervous about this requirement, and I should not have been. First of all, the one item I took but did not wear were my tank tops. It is so sunny and the sun is so penetrating, that you tend to want to cover your skin for protection. Our guide wore long sleeves and long pants every day-even when it was in the nineties, and he recommended that we do the same. Mark and I bought some wash and wear clothing prior to going, and that included some really lightweight hiking pants as well as lightweight skirts. I truly could have taken those hiking pants in three colors, one skirt, and that would have been IT for my bottoms. The pants were fabulous as they protected my legs from the sun, let the wind through, and I could roll them up and make them capri pants when we waded in a few water areas. At night, I washed them in the sink and hung them on the clothesline (there was one in all three hotels we stayed). Although the skirts are comfy, I wore leggings under them when I wore them just for an extra layer of protection, and one black skirt would have sufficed.

-wash and wear clothing 

For the head covering, I took a few Buffs. If you have seen the "Survivor" show, you are familiar with the head Buff. I bumped into one on sale here in San Antonio at Whole Earth Provision-a fabulous outdoor store in the Quarry. It was Merino wool, and I wore its every day from the day I bought it until the day we left. One of the kids finally asked if I was ever taking it off, but the temperature has been unusually cool, and having a small layer of merino wool on my head was just enough to keep me warm. I wore it as a headband, around my neck as a scarf, dew rag, and handkerchief. After purchasing that one, I bought a few more of the UV Buffs in cute colors, and they made my outfits look a little different, as well as protected my head, as well as kept me a little warmer in the mornings, as well as made a great head covering at the modesty sites. Also, I brought visors, but you may want to look into a hat that covers your neck as well, because your neck will get burned and blister the first day of the trip if you do not use sunscreen and cover.

-BUFF (optional)

-Hat a MUST MUST MUST

-Sunglasses MUST

-Sunscreen MUST

-swimsuit for Dead Sea and Hezekiah's tunnel-

We were so glad we did not pack our suitcases full. There were several women who bought suitcases and brought them back with them full of souvenirs. I had heard that it's best to try and pack half your suitcase, and leave space for when you come back. I packed a bag full of snacks-which was VERY helpful. You get hungry throughout the day (and thirsty), and having granola bars, power bars, nuts, and snacks is very helpful. I also packed a few pieces of peppermint gum and lollipops. Those items we consumed, so they did not come back with us. We actually DID wash our clothes, so the wash and wear items helped tremendously because they were dry in hours. 

-pack light, take snacks

-we took tiny bears of honey for "energy shots", helped tremendously

Another item we took  (Mark packed his, I took mine as my carry-on) was a CamelBak hydration pack. Every morning, I haunted the hotel kitchen and filled our CamelBaks with ice and 100 ounces of water. The CamelBak comes in many shapes and sizes, so it's smart to go to a local store first so you can check them out. Some of the styles look smaller online, and when you get them, they are too big. I ended up with the L.U.X.E. and Mark got the M.U.L.E. We loved the size of the pack itself and wanted the full three liters of water. Many many people on the trip got/felt sick from dehydration. The tour did NOT provide free bottles of water, they charged $1 a bottle and 6 bottles minimum per day was the suggestion (per person), which they sold on the bus. Every tour is different, but this was how ours was set up, and I felt I drank MUCH more with my CamelBak than I would have with bottles. Every time the guide announced that a good bathroom was coming up, I would drink and drink and drink before that stop. The area is actually a desert, and you are not sweating, so you don't realize you are getting dehydrated, while all the time you are losing water.

-CamelBak-a VERY nice piece of equipment for this particular trip

Helpful hints for the airplane ride. 

We actually got to fly first class which was a huge blessing, but there are still things that made the airplane ride in general more tolerable. One woman I met went an extra day early. This helped her tremendously in adjusting to the time change, etc. Great idea. WE have kids and that was not really an option for us….we DID however, book our flights through a travel agent, paying for the tour at a lower adjusted cost. This may have been a really good idea, hearing some of the others' nightmare flight schedules, as we got to talk about our times, etc. and know exactly what layovers we had ahead of us. 

Our main leg (the 13 hour flight), going and coming back started at 11PM. This was tremendous, as both times we were so tired, that it did not matter what the local time was, we were ready to sleep. If we were not flying first class, and could not lie down, I may have planned differently, but for us, this was a great flight schedule. Your own travel pillow-VERY helpful. Even the kind from Target that wrap around your neck are better than an airplane pillow. Bring a tiny bag of toothpaste, etc. to be able to brush your teeth. ALWAYS bring washrags. Target has a 6 pack of the thinnest terry cloth are the very thin washrag from Target in the baby section. They dry quickly, and are perfect for wiping stickiness off of something that spilled in the bag, running under hot water for a hot towel, to use at the hotel when there are no washrags…etc. Put up to three in separate "snack" ziploc bags for the many uses, and you will be happy you did. In first class, they gave us a hot towel, but I was ready if they had not. BTW, I carry these little rags all the time. Sunday morning, I would not be caught without a little wet rag in a baggy for those times that one of the kids snuck chocolate and its' on them, the car, the dress…etc.

Another blessing that we got was some Bose Noise canceling headphones. O.K. So, I did not see the big deal with these until I put them in my ears and turned them on in the airplane. LOVED. Wanted to his the person who gave these to us. They completely blocked out all noise around us, further enabling us to get a full 8 hours sleep. When our hotel room was next to the elevator, we used them again. We did not love having something in our ears, but the noise canceling part was well worth the slight discomfort of sleeping with something in your ears. Those are expensive, so at the least, bring earplugs and an eye mask. I kept my eye mask in my pillow and both were highly useful.

-headphones, noise cancelling or otherwise

-eyemask to block light (the BUFF works great for this)

-earplugs

-washrags or wipes

-pillow (neck pillow is good)

One last thing that we took and used every day, was a light jacket. You have spent a lot of money, so if you don't have one of these, go to TJ MAXX or somewhere and get a lightweight rain jacket. It never did rain, but in extra sunny places, where we sat to listen to messages, or in the colder mornings, we wore our jackets.

-lightweight jacket

Hopefully, these tips on gear are helpful. I could not find a compilation of tips like this before we went, but it would have helped a lot. If anyone from the trip can think of anything else, email me and I will add to the list.

God's Wink

Unfettered by time, and completely desirous in His love and perfection to touch the human heart, He does. We would think that God is so busy with the "important" items of the day, that He doesn't wink-but I know for a fact that He does. He winks at everyone on the face of the earth, but many hearts have hardened, or closed, or cooled from years of stress and fear. But it's never too late to look up, and expect a wink.

Overwhelmingly tired from all of the packing and preparation for this trip, as well as pinched for space in my  mind and in my carry on, I failed to think about eating or going to the bathroom before boarding this flight.  Now that my head is a little clearer, and the plane is moving, I realize I have to go, and it can't wait much longer, however, once ON the airline, it is usually time to wait.  

The flight attendant not only gives her normal seatblet speech, but she's added another item to her speech, something about a flotation device, and I look up just in time to see her donning it and giving a special instruction...hmm, I'm thinking, maybe it was a United Airline that flew into the Hudson?? 

Finally, yes, she's finished with her demonstration, and now we need to wait some more as the airplane climbs...and climbs....and climbs. How many feet must we climb before the seatblet sign is realzed, I'm not sure, but finally, we have arrived at that magic number, whatever the magic number is, and I stand up to go to the restroom , when another woman, three rows ahead of me, snags her chance.  This happens twice more, and when I finallly get my chance, I try to play it cool, inside my mind, however, I'm RUNNING to the bathroom-and I make it.

When I sit down, He winks at me.

I'm not sure who picks the handsoap for United, but what a cool wink. As I'm sitting on the John, I am once again overwhelmed by His love. Now, this may not be a God moment for most, but as I sat there in the 2' x 2' area, I am face to face with GRACE-His unmerited favor, overwhelming undeserved love and beauty, His goodness, and His personal, hand guided touch as Mark and I begin this journey  to Israel. 

Don't Leave Home Without THIS

There's a LLLOOOONNNNNGGG slippery line between having a GREAT time, and having a miserable time on any trip that you may take. That long line is made up of both the small and long intestine and totals about 28 feet of neatly wrapped preciousness within the gut. We eat relatively healthy and drink lots of kombucha, etc. when at home, so it only takes a couple of "strange" meals to set my stomach in the wrong direction. If I don't have this particular item with me on any given trip, I find myself desperately taking a pedicab (Alaska), jogging, tram, biking, or hiking to the nearest Whole Foods or local vitamin store. Since the odds are good that Whole Foods will not be down the street in Jerusalem, I packed a very large amount of these darling black nuggets in my luggage.

Hopefully, I will not need them before we get there, as people en masse give me a blank stare when I inquire about whether they have any on hand. It's only my favorite travel vitamin on the face of the earth.  It's black, it's bold, and it's fabulous.....drumroll please.....Activated Charcoal, please step forward. 

To help your brain out, activated charcoal is what is used in the Brita water filter system. They have taken an amazing substance and "packaged" it so that you enjoy fresh water. What the charcoal does is bind itself to foreign particles in the water, making it cleaner. The main "foreign" substance in city water is chlorine. If you don't want chlorine, stick a tube of activated charcoal down in the water and it will do its' magic.

When you swallow activated charcoal in pill form, it does the same thing within your intestines. It will bind itself to any sort of bug, foreign particle, and even gas. People who have noxious gas problems regardless of what they eat, benefit greatly from the magic of activated charcoal. No amount is too much, either. I had a bout of stomach problem after one of my pregnancies, and it was as if my stomach/gut had simply gotten out of balance and no matter what I did, nothing seemed to help. About 3 weeks into this craze, I remembered "something" I had heard about Activated Charcoal
 and gave it a try. I took 12 pills to start, and within an hour, my stomach was much better, and by the next day, I was a normal human again..

Aaahhh-to feel like a normal human-sometimes travelling does a "number" on our humanness, and having a little "D" aid is just the ticket to a great trip.

*****I am SO THANKFUL we took this! mark got food poisoning and had to have the tour bus pulled over so he could arf on Megiddo-when we finally made it back to the hotel, he threw up again, then slept for 12 hours straight, when he woke up, he started taking the charcoal, and was able to tour that day-he said the charcoal was a lifesaver**************

Global Entry -What is It

When I got my passport updated in September, there was a little bookmark that came with my new passport. It said "sign up for Global Entry for expedited entry and shorter wait times." I saved the bookmark, but did not think about it again until months later when we decided we were going to Israel for sure.

I asked Mark about it and if it was important, he did not know, but then he was at a meeting the next week where the head of the Global Entry department for our city was speaking. She emphasized that it WAS important if you would like a hassle free airport/customs experience while travelling.

We went online ( https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/main/goes ) and signed up. This process takes about 20 minutes and then we waited for an email confirmation that our form had been processed. I believe the fee was $100. After the email confirmation, we called the local Global Entry office (which is at the International Airport here), and scheduled an appointment. Do not wait to do this as scheduling can be up to two months backlogged.

We parked at the airport and went to our appointment, where a police officer interviewed us, took our fingerprints, and asked a few more questions about whether we had a criminal record...etc. They take you photo and your Global Entry ID is good for five years, so doll yourself up a bit (or not).

About two weeks AFTER the appointment, we just received some official looking cards with the RFID card protective sleeve so that some thief with the RFID technology at the airport can't steal our new GE card.  Once you get the card, you have to get online and verify that you received it, or it's worth nothing in 30 days, so open the envelope.

The reason I almost did not open the envelope is the police officer told us we would not need to carry the card with us unless we were coming back from Mexico or Canada. If you are travelling to another country, then you give your Global Entry NUMBER to the travel agent, or airline, and they put that number on all of your reservation information. You can be a card carrier, but if you do not have that number on your boarding passes, it means nothing, and the card does you no good.

Whew. This sounds like a LOT of work....but it also sounds like it really pays off. Basically, what one has done when purchasing the global entry number is one has purchased a FASTPASS for travelling. Not only will it be faster when you go abroad, but when you travel domestically, there is apparently a Global Entry TSA line that has three people in it and no line.

When travelling abroad, one is supposed to get to the aiport two hours in advance for the "extra" screening, but the Global Entry ensures no lines, no screening, just as if you were taking a domestic flight. Pretty Sweet.