A Worthwhile Pilgrimage

All the 33 of us returned safely on 11 Dec. The Lord had helped me 'endured' the pilgrimage physically. My body was in 'discomfort mode' throughout the journey from Doha/Cairo/Sinai/Israel/Jordan back to Spore - jet lag, dehydration, constipation, pain on skull n neck even under umbrella n cap (my body seems to absorb heat quickly), diarrhea, heat rashes on the body in spite Cold Cream(i have atopic skin - humidity is good for me), by the time i 'found' Jerusalem, i was 'dumbfounded' (lost my voice that day).

I experienced 3 spiritual encounters during the journey. The first encounter was when my hand touched the Western Wall in Jerusalem. I felt as if my heart met with God's. I brought no petition to Him except to tell Him i love Him and thank Him for extending His love to me. The second encounter was a very heavy heart as i walked up and down the flight of stone steps Jesus took during His last days on earth. I could as if experienced His mixed emotions as He was confronted with life & death issues unique to His calling. The most intimate encounter i shared with Christ was when He ministered to my inner being on the Sea of Galilee. His words of comfort in Aramic moved me to tears.

It's a worthwhile trip on the whole altho' i didn't venture to climb Mt Sinai. The Bible now comes alive and has a familiar feel to it after having seen the places. Yes, Jesus is alive and real to those who are spiritually alive to Him. Praise God for sustaining the 33 of us. My walking shoes decided to stay back in Israel... I crossed the border from Israel to Jordan (& on to Mt Nebo) on slippers bought on impulse/divine directive at Jericho! God saw to it that i didn't return bare-footed! I am glad to be back in Oasis Spore and the humidity that i need. :)

Shalom to you n loved ones this Christmas and in the new year!

A Spiritual Pilgrimage

A Spiritual Pilgrimage to the Holy Land plus Cairo, Mt Sinai & Mt Nebo
29 Nov – 11 Dec 2008

QUEENSTOWN BAPTIST CHURCH
Tour Leader: Rev. Richard Loh

DAY 01: 29 Nov 2008, SATURDAY
Singapore-Cairo (via Doha) on Qatar Airlines
Flight Details:
QR 639 Singapore/Doha Dep 0205hrs Arr 0530hrs
QR 514 Doha/Cairo 1320hrs 1605hrs
Arrive at CAIRO AIRPORT. Meet & assist. Transfer to GRAND PYRAMIDS HOTEL or similar in CAIRO for check in, dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 02: 30 Nov 2008, SUNDAY
Full Day Cairo Tour
Breakfast at hotel. Will have FULL DAY TOUR in CAIRO for sites like the PYRAMIDS / SPHINX then to PERFUMERY. In the afternoon, visit OLD CAIRO for HANGING CHURCH & CITADEL. Thereafter, visit the EGYPTIAN MUSEUM and the KHAN EL KHALILI BAZAAR. Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 03: 01 Dec 2008, MONDAY
Depart Cairo for Sinai
Leave CAIRO CITY early morning and drive to SINAI, passing by SUEZ CANAL and MOSES SPRING. Visit the ST. CATHERINE MONASTERY and see the burning bush before going for lunch. Thereafter, climb MT. SINAI, and check in at SINO PLAZA HOTEL or similar for dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 04: 02 Dec 2008, TUESDAY
Depart Sinai for Taba Border Crossing- Dead Sea
Breakfast at hotel prior to check out. Drive to TABA BORDER for crossing into ISRAEL. Meet & assist by Israel guide. Lunch in a nice Asian Fusion restaurant in Eilat before driving to the DEAD SEA. Check in at MORIAH CLASSIC (previously known as the NOVOTEL THALASSA HOTEL) or similar at the DEAD SEA. Leisure time at the Dead Sea: enjoy “floating” in the Dead Sea and try different Spa programs available. Dinner & overnight.

DAY 05: 03 Dec 2008 WEDNESDAY
Dead Sea-Qumran-Masada – Jericho - Jerusalem
Breakfast and check out at the hotel. Start with MASSADA (take a cable car). Then to QUMRAN CAVES. Continue on to JERICHO. Continue to BEIN SHEAN. Then proceed to Jerusalem. Check in at GRAND COURT HOTEL in Jerusalem or similar for dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 06: 04 Dec 2008, THURSDAY
Jerusalem-Old City
Breakfast at the hotel. Start the day with a visit to MT. SCOPUS for a panoramic view of the city. Drive to BETHANY (Lazarus Tomb). Continue to MT. OF OLIVES: DOMINUS FLAVIT, ASCENSION CHAPEL, PATERNOSTER CHURCH, GETHSEMANE GARDENS, BASILICA OF AGONY. Then continue with the walking tour in the OLD CITY: POOLS OF BETHESDA, VIA DOLOROSA, HOLY SEPULCHER CHURCH. WESTERN WALL (entry to Western Wall Tunnel), TEMPLE MOUNT with Dome of the Rock. Return to hotel for dinner & overnight.

DAY 07: 05 Dec 2008 FRIDAY
Jerusalem-Bethlehem
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to BETHLEHEM for NATIVITY CHURCH & SHEPHERD’S FIELDS. Continue to the MT. ZION, visiting ST. PETER IN GALICANTU CHURCH, LAST SUPPER ROOM, KING DAVID’s TOMB, DORMITION ABBEY. Drive via Knesset & Menorah to ISRAEL MUSEUM to see Shrine of the Book with Dead Sea Scrolls and Holyland Model. Dinner at “Genesis” – a night out re-enacting the time of Abraham (plus camel ride). Return to hotel for overnight.

DAY 08: 06 Dec 2008 SATURDAY
Jerusalem (New City)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit YAD VASHEM HOLOCAUST MUSEUM. Visit Yad Hashmona Biblical Gardens. After lunch visit GOLGOTHA and the GARDEN TOMB for Communion service. Return to hotel for dinner & overnight.

DAY 09: 07 Dec 2008 SUNDAY
Jerusalem – Jaffa – Caesarea – Mt Carmel – Megiddo – Mt Tabor - Nazareth
Very early breakfast and check out at hotel. Drive along the scenic coastal road via Jaffa, and Caesarea (Visit the ancient city, amphitheater and the Aqueduct) to MT. CARMEL, MUHRAKA. Lunch and continue to MEGIDDO (Armageddon) and Mt Tabor. Thereafter, we make our way to Nazareth and check in at GOLDEN CROWN HOTEL or similar for dinner & overnight.

DAY 10: 08 Dec 2008 MONDAY
Nazareth-Cana-Upper Galilee-Tiberius
Breakfast and check out at hotel. Tour NAZARETH visiting Annunciation Church & Mary’s Well. Continue to CANA. Continue on to UPPER GALILEE: BANIAS and DAN SPRINGS, Nimrod Castle, MT. BENTAL. Proceed to TIBERIUS. Check in at GAI BEACH Hotel. Dinner & overnight at the hotel.

DAY 11: 09 Dec 2008 TUESDAY
Tiberius-Ginosar-Capernaum-Tabgha-Mt. of Beatitudes
Breakfast at hotel. Take a BOAT RIDE at the Sea of Galilee. Visit YIGAL ALLON CENTER (BOAT AT GINOSAUR), CAPERNAUM, TABGHA, MT. OF BEATITUDES. Visit YARDENIT Baptismal Site at Jordan River. Dinner & overnight at the hotel.

DAY 12: 10 Dec 2008 WEDNESDAY
Tiberias - Mt Nebo - Amman Airport
Breakfast, Then cross the SHEIKH HUSSEIN Bridge to Jordan. Visit Mt Nebo (time permitting) before going to Amman Airport to catch flight home
Flight Details:
QR401 Amman/Doha Dep 1700hrs Arr 2030hrs
QR638 Doha/Singapore 0150hrs 1435hrs

DAY 13: 11 Dec 2008 THURSDAY
Home sweet home…