On our last day, we went to Mount Arbel and sat on what is called the Cliffs of Arbel. Besides being a beautiful view, we could also get an aerial view of Magdala, Capernaum, and the Mount of Beatitudes, where the Sermon on the Mount is believed to have been given, all of which are along the Sea of Galilee.

I learned that the Sea of Galilee is only 7 miles wide, which is why it makes sense that Jesus and His disciples crossed it so many times in His ministry.

Tsuriel walked through some of the recorded events in the area, such as Jesus walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33) and the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-15).

We were short a couple of people, but this was a majority of us!

We then went to Beit Shean, which is an expansive excavation of a Roman city. Tsuriel told us that it is very rare for it to rain here, however we caught it on one of those rare days.

We tried to explore the area between the intervals of rainfall. Besides being largely intact, this area is also significant in being mentioned in 1 Samuel 31. This is where Saul and his son’s bodies were brought and displayed after being killed in battle.

This is also one of the ten cities included in the Decapolis, which is mentioned as places where Jesus went to and from where people came to Him.

Again, no ice cream for me and my recovering stomach, but Dave kept the daily ice cream trend alive!

It’s wild to know that our time is coming to an end. Despite sickness, it really has been such a special time in this country, with these people, led by two men who I have come to respect and appreciate.

I dared not to hope that I would once again return to Israel, though I desired to, yet here I am! I am not remedied of that desire still, so now I dare to dare to hope! If it can happen once and twice, by golly, it can happen a third time!