Day 10 - Jerusalem

Today, Saturday, the Jewish Sabath, was a free day for us with no planned activity and as Phil said to us, we could sleep for 36 hours if we needed to! That sounded very appealing but somehow the thought that we may not come here again pushed us all to keep going and everyone did something special through the day that made it memorable.

At the start of the day (6 am) a small group went with Phil Mercer into the old city to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the quiet of the morning. It was a moving experience for them especially as the organ music playing for a Mass filled the heights of the Church. 

Unfortunately the day for one group started with a somewhat physical confrontation with a thief on the way to the old city. He was singling out Shelley and despite Jim's warrior like attempts to protect her (she wasn't harmed) Shelley soon after found that her purse had been taken from her bag. Amazingly (definitely of the Lord) Jim approached a policeman in the vicinity a while later and he pulled out Shelley's licence from his car - it had just been found and handed to him. Nothing else was returned but Shelley has been able to cancel her cards & her cash has been replenished. Consequently our group are praying this thief into the kingdom! 

The rest of the day was filled with lovely blessings for each group including walking parts of the walls of Jerusalem from the Jaffa Gate and stopping on them to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Others climbed the Church of the Redeemer Bell Tower, visited Solomon's mines, spent quiet times in the Garden Tomb area, had coffee and streudal at the Austrian Hospice, or lunch at the Christ Church cafe, or coffee at the American Colony Hotel (yes we do like our coffee!!) visited the Western Wall of the  old Temple, shopped and also took time to rest.

It has been a difficult day in Jerusalem with more stabbings near the Damascus gate (our main gate into the old city) with both attackers being killed by the soldiers who are out in force. Wonderfully, some of our group had been through that gate up to 4 times in the day and hadn't witnessed anything. We are very aware of the increased tension in this city and it makes clear to us what a spiritual battlefield Jerusalem is.  We continue to ask the Lord to lead us each day and to give our guide, Usama, and the tour company he represents, wisdom and discernment. 

Be assured dear family and friends, we are all well and safe and in fact the Lord has healed and restored many of us from stomach upsets and migraine. Keep praying for us and for Jerusalem. 

Photos: Sign on the wall of the shop in the Garden Tomb! the Jaffa Gate; road inside the Jaffa Gate; walking the walls; one group on the wall; "He is Risen!" - Jan & Bob coming out of the Garden Tomb.