GREETINGS FROM THE HOLY LAND!
The Fredericksburg 11 have been in Israel for over a week now and we’ve had some wonderful experiences: renewing our baptismal vows in the Jordan River, visiting the Temple Mount where Jesus once taught, battling the crowds at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, standing on the same steps where Jesus once walked, and spending time in Capernaum, Jesus’ home town during his ministry. Whew! It is a profound privilege to be in this place and to have these experiences.
We’re participating in a pilgrimage that’s being offered by St. George’s College in Jerusalem along with 18 other pilgrims. Participants come from Australia, Ireland, Britain, and New Zealand, including people from the Maori community. We’re making friends and learning from each other every day.
The challenge to us will be seeing how these experiences will change us when we return home. Will this faith experience deepen our commitment to serve God’s people? Will we continue to be shaped by the places we’ve been and the things we’ve seen? The constant challenge for us - and for all people who seek to follow Jesus - will be to be faithful to wherever it may be that He wants to lead us. I pray that I will be up to that challenge.
