Kay and Chip pose on the Mount of Olives across the Kidron Valley from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Just over their shoulders between them you are able the see the Dome of the Rock which stands on the site of the first and second Temples.  Remarkably, Kay and Chip just happen to be wearing their Wilson's Garage, Pfafftown shirts!

Sunday morning began with a worship service in the Garden of Gethsemane, looking out over the Temple Mount. Our group members read scripture, shared testimonies and thanksgivings, sang hymns and heard a beautiful solo, "In the Garden," by one of our group members. After our service, we went through the Church of the Nations which sits across the Kidron Valley from the Temple Mount at the base of the Mount of Olives.

This was a beautiful day in Jerusalem, sunny with blue skies and a very pleasant temperature.  Following our service, we took the bus to the top of the Mount of Olives where we had a group photo, and heard our guide, Pilar, expound on the importance of Jerusalem to Jews and Christians.  She taught us about Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, and the Temple-  as we looked down on the site from the Mount of Olives.  It was a glorious and beautiful classroom on the side of the Mount- teacher and disciples.  After the teaching, Kay Lasley and I posed for a photo with the Temple Mount as the backdrop.  Amazingly and without any prior planning, we were both wearing our Wilson's Garage of Pfafftown Embroidered T-Shirts! 

Boarding the bus, we drove up Mount Zion where we paid respect at the Tomb of King David (traditional sight with no remains) and visited an Upper Room.  From there, we walked through the Jewish Quarter and saw the excavated wall of King Hezekiah.

After lunch, we went to the Israel Museum where we examined a topographically correct model of the city of Jerusalem in 66 AD.  After this walking tour "above" the city, we visited the museum containing the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Several times today, we were given the opportunity from different locations to take photos of the Temple Mount and surrounding landscape.  Today, truly Jerusalem was a light upon the hill, and the beauty of the city was awe-inspiring.

Tomorrow, we begin the day at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  It is on the exact location which was identified as the hill of Golgotha when Constantine's mother began her search to identify sites related to Christ's life when Constantine, the Emperor of the Roman Empire converted to Christianity in the early Fourth Century.

Pray for us and know that today we prayed for you!

Chip