Our trip to Israel was postponed three times, canceled, and then reinstated. David and I joked that we wouldn’t believe it until we stepped on Israel soil. It was a dream.

After flying all night, we were ushered through the Tel Aviv airport by a guide. We shuffled through another COVID test and were led to our bus.

Elle, (short for Elijah), talked and told jokes to keep us awake on the drive to our hotel. Tel Aviv is a growing city. I gawked at the architecture, statues, and sculptures. We stopped at many “roundabouts,” each with its statue and flower garden.

I fell for all of Elle’s jokes.

“This is Israel’s national bird.” He pointed to the cranes next to buildings going up.

The hotel in Netanya was upscale and it felt like a weekend get-away. Caesarea Maritima, Tel Megiddo, and Mt. Carmel reminded me of a school field trip. Israel is a history explosion!

At the Sea of Galilee, I started waking up. Jesus preached here.

It was at Capernaum, standing in front of the ruins of the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught, that I came to myself.

David said it best, “Nothing else matters except for believing. That is what life is all about.”

We looked at the remains of Peter’s house where Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. I went back to the bus and filled my notebook with notes. I went over each picture and wrote down what Elle taught us.

At dinner, Elle sat by me. I didn’t say a word. I wanted to learn everything.

I set my alarm for 4 am. In the predawn hours, I pored over the pictures and notes. I wrote down what Elle said, what I felt, the weather, what we ate, and the things that happened.

I was no longer dreaming. I had come to myself.

I understand how Peter felt when the angels freed him from prison. It was too good to be true and yet it was true!

Acts 12:11, “When Peter came to himself…”

New American Standard Bible

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