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| Jerusalem, looking exactly as I had pictured |
I can't adequately express how grateful I am that I got to go to Jerusalem for a day. It was all so beautiful, and there was so much to see. I saw a lot for being there for only one day: The Western Wall, the Via Dolorosa, the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, steps and steps of markets, and we found a great place to eat lunch.
I call it beautiful because that is what I kept thinking the whole time I was there. I couldn't figure out why I found it to be so beautiful, until I read something that my friend Wendy put in her post regarding her trip there: "We had been in our spiritual home and fell in love with it." Yes, that was me, too, and I only had one day there.
Did you know that we're commanded to pray for Jerusalem?
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.” (Psalm 122:6, 7)
People have been asking me if I felt safe while I was there. The answer is yes and no. I believe that I mentioned that I was put in a car that was being driven by an Army Major who had taken hands-on antiterrorist defensive driving. That certainly made feel safe. But at one point while we were walking the Road to the Cross, two Arabic-speaking men got in a fight, and the walkway was so narrow that we couldn't get around them safely. It feels like it took 20 minutes, but maybe it was shorter. At that time, I did not feel safe. While I was at the Western Wall, I felt keenly aware that there was a risk of an incident, but at the same time, I felt like I was supposed to visit it, so whatever happened would be okay.
I do hope to return. I may not go to the Western Wall again, but I would certainly like to go to Jerusalem again. We shall see.
I missed David and the kids something awful. As thankful as I am for the opportunity, if I really had my way, I would find a job that doesn't require work-related travel. But it has not been so. That doesn't matter too much at this point because I am thankful for the job security that I have with the government. At least for now, I feel like I am in the place I am supposed to be. And I thank God because I know that my peace comes from Him.
The photos are in no particular order, and are not nearly all that I have to share. I think I'm going to have to create a link and share that later.
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| Inside the Church of the Flagellation |
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| Ceiling at the Church of the Flagellation |
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| Description at the Church of the Flagellation |
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| City Wall |
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| City Wall |
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| Inside Jerusalem |
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| Inside Jerusalem |
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| Inside Jersualem |
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| Inside Jerusalem: Old Roman Columns |
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| When I asked the salesman if I could take pictures in his store, he said, "Of course. Of course! Like it's your home." |
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| So I did. |
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| At the Church of St Peter in Gallicantu |
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| Outside the City Wall |
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| Description at Gallicanu |
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| Prison floor, or "Sacred Pit", possibly where Jesus and Peter were held (at different times). This is letter A above. |
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| Church of St Peter in Gallicantu |
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| Jesus likely walked on these steps. Even if this isn't actually Caiaphas' house, he probably walked these steps at least once. |
