Arrival in Jerusalem
We crossed the border from Aqaba, Jordan into Eilat, Israel. Jordan and Egypt are the only two Arab countries from which you can pass through into Israel. There are treaties in place but there is no love between them. The ancient hatred is there. We could feel the intense animosity that still exists between Jordan and Israel at the border crossing.
Since we had a four hour wait for a bus in Eilat we decided to dip our toes into the Gulf of Aqaba. It was a twenty minute walk in the blazing hot sun but a lovely resort setting awaited us. This is where the Israelis like to holiday. It is a pricy but a sun soaked retreat and the water is cool and refreshing.
We finally arrived in Jerusalem after a ten-hour day of travel. Our destination in Jerusalem was Christ Church at the Jaffa Gate. Here we found an oasis of peace and Christian affection. In a land surrounded by age-old hatred, this place is the best example of brotherly and sisterly love. Christ Church was just finishing a conference where believers from all over the Middle East who have converted to Christianity from other faiths have gathered together here to encourage one another. There were Christians here from Egypt, Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Armenia, Albania, and Cyprus. These are people groups who historically and presently hate each other. They gathered together in this church to share their mutual love for Jesus and to worship Him. They sang familiar choruses together as one voice in multiple languages, in English, Hebrew, Turkish, Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish and Armenian. When we walked into that church on our arrival night, the presence of Jesus was so powerful in their worship we felt like we had walked through the portals of heaven.
Click the photos below to view them full-size…
Holly on the Bay of Aqaba in Eilat
The Beautiful but Dead Sea
Christ Church In Jerusalem
Bus to Jerusalem Five Hours
Entrance To Christ Church In Jerusalem
Date Tree Farm, the desert blossoms like a garden! (umm, they are delicious!)