Israel Trip Update #3

We had a wonderful and very full day today! We started out on the Mount of Beatitudes with an excellent devotional by Rev. John Walter. Thanks John! ​

Devotional on the Mt. of Beatitudes with Rev. John Walter.

Then it was on to Caesarea Philippi where Rev. Michael Mason shared concerning the words of our Lord, “Upon this rock will I build My church.” Very inspiring Michael! Thanks!

We rode up, up, up into the clouds! We saw the Golan Heights. The last time we were here we were unable to go there because of the unrest. ​

Brian II coming out of a bunker in the Golan Heights! “Whew that last one was close!”

We took a nice boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We visited the “Jesus Boat” which was dug out from the sea area and carefully preserved. 

On the Sea of Galilee

Worship on the Sea of Galilee

The Kings are coming! Two very special people! We are so very glad they are on board - not only at Galilee, but also at New Columbia too! :-)

Austin, Ashlyn, Michelle, LaVere, and Allen Stump-One great family.

Ship Ahoy! 1st mate: F. Stetler, 2nd mate: T. Stetler and 3rd mate: C. Brubaker.

We then had lunch at St. Peter’s Fish restaurant.

Meal at St. Peter's Fish Restaurant

50 great folk! Come to the feast! Fish, Chicken and Kabobs!

Here was mine, his name was Oliver before he met tongue-in-cheek!

“I just don’t want him looking at me while I eat him”!- T. Stetler. Even though we all know lemon burns the eyes!

Capernaum, the town where Jesus lived during His Galilean ministry was another highlight of the day. 

We then went to the Jordan river bank where we had the wonderful experience of baptizing twenty-one people! Twenty were from our group and one was from Brazil! We’ll tell you more about that later.

It was a blessing to hear the testimonies of the candidates faith in the Lord Jesus Christ prior to being baptized in the cold river.

An especially wonderful experience was baptizing my own children, Marie, Brian and Kevin (and my new daughter Phoebe too). It overwhelms me even now to think of it. God is So Very Good!

The others in the group that were baptized today were Joseph Carpenter, Linda Fuller, Roy Hoffman, Jerry & Ellie Hollenbach,  Michael Mason, Justin & Brooke Steen, Brian & Phoebe, Kevin & Marie Spangler, Ashlyn, Austin & Allen Stump, Andy Wagner, Phil & Linda Yoder, and Wesley & Britney Zimmerman.
​

Baptism- Ellie Hollenbach

Baptism- Ellie Hollenbach

Baptism- Linda Fuller

Baptism- Phil Yoder

Baptism- Joe Carpenter

Baptism- Andy Wagner

Baptism- Justin Steen

Baptism- Brittany Zimmerman

Baptism- Allen Stump

Baptism- Michael Mason

Baptism- Zimmerman

Baptism- Wesley Zimmerman

Baptism- Marie Spangler

Baptism-Marie Spangler

Getting ready for baptism.

And it must be that the cold river Jordan makes a person relax... I slept 5 hrs straight last night!

Thanks for all your prayers folks!
​Rev. Spangler

Brittany Zimmerman-A well balanced meal... 5 courses of mashed potatoes! ;-) Enjoy it Sweetie!

Who’s that in the dark shades? Yoder’s, Linda and Cathy - Thanks for joining the crew!

One of our special “Jewels”! - Ashlyn Stump. We are so glad their whole family is here!