Olivia looks on with quiet amazement..

Benjamin Judah too!!

Joshua river takes his turn!!

Sister Stacey holds the new baby, while her "Big sister" Stephanie cares for her every need!!

A very proud Pastor holds the newest member of his Congregation, What a joy to know that there are 3 more babies due this month!!

Aliyah Hadassah Currie born Yesterday,March 28, 2005

Time to read the "Megillah" (The book of Esther"

Joshua, Benjamin and Kiley

Zion Grace Tebo and Olivia Zion Shelley

Our "Young Men"

Our "Little Ladies"

Most of the"Gang", We are all so blessed !!

Benjamin as "Moses", Olivia as "Queen of Shabbat" and Joshua as "Joshua" at our purim party this past weekend

Check out the nuts and dried fruit... 

So colorful and the prices are good too!! 

The smelly part of the Shuk 

We had a wonderful visit with Sister Oralee, Yesterday in the old city, She has just had her 97 birthday and she loves Yeshua sooo much!! 

Olivia loves Shwarma (On a bun) in East Jerusalem 

Olivia and Sister Felicia, She was so sweet to the kids and they had a good time playing with her....She got lots of hugs!!! 

Sister Paracleta comes for a visit,The boys love her so much !!! 

Olivia "Clowning" on Sunday 

We so enjoyed having Pastor Fred and Sister Vera Lee and their sweet children in our services today. We have known the Lee family for a little over 2 years. They are a Chinese speaking family from Taiwan, Pray for them, They have a vision to reach the Chinese speaking workers in Israel.  

A view of Hadassah hospital, Ein Karem, from Satif, This is where Joshua got "sewed" (stiches)  

Our brave soldier, Joshua, He's still smiling!!!  

The second natural spring that waters the crops 

My Stacey 

Olivia and Sister Nancy enjoy the stroll  

The first spring flows into this cistern and then into stone ditches down to each level of the terraces 

One of the two springs that have been used to irrigate the crops grown on this mountain for thousands of years 

These terraces are used in Israel for farming because flat ground is rare 

Grape vines 

Corn too !!! 

Crops are growing here again 

Another View near Sataf, The Jewish National Fund has restored farming to these ancient terraces, it is so special to see 

These are ancient terraces used for farming since 4000 BCE.This area is called Sataf 

The first Jewish neighborhood outside the Old City, Yemin Moshe, We stayed in this neighborhood on our trip in 2002 

An expensive neighborhood just outside the Old City, called David's Village 

Look at these ancient walls, what a stroll 

David's Citadel (Tower) although not from the time of King David 

I took this picture of Jaffa Gate as I was walking out of the Old City to meet the van 

Soldiers in front of Zion Gate 

Overlooking a spot near my favorite fallafel stand, the Roman Cardo street below 

Stones on the walls, Stones on the streets 

More charm from my favorite city 

A sign welcoming you to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City 

The shops at the cardo, where Udi our artist friend, has his gallery 

A street just above the Cardo 

Sharing with you the charm of the Old City, From my morning walk 

Olivia cooks supper 

Joshua gets a float 

Having a little float in the Dead Sea 

The "Seat of Moses" 

A close up of the front area 

Looking toward the "Bema", the "Holy Ark" and the "seat of Moses" 

Another View 

Inside the Synangogue 

A view of the ruins and looking toward the oasis 

There is an Ancient Synangogue in the oasis at En Gedi 

My Sweetheart and I 

So beautiful to me 

The waterfall of David 

A path cut right through the reeds 

Benjamin explores 

It looks like a paradise 

A Scenic View 

Forgive me , Here is another one 

We like to pose for pictures 

It is a little cold at first!! 

Our little wounded boy, his teeth may not be the same, but the smile is still there 

It is amzing to see these springs and the oasis that they feed right in the middle of the desert and just above the Dead sea 

This one came and laid right down near us  

We prayed so hard to see an Ibex and it semed that God just brought them right down to us!! 

Another View 

Hyrax at En Gedi Yesterday 

Joshua Too !!!! 

My Little "Jewish" boy, Benjamin has decided that since My Great-grandparents were most likely Jewish Immigrants from Lithuania, He is probably Jewish too !!! 

The Garlic is braided for hanging......You don't see this at Wal Mart 

At the Shuk, the Jewish market, I love it...The colors, The noise, The smells, The tastes, the pushing and shoving....I love it all!!! 

This is one way to carry it  

Baking Pita on Monday at the Shuk, We bought 30 for 12 Shekels
(@$ 2.75) They were hot and we started eating them right away.
Jewish pita is so much fluffier than the rest...

On the Old Roman road (Cardo) 

My Boys at "The Wall" 

Soldiers pray Too 

The Kotel (Western Wall) 

Little children playing in the Streets of the Jewish Quater of the Old City 

In the Old City on Sunday afternoon 

Sister Linda, Olivia and Sister Felicia after service last Shabbat 

"Steak on a Stone" at the Seven Arches Hotel on the Mount of Olives, last Friday 

Olivia like the Birds 

I just simply cannot walk anymore 

Roo Too!!! 

Kanga and Roo !!! 

Beautiful deer from the little zoo 

Hamat Gader is a beautiful place in the Galilee.There are ancient natural hot springs, a crocodile farm, small zoo and petting farm.It was great!!!  

Daddy's drink is always better than mine 

It was really cold up on Mt. Bental 

Looking out toward Damascus,Syria 

On Mt. Bental in the Golan Heights last week. The Golan is full of mountains created from ancient volcanic activity.This is a former Syrian outpost and bunker.These high places won in the war are very important for security against Lebanon and Syria. 

Looking toward the Israelite citadel and a pagan cultic high-place from the period of the Judges (11th Century BCE) 

Remains of an Israelite citadel, built in the 9th Century BCE, in the days of King Ahab and destroyed by Tiglath Pileser III in 732 BCE  

The "Pillared building", A public storehouse from the 8th century BCE  

Steps leading down into a water system built during the reign of King Ahab, intended to supply fresh water to the inhabitants within the city walls 

Standing with Benjamin at the Gate of the city from the time of King Solomon, He rebuilt the city after it was destroyed (1 Kings 9:15) 

Ruins of a four-roomed house and a Olive oil press from the 8th century BCE 

It was actually Joshua who captured the city from the Canaanites and burned it (Joshua 11:1-11) Evidence of the burning of the city have been found in several locations in the Tel  

Entrance to the ancient Canaanite temple 

Shows the ancient history of the city, there are actually 21 different settlements represented here. 

Ruins at Tel Hazor, originally a Canaanite city, first mentioned in the 19th century BCE in Egyptian texts

A sign at Tel Hazor 

Marybeth explores the ruins, Eusebius says that in his time Chorazin has been destroyed by an earthquake and lies in ruins, It was rebuilt later, but this was a fulfillment of the words of Yeshua in Matthew 11:21 and in Luke 10:13 and that fact is mentioned on a sign among the ruins.... 

There is water inside this ancient Mikvah (a Jewish ritual bath) it must be fed by a spring...I have never seen water in any of the other old Mikahs that I have seen in Isael 

More of the stone beams that are used for the roofing, These are very heavy!! 

A portion of the roof has been restored to help us get the concept of using stone beams for roofs 

Inside the dwelling arches are used to support the stone roof 

An ancient dwelling, the stones above the line have been restored into place 

Brotherly Love.......sometimes.... 

The basin into which the fresh olive oil would drain 

The site of an ancient olive press 

Benjamin enjoys tree climbing in Chorazim 

I just could not resist!!! 

The Seat of Moses that was found in the Synagogue as mentioned in Matthew 23:2-3, I will be preaching soon after I return concerning this and also the Hebrew version of the book of Matthew 

Joshua River takes it all in 

Standing in front of the beautiful mantle that once decorated the entrance of the Synagogue 

In front of the ancient Synagogue in Chorazim

Looking toward the ancient Synangogue in Chorazim 

City courtyard  

Closer shot of Chorazim 

A distant view of the ancient Biblical city of Chorazim 

Supper on Wednesday night, on the Sea of Galilee, Saint Peter's fish (Talapia) It was delicious, Benjamin and Joshua split a whole fish!! 

One of the many niches for idols that have survived the ages

It is also believed that it was in this area that Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood, Mark 5:25, Luke 8:43  

An artistic rendering of what the area would have looked like during the time of Jesus, it was in this place among all of this pagan worship, that Jesus asked his disciples one day....Whom do men say that I the son of man am? Read Matthew 16:13-20
 

In front of the cave, at one time a temple dedicated to the god pan was in front of this cave, Herod had also built a temple here,dedicated to his patron,the Roman Emperor Augustus 

A look toward the "Cave of pan" 

Posing by the spring 

Hermon springs at Banias 

An Overview of Banias (Caesarea Phillipi) 

Having fun, We are numb now !! 

Olivia and Sister Nancy watch from the bridge  

Marybeth wades right in !!!! 

Benjamin reacts to the frigid water 

We enjoyed the beautiful wading pool at Tel Dan, this spring is fed from the melted snow on Mount Hermon, and it was cold !!!! 

During this time God had only chosen one place to put His Name in Jerusalem, not here in Dan 

1 Kings 12:28-29 

A Sign at Jeroboam's false Temple site 

As close as you can get, Wow what a thought to think that Abram may have walked through this very gate, on His search for Lot 

Detailed view of the ancient mud bricks, and an example of their restoration 

A closer look at Abraham's gate, Read Genesis 14:11-16 

Restoration work being done on the very ancient gate, believed by many to date back to the time of Abraham  

Ancient seat or podium the gate of Dan for the King or a very important person in the city, as in 2nd Samuel 19:9

View from inside the Israelite period gate 

Ancient gate of Dan, this was the Biblical city of Laish (Leshem) until it was conquered by the Tribe of Dan (Judges 18:29) This Israelite gate is from the time of King Ahab 

The Headwaters of the Jordan at Tel Dan 

Over the Lake 

The Shelley Kids enjoy the view 

An observation tower looking out over the valley 

Olivia loves her freedom!! 

A long walk way over the Hula lake, it is designed for bird watching, many birds visit here on their way to someplace else..  

Close up of the catfish, When the word got out that we were feeding them crackers, there were about 40 that showed up for a snack 

Feeding the Unkosher catfish 

Enjoying the sun... 

Watching for turtles and fish.. 

A Beautiful Wednesday morning in the Hula Valley 

Impressive gate leading into the church grounds

Waving at Daddy 

Olivia wanders around the ruins of the Crusader Era church 

View from the top of Tabor 

Close up of the altar area 

Inside the church 

Mosaic from the floor of the Byzantine church 

We are standing on the platform along the roof of the church taking in the view from the top of Mount Tabor 

The door leading into the church, notice there are two other doors across from each other commemorating a chapel to Moses and one for Elijah from the Biblical narrative in Matthew 17

This church was built over the ruins of a previous church from Crusader and Byzantine times... 

The Church on the top of Mount Tabor commemorating the Transfiguration 

Sister Stacey has fun on the playground, still a kid at heart.. 

Joshua decides to "sit and reflect a bit" 

The kids practice "running on the water" 

Marybeth enjoys the cool water too!! 

"My faithful band" 

There has to be a way to get under here... 

Olivia Zion at the spring 

A blessed place to refresh and remember how God proved Himself faithful, by using Gideon and his 3oo faithful men 

Enjoying the cool clear water from the spring 

Gideon's cave and spring, Judges chapter 7 

We love Israel, and those who defend her with their whole lives.... 

The Merkava 3, perhaps the finest tank in the world, the Merkava 4, is now being used to defend Israel... 

I could have too!!!! 

Benjamin could have stayed all night!!! 

These are the very special Israeli made Merkava (Chariot) tanks, models 1,2, and 3 

Olivia is having a good time enjoying the freedom from her stroller 

A Synagogue inside the museum 

An artistic rendering of every day life in the Armored corps  

Some of the many tanks on display at the museum, these were won from other nations in battle 

This is a view looking up into the inside of the watchtower that has now been turned into a very beautiful and moving memorial to the lives lost in this great cause of a homeland for the Jewish people. 

A close up of one of the two watchtowers of the building that was the site of an important battle, when the road was cut off and supplies were so desperately needed in Jerusalem .  

This a wall of remembrance, to honor the over 4,000 men and women of the Armored Core divisions that have lost their lives defending the land given to them by God. 

Benjamin and Joshua had such a good time, climbing on many of the tanks and pretending to defend the Land of Israel. 

We visited La Shiryon (Armored Corps Museum) in Latrun on Monday, It was a big hit with all of us....This is a British built building that was damaged greatly in the War of Independence, It has been restored and is a fitting and honorable memorial and museum for the Armored Corps division of the IDF.