Grace Bible College Archives - Page 4 of 4

Heading to Israel! (2011 Version)

I am leaving May 2 for Jordan and Israel with 16 students and friends of GBC. We will fly from Chicago to Amman, Jordan and begin the tour by visiting sites like Jeresh, Madaba and Petra. We will cross the border into Israel on May 6 and will tour in Galilee before traveling to the Negev (the southern desert). We will visit Arad, Masada, En Gedi and Qumran before taking part in an archaeology experience at Tamar, an Israelite city in the Negev. We will finish the trip in Jerusalem, visiting the Old City, Western Wall, Southern Excavations, City of David, the Pool of Siloam, and many other sites where Jesus taught. We will leave from Amman on May 16, arriving back at GBC in the early evening.

I should be able to update my website from most of the hotels on this trip, so keep an eye on my website, Reading Acts. I will be able to post some pictures “from the field” and will keep you up-to-date on our progress. It is possible to subscribe to the blog for an email notification of updates. Please feel free to pass this URL to friends or family who might like to follow the trip.

We are planning another trip leaving December 31, and returning Jan 12, with a possible “add-on” to Jordan (Petra, Madaba, Jeresh, etc). This trip will be designed for an older group (rather than an adventurous college student!) The itinerary will be similar and we will include the archaeology experience at Tamar. As I said in the Truth article, this tour is designed to get in touch with the history and archaeology of the Bible. While we will visit some of the major tourist sites in Jerusalem and Galilee, we will also visit many sites which are not a part of most tours (Arad, Tamar, for example).

If you have questions about the January 2012 trip, feel free to email me. I have a tentative itinerary prepared and can answer any questions about costs via email. I have included some helpful links below. I look forward to hearing from you. I hope you enjoy a “virtual tour” of Israel and Jordan over the next two weeks!

Truth Magazine Article on the 2012 Trip

Grand Rapids Press Article on GBC at Tamar

Phillip J. Long
Associate Professor of Bible
Grace Bible College
1011 Aldon SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49509
(616) 261-8568

Israel Update #1

Let me take the opportunity to post an update our progress in Israel. We are all fine and healthy and staying in Arad at the moment. Yesterday we walked all the way around Jerusalem’s Old City, starting with walking the walls of the Old City. We visited the Western Wall, and several other fantastic sites in the Old City.

Everything has gone well so far, although there have been a few curve balls. Oddly enough, every time something has gone wrong, the answer is “…because of the Pope.” I think that will work out in a few days since he is going home.

We saw some excellent things today, maybe next time I can post a few pics.

I’m heading to Israel!

As most people who know me already know, I will be in Israel with a Grace Bible College tour from May 11 through May 22. I have posted the itinerary below with a few links to websites of interest. It is not too early to start planning ahead for the 2010 trip! Please contact me if you are interested in more information about travel in Israel or about our future trips. [Edit: I made some adjustments to this schedule to account for a few last minute changes.)

Check back to this blog for more GBC/Israel information, pics, etc.
Day 1: (Monday-May 11) USA to Israel. Our flight information is as follows:

DL5475U 11MAY GRR ATL 520P 721P OPERATED BY ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST
DL 152U 11MAY ATL TLV 1030P 520P 12MAY

Day 2: (Tuesday-May 12) Arriving in Jerusalem

Ben Gurion airport and drives us to the Rosary Guest House (Arrive at 5:20 PM Israel Time).
The Rosary Guest House has a good reputation and is centrally located in Jerusalem, and comes highly recommended.
Walk across Independence Park to Ben Yehuda Street; Visit the ATM for Shekels, have a snack, soak up some local culture. Get a good night’s sleep!

Day 3: (Wednesday-May 13) In Jerusalem

We walk down Agron Street and walk through the Jaffa Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem, walk the old city market.
The Jewish Quarter, the Cardo and Menorah, Hezekiah’s Wall
The Temple Mount where we walk around the Dome of the Rock
We visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
The Wohl Museum
Back to the Rosary Guest House for dinner

Day 4: (Thursday-May 14) To Arad

Beginning on the Mount of Olives we walk down to the church of the tear-drop and the Garden of Gethsemane on the Bethany Road.
We leave Jerusalem and stop at the Valley of Elah (more pics here) (David and Goliath)
Probably stops at the Bell Caves and tel Beersheva
To Margoa Arad, our hotel for the evening.

Day 5: (Friday-May 15)

Tel Arad, a Canaanite city captured by Israel, Solomonic gates and Temple structure
Masada, the famed fortress built by King Herod (Lunch at Masada)
Swim at the Dead Sea, float awhile at Ein Boquet
Evening at Margoa Arad

Day 6: (Saturday-May 16) Galilee-Ma’agan

Ein Gedi National Park – the caves where David hid from Saul (pics)
Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered (lunch buffet)
Beit Shean, a Roman city near Galilee
Arrive at the Sea of Galilee and the Ma’agan Holiday Village

Day 7: (Sunday-May 17) Galilee-Ma’agan

Upper Galilee (Peace Overlook)
Gamla, Mount Ben Tal
Caesarea Philippi (Banias)
tel Hazor
Maagan Holiday Village

Day 8: (Monday-May 18) Galilee-Ma’agan

Mount Arbel, overlooking the NW of the Sea of Galilee
The Mount of Beatitudes
Capernaum (more here), Tagbha, Korazim (and here), Kursi (here for archaeology)
Back to Maagan to enjoy the swimming pool!

Day 9: (Tuesday-May 19 To the Coast and back to Jerusalem

Mount Carmel (more here), overlooking the valley of Megiddo
tel Megiddo, From Canaanite (3000 BC) to Solomonic gates
Caesarea on the Mediterranean
Back to the Rosary for the evening

Day 10: (Wednesday-May 20) In Jerusalem

The Temple Tunnel Tour (more pics here)
The Western Wall (live cam!)and the excavations at the Southern Wall (Museum)
The City of David excavations
Church of St Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied Christ, likely the home of Caiaphas the High Priest
Rosary Guest House for the evening

Day 11: (Thursday-May 21) Jerusalem-Airport