A third team member writes

January 14 and 15.
We have had quite a contrast in our last two days. Yesterday, the 14th, we took a long trip up into the mountains of the northern border of Israel. Yes, they aren’t really big mountains by Northwest standards, but we were up there pretty high on windy and steep roads. We have an awesome bus driver! Along the way we stopped at an overlook to see the Sea of Galilee in the distance. It was hazy so pictures weren’t great, but it was still pretty cool.
We then were in for one of the more emotional visits of the trip. We were led through a tour of a village that was taken over from the Arabs by the Israelis in 1948. Residents were forced from their homes and sent to a nearby village, being told that they would be able to return in a week. Of course, they never returned. The Israeli term for it was being “evacuated.”
Our speaker’s family was from this village. His father and generations before that had lived there. They were peaceful farmers and herders. To make sure it was not inhabitable by the former residents, it was fired on with missiles to destroy the homes(picture of broken down houses). Because of the historic architecture there, it eventually became a park.
This was one more stark example of two sides to every story. We left and went to a wonderful lunch at the very town where those living in the humble village were exiled to a generation ago. It was a bit of a surreal experience as we dined on the delicious chicken and lamb and hummus as we pondered what we had just learned.
Then it was off to an even further north excursion to the border of Lebanon. Just four years ago there was a war between these two countries with missiles and mortar fire going both directions. Some missiles from Lebanon went to Haifa – the city we are staying in - and Lebanon casualties were heavy in return. We wandered along the border with a few military vehicles cruising by and we could see Lebanese, Israeli and UN military bases. We stood there and snapped photos and had a pleasant time. Again, another out of the ordinary experience.(border pic)
Today, the 15th was much less gut-wrenching and yet quite awe-inspiring. We got to tour the facilities of a wonderful Christian media production group who do a variety of work with video, music, radio and internet. The people who work there are all bright and cheerful and very skilled at what they do. They are making a big impact helping people around the world through teaching, counseling, and inspiring those who tap into their resources.(studio pic)
After that we took a long drive up to the top of Mt. Carmel and saw the place where Elijah contested the prophets of Baal as recorded in 1 Kings chapter 18. We could see for miles, even though it was a bit hazy again, looking over Haifa, the Kishon River and the Mediterranean Sea. To imagine that great showdown of power and God showing his supremacy over the false gods was truly a great experience. We headed back down the hill into a Druze village where we again dined till we were stuffed on kebob, shlistik, rice, fries, salads, etc.
We shopped a little with some finding deals on gorgeous pieces of Druze weaving. A few rested at the hotel while some of the rest of us went to the beach and walked or waded and it was pretty sweet to sit at the sea shore sipping fresh squeezed pomegranate and orange juice.(sunset) A fine meal at a café near the hotel capped our day.
Paul Almquist