Dwight and Sharon spent the last year organizing a Lenten pilgrimage to the Holy Land, using Educational Opportunities as tour host. Our group of 28 left Denver on March 10 and most returned on the 19th, while the rest continued onto Egypt for another week. It was a wonderful experience for everyone except Dwight who landed in the hospital in Tiberias, Israel for two days because of dehydration and exhaustion (a story in itself but we won't bore you with it). The two pastors who were traveling with us, Don Shrumm (Genesis Presbyterian Church, Littleton) and Rob Wilson (Eagle River Presbyterian Church, Avon/Vail) picked up the leadership piece and were a real blessing to the group and to us. Dwight missed about 2/3 of the tour either in the hospital or resting in his hotel room; Sharon missed about half the tour as a result, but it was a great joy to see how meaningful the pilgrimage was for everyone else. Here are just a few highlights:
The Sea of Galilee from the Mount of Beatitudes Church. The natural amphitheater in the foreground is the traditional site where Jesus is believed to have delivered his "Sermon on the Mount".
The Garden of Gethsame, where Jesus prayed before being arrested and later crucified. These olive trees are believed to be 3,000 years old.
Sharon and Dwight reaffirm their baptismal vows in the Jordan River.
Our group, plus Saad, our guide (and missing Dwight who was not strong enough to tour with us the day this picture was taken). Jerusalem is in the background.
The Garden Tomb: A beautiful setting for a tomb very similar to the description of Jesus' tomb in the New Testament. Our group ended it's tour of holy sites here with a communion service.
Dwight exits the tomb. A sign posted inside the tomb quotes scripture: "He is not here - for He is risen".
Pilgrimage leaders: Don, Adnan (bus driver), Dwight, Saad (guide) and Rob.
The Sea of Galilee from the Mount of Beatitudes Church. The natural amphitheater in the foreground is the traditional site where Jesus is believed to have delivered his "Sermon on the Mount".
The Garden of Gethsame, where Jesus prayed before being arrested and later crucified. These olive trees are believed to be 3,000 years old.
Sharon and Dwight reaffirm their baptismal vows in the Jordan River.
Our group, plus Saad, our guide (and missing Dwight who was not strong enough to tour with us the day this picture was taken). Jerusalem is in the background.
The Garden Tomb: A beautiful setting for a tomb very similar to the description of Jesus' tomb in the New Testament. Our group ended it's tour of holy sites here with a communion service.
Dwight exits the tomb. A sign posted inside the tomb quotes scripture: "He is not here - for He is risen".
Pilgrimage leaders: Don, Adnan (bus driver), Dwight, Saad (guide) and Rob.
