Day 11

10/21/10

Today… Definitely was the most packed with emotional/ beautiful/ historical/ biblical experiences. We got picked up super late from our hotel and were off to a terrible start but we decided that nothing else was going to hold us back. First visited another church. I forget what it was called but it was where Jesus prayed the night he was arrested. Beautiful Olive Trees are planted in front that are well over a thousand years old. Then we were dropped off at one of the gates of the Old City of Jerusalem. We were super nervous because we had my mom and the wheelchair but we were determined to make it happen. First stop… the Western Wall J AKA the Wailing Wall. I wrote my prayers out in the bus on our way there so I had about 4 to stick in the wall. It was heavy. So awesome. Then we started walking through the city/bazaars until we hit the Via Dolorosa where Jesus carried his cross. Oh man. So many steps and uneven grounds. Mom decided she wanted to do it on her crutches instead of somehow being wheeled up the steps. She said if Jesus could do it then so could she. What a trooper. It wasn’t easy. Then we hit The Holy Sepulchre. Now THAT was amazing. Soooo beautiful. Inside was this altar/tomb looking thing that was once a cave but now it’s protected with something around it. It’s where Jesus was kept for a few days after he was taken down off the cross. Then we did lunch and had some more falafel J THEN it was time for our appointment at the Garden Tomb of Jerusalem just outside of the Damascus gate of the Old City. Although it cannot be PROVEN, it is the most commonly believed cite where Jesus was hung on the cross (Skull Hill) In the bible it mentions the “place” where Jesus was nailed to the cross and it mentions a skull. Calvary means SKULL (Calavera). There was some more fun and very convincing facts that would further support that theory. Along with archeological evidence over the years that would also support the theory. ALSO, We saw what it believed to be Jesus’ tomb. VERY near the cite where the believed the cross would have stood. So incredible. After that we went back to Mount of Olives where we did some shopping but it was sort of disappointing because it was quite pricy. I really wanted to get a piece of jewelry that had a widows mite (currency during Jesus’ time) but again… too pricy. Finally arrived at our hotel that we’re supposed to be at the rest of our time here in Israel/Jerusalem/the entire trip. Almost done… So much love.