A Trip to the Holy Land... A trip of conversion (Cont.)
Here are a few of shared experiences from this trip:
If you love things as they are and love life as it is, please do not
go to Israel! The Holy Land is a life-changing experience. A journey
to Israel, to this place that all Christians call “home,” will certainly
change you forever.
I must admit that I was more than a little skeptical about going
on this trip. My laundry list of reasons not to go included: It’s a
war zone; security might be an issue; I don’t do well on a bus for
hours at a time; do I really want to be in the company of 174, mostly
strangers, for two weeks; can I
really leave my company and
restaurant for two weeks; how
much do I really need to know
about Jerusalem anyway?
Oh, the excuses were plenty.
But, when Sister Dulce told
me, “Papa said you have to
go,” I knew I was going to
Israel, like it or not.
Israel has left an indelible
mark on my soul. Since I was
a child I have heard the gospel
readings with place names like
Capernaum, Sea of Galilee,
Nazareth, Cana, Bethlehem. Now, I’ve been there. I have walked in
Jesus’ footsteps around the Sea of Galilee. It is remarkable to realize
that this is where Christianity began. I helped carry Jesus’ cross along
the Via Delorosa. We had Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. My ultimate
experience was the 9-hour vigil kept in the Holy Sepulcher with tears
rolling down my cheeks while kneeling at the tomb of Christ. I had to
ask myself, “How did I get here?” This reluctant pilgrim like everyone
else was called by God to Israel. He asked me to come home, and I am
a changed man because of it. Praise Papa for twisting my arm with
the help of a little nun.
Chef John Folse
Papa, as I walked the Via Delorosa in Israel in January, I was
flooded with so many different emotions. The thought of how much
pain you were in physically, emotionally, spiritually. I am so sorry that
you had to experience all of this pain. The fear, the rejection and the
sin you felt for the first time separating you from your Father, must
have been overwhelming. I also realized as I walked in your agony
that you did all of this suffering just for me; if I was the only person
in this world you would still suffer and die for me. This is how much
you love me and I am so grateful for that. Thank you for your mercy,
grace, kindness, love and compassion as I know I am so unworthy of
your forgiveness. I ask Papa that you change me from the inside out so
that I may be made worthy of your incredible suffering.
As I continued onto each station, I became more amazed at your
strength to carry your cross physically, spiritually and so lovingly with
such grace. As I saw the many locals passing by in a hurry to get where
they were going, I felt an emotion of anger. How can they so casually
pass thru your agony every day without notice? Don’t they know what
happened in this Holy place? Don’t they see how much you suffered,
didn’t they have compassion? I began to get angry when gently you
reminded me that I do the same thing every day. I rush pass four
Catholic churches having Mass
or Adoration on my way to do
my errands. Each morning
I wake only to rush around
without even saying, “Good
morning Papa and thank you
for today, I give it to you.”
Thank you for showing me my
sinful, hypocritical, judging
ways. Give me your strength
to change from the inside out
to love you more than myself
and to put your will and your
desires first.
Shalane Crick
“
Plant the seed, and I will water it”, God reminded me. This is
how my trip to the Holy Land began. It seemed impossible to travel to
Israel for 2 weeks and leave behind my husband, 4 small children, and
my business clients. Yet, a little nudge from my dear friend began a
turn of events that revealed to me that nothing is impossible for God.
Plant the seed, and if it is God’s Will, the right doors will open. A
word shared from a friend to another friend, resulted in my three best
friends sharing with me a trip of lifetime. Leaving behind husbands,
children, and jobs; God had a plan for us to experience the Holy Land
together at this time in our personal history. The Pilgrimage to the
Holy Land was a life-changing journey. To see, hear, walk, smell
and touch the homeland of Jesus Christ brought to life the Bible.
Jeff Cavins and his team had arranged for us to celebrate sacred mass
every day at all the holy locations we visited and studied, including
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Garden of Gethsemane, The Last
Supper, the Birth of Jesus Christ, The Annunciation, Jordan River,
Mount of Beatitudes, the Via Delorosa, just to name a few. Each
experience during this Bible Study Tour was rich with history and
revealed the intricate details that God planned for Salvation history.
No other trip has made such a lasting impression on me. I wasn’t
prepared for the treasures God had planned for me in the Holy Land.
Even when situations seem impossible, say yes and trust God, and
watch the marvels that unravel for you.
Lorraine McCormick
Southern Steps of the Temple
