Two Weeks to Departure

on February 08, 2011 by Walt Dilg

Two Weeks to Departure

Well, everyone has been watching the events occur in Egypt - "power to the people!"  we send our prayers and highest hopes that the Egyptians will be able to take a full stride forward toward freedom and civil rights.  As these events continue to unfold, anxiety has risen a bit about our endeavor.  We are assured that all will be well, or at least that Educational Opportunities will take all precautions and keep us safe on our trip.  This has meant that those travelers of our group that were going to take the extension trip up the Nile have had their plans canceled.  They will now be joining others of us who are taking an extension into Jordan.  So far it is still "good to go" in Jordan.  We'll have 26 travelers in total and 20 will extend the Israel trip into a few more days in Jordan.

We've all been doing some preparation studies for the trip.  I will post in the near future the bibliography I distributed to the group which contains some excellent books to round out our perspectives on the Middle East and the ancient roots of our faith.  Of course for us pilgrims, the primary source book is the Gospels.  We are reading the Gospels, and in particular noticing where things are happening, so we can connect event or lesson to physical location we will be visiting or passing.  One of the great blessings of this trip will be that which comes from allowing one's religious imagination make the connection between scripture story and place visited.  It's a real trip and religious high when this connection take holds of you.  

Keeps us in your prayers.

Pastor Walt