Services in-person & online at 8:30 and 11:00am at Florida's Oldest United Methodist Church

Holy Land 2019

Dr. Wesley H. Wachob and Drexel Gilbert-Wachob invite you to join them on a trip to the Holy Land March 25 – April 3, 2019!

PLEASE NOTE THAT SPACE ON THE BUS WITH DR. WACHOB AND DREXEL IS NOW AT CAPACITY. If you are still interested in going and have yet to sign up, you will be placed on a separate bus with members from churches in Destin and Elberta. Even when traveling on separate buses, both groups will visit the same locations (at varied times) and stay at the same hotel each evening.

A MESSAGE FOR YOUR HOSTS

Dr. Wesley Wachob and Drexel Gilbert-Wachob
A trip to the Holy Land is life-changing. You’ll never read the Bible in the same way again. Its scenes will come alive after you have bowed at the manger in Bethlehem, worshipped on the Sea of Galilee, followed the Palm Sunday crowd down the Mount of Olives, knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane, walked the Via Dolorosa, wept at Golgotha, and sung at the empty tomb. Experience this spiritual pilgrimage to walk in our Lord’s footsteps in fellowship with your friends and fellow Christians. Your understanding of the Bible and your commitment to follow Jesus will be challenged, inspired, and strengthened. We invite you to join us.

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE HERE

Interested in going? Call the church office at 850-432-1434 to learn more.

SCHEDULE

March 25 & 26 – USA to the Holy Land 

Your spiritual pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on an overnight flight. You will be welcomed to the Holy Land by our airport representative and transferred to your hotel on the coast. Hotel: Seasons ( or similar) 

March 27 – Caesarea Maritima, Megiddo, Sepphoris, Nazareth
Begin the day at Caesarea Maritima, the Roman capital of Judea with its Theater and Roman Aqueduct, where Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new covenant (Acts 10) and Paul was imprisoned before taken to Rome for trial. Travel the ancient caravan route to Tel Megiddo where over 20 cities lie superimposed upon each other and the site of many ancient battles. Visit Sepphoris, the capital of Galilee in Jesus’ youth, where Jesus and Joseph probably earned their living as construction workers. End the day’s travels in Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus (Matthew 2:23) and the Mount of Precipice where Luke describes how Jesus was rejected by those in his hometown synagogue. Filled with anger they “led him to the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.” (Luke 4:29), before going to our lodging in a kibbutz on the Sea of Galilee. Hotel: En Gev 

March 28 -Mount of Beatitudes, Eremos Topos, Capernaum, Tabgha, Bethsaida, Chorazim, Valley of the Winds and Doves, the Ancient Boat, Sea of Galilee Boat Ride 

Visit the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount. Walk down the hill to Eremos Topos, identified by a 3rd Century pilgrim as “the lonely place” where Jesus retired to pray. Explore capernaum, Jesus headquarters in Galilee, Tabgha, site of the feeding of the 5000, Bethsaida, home of 5 of Jesus’ disciples, and Chorazim, the city Jesus cursed because they had seen his mighty acts, yet remained unrepentant. In the Valley of the Winds and Doves walk along the road that Jesus took from Nazareth to Capemaum. At Nof Ginosar, see the 1st Century fishing boat found in the Sea of Galilee’s mud, a rare example of the kind of boat in which Jesus would have sailed those waters. End the day with a sunset boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and a worship service on board. Hotel: En Gev 

March 29- Hazor, Tel Dan, Caesarea Philippi, Golan Heights 

Explore Hazor, one of the oldest archaeological sites in Israel. The 3000 year old city was the inspiration for The Source, James Michener’s epic historical novel about Israel. Here Joshua fought against Jabin (Joshua 11:1-11). At Tel Dan, see the mud brick arch constructed in Canaanite times and where the “House of David” inscription from the First Temple Period was found. Visit caesarea Philippi, where Jesus traveled with his disciples and where nearby Peter made his great confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” (Matthew 16:16) After lunch in the vicinity of Mount Hermon, return through the strategic tableland known as the Golan Heights. Hotel: En Gev 

March 30 – Mount Arbel, Baptismal Site, Jacob’s Well, Mount Scopus

Begin the day at Mount Arbel with its stunning panoramic view of the Plain of Genesaret and the Sea of Galilee where most of Jesus ministry took place. Remember your baptism as you worship at the Baptismal Site on the River Jordan and contemplate the Baptism of Jesus. Journey through Samaria, stopping at Jacob’s Well, where Jesus offered living water to a Samaritan Woman. Approach Jerusalem from Mount Scopus with its panoramic view of the Holy City as you make your way to your hotel. Hotel: Olive Tree 

March 31 – Sunday Worship in Bethlehem, Church of the Nativity, Shepherds’ Field 

Today we cross the border into Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. Worship in the Church of the Annunciation in BeitJala (Bethlehem) to get a sense of the Christian community of the Holy Land. In the afternoon, visit the Church of the Nativity, the oldest continuously functioning church in the world. See the cave where tradition holds Jesus was born. Look out on the Shepherds’ Field, where angels announced his birth, as we close our day with worship. Hotel: Olive Tree 

April 1 – Mount of Olives, Palm Sunday Walk, Garden of Gethsemane, Temple Mount, Southern Wall Excavations, Teaching Steps, Western Wall, Rabbi’s Tunnel, Upper Room, Caiaphas’ Palace

Stand atop the Mount of Olives as Jesus did and enjoy a remarkable view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem. Walk the route of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday. Pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. Visit the Temple Mount, site of Solomon’s Temple, and the Southern Wall Excavations, with its Teaching Steps. Travel back in time in the Rabbi’s Tunnel, where foundation stones and other stone work survive from the Second Temple. Visit the traditional site of the Last Supper on Mount Zion, and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, the site of the High Priest’s Palace, where Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin and was imprisoned overnight before the crucifixion, and where Peter denied that he knew Jesus. Hotel: Olive Tree 

April 2 – Pool of Bethesda, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, St. Mark’s Church, Garden Tomb, Depart for Home

Begin the day at the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus performed a Sabbath miracle of healing. Walk the Via Dolorosa, the “Way of the Cross”, and stand in reverence at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, site of the crucifixion and tomb of Jesus. See the centuries old St. Mark’s Church built on the traditional site of the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where we know the disciples gathered – an alternate site for the Upper Room. Our basic tour ends with a service of Holy Communion at the Garden Tomb. This evening, basic tour pilgrims will be transferred to the airport for their return flight to the USA. 

April 3 – Return Home or Begin an Extension in Jerusalem, Jordan and Petra, or Egypt

COST

Starting at $3,746* from Pensacola, Florida

YOUR ALL INCLUSIVE PRICE INCLUDES:
Basic Tour & Guided Sightseeing
Roundtrip International Airfare
Additional baggage & optional fees may apply; see fine pnnt for details
Fuel Surcharges and Government Taxes
Subject to change
Admin. Fees, Entrance Fees, Hotel Gratuities & Program Fees
Daily Buffet Breakfast & Dinner, Deluxe Motorcoaches
First Class Hotels & much more!

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS


JERUSALEM EXTENSION – $698*

April 3-6, 2019 

April 3 – Hope Secondary School, Israel Museum, Shrine of the Book, Model of Jerusalem, Herodion. 

After an early morning visit to Hope Secondary School, a Christian School for Palestinian children in BeitJala (Bethlehem), visit the excavations of Herodion, one of Herod’s fortress palaces, where archaeologists recently discovered the king’s tomb. After lunch, visit the Israel Museum with its unsurpassed archaeological exhibits and the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept and exhibited. 

Hotel: Olive Tree 

April 4 – Masada, Qumran, Dead Sea, Jericho 

Enjoy a visit to Masada, the spectacular mountain fortress built by Herod and famous as the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans. Ride the cable car to the top to explore the fortress. See En Gedi, the oasis where David hid out when Saul sought to take his life. Visit Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scrolls’ discovery, to discuss the mysterious community of Essenes who once lived on the shores of the Dead Sea. In Jericho, see the ruins of the oldest city on earth, conquered by Joshua, and view the traditional site of Jesus’ temptations. Stop on the shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on the earth, for a quick dip before returning to Jerusalem. Hotel: Olive Tree 

April 5 – Temple Mount Sifting Project, Yad Vashem, Free Time in Jerusalem, Depart for the USA. 

In the morning, go to Emeq Tsurim to experience archaeology first hand at the Temple Mount Sifting Project. Then visit Yad Vashem, the holocaust museum. After lunch, enjoy the rest of the day free to explore on your own and pack for your return flight in the evening. (Keep rooms) 

April 6 – Return Home

 

JORDAN & PETRA EXTENSION – $1,068*

April 3-7, 2019

April 3 – Cross the Allenby Bridge into Jordan. Visit Jerash. Overnight in Amman. 

April 4 – Visit Mt. Nebo & Madaba. Overnight at the Dead Sea 

April 5 – Explore Petra. Travel to the Dead Sea area for a late dinner and overnight. 

April 6 – Free Morning at the Dead Sea. Cross border back in to Israel. Dinner in Jerusalem. 

April 7 – Return to USA.

 

EGYPT & NILE CRUISE – $1,898*

April 3-11, 2019

April 3 – Free day in Jerusalem. Breakfast & Dinner included at your hotel. 

April 4 – Follow the Ancient Caravan Route to Mount Sinai. 

April 5 – Visit the Monastary of St. Catherine before continuing to Sharm el Sheik for dinner and overnight. 

April 6 – Fly to Luxor and board your Nile cruise boat. You will visit Luxor and Karnak Temples late this afternoon. 

April 7 – Visit the Necropolis ofThebes before exploring the Valleys of the Kings & Queens. See the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Sail to Esna and cross through the Nile locks, before sailing to Edfu. 

April 8 – Explore the Temple of Horus in Edfu this morning. Sail to Korn Ombo and visit the Temple there shared by the gods Sobok & Haroeris this afternoon.Sail to Aswan this evening. 

April 9 – Disembark your Nile Cruise boat in Aswan this morning. Visit the High Dam of Aswan and the Granite Quarry nearby to see the unfinshed obelisk. Explore the Temple of Philae before flying to Cairo for dinner and overnight. 

April 10 – See King Tut’s Treasures and explore the Egyptian Museum. Visit Saqqara. View the Great Pyramids at Giza and the majestic Sphinx today. Dinner and overnight in Cairo. 

April 11 – Return to USA

*All prices reflect a 4% cash discount

Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.