Yom Rishon: First Day
05/09/09
11:16am Israel Time
We have touched down in Tel Aviv, Israel after an uneventful flight. Ten and a half hours long in a center economy seat. Can you say uncomfortable? But I survived and am in Israel. I don’t know if I am just tired or what, but the excitement of the trip has not kicked in yet. I was just thanking God for opening these doors and it is good to know that thanking God does not come with the condition of happiness or excitement. I know that only God can take this poor, dusty little black girl from Fort Smith and bring her to Israel, the cradle of the three major religions. Maybe I am not excited yet because it has not sunk in. Israel has not become real to me yet. The history, the people and the land. I am in Israel!
We made it through check in with only minor problems. Semaj and Jimmy had questionable stamps in their passport, so it took them a minute to get through. But all is well that ends well.
We are on the charter bus right now on our way to Lachish. The Israelites captured and destroyed Lachish for joining the league against the Gibeonites (Josh. 10:31-33), but the territory was later assigned to the tribe of Judah (15:39). Under Rehoboam, it became the second most important city of the kingdom of Judah. In 701 BC, during the revolt of king Hezekiah against Assyria, it was captured by Sennacherib despite determined resistance. The town later reverted to Judaean control, only to fall to Nebuchadnezzar in his campaign against Judah (586 BC).
5:30 pm Israel Time, Why I am So Tired!
Itinerary for the first day:
Drive from Tel Aviv to Lachisch, where we climbed up the side of a mountain. Sounds fun in theory, but take my word for it, it wasn't! Looked at alot of stones and learned the impotance of the site in Ancient Israel.
Back on the bus for a ride to the West Bank where we had lunch in an Arab Sandwich shop. We were ripped off for being American and using dollars. We got the tourist rate and paid double the asking price for a chicken wrap and can of soda. EIGHT DOLLARS (US) EACH! What a rip off! It won't happen again because I know the exchange rate and am going to challenge the foolishness. For those interested the exchange rate is abour 4.5 shekels per dollar. I hate getting ripped off. But the sandwich was good. I am going to upload the video of us driving through the West Bank.
Back on the bus and on our way to Arad where we climbed up the side of another mountain! Ughhhhh. It stands to reason because the places that we visted today were lookout points during ancient times, so they had to be high.