Book The Land of the an 11 day tour of Israel and Palestine based in Galilee, Jerusalem and Bethlehem led by Mike Fuller Friday 12 th – Monday 22 nd August 2016 (in hot weather, staying at inexpensive hotels)

Mike Fuller is a New Wine speaker, international Bible teacher; retired Baptist Minister and teacher of Religious Studies; Tutor in Theology at St Paul’s Theological Centre, Cheltenham; and author of “The Entire Story of the Bible in 50 Minutes”, “A Fool’s Guide to Following Jesus”, and “A Fool’s Guide to Finding Faith”. The Summer tour

Friday 12 th August Morning flight from London Luton to Tel Aviv The Summer tour

We are then transferred by air- conditioned bus (with Wi-Fi) to our first hotel … The Summer tour Friday 12 th August

… in Tiberias, a few hundred yards from the Sea of Galilee Evening free! The Summer tour Friday 12 th August

We start the day with an “orientation” multi-media presentation introducing Galilee… The Summer tour Saturday 13 th August

… then we explore Galilee, passing Mount Tabor (a possible site of the Transfiguration) … Saturday 13 th August The Summer tour

We visit Cana (the site of Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine) … The Summer tour Saturday 13 th August

In Nazareth, we visit sites connected with the childhood of Jesus … The Church of the Annunciation The Church of the Well The Summer tour Saturday 13 th August

… we also visit Nazareth Village, built to show and explain life and trades in the time of Jesus. The Summer tour Saturday 13 th August

… the Mount of the Precipice, where Jesus walked through the crowd that sought to throw him down … The Summer tour Saturday 13 th August

… finally, we view the Valley of Armageddon – scene of ancient battles, and the Bible setting for End Times The Summer tour Saturday 13 th August

We begin today by viewing the 2000 year old “Jesus boat” at a nearby kibbutz … Sunday 14 th August The Summer tour

We sail across the lake on a replica of this boat, pausing on the lake for our Sunday worship… The Summer tour Sunday 14 th August

We visit Kursi on the Sea of Galilee - the site associated with the story of the “Gadarene swine”… The Summer tour Sunday 14 th August

… then continue to Capernaum (Jesus’ home town) … The Summer tour Sunday 14 th August

… where we see Peter’s house and the ancient synagogue. The Summer tour Sunday 14 th August

We visit Tabgha (associated with the feeding of the 5000, and one of Jesus’ resurrection appearances) The Summer tour Sunday 14 th August

We end the day with worship together on the “Mount of the Beatitudes” The Summer tour Sunday 14 th August

Leaving the Galilee, we drive south through the Jordan Valley The Summer tour Monday 15 th August

It may be possible to baptise any member of the group who wants this – in the Jordan river Please talk to Mike about this well beforehand! We see a baptismal site near to where it is believed Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist The Summer tour Monday 15 th August

We visit Jericho, viewing excavations of the oldest city on earth … The Summer tour Monday 15 th August

… seeing the Mount of Temptation … The Summer tour Monday 15 th August

… and remember Jesus’ meeting with Zacchaeus. The Summer tour Monday 15 th August

We pass through the Wadi Kelt (the valley of the shadow of death) and see St George’s Monastery across the valley … The Summer tour Monday 15 th August

In Bethany, we see the tomb of Lazarus … The Summer tour Monday 15 th August

… and continue to our new hotel, within the Palestinian territory, in Bethlehem The Summer tour Monday 15 th August

In the morning we visit Herodion, one of Herod’s palaces … … Tuesday 16 th August The Summer tour

… then see the “Shepherds’ Fields”, and worship together in one of the ancient shepherds’ caves. The Summer tour Tuesday 16 th August

We visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The Summer tour Tuesday 16 th August

We visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The Summer tour Tuesday 16 th August

The remainder of the day is free to meet local Arab Christians, including visiting Bethlehem Bible College (with a lecture on the Palestinian view of the conflict), and The Tent of Nations peace initiative The Summer tour Tuesday 16 th August

Arriving in Jerusalem, we view the city from the top of the Mount of Olives … Wednesday 8 th July The Summer tour

We explore the Temple Mount excavations … Wednesday 17 th August The Summer tour

… and then see the Western Wall - a buttressing wall which is all that remains of the Temple … The Summer tour Wednesday 17 th August

… and explore the tunnels under the Temple Mount … The Summer tour Wednesday 17 th August

… at one point, walking on flagstones that Jesus almost certainly walked on. The Summer tour Wednesday 17 th August

We continue to see the excavations of David’s city The Summer tour Wednesday 17 th August

… and, for those who want, walk through Hezekiah’s tunnel … The Summer tour Wednesday 17 th August

… finishing at the Pool of Siloam … The Summer tour Wednesday 17 th August

… where we also see a newly excavated paved street from the time of Jesus. The Summer tour Wednesday 17 th August

We return to the Western Wall - the buttressing wall which is all that remains of the Temple … hopefully, seeing a Bar Mitzvah… Thursday 18 th August The Summer tour

We then walk down into Jerusalem from the top of the Mount of Olives, following the route Jesus took on the first Palm Sunday … The Summer tour Thursday 18 th August

…. stopping at the Dominus Flavit church, which marks the place where Jesus wept over Jerusalem The Summer tour Thursday 18 th August

We spend some time in contemplation and worship at Gethsemane … The Summer tour Thursday 18 th August

The Summer tour Thursday 18 th August

… and then follow the “Last path” through the Kidron valley … The Summer tour Thursday 18 th August

… and visit a possible site of Caiaphas’ house The Summer tour Thursday 18 th August

We view the valley of Gehinnom The Summer tour Thursday 18 th August

Our evening meal will be an educational form of the Passover seder The Summer tour Thursday 18 th August

Returning to the Old City, we visit the Bethesda pool, where Jesus healed a paralysed man Friday 19 th August The Summer tour

We see the Lithostratus (thought to be part of the courtyard from Herod’s Antonia Fortress) The Summer tour Friday 19 th August

We follow part of the “Via Dolorosa” – remembering Jesus’ walk to the cross … The Summer tour Friday 19 th August

We see a possible location of the Upper Room … The Summer tour Friday 19 th August

… and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - the traditional location of the crucifixion The Summer tour Friday 19 th August

We finish the day with quiet reflection at an alternative site for Jesus’ death and resurrection … “Gordon’s Calvary” and the Garden Tomb The Summer tour Friday 19 th August

A day in the desert! After an early breakfast, we drive south to the desert and the fortress of Masada … The Summer tour Saturday 20 th August

We visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found … The Summer tour Saturday 20 th August

We see the oasis of Ein Gedi, associated with the story of David and Saul … The Summer tour Saturday 20 th August

… and have an opportunity to “swim” in the Dead Sea! The Summer tour Saturday 20 th August

Our morning worship is in Jerusalem … (afternoon free) … either at Christchurch, an Anglican Church inside the city walls with Messianic links … or at East Jerusalem Baptist Church, an English speaking congregation with a number of Palestinian believers The Summer tour Sunday 21 st August

In the morning we visit the Israel Museum – where we see a model of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus, the Shrine of the Book (where some of the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed) and other antiquities Monday 22 nd August The Summer tour

We then visit the newly extended Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial … The Summer tour Monday 22 nd August

… before travelling on to Tel Aviv for our flight home £1565  includes half board, air-conditioned coach, en-suite, gratuities, licensed guide, all entrance fees  does not include any fuel surcharge, lunches, insurance The Summer tour Monday 22 nd August