Day 10 - June 30, 2008

Today was our first full day in Galilee and we woke up early to have our sacrament meeting on the lawn area. Monica and I were the only faithful ones who came on time and helped Brother Gunnerson set up. Dave shared Elder McConkies last talk with the group, which is always uplifting. Then we left for Mount Tabor, which is the Mount of Transfiguration where Moses and Elias appeared to Jesus, Peter, James and John and where they beheld the full glory of our Savior and became Special Witnesses of Him. There was a Catholic church to commemorate that experience.

Then we traveled to Nazareth, which we were really excited about. Obviously it has changed since the time of our Savior, but they try to give you an idea of what it was like with people dressed up and doing things they would have done back then. A man was using his donkey to separate the wheat from the chaff; they had a wine press; shepards looking after their flock; and a synagogue similar to the one where Jesus would have read the famous Isaiah scripture and then stated "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." (Isaiah 61:1-2) At the end of the tour we got an oil lamp to remind us to be prepared when the Lord comes again.

Then we ate lunch, which was falafel (a pita bread filled with fried garbanzo balls). This was our first experience eating it and it wasn't too bad. You had different salads and sauces to choose from to add to your falafel. Then we continued onto Tel Megiddo aka Armageddon. We didn't spend much time there, but it was neat to see the place.

Then we headed off to Caesarea where we looked at the ruins. It was huge and very beautiful. In fact this is where the chariot race from Ben Hur was shot. I knew my dad would like that. There was also a stone with Pontius Pilates name to prove that he existed. We also stopped to look at an ancient aquaduct that carried water to Caesarea.

Our next stop was Haifa, which we visited so we could swim in the Mediterranean Sea. We were so excited and quickly changed and walked out to the water, which was so warm. We had only been in for about 5-10mins when we all discovered that our legs were stinging. I didn't really think about it until my thumb starting hurting too. Then our friend Lyndee came running past us screaming "JELLYFISH!" Monica and I got out and started comparing the wounds. It wasn't too bad but we did have several on our legs and I had two on my thumb. I mean really who stings a thumb! Then there's Charlie who out frolicking in the waves. Apparently he didn't hear whoever told him about the jellyfish. So he played for about twenty more minutes. Needless to say he was stung all over. We were bummed that our swimming experience was so short and painful, but it sure makes for a great story. We probably should have been more observant since nobody else was in the water and the lifeguard yelled at us in Hebrew.

Our last stop of the day was visiting a cementary where some of the first members and missionaries of the church are buried. Then it was back to our hotel for dinner, relaxation, and of course some VH-1 Countdowns.