We are here!!

Well, we arrived into Tel Aviv about 5 and a half hours ago. I can hardly believe we are really here. Another team member said to me earlier that the first time she came to Israel, she really felt the presence of God and it changed her life. that certainly explains how I felt when we landed.

We have all been looking forward to this trip for over a year. The first time Pastor Tom mentioned this trip, my mom, (Karen) and I just looked at each other and we both knew we were supposed to go. Everything just fell into place for us for this trip. But as we have been planning and preparing, it has seemed so unreal until today. Even packing this weekend, it was still unbelievable that I was actually coming to Israel!

Today, as our plane touched down after the long flight from Atlanta, I just became overwhelmed with emotion. I could certainly feel God's presence as I looked over the land (I was fortunate to be sitting in a window seat) and all I could think about was this was the land that God promised to Israel. This was the land God promised to Israel and his children. this is the land that is so central to so much in the Bible, and to Jesus's life. I am just in awe. I am very excited as we begin this long coming journey. tomorrow we will be on a boat on the Sea of Galilee first thing in the morning. We will try to get pictures posted in the coming days. God bless all of you and thank you for your prayers while we are here. The flights were amazingly smooth and we all did fine and had peace (even myself, and I usually hate to fly).

-Teresa