I'm Home from Israel!

Hello sweet family and friends!

Thank you all so much for your prayers for me and the other Israel travelers. They prayers were felt and very much needed. In our journey we were pushed physically beyond what we thought we could ever do. We climbed more rocks to find at the top that aircrafts were in flight below where we were standing....that's just nuts! I can't wait to share with you in person my God moments. We wondered the desert just as the Israelites, but praise the Lord it wasn't for 40 years. It's hot and lots and lots of rocks. Needless to say uneven ground. My favorite and worst moment was Qumran. Qumran is one of my most memorable places. We climbed rock beyond what anyone could imagine, to our teaching location. Beautiful views from there and then Rabbi, Scott says for those that would like to climb to the top "follow me". So, off I went! Sharon and I began to not feel well. Her husband, Glenn encouraged and helped her along with others around them. My knight in shining armor was Ben Blevins....that's right folks...Ben along with Tim. I could see the top and see my fellow brothers and sisters at the top, approx. 200 ft away, but knew I couldn't make it. I asked Ben to just leave me there. His words to me were "no, we stay together...you stay...I stay. It's called community. Give me your pack." I just burst into tears. Sweet Ben, took my pack (which probably weights 10 + pounds) plush his own backpack. I had heard Ben early on that he didn't make this climb last time he was here and has regretted it ever since. My heart was overwhelmed. We made it to the top, but not without completely depending on God to give me His amazing strength to do it. It is only because of Him that I could do any of the things that I was able to do. God immediately opened my eyes to view Michelle (another Israel traveler with us) to see what He sees. Amazing! Michelle struggled every time we made a hike. She always made it, but not with out feeling sick and sometime vomiting along the ancient path. I immediately had a new understanding of her and what she must be feeling. It's hot and the path is difficult most of the time, but Michelle pushed on. She was an amazing pillar of strength of God. My heart became compassionate for her. Our next hike was in the Wadi of En Gedi. I made my back from the middle of the line to the end to check on my new sweet friend Michelle, to find her struggling with the hike. We encouraged her and yelled out scripture over her. She stopped several time before she made her finally stop and couldn't go on. Ryan, our tail man along with my sweet, Ben and I stayed with her. We could hear water running, but couldn't see it. Ryan and Ben decide to go down from the rocks from which we were sitting on to see if they could wet our "frog toggs", and hats. I hear them burst out in relief. I hike down to see them standing in a nice size pool of water. I immediately join them. I tell them we have to get Michelle down here. Ben went up to help her down and we swim in this beautiful pool of living water, with our own water fall. It's called living water because it is feed from a live spring, not a cistern (which is just standing water) The rest of the group got the same water experience, but in a much bigger way. We were just thankful to God for our moment in the water. God always amazes me!

You can check out some of these place that I have mentioned on www.bibleplaces.com or just google them.

That was my most memorable day along with the day in Jerusalem when we walked out the crucification of Jesus. That one was a tough day emotionally. I will have to share it another time.

After arriving home last week, my sweet husband and kids were so gracious to me and allowed me to rest. My brain has been on overload and it has been hard to get back into a routine. Last week is very much a big blur. This week has been much better, but I've missed Emily and Caleb. They have been off to camp this week. Emily did the overnight camp and Caleb has done the day camp, but we arranged with our sweet friends for the day campers to spend the night

a night each week with friends. Tuesday night/Wednesday morning was our day and I was able to see Caleb for a short time. He was busy playing with the other 4 boys here. Friday will be Caleb's closing ceremony's and Saturday will be Emily's. I've received 2 letters from Emily. She is having a really fun time and has made several new friends. We can't wait to hear about it.

Thank you all again for your prayers. I'm so sorry that I haven't posted anything sooner.

In His love and mine,

Vicki

Excitement in the air...

Everyone's getting excited for mommy to return home! Looking forward to seeing her and hearing the impact of this journey. See you soon!

Love,

Phil, Emily & Caleb

XOXO

Israel Thursday the 22nd

I want to start by saying thank you for those of you that are praying for me and please continue to do so. I can feel them all around me. Today we started by hiking up Mount Carmel. We were quickly stopped by Israeli police to let us know that we were entering near a construction site. We made this incredible difficult climb to find that the construction was going to cause a detour back from which we came and an hour and a half out of our way to get to the Ancient Path that we needed to be on. After our detour through thorns and uneven ground, which the uneven ground we were somewhat use to. We finally made it back on the Ancient Path we needed to be on. Our first stop was an Olive Grove that was as old as 2500 year old. One word...Awesome! Then up up and up the rest of the way up Mt. Carmel. It was a difficult climb, but so worth the pain in getting there. Great message about Elijah! If we could all have THAT kind of fire! I pray that from now on that I can. After our amazing climb we had lunch and then went to Ceasarea. Then we loaded up on the bus for Jerusalem. When we arrived here in Jerusalem, we stopped to look out onto the city. Beautiful! Tomorrow we continue our journey, but only here, in Jerusalem.

Keep lifting us up in prayer!

Love you all,

Vicki

Today is indescribable. I will do my very best to put it into words. Some of you will get it and some of you won't and thats okay.

Today, was by far the most difficult hike. We climbed Qumram! Then from our teaching there. G-d brought only a few of us to the very top. But my climb wasn't for me...it was to feel, experience and know where Michelle was on each of her climbs. I kept singing this Jeremy Camp Song as we walked through the dessert a day before this hike and not knowing why, until today. Holy Fire, burn away, my desire for anything that is not of You and is of me, I want more of you and less of me. Holy Fire, burn away, my desire for any thing that is not of you and is of me, I want more of you and less of me. Empty me. Empty me. And Fill, won't you fill me, with You. Empty me.

But had I not did that impossible climb, when Scott said, if any want's to run to the top real quick? Which we didn't do very quick at all. I wouldn't have been filled with Him and had a compassionate heart toward my sweet sister, Michelle. It doesn't start there. When I got approx 200 ft away, I felt defeated. Like I couldn't push on, and just earlier, Ben had mention that last time her was here, that he didn't make the climb and regretted. I get to a place where Michelle most likely felt often, and that I was...in her shoes. I looked at Ben and said, "I can't go on...leave me her". Ben looks at me and says "I'm not leaving you. I'm staying right here with you. Give me your pack." I flooded with tears, just as my eyes do now, sharing this moment with you. He also said that community! Which only melted me more.

Thank you so much for your prayers for each of us on this amazing journey.

At this very moment, I"m feeling, dizzy, lightheaded and Not good! I cannot eat at this moment. Please pray for God to fill me up with His strength and well being.

Shalom,

Vicki

Israel Day 4

Hello All! I had Ben help me get the Hebrew text off of my blog so that I could log in and blog! Yahoo! Today was a challenging day just like the rest of the days. Only today we wondered in the dessert all day...yes, ALL day. I have a whole new understanding about slavery and what that might have looked like for the Israelites. It broke my heart to understand the bondage that they were in. We had some alone time with G-d in the wilderness today and that was amazing. We climbed some challenging areas and I will post some pictures. After our time in the wilderness we got to walk through a tabernacle replica. So amazing to see the magnitude of what that would have looked like. I will post a picture of that too.

It's late here and we have another early start tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers and keep lifting me up in prayer.

Love you all,

Vicki

Conversation w/Vicki

Hello all...Phil here...I just talked with Vicki, it is 5AM and she can not sleep, been up since 2AM. She must have gotten too much sleep on the airplane! Both her and Meg, her roommate on the trip, are wide awake in their room preparing for their hike today. They will take off on their journey at 7AM...

"Don't let what you can't do get in the way of what you can do."

Pre-Israel

Well, it's getting closer! We are all getting excited here about my trip to Israel. Emily and Caleb have made a little something to help them see when I will be returning home. I posted a picture below. Phil is very supportive and has been from the very beginning. I think he knew I was suppose to be on this journey way before I did. He ordered me a water bottle to help me remember my loved ones here. A picture is posted below for you to see. Very thoughtful. For those that don't know it, my friends here have nicknamed him fabulous and let me just tell you...he lives up to the name. Always thinking of others.

Tomorrow, will be our last hike before we leave on Monday. We are hiking in a local park in San Antonio. It's approximately a 4 mile hike, all up hill, so it seems. The plan is for us all to hike it twice around tomorrow. This will be nothing compared to what we will be hiking when we arrive in Israel. We leave S.A. Monday morning approximately at 7-am and arrive in Israel, Tuesday approximately at noon. We will start our journey as soon as we arrive. Our first hike is planned right when we get there. So exciting!

Please help me pray for my family while I'm away and for me as I travel this journey that only God can give me the strength and encouragement to do. I've prepared in my mind that this journey will not be easy and I know that only God can give me what I will need to make it and I know He will, because He is faithful in all things.

Thank you all for your support and prayers.

Love,

Vicki