This morning our main purpose was to cross into Israel. Normally it wouldn't have been as big of a deal except for the fact that this busiest crossing checkpoint where we were supposed to go, had to stop accepting people at a certain time because the Shabbat, the Sabbath begins for Jews on Friday at Sundown, 4:23pm. On top of that, there were 22 BUSES of Palestinian individuals making their way back from a Holy Day outside of Israel and all coming back today. Well maybe not all, but 22 buses feels like a lot. It reminded me of the worst parts of Black Friday and why it's crazy!

After making it across the border into Orael, (with our bags!) we had to quickly make our way to Qumran before the National Park closed for the Sabbath. We saw Qumran where the oldest pieces of Biblical scro were found on accident by a Jordanian shepherd. After a visit here and a late lunch we made our way towards Jerusalem. To say coming into Jerusalem is awe-inspiring is an understatement. The drove up is beautiful!

We also made our way to the Garden at Gethsemane and that church that sits on top of it, remembering Jesus' suffering as he prayed before his crucifixion. The church is beautiful and we also got to see a 3000 year old tree, which means it is very possible that Jesus was praying under THAT tree the night before he was executed.

Finally back to the hotel and up bright and early for some new site seeing!

It is rather difficult to get photos loaded on this blog, but you can certainly check out our FB and they are posted there! :)

We are so excited to share our journey with you!  We hope that you will join us in prayer as we make this journey, and we will also hold you in prayer at some of these most sacred sites of our timeless faith community.

We will post updates as much as we can - but in the meantime, you can check out our itinerary below.

o   January 13, 2015 - Depart the USA on an international flight to Amman, Jordan

o   January 14, 2015 - Arrive in Amman, Jordan and transfer to the hotel

o   January 15, 2015 - Petra

§  We will travel south from Amman for a visit to the famous Rock City of Petra. Just getting to Petra is an adventure. We’ll ride a horse or carriage to the Siq, the long, narrow entrance into Petra. Once there, we can marvel at the rose colored rock and extensive carving. A whole city was literally cut into the cliff sides. 

o   January 16, 2015 - Mt. Nebo, Madaba, cross border to Israel, Jericho, and Qumran

§  We will visit Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34) before he died. On a clear day we may have an inspiring, breathtaking view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea to the rooftops of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Continue to Madaba, "the city of Mosaics," where we will visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George that features a vivid sixth-century Byzantine mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other holy sites. We will then travel to Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scroll discovery, to discuss the mysterious community of the Essenes who once lived on the shores of the Dead Sea. In Jericho, we will visit the ruins of the ancient city which was conquered by Joshua (Josh. 6:20). From Jericho, we will see the traditional site of the Temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11).  We will then make our way to Jerusalem for the night.

o   January 17, 2015 - Ein Karem, Bethlehem, Shepherds’ Fields, Church of the Nativity, Herodion (Jerusalem)

§  In Bethlehem, we’ll visit the cave revered as the place Jesus was born (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7). The church, which was constructed on the site, is the world’s oldest functioning church. Nearby we will view Shepherds’ Field where the Good News was first heard. Stand atop the Mount of Olives as Jesus did and enjoy a remarkable view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. We will visit the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done (Matt. 26:30).

o   January 18, 2015 - (Jerusalem) Old City, Cardo, Southern Wall Excavations, Teaching Steps, Western Wall, Pool of Bethesda, Church of St. Anne, Antonia Fortress, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre

§  On this day we will enter the Old City and visit the Southern Wall Excavations of the Temple including the Teaching Steps and the Western Wall. We can walk the
 Cardo, the ancient main street of the Old City once lined with shops, now partially restored, view the Pool of Bethesda (John 5: 1-31) where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle, and sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne. We will visit Herod’s Antonia Fortress where Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate (Luke 23: 1 - 11), walk the Via Dolorosa, “the Way of the Cross,” and stand in reverence at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

o   January 19, 2015 - (Jerusalem) Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Mt. Zion, Upper Room, House of Caiaphas, Garden Tomb.

§  We will have the opportunity to stand in "an" Upper Room, revered as the site of the Last Supper (Mark 14:12-26). Mount Zion is also where we’ll see King David’s Tomb. We will visit the House of the High Priest Caiaphas (Matt. 26:57) where Jesus was imprisoned for a night and worship at the Garden Tomb (Matt. 27:33).  We will also have the opportunity to see the sound and light show at the Tower of David!

o   January 20, 2015 - Caesarea, Megiddo, Nazareth, Cana and Tiberias

§  On this day we will visit the Roman Aqueduct and Theatre at Caesarea, a center of the early Christians. Here, Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new religion (Acts 10) and Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for trial. We will travel the ancient caravan route to Tel Megiddo where 20 different cities lie superimposed upon each other and then travel to Nazareth, his boyhood home (Luke 26-56). We will then recall Jesus’ first miracle as you ride through Cana (John 2:1- 11) and overnight in Tiberias.

o   January 21, 2015 - Sea of Galilee Boat Ride, Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes, and Tabgha

§  With Bible in hand, we will cross the waters of the Sea of Galilee. Along the way, we will enjoy a special on board worship service. We’ll arrive in Capernaum, where Jesus chose to center his ministry and visit the synagogue site where Jesus most certainly taught and worshiped (Matt. 4:13; Mark 3:1, 8:5 and 14). We will travel to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached to the people (Matt. 5-7) and at Tabgha, we'll visit the Church of the Fish and the Loaves (Luke 9:10-17).

o   January 22, 2015 - Transfer to airport for return flight to USA

On Thursday and Friday we had two really great days of work at the church.  We continued to paint, and painted almost all of the inside of the church.  They have a sanctuary and two meeting rooms, in addition to a small kitchenette and bathrooms that we were able to clean up and paint.  We also gave some tables a fresh coat of paint and helped to generally clean up the church in preparation for tonight's final celebration together.  Because of what we were able to bring in terms of a donation to the church we were also able to help them (physically and otherwise) to install a roof and a gutter over where the youth meet on Sunday mornings.

Saturday morning we had a GREAT time at "Canopy San Luis" - or zip-lining!  Our entire group flew through the sky like Tarzan and Superman and had a wonderful opportunity to see some of the jungle of Costa Rica.  We have been fortunate to not only get to know the people, but also some of the land while we are here.

We also had the unique opportunity to "get to know" the culture surrounding "La Copa Mundial" or The World Cup, today.  Costa Rica played Uruguay in their first match in the World Cup, and beat Uruguay who was expected to win.  The street and square outside our hotel was CRAZY with excitement and the cars on the streets continued to honk their horns in celebration for about three hours!  What a way to bring together the country!

Tonight was our last night with the church and they put together a large celebration for us tonight.  It was so wonderful to celebrate the Body of Christ with our brothers and sisters from Costa Rica.  We were also able to establish with them that we are in fact from "the same church," all being Disciples of Christ, and so it was great to further develop our relationship with that explanation.  We sang songs and prayed with one another.  They performed dances and songs for us, and we all had marshmallows and hot chocolate by the fire!  They held a very moving prayer for us at the end of the night in which the entire church surrounded our group and prayed for us, and then we all joined in a circle together to pray together for each other.

June 8 - June 15, 2014 our Costa Rican Mission Team from OPCC will be working, fellowshiping (is that a word?) and worshiping with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Alajuela, Costa Rica!  On June 1, in our regular worship service, we commissioned our mission team and sent them on the way with prayers from our faith community.  It appears as if the mission team will be installing a roof, and doing some painting, but more than anything, we are there to nurture the relationships that we have built with our sister church in Costa Rica.  We will do our best to keep you updated by way of the website, through this blog, and of course through Facebook.  We invite you to pray for our entire mission team (listed below), and join us in this prayer for the time while we are away!

Holy and Loving God, we know that Christ has no body but ours, no hands, no feet on earth but ours.  Ours are the eyes with which Christ looks compassion onto this world, ours are the feet with which he walks to do good, ours are the hands with which he blesses all the world.  Ours are the hands, ours are the feet, ours are the eyes, we are his body.  Help us to use our bodies, our minds, and our hearts to be the body of Christ in this world.  Helps us to be carriers of your light to all those we meet.  We pray for your Spirit as this mission team partners with our brothers and sisters in your one family.  We pray for open hearts, and arms, as we embrace the new and unique ways in which they continue to celebrate and share your love with the world.  Grant us the compassion to live one day at a time, as your body here on earth.  Amen.

2014 Costa Rica Mission Trip Participants
Iglesia de Discipluos en Alajuela, Costa Rica

Alli Blackwood
Terri Bookless
Brittany Maxon
Harrison May
Jackie Miller
Kylie Norton
Laura Phillips
Randy Phillips
Layne Reiter
Ann Sandler
Pamela Sandler
Cameron Setty
Kent Setty
Lisa Setty