Adventures with Michael in Jerusalem!!

 

Michael finally made it to Jerusalem on November 9th!! It's always an adventure with him, and we had an amazing and wonderful few days together - - Our 'alone time' will come to an end today as the Remnant Church group of 20 arrives  this morning- and for the next 9 days it will be 'group time' with some awesome friends who will all be BLESSED to be here in Israel...God is Good!!!!

Here with are at the Old city walls and the tower of David behind us:)

Michael found a band to play with at the Mamilla Mall

On Ben Yehuda Street - enjoying some iced coffee and just a bit of shopping...

So don't ask why he's holding a rolled up Remnant Church sign...it's kinda complicated - but he thought this coffee shop sign went along with it...

Back at the Mamilla Mall - we hired an artist to do a portrait of Michael...he's doing an incredible job, don't you think...such a likeness!!

Michael had to give the artist some pointers though, he couldn't help himself...

AROMA TIME....

 

OK, so this is what the absolute COOLEST and bestest and most important thing we do together in Jerusalem - WORSHIP together at the House of Prayer in the City of David:)

 

 

We found an awesome lookout on a roof in the Jewish Quarter to get a tremendous view of the Western Wall...

I think Michael is spying on something or someone up on the Mount of Olives...

 There was a huge model of the 2nd Temple up on this rooftop...really cool

Couldn't stop taking pics - the sky was amazing looking over the Temple Mount...

Seemed like selfie-time...

Beautiful day, and beautiful scenery - breathing prayers...

 Just WOW...

 Jerusalem could no longer contain Michael -so now we are are in Bethlehem - this pic taken from the roof of our new friend Lamaan, who agreed to show us around the city of Bethlehem.

Bethlehem is a city built on hills, but this is a lower flat part down in a valley, where Boaz's fields would have been, and where Ruth would have gleaned the fields, and met her future husband.

Here we are at the Shepherds field - the place where they commemorate the shepherds and the angels announcements on the night of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem:)

Inside the church there - looking up at the dome...

Painting in the church...

View of Bethlehem hills from the Shepherd's field...

Ashley, me and Michael at the Shepherd's field...

Fountain of sheep..

Lots of caves around Bethlehem - here's one...did you know that Jesus was born in a cave, not a 'manger'?  The caves are where they kept the animals.   We didn't go to the Church of the Nativity - because we'd all been there a few times already - but the place where they believe Jesus was born is in a cave:)

Old City of Bethlehem - pic taken from the car window...driving through ancient streets.

Solomons' pools - ancient way to collect water and distribute it to both Jerusalem and the Herodium (one of Herod's palaces near Bethlehem)

Beautiful scenery - countryside - that's a monastery down below in the valley.

Driving past and saw this - Putin and Abbas

Lamaan's mother invited us to lunch in her home!!! WOW, awesome traditional Mediterranean meal made for us:)

Ashley, me, Michael, Lamaan's Dad and his Mom..what a precious beautiful family, warmly invited us to eat with them.

Mama is dishing up the plates...and as soon as you finish off just a little food on your plate she piles some more food on it..:)

After the delicious meal - Papa is drinking Turkish coffee.. He says he drinks a pot of this very strong stuff a day....that's why he looks soooo happy and awake!!

Here's Lamaan and Michael in Lamaan's recording studio...Michael couldn't help himself again, he had to play 'music studio' with his new Bethlehemite friend!!!

Hope you enjoyed being with Michael in Jerusalem and Bethlehem....:)