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Quicklinks Description of Trip
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An educational and experiential trip to the biblical land of Israel and Jordan
"...Five gospels record the life of Jesus. Four you will find in books and one you will find in the land they call holy. Read the fifth gospel and the world of the four will open to you."
-Bargil Pixner in With Jesus Through Galilee According to the Fifth Gospel
Your worldview will be expanded, your spiritual journey will be stimulated, your biblical understanding will deepen, and your life will be infused with a spirit of adventure as we spend two weeks travelling through the 'holy' and 'unholy' aspects of Israel and Jordan. Most people think of Israel in terms of the Holy Land and rightly so. However, many countries in proximity to Israel also lay claim to being a part of the biblical 'Holy Land." For the final leg of our journey we will engage the same geography where a significant portion of our Old Testament narratives are situated - in the country of Jordan!
The Holy Land is a land of contradictions and difficulty, both historically and in present times. As we interact with the various 'unholy' dimensions of conflict, occupation, diversity of religions, etc., you will come away with a better understanding of the social and political landscape Jesus lived in. Whereas some trips to Israel focus solely on the biblical sites from a devotional perspective, you will also be challenged as you interact with individuals, living today, from various backgrounds; Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Israeli, Palestinian, etc. A better understanding of yesterday (history) is only as valuable as its lessons can be applied to today.
Your trip leader will be Doug Balzer, Lead Pastor at High River Alliance Church in High River, Alberta. Doug participated in the "Summer School in the Holy Land" in 2006 - an educational travel experience that was based out of Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem. That experience, and several related research projects, formed the remaining elements of his Master's program. He holds degrees from Canadian Bible College and Canadian Theological Seminary (now Ambrose University College) in Biblical Studies and an M.A. in Leadership and Ministry.
We will be guided by experienced Israeli tour guides in Israel and the same in Jordan as required by law in both countries. We are presently attempting to secure the best tour guides that Doug interacted with in 2006.
Leaving from Calgary July 3 and returning July 19, 2009. These dates are presently tentative and can only be finalized sometime during the fall of 2008. Because we benefit financially from booking our flight as a group, alternate travel plans emerging from a stopover in Europe are not possible.
Cost: $3800+/- CAD (based on double occupancy) This cost is approximate and may fluctuate as airlines do not release tickets and prices until 11 months or less from time of travel. This price is inclusive of all travel to and from Calgary, ground travel in Israel and Jordan, all accommodations, site fees, etc., and most meals. You may be on your own for an occasional meal. A payment schedule will be released in the fall of 2008, giving you the opportunity to "spread out" your costs. Additional costs that are not included but that you may wish to consider: cancellation insurance, travel/health insurance.
Registration will not begin until the fall of 2008. If you wish to be notified when this or other new information is available, please email Doug Balzer to indicate your interest in participating in this adventure.
What makes this trip different from other Holy Land trips? Several things: -We will not attempt to use the Holy Land as a 'devotional backdrop' to our Western version of Christianity. Instead, we will attempt to enter the Holy Land and allow it, and its people, to teach us, challenge us and shape us. We will attempt to allow the land to speak for itself. -In addition to seeing the sites one might expect on any Holy Land tour, we will also interact with the people of the land including Palestinians and Christians caught in the cross-fire of decades-long conflict. We will seek to interact with the historical land as well as present day people. -Our group will be comparatively small. We will not expand our group beyond one tour bus - ideally aiming for a group of 20-30 people. This enables a higher level of personal interaction with sites and guides. Keep in mind that many Holy Land tours have several hundred participants as one group! -This trip is designed to be a few days longer than most Holy Land trips to accommodate some of the unique features described below as well as several days in Jordan. We understand the cost represents a lot of money but given the bulk of that is spent on air travel, it only makes sense so maximize the experience once there.
Specifically, what unique features does this trip present? In addition to dozens of fascinating and important historical sites to be seen (see itinerary), this trip will provide some additional features: -Interaction with oppressed Christians in Israel -Interaction with Palestinian Christians in the West Bank -A visit to the Yad Vashem - a life-changing experience visiting the Israeli Holocaust Museum -Petra, Jordan - one of the ancient Wonders of the World (think Raiders of the Lost Ark)! -Spending an evening and night in a Bedouin camp in the Wadi Rum desert of Jordan. This was Doug Balzer's top highlight of his experience in 2006! You will never see stars at night like in the Wadi Rum!
Why July? Isn't it hot at that time of year? July does bring quite hot temperatures in the Middle East (high 20's and 30's) and that is why we are going then; not for the increased temperatures but for the decreased crowds. The busy tourist seasons of spring and fall leave much of the Holy Land clogged with countless tour buses and even more tourists. Although we will suffer through some heat, we will have the 'priceless' advantage of experiencing many of the sites with relative privacy, calmly and with the resulting opportunity for personal contemplation and reflection.
Who is welcome to participate on this trip? In a word: anyone. This trip is emerging out of the ministry of High River Alliance Church but we welcome anyone to join us, regardless of your background or geography. Travel can likely be arranged from other parts of North America as part of the planning of your trip.
What about security and safety? Unlike many North American trips to the Holy Land, our tour operator is located in Jerusalem; we have no 'middle man' to work with. Guiding Star Travel is a Christian family-run business that has operated since 1961. Their reputation is tremendous as is their knowledge of 'on-the-ground' security dynamics. In brief, we will take no unnecessary risks to ensure the safety and security of our group travel.
Will we take advantage of a lay-over in Europe? Possibly. Our first priority is to secure affordable flights that suit our timeline. If possible, however, we will attempt to design the return flight around a day spent in a city in Europe. (no promises though).
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