The Holy Lands
I was amazed as I returned to the Holy Lands after 20 years how much I’d forgotten. It’s not what I forgot about what is there, or the data I learned, but I had forgotten how much being in the Holy Land affects your soul. It was especially encouraging to see how being in the land affected Kelly, Emma Grace and the rest of our team. I loved seeing how different people on the team were impacted in different ways at different places. For most of our team, one of the most powerful experiences we had was worshiping on the Sea of Galilee. Over a period of 10 days we went from the north to the south experiencing the things and places where our Savior was and where much of what we read in the Old Testament and New Testament took place. It’s sweet to think as you travel throughout Israel that you’re looking at a city, or climbing a hill, that Jesus looked at or climbed. In the course of the trip you must continually remember that you aren’t there to just see old things but you are there to grow closer to God. One of the things I’ve learned about traveling is that sometimes the most profound impact of the trip doesn’t happen on the trip. That’s especially true in this case. It’s not while you’re there, but after you get home and have time to really reflect on what you’ve seen and experienced, that you begin to really grasp the significance of being there. Already, as I’ve been working on my Christmas sermons I’ve had many things I saw and was reminded of affect how I think about the Christmas passages. While not everyone can go to the Holy Lands, I’d encourage anyone who has the chance to go and see the land that was and is so very special to our Father. Many have asked about when TBC Cayce will go back to the Holy Lands and so I’m looking into something for 2019.

Until then … Shalom.
Eddie