Courage for My Journey from Eternity to Eternity

By Yvonne Riddick

In this book, you will discover the meaning of courage, perseverance, and faith as you experience Yvonne’s journeys around the world as a missionary and into the heart of God through her obedience to serve His people.

It took courage for her to give up her job security at fifty years old;
To go into the unknown without financial security;
Not to let her prophetic words fall to the ground and not grow; and
To leave her home, family and church for the unknown
Lessons Learned:
• God uses ordinary people to do amazing deeds, and feats for others in need;
• Be the change you want to see in this world;
• You will be Ruined for the ordinary; and
• The fulfillment is greater than any fear; you will have courage for your journey!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664168732

Book preview

MY BEGINNINGS TO THE

NATIONS AND MISSIONS

HISTORY OF ASHLAND, VIRGINIA (VA)

Early History

A FFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS the center of the universe by residents for its central location within the state, Ashland is in the heart of Hanover County.

It was developed by the railroad as a mineral springs resort, and the origin of the town dates to the late 1840s. Officially incorporated on February 19, 1858, the town was named Ashland after native son Henry Clay’s estate in Kentucky.

With the relocation of Randolph Macon College to Ashland in 1868, the town evolved from a railroad resort to a small college town. Constructing US Route 1, and later I-95, further shaped the town’s character and development.

Present Day

Today, Ashland is a community of seven square miles and more than seven thousand residents who enjoy prosperity fueled by the college, a growing private sector, and a strong regional economy.

Ashland is a town born of the railroad, and we are proud of our history. Safe streets and an efficient police department also make Ashland a town of bicyclists, joggers, and walkers. It’s not a flamboyant large town, unknown to many in the big cities of the United States, the capital being Richmond, Virginia.

I inform you to let you know where I am receiving the anointing to go to the Great Commission as Jesus himself spoke for us to do.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matt. 28:18 NKJV)

Beginnings

My journey to the heart of God started in mid-1994 from Ashland, Virginia, at Calvary Pentecostal Tabernacle (CPT) Campground, a missions training camp established over sixty years ago by the late Wallace and Edith Heflin Sr. At the time of my arrival at the campground, the director was Wallace Heflin Jr. His mother, Edith Ward Heflin, sat on the platform with him and blessed the congregation.

She is our wonderful teacher, mentor, and spiritual leader with much wisdom from God and is leading us into his ways. She is a wonderful model of what God will do when you learn to trust him with all that you have and how he will make way for you as he has promised.

There was also Sister Ruth Ward Heflin, who lives in East Jerusalem, Israel, with a great ministry there of her own. She travels to the summer camp meetings. She is so anointed by God to bring us into the glory realm and show us his heart in visions with the prophetic words and songs. She is simply amazing in hearing God’s voice and cooperating with him.

Background

CPT Campground is a humble community in the woods one and a half miles outside Ashland, Virginia, on Elmont Road. Founded in 1955 by Rev. and Mrs. Wallace Heflin Sr., it is a place where people hungry for God can gather in the entire summer and winter camp meetings free. There are two men and women conferences a year, and many hundreds are spiritually fed and blessed. Since those humble beginnings, the campground is known particularly for its prophetic revelation, miracles, and the glory realm.

Spiritually hungry people throughout the world come for a few days, a few weeks, a few months, or a few years. They come for spiritual feasting, refreshing, and renewal, enabling them to take revival back to their churches, communities, and nations with fresh fire and fresh manna to impart to others.

This picture is of the Tabernacle where we hold summer camp meetings. We have summer camp from late June until early September for ten and a half weeks, and there is always at least thirty-five to forty nations represented.

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PHOTO CREDIT: YVONNE RIDDICK

My stay at the campground is educational in the spiritual and the physical as well. I am learning much more about my physical being than the spiritual, even though I am still learning so much about both truths. I am being trained to endure as a good soldier in my walk with Christ. My body reminds me often that I have just come off an administrative job for the Department of Defense (DOD), sitting most of the day in an office environment.

Now, I am standing on my feet over eight hours a day, and going all the time at over fifty is difficult. Giving up and going back home is steadily on my mind; living here at this campground is hard. My duties at this time are in food service, mostly in the kitchen, making food preparations for the four chefs. The kitchen and dining room staff cooks and serves over three hundred people three meals a day, and we have three full church services. I worked for a short time in the office before coming to the Food Service Department.

The kitchen staff is really a tight fit with good unity, and getting the job done for the body of Christ is our main goal here on the campground. We have four great chefs, and I am the prep staff. I am learning lots of good things but not how to cook. The chefs cook and look after the meals with love. We must attend many of the services, especially the 8:00 a.m. prayer and the 8:00 p.m. service.

One night not so long ago after the night service, around 1:00 a.m., I am out in the back of green doors, just taking a walk. Lo and behold, I see cows in the field. What? This is just about as much as I am going to take in these woods. I call my younger sister and say, I need out of this place.

Her answer is God sent you there, and there you will stay!

Well, she hung the phone up on me! She has never denied me anything. How could she do this now? I am angry and upset, but I will stay until God says for me to leave.

I am learning very valuable lessons in ministry, including how to invest my life in others by serving God’s people. I learn to give up the good things in life, like my privacy, luxuries, and my way in so many ways. Turning away from my day-to-day lifestyle is difficult. This is happening for me to learn what I must know of the world I am being sent into by God. He is a wonder and is determined to get me where He wants me to walk in the destiny he ordained for my life since the beginning of time. Your eyes could see me as an embryo, but in your book all my days were already written; my days had been shaped before any of them existed (Ps. 139:16 CJB).

This is a great beginning of my life into missions and his heart. It is evident I can live with much less than I am used to and desire. Even though the campground is a hard place, I can see how it’s a very necessary place for me to be. I am here because of where the Lord is taking me on this journey with him. He leads, I will follow. Where, I don’t know!

People coming from developing countries ask us, Do you really live here? Yes is the answer. It is sometimes just this difficult. We have septic tanks, and it does not smell nice. We use chlorine for drinking water, and sometimes you can taste it and smell it as you drink. Mind you, this is only eleven miles from Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the state of Virginia, and two hundred miles from Washington DC, our nation’s capital.

Ashland Campground is a missionary training ground, where you learn to minister not just in the pulpit but throughout the campground. Most of all, we learn servanthood and God-pleasing work ethics. The same people who travel the world preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, healing the sick, and giving prophetic words to the nations are responsible for the upkeep of the campground. Here, they are the same people who clean the toilets, the Tabernacle where the guests stay, and the rooms and sleeping places on the entire campground. They cook and serve the food to the many people of the nations sent by God. They keep the grounds clean and make sure the campground is running properly before, during, and after camp meetings. We live here as a camp family; this is our home.

On the campground, there are no titles—Mother Heflin, Brother Heflin, Sister Ruth, Brother Ward—and all camp family are called sister or brother. These are mighty people used by God yet not seeking titles. They are all world travelers, evangelists, missionaries, and prophets to the nations but humbly seeking God and following as he leads.

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PHOTO CREDIT: CALVARY CAMPGROUND

Ruth Ward Heflin, affectionately called Sister Ruth, lives in East Jerusalem with a great ministry there of her own called Mount Zion fellowship. She also travels to the summer camp meetings. She is so anointed to bring us into the glory realm and show us his heart in visions and the prophetic words and songs. From her teachings, my spirit is now set in eternity. She is simply amazing.

After the summer camp meeting, we are expected to go to the four corners of the earth as the Lord will lead. We go to the minister and give out what we received through the summer camp meetings. Hands are laid on us for the service of the Lord, and prophetic words were spoken over us of God’s intention for our lives—of the great commission to many nations.

There are invitations from the different pastors and ministers from the different nations for the camp family to come and share the love of God and his word with their congregations. We are encouraged to keep the fire burning and the glory of God we are receiving from the camp meetings to impart to the nations of the world. We will travel to different parts of the world, but we always come back for summer camp meetings. We are happy to be back, to be refilled, and to serve the people of the nations that God sends us to. We need to be fed and refilled and to be a blessing to the camp family also.

The power of God is a mighty presence on the campground. People travel from all over the world to be in his presence, and he will not disappoint them. What a mighty God we serve. He looks beyond our faults and sees our needs and is so willing to meet us right where we are.

We have dynamic, godly speakers with great prophetic utterances, and we see miracles of healing as the servants of God speak and declare his word. It is also a place for the upcoming leaders and evangelists of the camp family to get a start in ministry. We are mentored and trained to go forth in his name.

Many wonderful ministries have and are coming out of CPT and are doing great works for the Lord. They carry the anointing and are known for praise and worship, ushering their congregation into the glory of God and speaking prophetic words over people’s lives as taught and as hands are laid upon them from the leaders. They are traveling the world from CPT and training many others as they go. It becomes contagious, and we are never the same. We cannot function in ordinary life and be fulfilled ever again.

I am always excited when Sister Ruth comes to summer camp to minister. She takes us into his glory for me like never before. God gave her the revelation of glory before it was a buzzword, so to speak. She says, As air is the atmosphere of the earth, glory is the atmosphere of heaven. It lifts us up above the earthly, into the very presence of God.

She teaches us in her words, "When I moved to Jerusalem to live and worship on Mount Zion, the Lord began to show me the progression from praise to worship to glory and the relationship among the three. I have found myself sharing these simple truths with God’s people from all over the world. Praise until the spirit of worship comes. Worship until the glory comes. Then stand in the glory! If you can capture the basic principles of praise, worship, and glory—so simple that we often miss them—you can have anything else you want in God. It doesn’t matter if you’re alone and have nobody to agree with you in prayer. It doesn’t matter at what stage you are in your spiritual development. Move into the glory realm, and anything becomes possible!"

On the campground, each summer camp meeting, our Sister Jane Lowder is in charge of the snack bar after night service for the very hungry people staying on the ground. During the many nights of the camp meeting she lies between the pews on the platform, interceding while Brother Heflin and the many speakers for the camp meetings are speaking! I appreciate her intercessory prayers and labor for the camp meetings and beyond.

We hold ministers’ meetings in January and winter camp meetings in the month of February. We serve three meals per day and three services per day as we serve the nations sent to us by God’s Spirit. Learning true servanthood is not always easy but oh so necessary in the kingdom of God. I am being told, This place is a hospital, healing the spirit, soul, and body. I have never been to a place like this. This is very true for so many people.

At the women’s spring and fall conferences, we expect the great glory of God to fall upon us, his daughters. What times of enlightening and refreshing we have in these meetings. The atmosphere is charged with praise, worship, and glory. There are words of wisdom, knowledge, and the prophetic given to the congregation in these times. We see miracles and healings of many kinds flow in these meetings. This makes it easy to bring forth the word of God in power and might for the speakers. The speakers also minister to the congregation personally, and God encourages the congregation to listen to what God is saying and to put the words into action for their lives. Faith without action is dead!

Then, there are tours to Israel twice a year, March and October, led by Brother Heflin, with many of the camp family, including Mother Heflin, joining along to bless the nation of Israel, and there are blessings waiting there for those going.

COME AND GO WITH ME AND

ENJOY THIS JOURNEY TOO!

Reflections of October 1993: My first journey is a tour to Israel with the Camp while still working for the DOD. It is Brother Heflin’s fiftieth trip to the Holy Land. On this trip, there are two busloads with ninety-eight people. This trip will take us first to Amman, Jordan; Damascus, Syria; then on to Israel, where we will visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Judea, Galilee, Jericho, Masada, and many other places in the Bible. It is fast-paced, so let’s go. Keep up. You will enjoy it.

On this trip, my sister Joyce Hamelin is with me; she is in the picture below. She inspired me to come. What beauty I see in the valley in Petra, Jordan. The red-rose clay of the city of Petra is breathtaking. I have a little boy to guide my horse since I am not an experienced rider, and I am enjoying my ride. As I see the beauty and majesty of this place, all I can do is sing How Great Thou Art, and my heart does rejoice at his majesty and his creation. Only God can create such artful and picturesque beauty as this.

My guide is just a small boy; and by custom, he cannot touch a female. As I go to give him money for his work, my hand accidentally touches his. He is insulted and wipes his hands on his clothes. Oh my!

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PHOTO CREDIT: YVONNE RIDDICK

It is fun to have my name written with the sands of Petra and put it into a jar while I go visiting the city. It is a wonderful time, and I so enjoy this place. There is such a feeling of great mystery, as I see people living supposedly in the caves. I find it unnerving that men on camels and horses ride up behind me, and I never even hear them. I look up, and there they are, just smiling. What an adventure.

"Ancient Petra is traditionally biblical Sela, capital of Edom. According to legend, it was here that Moses struck the rock and drew water (Exod. 17). The Nabateans made it their capital city in the sixth century BC and carved the magnificent structures we see today into the rose-red-colored rock. These were used as burial places and for other ritual purposes. The Nabateans were a semi-nomadic people and did not build permanent homes, so no houses or other remains survive. From Petra, the Nabateans controlled their lucrative trade routes and enjoyed centuries of prosperity. At first, they coexisted with the Roman Empire; however, in AD 106, the Romans took over the city.

Petra was cut off from the West for over one thousand years. The Bedouin who lived here guarded their secret place zealously, refusing entry to outsiders. In 1812, a young Swiss explorer, Burckhardt, disguised himself as a Muslim and entered Petra, telling his suspicious guide that he had vowed to sacrifice a goat at Jebel Haroun (Mount Aaron, where the Bedouin believe that Moses’s brother died and is buried). After Burckhardt’s accounts of Petra were published, the ancient city opened up to foreign travelers. (Source: Wikipedia).

For the opening up to foreigners, I am most thankful. How would I ever capture such beauty as this for my memories to share and to cherish?

One thing I love and will remember about being in Jordan is the ice cream. It is delicious. We are told that it is made with camel’s milk, but that’s OK with me. I love the creamy taste and flavor. It’s something new and mysterious, and it makes me feel daring.

The people are very friendly. When I meet a group of black Muslim women, they see me, and say sista, and their smiles are very beautiful and welcoming. I am sure they know we are touring, but they recognize me as a person of the same skin.

We have wonderful spirit-filled meetings at night in the lovely hotels we stay in, and we meet with God. We sing, dance, and pray. Then come words of knowledge and wisdom, and the prophetic unction flows, and people are healed, some physically and some mentally. The bus rides are so anointed as we pray for the land, the people, and declare God’s word, plans, and purposes for this land of Jordan. What wonderful road trips praising and worshiping God as we ride down the highways and byways, reading God’s eternal word for his people!

NOW INTO DAMASCUS, SYRIA

S YRIA WAS THE region located to the northeast of Palestine. Its principal city is Damascus. In Old Testament times, the region was called Aram. The king of Syria was an opponent of King Solomon (1 Kings 11:23–25). Later, a king of Syria joined with King Ahaz of the northern kingdom of Israel to throw off Assyrian domination. When the southern kingdom of Judah refused to join the rebellion, Syria and Israel attacked Judah in a conflict known as the Syro-Ephraimite War.

Ancient City of Damascus

Founded in the third millennium BC, Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East. In the Middle Ages, it was the center of flourishing craft industry, specializing in swords and laces. The city has 125 monuments from different periods of its history. One of the most spectacular is the eighth-century Great Mosque of the Umayyads, built on the site of an Assyrian sanctuary.

The Assyrians conquered the Syrian capital in 732 BCE. In New Testament times, Jesus’s reputation as a healer spread into Syria (Matt. 4:24).

Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ took place near Damascus in Syria (Acts 9:1–9). There were several Christian communities in Syria, which Paul contacted during his missionary efforts (Acts 15:23, 41; Gal. 1:21).

As I enter the mosque, I have to be dressed in all black. It is their custom I must be covered completely to enter into their holy place. Going into the mosque is interesting. The building is beautiful outside and inside. Its opulence and splendor is so much for the eye to take in. Outside, it looks like it’s made of gold. It seems no expense was spared.

It is here in this city I see where and how concubines and harem girls lived, and it is very depressing. The room or area is small! It’s as though they had no freedom, just look pretty and be at the service of their masters.

Seeing many of the holy sights of long ago is wonderful and mind-blowing. The food is good, and the people here are very friendly and warm.

NOW OFF TO ISRAEL

W E ARE NOW arriving in Tel Aviv (the city known for playing). Sixty Jewish families who wanted to escape the cramped living conditions of Jaffa established the modern metropolis, which is today Tel Aviv, in 1909. They bought an area of sand dunes north of Jaffa, planning to build a modern suburban quarter, and called it Tel Aviv after Tel-Abib in Babylon where the prophet Ezekiel came for them out of the captivity. The city is bound on the west by a long beautiful sunny beach with a promenade reaching Jaffa.

Truly, this is a fun-filled place to visit. Our hotel is near the site of the old Port of Jaffa where the Apostle Peter had a vision while sitting on the rooftop of the house of Simon the Tanner, and he received God’s command to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (me). I am so happy that he preached the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ in power and truth and demonstration. There is so much to see and to remember. Whew!

Now, on to Haifa (the city known for paying)! Afterward, we will visit Mount Carmel, Megiddo, Nazareth, Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, and Canaan.

Haifa is built above the harbor on the slopes of Mount Carmel. The gold-plated dome of the Baha’i Temple set in the formal Persian gardens dominates this landscape. The Baha’i faith stresses the unity of God and the brotherhood of mankind.

Haifa is Israel’s third largest city after Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. When the Hejaz railway line was built in 1905, the construction of the harbor in 1933 and the refineries in 1934 all helped the rapid development of Haifa. Near Haifa, on the heights of Mount Carmel, are the picturesque Druze villages of Daliyat al-Karmel and Isfiya with their large range of Druze arts and crafts in the main streets.

Megiddo is on the Via Maris. It was a major battleground in the past because of its strategic location and importance, connecting the towns in the center of the country with the sea. It is related in the New Testament and that Armageddon (Megiddo) is where the final battle between the forces of good and evil will take place. This is also one of the walled city-states taken by Joshua. Remains can be seen of a partially restored, walled town with superb gates. Excellent models explain the complicated archaeological complex.

The city of Nazareth is in a valley in southern Galilee. Here, Joseph and Mary lived, and Jesus spent his childhood. In the first century AD, only Jews populated Nazareth; but with the strengthening Roman Empire, the number of Christians living here grew. From the fourth century onward, churches were built on the sites, which were connected with Jesus and the Virgin Mary.

The Basilica of the Annunciation dominates every view of Nazareth. It is the fifth church built on the spot where the Angel Gabriel stood when he prophesied to the Virgin Mary she would conceive a child. The remains of the first church were discovered during excavations started on the site in 1955. The second church was built during the Byzantine period, the third at the beginning of the twelfth century, and the fourth was completed in 1877.

Now it is time to move on to Tiberias. The capital of Lower Galilee, Tiberias is situated 209 meters below sea level on the southwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, founded the town in about AD 20.

It is such a joy to be in the places that our Lord and Savior lived and walked during his childhood and ministry time. It also brings the Bible to life. From this day until forever, as I read the Bible, it will come to life visually. Many of the gospel stories took place around this area in Galilee.

Today the biblical atmosphere of tranquility has been replaced by the noise and gaiety of a modern tourist resort. Here, the hot mineral springs of nearby Hamat, Tiberias are as popular now as they were in Roman times. Water sports are another attraction with the mild winter temperatures; people do enjoy these activities all year round.

There are great hotels, food, and fun. It is so delightful and truly a blessing to be on the Sea of Galilee, sailing along praising God and marveling at his majesty. I am here!

As Sister Virginia Thomas sings Ordinary People, the anointing is so high. Yes, God still uses ordinary people willing to be used by him. What an anointed and enjoyable ride on the Sea of Galilee.

Cana, we are on our way! This is Cana, the city near Nazareth where Jesus performed his first miracle. At a wedding he was attending, the wine for the sanctification ran out; and Jesus ordered that six stone jars used in the ritual purification be filled with water. When drawn off, this miraculously becomes wine. The bible states, This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him (Jn. 2:11 NKJV).

Here in Cana are two churches, one Greek Orthodox and the other is Franciscan, which was built in 1879 on the remains of a sixth-century sanctuary. This is the site of the village synagogue where the wedding is believed to have been.

Excavations have revealed that the church had been erected on the ruins of a synagogue. An inscription of a dedication written in Aramaic was found buried in the mosaic floor. This is to honor the memory of Joseph, son of Tanhum son of Butah, and his sons who made this mosaic. May he be blessed, amen and amen. We certainly have had a great full day.

Thank you Father God for a great dinner with lots of good food, a time of praise and worship and a wonderful night with the Lord in our meetings, and now a time of rest.

Now on the Mount Beatitudes, Capernaum, Sea of Galilee, Jordan River. Between Tabgha and Capernaum, on a slight rise, is the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. The remains of a small Byzantine church were discovered here in 1935; but the Franciscans chose to rebuild the modern Church of the Beatitudes on the hilltop, not over the ancient chapel.

We are now in Capernaum, where Jesus met his first disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew, all fishermen who worked on the Sea of Galilee. Here, Jesus preached and performed many miracles and in the surrounding area. He healed Peter’s wife’s mother of a fever, brought a child back to life, cured a leper, healed the centurion’s servant, and he cast out the spirits with his word and healed all that were sick (Matt. 8:16).

Beholding what a millstone looks like, I ask, "Who would really want this millstone tied around their neck by offending a little one in Christ?" This is suicide for sure!

Here, I see the church of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. It is so beautiful, and there is such a feeling of history here. I am excited!

THIS IS THE MOMENT I HAVE WAITED FOR SO LONG!

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PHOTO CREDIT: YVONNE RIDDICK

Here, I am one pilgrim who comes from afar to the Yardenit, the place of baptism. Brother Heflin immerses me in the Jordan River and gives me such powerful, prophetic words I will cherish forever. I feel it is such a privilege to have this opportunity to be baptized in this body of water.

I feel renewed in my spirit and freedom in Christ as never before. This feeling is like God is honoring me to be in this place, and for this, I am so thankful.

My friend Norma Beecher, as she is being baptized, is slain in the spirit; and she floats down the river and must be rescued, brought out of the water, still in the spirit. Way to go, Norma!

The children of Israel crossed the River Jordan opposite Jericho when they came into the Promised Land. The prophet Elijah divided its waters and crossed with Elisha on dry land and was then taken by a whirlwind up to heaven. Naaman the Syrian dipped in the waters seven times and was cured of his leprosy. And Jesus’s site of baptism was most likely farther south, near the Judean desert. But still, it’s the same body of water—how exciting!

Oh, what joy fills my soul. This is happening! Thank you, Father, for a new start and newness in you. So many people have come through these waters, coming up and out, feeling renewed, refreshed, and will never be the same. Thank you, Father God, for this privilege.

Take me to the River Jordan to be baptized is the cry of many hearts. Oh my, oh my, the goodness of the Lord never ceases in my life.

There’s another tasty dinner, anointed fellowship, God’s word coming strong and anointed into our spirits—what more to ask for than a restful night and that also will be done.

This morning, we go to Mount Tabor, the Jordan Valley, Jericho, and the Dead Sea. Our winding hairpin ride up to Mount Tabor is quite a chilling experience; we are praying up and around the mountain as we are going up, up, up, and up this mountain. The taxi drivers are used to this mountainous ride and make sure it is extra scary. It is fast around those winding hairpin roads for us. They know we are scared; so the higher we go up the mountains, the faster they drive.

Oh my, I do thank God for his mercies that are new every morning, especially the morning after this mountainside trip. The sights are extraordinarily beautiful. Even though we know these are replicas, it still gives you a feel of the place and times of long, long ago. I thank God for the Catholic Church for preserving these memorials.

Mount Tabor, at 1,850 feet, is the highest mountain in the area. It was traditionally on the summit of Mount Tabor, the high mountain apart, that Jesus was transfigured in the eyes of Peter, James, and John and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light (Matt. 17:2).

From here, there is a magnificent view of the Jezreel plain and Nazareth to the west, Samaria to the south, and the Galilee to the north.

Now to the Jordan Valley! From its sources—the Dan, Hasbani, and Banias—the River Jordan flows through the Hula Valley and the Sea of Galilee via the Jordan Valley, spilling into the northern end of the Dead Sea. This last tract winds along 103.7 miles although the actual distance is only around 64.6 miles. The northern part of the Jordan Valley is lush and fertile with citrus and mango groves, orchards, and fishpond.

As the River Jordan winds its way southward, the land becomes increasingly barren until it reaches the Judean desert.

Jericho, the City of Palms, is believed to be the oldest city in the world. It lies six hundred feet below sea level in a plain traversed by the River Jordan. At Tel es-Sultan are the remains of an 8000 BC settlement. In 3000 BC, Jericho was an important Canaanite town, which, after being encircled by Joshua, fell to the blast of the priests’ trumpets in about 1250 BC, the first city to be taken by the Israelites. Although Joshua had forbidden the rebuilding of the city, in the ninth century BC, Hiel the Bethelite did build Jericho (1 Kings 16:34). Joshua’s curse came true, for Hiel lost, or perhaps sacrificed, his oldest son, Abiram, and his youngest son, Segub. Despite the curse, the city lasted four hundred years.

Opposite the tel is the Spring of Elisha, or Sultan’s Spring, where the prophet healed the spring of water by throwing salt in it (2 Kings 2:21).

This is his story, and I love seeing the biblical places with my eyes. I will never be spoon-fed by others again. I believe the Bible!

Dead Sea, here we come! Bathing in the water is a curious experience. Everyone floats, and a non-swimmer cannot drown as long as the head is kept held up.

The Dead Sea, the name by which this large salt lake is commonly known, is the lowest spot on earth, 1,290 feet below sea level. It measures forty-eight miles in length and eleven miles across. The curious oily feel of the lake water is due to the high solid contents that account for 30 percent. These are in salts, the most important being magnesium, sodium, calcium, potassium chloride, and magnesium bromide. These are refined and processed and then utilized for industrial and agricultural purposes. The percentage of salt in the Dead Sea is over ten times that in ocean water.

Already in biblical times, the sea was called by several names: the Salt Sea (Gen. 14:3), the Sea of the Arapaho or plain (Josh. 3:16), and the East Sea (Ezek. 14:8). Josephus called it the Sea of Asphalt; and in the Talmud, it is mentioned as the Sea of Salt and the Sea of Sodom. How very interesting—so many names for this sea. We have another tasty dinner, anointed fellowship, God’s word, restful night, and good sleep.

This morning, we are up and ready to go. There is so much to see and so many places to go before this tour is over; but I am so happy to be here, observing so much! Let’s spend time at Masada, Qumran, Bethany, and Jerusalem (the city for praying). Yes, the heroic stand of the zealots at Masada in AD 73 is probably the most well-known story in the long history of Israel. Herod’s stronghold is set on a wide plateau overlooking the Dead Sea.

In 20 BC, Herod fled Jerusalem, taking refuge with his wife and family at Masada. Leaving them there, he continued on his journey to Egypt, finally reaching Rome. Chosen to be king of Judea in 37 BC, Herod returned to Masada with two Roman legions. He built himself huge palaces with wonderful mosaic floors and magnificently decorated walls. Enormous storehouses and massive fortifications were also added to the complex. When Herod died in 4 BC, Masada passed to this son, Archelaus; but soon it was taken over by Roman rule.

Masada became an armed Jewish encampment when it was taken over by the zealots in AD 66. Many survivors fled from Jerusalem after its fall in AD 70. Taking refuge atop Masada, they banded together, holding out against Rome until AD 72 when the Tenth Roman Legion attacked this final Jewish stronghold.

The zealots held out for another year until AD 73 when they committed mass suicide or mercy killings rather than be captured by their enemy. It is still in our power to die bravely, and in a state of freedom, which has not been the case of others, who were conquered unexpectedly.

Maintained once more as a Roman garrison, Masada soon fell into disuse until it was inhabited for a short time by a small band of Byzantine monks during the fifth century.

Deserted once more, Masada remained silent and unused until the inception of the State of Israel. Now it is the venue for the solemn swearing-in ceremony of soldiers from one of Israel’s elite armored units. With the words Masada shall not fall again! ringing in their ears, they carry on the tradition of the zealots.

My prayer: Father God, please forgive man’s cruelty to one another. We are all made in your image, and you love us all. Thank you!

Come, let us go to Qumran Cave. The most stunning biblical archaeological find took place in 1947 when a young Bedouin boy unknowingly discovered lots and lots of ancient manuscripts, the Dead Sea Scrolls, high in a cave at Qumran on the western shore of the Dead Sea.

Excavations led by Roland de Vaux had uncovered remains from five periods when the settlement of Qumran was inhabited. Vast scriptorium bears evidence of the scribes’ work, transcribing texts from the Bible and other works written during the Second Temple area on leather, papyrus, and copper.

When Titus and the Roman legions arrived at Jericho, the Essenes, as the sect was known, fled, hiding their scrolls in the nearby caves. The desert kept their secret for almost two thousand years. The discovery of the scrolls had an enormous effect on the Christian world as they were transcribed during the time of the birth of Christianity. The scrolls discovered at Qumran are now housed in the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Learning never ever stops. This is wonderful and so much fun.

Bethany Awaits us

Known in Arabic as Al-Eizariya, Bethany was the home of Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary. Here, Mary sat at Jesus’s feet but Martha was busy about much serving. When she complained to Jesus that Mary did not help her, Jesus told Martha that Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her (Lk. 10:39–40).

Lazarus became ill and died; and when he had been dead four days, Jesus came from the River Jordan on his way to Jerusalem and Jesus restored him back to life. Here, we see the tomb of Lazarus, which is deep into the ground with many stairs, and the sanctuary named Saint Lazarus. I can now imagine Jesus calling Lazarus Come forth and the miracle it was to even come out of the grave from so deep within the ground. What a sight it must have been to behold Lazarus when he was loosed and let go, back to life.

We’re leaving the city of Bethany now and entering the city of the Great King: Jerusalem (the city for praying). How exciting! I have waited to see this city for so many years, and now I am here—yes, here. Coming up to the city from the beautiful Judean wilderness is a wonder to see.

This is marvelous. There’s so much to absorb his story coming to life over and over; I will never be the same again. Oh, bless his name. I quickly learn that Jerusalem encompasses so much of what I read in the Bible and what I still see on this tour. Yes, I am tired and in need of sleep, but the excitement is mounting, and I am ready despite how my body feels.

There’s more good food and now we are in fellowship at Mount Zion Fellowship with Sister Ruth Heflin at her house in East Jerusalem, and the nations are here also. To be in his glory here in Jerusalem—what can I say?

The five thousand years of constant habitation, with its biblical associations, made Jerusalem unique. There is not another city that has caused so many armed conflicts as Jerusalem. It is situated on the watershed between the Mediterranean, the Dead Sea, and on the ancient Way of the Patriarchs, linking the northern empires to Egypt in the south. It has always been an important junction, a meeting place not only of roads but also of cultures from the north, south, east, and west.

Now let’s go on to the Mount of Olives and Bethlehem. The Chapel of Ascension is a small domed octagonal building on the top of the Mount of Olives, marking the traditional spot where Jesus ascended to heaven. It was here, a Sabbath’s day journey away from Jerusalem, that the risen Jesus departed from his disciples, having encountered them forty days after the crucifixion. Inside the chapel is a stone with the impression of a footprint, believing to have been made by Jesus ascending to heaven.

Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine, originally erected the Eleona, or the Pater Noster Church, in the fourth century. A cavern where Jesus taught his disciples of the Lord’s Prayer is now a chapel, and the Carmelite cloister here is lined with glazed tiles bearing the text of the prayer translated into over sixty languages including Braille.

The Chapel of Dominus Flevit on the Mount of Olives is where Jesus is said to have wept as he foresaw the doom of Jerusalem and the church is in the shape of a tear. From the chapel, there is a stunning view of the Old City of Jerusalem. We took a walk on the Palm Sunday road as pilgrims going to the chapel of Dominus Flevit.

On the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives, there stands to this day a stately grove of eight trees. These trees and their fruit have given this site its name: Gethsemane. Gat-shamna is love press in Aramaic.

Here at Gethsemane, Jesus came with his disciples to pray. Here, he grew despondent and was tempted to find a way out, only finally to overcome the weakness of the flesh and accept the divine will. Betrayed by Judas, Jesus was arrested here by the soldiers of the High Priest and taken away for indictment. I could feel his deep love for his humanity, his people of the world.

We see the Grotto of the Nativity, the Silver Star overlies, and the spot of Jesus’s birth at the Church of the Nativity at Manger Square.

Now to Bethlehem, the royal city of David and the birthplace of Christ. This is one of my favorite places in Bethlehem—Shepherd’s Field, where the angels announced Jesus’s birth. As I sit in this cave, there is such calm and peace I don’t want to leave. Just thinking about the reality of this place is so precious. I love you, Jesus.

Thank God for a great night again and most of all a calm and peaceful night after so much activity. The days are long and the nights short in some ways; but the food, fellowship, and the awesome presence of God keep me refreshed, knowing all that is happening is so worth it! We are winding down, just a few more days, but still so much to see, absorb, remember, feel, and appreciate!

We are now touring around more sites in Jerusalem! Let’s see what’s happening. Ein Karem is the village in the hill country of Judah (Lk. 1:65) where John the Baptist was born. Here, Zacharias, John the Baptist’s father, had his summer home; and here, the Virgin Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. There is a beautiful picture of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth at the Church of the Visitation.

The Old City of Jerusalem comprises four quarters, each with its distinctive characteristics. The Christian Quarter is in the northwest, the Muslim Quarter in the northeast, the Armenian Quarter in the southwest, and the Jewish Quarter in the southeast.

The city walls surround these four quarters, covering an area of approximately 850 dunams. Dunams is a measure of land area used in parts of the former Turkish Empire including Israel. It is equal to about 900 square meters. Built of huge blocks of gray stone, the present walls were constructed between 1536 and 1539 during the time of Suleiman the Magnificent.

Behold, the walled city of Jerusalem. There is no other place like it in the world! It is his city! Amazing, I am here—a dream come true!

The Western Wall or Wailing Wall is all that remains of the Second Temple. Pilgrims gather from all over the world to pray at this sacred shrine. The great Herodian stones rest one on top of the other without cement between them to hold them in place. More than half of the wall is below the present-day ground level.

While Jerusalem was controlled by the Jordanians (1948–1967), access to the Wall was forbidden. After the reunification in June 1967, the site was cleared, the crowded hovels around it were pulled down, and a vast paved plaza was constructed. This is now a meeting place for communal prayer and many public celebrations. The Western Wall is never deserted. At any hour of the day or night, winter or summer, one can always find Jewish people here standing in front of the Wall in devout prayer or placing their messages and prayer requests in the cracks and crevices between the stones. I also place prayer requests here!

The Jewish Quarters after excavations have revealed untold treasures. Parts of the wide colonnaded street, the Cardo Maximus, have been uncovered. This was once the main thoroughfare of the Roman-Byzantine city. A mosaic map of sixth-century Jerusalem was found in Jordan in 1884. This portrays the colonnaded streets and buildings of the time; it is known as the Madaba Map. A replica can be seen today at the beginning of the Cardo. Byzantine and Crusader remains in the reconstructed Cardo have been incorporated into the modern structures, which now stand on the original paving stones.

There is much evidence of how the Jewish people lived in Jerusalem until the destruction of the Second Temple. The Burnt House, which contains relics of the priestly families, is all that remains of the homes in the Upper City, which were razed by the Romans in 70 CE.

Remains of the Israelite walls and an Israelite tower have also been found. After the victory of Saladin in 1187, life for the Jewish people became easier. Today, the Jewish Quarter contains reconstructed synagogues and yeshivot, with modern apartment buildings and houses. They are tastefully built around paved courtyards and well-kept gardens, the old and the new blending in a delightful fashion. One day I would love to come back to live in Jerusalem, and I hope to reside nearby this area.

We visit the Church of Saint Anne and the Pools of Bethesda. There is so much more to see, and we have just another day left. I have not written about everything, but I have tried to capture the places of most interest and familiar to those who read the Bible. We know we are walking in the footsteps of Jesus and his disciples and many holy men.

Via Dolorosa (Way of Grief in Latin) is a road in the Old City of Jerusalem, a path where Jesus was led in agony, carrying the cross. There are fourteen stations along this path based on events that occurred on the way to the Golgotha Hill, the site of the crucifixion, which is at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, as many people say. Eight stations are marked along the Old City road, while six additional stations are places in the compound of the church.

Via Dolorosa is within the Old City of Jerusalem. It starts from the place where Jesus was tried and convicted near the lions’ gate on the eastern side (Muslim quarter). It ends in the crucifixion place, Golgotha, where the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is on the west side of the Old City (Christian quarter).

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher lies in the heart of the Christian Quarter of the Old City. Within the compound are the Hill of Golgotha or Calvary and the Rotunda, which contains the holy sepulcher. It is here Jesus is believed was crucified, buried, and resurrected. The Roman Catholics, the Greek Orthodox, and the Armenians maintain the church.

Also, several chapels include the Chapel of Adam, the Chapel of Saint Helena; and the Chapel of the Finding of the Cross. Honestly, the tomb of my Savior is not here in the church. Just my thoughts.

Yes, these are the final days of this tour. Again, there’s good food and wonderful and powerful fellowship with Sis Ruth and her ministry in East Jerusalem. Standing in his glory—this I will miss. I will miss Israel and all the sights I am seeing. I cannot tell or show it all, but I am trying.

I rested well last night, and I am ready to go on the last lap of this journey. Onto Mount Zion that overlooks the Sultan’s Pool. It has always been an important point of interest for visitors to Jerusalem. Some shrines most sacred to Christianity and Judaism are to be found here. The black-coned roof of the Dormition Abbey stands out against the Jerusalem skyline. Traditionally, it is believed that the death of Mary occurred here.

Close by is the Cenacle or Cenaculum, the Hall of the Last Supper. Jesus and his followers celebrated the Passover feast here. Beneath the Cenacle is the Hall of the Washing of the Feet, a small room that leads into a fair-sized hall housing the Tomb of King David. Although it is possible this is not the true grave, it nevertheless became a hallowed place for pilgrims between 1948 and 1967 when the Western Wall was in Jordanian hands and could not be visited by the Jewish people. Pious Jewish people still come to pray at the tomb, although King David is probably buried elsewhere.

We are now in the Upper Room, and there is such a presence of God here. People are being filled and refreshed in the spirit. There is much deliverance brought forth in many lives. There is great laughter and freedom, knowing where we are standing in the place where the Last Supper and the Book of Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit fell upon the people and the tongues of fire appeared, took place. What a wondrous feeling being here, in my very spirit and soul. I am thanking God for this jubilant experience I will never forget. It so hard to explain. You just have to be here to know what I mean!

We continue on to Golgotha, the place of the skull. This gives me chills, knowing behind here is the place where Jesus was crucified for the sin of the world. He paid the price I could not pay. The innocent Lamb of God, forgive me of all my sins.

We will leave here and come back to the Garden Tomb tomorrow. Right down, a short distance from here, is now a bus station.

His love kept him nailed to the tree—not the nails but