Israel and Jordan

Highlights

This particular course section and trip are organized around exploring the history, geopolitics, beauty and complexity of the Holy Land. As we study the history and travel the lands, through Israel, Palestine and Jordan, we will keep a keen focus on answering the question “how then shall we live as Christ-followers in the 21^st century?”

We will start both our course and travels in Israel (Palestine) walking where Jesus walked – and also walking where he would walk if he were here today. We will study the history and culture of the Holy Land from the time of Jesus to the present day. We will try to unpack and understand the complexities of geopolitics, religions, wars, humanitarian crises, occupation and oppression within the context of what Jesus meant when he said “blessed are the peacemakers”. We will travel for eleven days to Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Haifa, the Sea of Galilee and Samaria, to Nazareth, Nablus, Capernaum, then on to Jerusalem, Jericho, Hebron, Bethlehem, the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, and to Gaza.

From there we will travel south to the Red Sea and cross over into Jordan at Eilat. We will spend 11 days exploring and experiencing Jordan’s rich history and culture including swimming in Red Sea at Tala Bay, a jeep tour in the Wadi Rum desert, a visit to a Bedouin camp within the Petra archeological reserve, Ghor al Mazra’a village, Bethany beyond the Jordan, the baptism site of Jesus, Mt. Nebo - where Moses looked out across the Holy Land, Ajloun Castle, Miriam’s house, swimming in the Dead Sea, visits to Sodom and Gomorrah to see the salt pillars and Lot’s Cave Monastery, and a visit with Palestinian refugees and Christian relief and development agencies in Amman. We will also visit the Za’atari refugee camp and learn about the entrepreneurial activities of the tens of thousands of Syrian refugees, and also engage in service opportunities with several different ministries.

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