Day 11

Today was the last full day in Jerusalem.
We visited Elion Hill, then Gethsemane garden, the Holocaust museum – Yad-Vashem (don’t know how to spell it) and from the outside saw Golgotha Mountain.

Through the entire trip we tried to stop somewhere for prayer or just quiet time but it wasn’t too little. I wish we had more time to think and be alone with God. I understand in my mind that Jesus lived here and on that or this place was this or that action but sometimes can’t deeply get through it in my heart. It’s made me sad.

The Gethsemanes Garden is the one place, where you can tell, for sure, that it’s the garden where Jesus prayed the night before His death. In the garden we prayed with family near stone where Jesus prayed that night. And then my father read from Gospel of Luke about this event and we prayed together. This all touch me a lot. At this place Jesus prayed for people, nation, for disciples, He prayed for us.

We walked a lot at Holocaust museum and I was tiered at the end and not all information I could get. After mission trip to India I’m paying attention to children. I saw a lot of children pictures during this period. You hardly can imagine all this. This museum is heavy because you can see everything and hear the true story of these terrible years. Around 6 million died on Holocaust and 1,5 million are kids.

The Golgotha Hill was closed, so we were near it. It’s Arabic place (region) and a lot of people, children, liter, and bad smell. This place was closed for Sunday, so, no chance to see it. But it’s a stimulus to come back.

We had communion at the place where Mary met Elisabeth. And at the same service, pastors blessed Irina, who had baptism in Jordan.

Tomorrow is leavening at 3.30 am and in the evening I’ll be at home. Can’t believe that paradise is going toward the end.
In the evening for the last time I prayed at the Western Wall.

P.S. it was interesting and funny situation today. We went out of our bus and went to the building of museum. I spoke with Vika and told her that it would be great to meet our first bus driver (he was the best driver we had) and can you imagine, after two buses we saw our first bus driver. I was amazed. Hahah It was so unbelievable and unreal to see him somewhere. He recognized us and sad “good morning” in Russian. It was funny, that I just thought and here he is ☺