Israel Trip Report

Trip Summary:

Most important of all, we can say that we really grew our faith and testimony as a result of the trip. We feel so much more connected to the message of The Savior. We honor Him and feel grateful and humbled by His Life and Teachings in a way not felt before and which we are unable to fully express here.

We saw nearly all of the sites we wanted to see or could hope to see in such a short 7 days. We were up early each day and home late nearly each night although, I think we started to drag towards the end.

We walked more than 100,000 steps during the visit (thanks to Connie's pedometer). Still, we were glad to have a nice minivan. The gospel of Matthew says that if we had the record of everything the Savior did, surely it would fill the whole world. In His short 3 year period, He walked innumerable steps.

Our girls kept up on the rigorous schedule without complaint. We are so impressed! Lauren did not even complain when we went through the scary dark tunnel of Hezekiah nor when she fell all the way under the water at the end. She was a bit cold for the rest of the day…but still did not "murmur" one time.

We felt truly blessed to stay at the Jerusalem Center and feel of the Spirit of that great edifice and the wonderful students and faculty and service volunteers that make the place awesome. We express thanks to President and Sister Browning, the Lee's, the Ostler's, Richard Draper, the Galbraith's, and everyone who made it possible…especially Mom and Dad Cook. We really enjoyed hearing the BYU students sing in the Episcopalean Church. The assistant Bishop there mistook Greg for a UN representative. He was an interesting character who thought little of mormons before the choir number by the students, but spoke highly thereafter :)

We loved the Galilee branch. The beautiful building overlooking the Sea of Galilee is a miracle. The members are really a blessing to the whole church. They are few, but they are faithful. We were grateful for the chance to speak in Church and cried the whole time as we partook of the sacrament and heard our children speak. It was just too much.

We kept our obligation not to proselyte. Greg did get his scriptures confiscated on the temple mount security check point!

There were so many different Church organizations and tour groups everywhere. It was really an experience to see Jews, Muslims, Christians all so up close. One Evangelical Group was particularly friendly and helped us through the tunnel of Hezekiah…very exciting experience.

We gained a greater appreciation for the work that the Church and its members must do in The Holy land in order to prepare for the Saviors Return. We feel a desire to assist in the great work. We are so impressed by Elder and Sister Cook's devotion and service. They are representing all of us very well.

We bought some wonderful souvenirs. I kept kidding Julie about being able to buy everything on Ebay, but obviously it would not be the same.

List of Sites Visited: Dead Sea (swimming included), Qumran, Masada, drove by Jericho, Hebrew University, BYU Jerusalem Center & Mount Scopus, Mount of Olives, East Jerusalem (Muslim Quarter) and natural fault line, Orson Hyde Memorial Park, Garden of Gethsemene, Kidron Valley, Peter Galigatu, Dormation Abbey, Upper Room, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, via delarosa, Pool of Healing, Garden Tomb, Lion's Gate, Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock, Golden Gate, Western Wall, Cotell Tunnell, City of David, Hezekiah's Tunnel, Jewish Quarter, Shops, Tiberias, Capernaum, Mt of Beattitudes, Lebanon border, Golan Heights, Bethsaida, Church of the Annunciation, Mary's well, Mt Tabor, Nazareth, Cana, Jezreel Valley, and Tel Aviv. I know I am missing a few more.

Some special experiences:

1. Just walking where Jesus walked. Being in the Holy Land is very special.
   
2. Being there with 2 of the Lord's representatives (our parents) to show us the way.
   
3. Staying at the Jerusalem Center, with it's special spirit, special people, and special location. Each morning we watched the sun rise on the holy city from a perfectly beautiful vantage point.
   
4. Learning together as a family of the Savior in such a spiritually intensive environment.
   
5. Praying in the Orson Hyde Memorial Park and consecrating some oil.
   
6. Visualizing the place and walking the very steps where He would have been during the trial, imprisonment, scourging, and crucifiction.
   
7. The Garden Tomb--Finding the tomb empty! Teaching our children about the Resurrection.
   
8. Writing many pages in our journals throughout the trip. Julie wrote 15 pages on the way home alone.
   
9. Ceasarea Philipi—This is the place where Peter declared Jesus the Son of God and where the Savior said "upon this Rock (revelation) will I build my Church"; it is also the headwaters of the Jordan river and a natural spring…symbolic of the continuing revelation
   
10. City of David—Harmonizing the history of the old testament with that of the place where the Book of Mormon began.
    
11. Peter Galigatu—Where the Savior was held for trial and where Peter denied Him 3 times. Each of us can put ourselves in Peter's shoes. We saw the pit and the place of scourging that dates back to around the time of Jesus.
    
12. April 16 is a birthday that will not be forgotten for me. I spent my birthday at the place where the Savior took upon himself the sins of the world.
    
13. Partaking of the Sacrament at the Galilee branch and being able to speak and bare testimony in what Elder Holland calls "The Savior's branch".
    
14. Stopping on our journey around the Sea and sitting by the Seaside eating Matza bread with Hummus at the start of Passover…Yum!
    

Special Thanks—Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Cook! We love and appreciate your sacrifice to make our trip the trip of a lifetime. We recommend and even encourage everyone to make the trip if they can!!