CHRISTMAS IN BETHLEHEM AND JERUSALEM

CURRENTLY LIVING IN CAESAREA, ISRAEL, ENJOYING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR FAMILY BACK HOME.
WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED THIS YEAR TO SPEND CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.
WE WERE IN BETHLEHEM ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND WERE ABLE TO ENTER THE BIRTHPLACE OF JESUS THE NIGHT HE WAS BORN---AT THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY------WOW-----THATS SPECIAL. SINCE WE ARE NOT AT HOME WITH OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR WE FEEL VERY BLESSED TO EXPERIENCE THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY AND THAT WE CAN SHARE IT WITH THEM NOW AND IN YEARS TO COME.

ON FRIDAY 26,DEC-WE TRAVELED TO JERUSALEM TO THE OLD CITY--THERE WE STOOD ON THE MT. OF OLIVES AND THEN DOWN TO THE GARDEN OF GESTHEME, AND ONWARD INTO THE CITY WITHIN THE WALLS BUILT BY KING HEROD--WHICH ARE STILL THE ORIGINAL WALLS. HERE IS THE WESTERN WALL WHICH IS VERY HOLY FOR THE JEWISH FAITH, THROUGH THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS ON TO THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER WHERE WE SAW THE ALTER OF THE CROSS WHERE JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED. OUR LAST STOP WAS TO THE TOMB WHERE JESUS BODY WAS PLACED. HERE WE WENT INTO THE TOMB FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

A CHRISTMAS NEVER TO FORGET IN THE HOLY LAND!!!!!!!!!!!

WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR FOR 2009.

WITH LOVE---BUTCH AND KIM