Spiritually Speaking

A phone call from Israel

On Thanksgiving morning 2010, amidst the preparation for our meal and family gathering, we received a most exciting phone call.

 First I want to explain that we (Bob, Cristie and myself) were fortunate to go on a tour to Israel in 1986 and also 1987. We went with Perry and Pam Stone and their tour group. In 1986 there were 34 people from our local church that went also.

Both years our tour guide was a man named Gideon Shor. There was something so special about Gideon. Many times on the bus as we traveled from one site to another we would sing praise songs. I will never forget what Gideon said- the music made his heart glad.

Gideon traveled to the U.S. several times several years ago. On one occasion, Perry, Pam and Gideon spent some time with us. We enjoyed them so much. I asked Gideon what he liked for breakfast, he replied, “what you have.”  He gave me a compliment at the evening meal; he said my cream style corn was superb. He told Perry that when he came into our homes it was as if a curtain was pulled back, and he saw how we lived.

Back to the phone call; when I answered the phone this is what I heard; “Pearl, this is Pam Stone calling from Israel; I have someone here who wants to talk to you”. Yes, it was Gideon. What a wonderful surprise, receiving a call from Israel was awesome, talking to my friends there was so special.

While he was here we got together with a great many of the people who went on the tour.

Gideon told us so many things about his homeland. He was showing us some coins he had found while scuba-diving at the Sea of Galilee.

I could not convince Gideon to trade me a coin for some arrow heads we had found.

The trips to Israel were so special, it makes the Bible come even more alive. The places you visit with their names in a book that took over 1,500 years to write is awesome no matter how you look at it. I am overwhelmed when I think of how small Israel and how important it is.

One thing we experienced one night at midnight was a visit to the Western Wall (the Wailing Wall). Everywhere we visited was so inspiring. People worshiped, cried, rejoiced and shared many personal experiences. It is a life altering experience to read about the Holy Land and then see it for yourself.

We visited Masada by cable car. It is where the Jews made their last stand against the Romans. It is 1,300 feet above the Dead Sea, it is 20 acres in size (on top). We always tease Cristie about her sunglasses; she left them at Masada…

I would love to go to Israel every year, Perry and Pam have gone every year for some time. But I am so thankful for the two times I was privileged to go. Israel is mentioned over 2,500 times in the Bible (Strong’s concordance). What a special country, the center of the world.

I pray we as a nation never forget the importance of Israel in world happenings.

God Bless.