Monday, April 29th, Kibbutz Ginosar, Galilee - Day Five

Today began 36 hours away from Jerusalem and the West Bank to the Galilee region. This time is providing a chance to reflect on what we've seen and heard, especially as we wonder at the deep incongruity with what we've heard in the American press. The stories of a people besieged just don't mesh with the popular impressions of the Israeli campaign against terror. There is part of us that also feels very small, and helpless with the things we've seen.

This morning we trekked to Tel Aviv for visas into Jordan this weekend. Getting them today will greatly expedite our travel on Friday when we cross the Allensby Bridge. We tried to get cash advance on credit at a bank in Tel Aviv with no success. The person who is able to do it was out of the office, and we were surprised that no one could speak English well.

From Tel Aviv north to Caesarea and a tour of the ruins there, including portions of a Roman aqueduct. We stopped a brief while in Nazareth to see the well that probably supplied Mary, Jesus' mother, and the whole town 2000 years ago. It's within a Greek Orthodox church, a rather simple one by holy land standards.

We arrived late afternoon to Kibbutz Ginosar just north of Tiberius on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Our group spent the early evening reflecting on our trip thus far at the water's edge until it got dark and too cool.

In the morning we head for some sights along the edge of the lake up to Capernaum to the north. Then we head back to Jerusalem tomorrow late afternoon.

This is less to report today, but we're re-grouping for the second half of our trip and hopes of getting into Beit Jala, Beit Sahour and Bethlehem. We take it day by day. Of course, we've heard the news of the shooting of families at a settlement and with all those who love peace we grieve that loss. We also hear that Chairman Arafat may soon have his freedom, and we remember just two days ago standing 100 meters from the barrier around his compound. While we were there, some soldiers started shooting just a block away, and we could see them crouching behind vehicles. It wasn't clear what or whom they were shooting at. Anyway, we give thanks for this hopeful development, and we hope that this will be a step toward a solution in Bethlehem.

We are all well and feel blessed to be here. Thanks for following along with us in this journey, and thanks for your prayers. Until tomorrow.

Hans Arnesen

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