Journey to the Holy Land

TToday we embark on a jouney to the Holy Land! There are 40 of us traveling as part of a group from First United Methodist Church iin Durango, including my son Thomas and my mom Judy. I will try and post something each day of our jouney that I have time.

Day 1:

We are currently in the JFK Airport in New York and our flight to Tel Aviv departs in about an hour, just enough time to fill you in on our first day. We had the entire day to spend in NY and our first stop was the 9/11 memorial. It was a powerful experience to visit the sight which once held two massive towers that now contains two beautiful pools sitting in that footprint. You cann see the South Pool below. C.J. who is traveling with us commented that the water "seemed like tears from those who lost their lives" as we looked at the names of firefighters from truck 52 who lost their lives trying too save others.

You can see the names of each of the survivors engraved on the marble slabs as you walk around the pools. My favorite moment was seeing the "survivor tree" pictured below in front of the newest World Trade Center building. 

This tree was the only tree from original WTC gardens to survive and all that was left was 8 feet of stump with all the branches being torn away. The stump was taken to a tree farm outside the city and nursed back to health. It is now more than 30 feet tall and each spring provides a magnificent display of white blossoms in the new WTC courtyard in between the two pools of the memorial. The tree stands as a syymbol of a triumphant spirit and rebirth.

We then were alble to walk to the edge of the city and get this stunning view of Lady Liberty as the sun broke through the clouds. Before heading back to our hotel and then onto the aiport we stopped at the Navy Memorial and the American Indian museum. Thomas wanted to take this picture below of this stunning statue as part of the memorial.

My next post wll be in two days as we fly all night tonight and then lose 7 hours in the time change! Thanks to each of who will be following our journney. Please keep us in your prayers for the days ahead. Peace, Jeff