It has been a Long Season. So long, in fact, that I had to look at the tally marks and count.
140 weeks. 35 months. Two and a half years.
Two and a half years ago I boarded a plane in the Biblical Heartland and flew away.
During this Long Season we eyed the plague from behind our closed doors, masks, and computer screens. We watched as COVID-19 twisted up our world. We prayed quietly (and at times, not so quietly) as people and institutions that we loved shuddered and cried, wept and died. No one, seemingly, was beyond the reach of this sinister contagion with its shape-shifting abilities.
The travel industry curled up in hibernation. Could it outlast the virus?
The final answer has yet to be written. But there is hope. With each passing day we move closer to the end of the Long Season.
Bold spelunkers: The waders of Hezekiah’s Tunnel, an adventure in water system of ancient Jerusalem.
The coming new normal was experienced by a group of 16 brave individuals from First Church of Christ in Burlington, Kentucky. Led by veteran host, Tommy Baker, they flew across the Atlantic Ocean for a 12-day pilgrimage in Israel-Palestine. For most of them, it was a fresh (and eagerly anticipated) tour of the Biblical Heartland. For me, it was a return from exile. It had been a Long Season, but for a few special days we walked the streets of Jerusalem again.
And it didn’t stop there. We walked in Caesarea-by-the-Sea, Caperaum, Dan, Jericho, Masada and other spectacular archaeological sites.
Group shot at the “Sacred Area” at Caesarea Philippi.
Tommy made sure that other types of experiences backfilled the agenda. In addition to the educational goals of the trip, time was made for personal and corporate worship and prayer, baptisms in the Jordan River, and singing in multiple churches.
Spring is a beautiful season to be in the land. As expected, the days were warm, the nights were cool, the skies were dry, and the flowers were in full bloom. It was a beautiful as any spring I have ever witnessed in the land, and certainly more quiet.
Baptizing in the Jordan River.
Many aspects of the land were unchanged. In places where I expected to find changes there were none. Hotel check-ins and outs were typical. Hotel buffets operated as usual. Pathways to and from archaeological sites were as I remember.
After the hugs with old friends, cooks, and shopkeepers, it was business as usual. The shwarma and falafel rolled out.
Picnic beside the spring at Banias.
On changes were noted. Some of these were expected; some were a little surprising. These included:
Additional paperwork in advance of air travel (flight check-in takes more time than it used to).
The requirement for masking on all flights and in all airports.
The need for masks in the public spaces of our Jerusalem hotel.
The requirement for COVID-19 tests immediately before all flights (leaving the USA and leaving Israel).
The assignment of a “silent guide” to our group to assist in COVID-19 compliance.
The closure of some sites and the adjusted visiting hours of others.
While a bit inconvenient at times, these changes did not detract from the overall experience. Ask the Tommy Baker group. They were thrilled to be a part of this “first wave of returnees.”
Some sites have experienced changes. The excavations at the site of Jericho have been expanded in at least two areas. New and improved signage helps visitors appreciate the significance of the site.
This Baker Group is a signal that the travel industry is rebounding after a Long Season and that biblically-focused tours are moving forward once again.
I hope you will join us on a future trip and discover the place where faith begins!
Friends from the al-Atrash family in Beit Sahour, Palestine. Shopkeepers, restaurant- and hotel-workers, and other members of service industry are eagerly awaiting the return of tourists and students to the biblical heartland.
We have four pilgrim-style trips scheduled for the Summer of 2022 and four more scheduled for the Fall. if you are interested in being a part of one of these, or wish to join one of our 2023 listings, see the “Find Your Trip” on our website at www.BibleLandExplorer.com
Love to have you aboard!