If this day had a theme it would be "key places in the Early Ministry of Christ."

Monday, June 6, 2011.

Following breakfast at our hotel (Kibbutz Nof Ginosar), our group headed north along the shore of the Sea of Galilee (a/k/a Lake Kinneret). Our scenic route hugged the sea in some places, and then curved inland along large fields of banana trees...something I didn't expect to see in Israel!

After a short drive, we reached the area of Tabgha (meaning "Seven Springs"). Our first stop was the gardens and chapel of the Church of the Beatitudes, a peaceful spot high above the Sea of Galilee. After Pastor Ramona read the familiar words from scripture, our group divided: some rode the bus to the next stop and others of us trekked down a dirt path on the hillside to reach the bottom fo the mount.

Tradition locates the feeding of the five thousand on this hillside, and one could only hope that it was well grazed and covered with soft grass at the time...not scratchy undergrowth that we encountered. At points the path descended steeply and the trail divided, prompting statements such as "Are you sure you want to follow Jesus? Yes, but I'm not so sure about following Chip!"

At the bottom of the trail, our group reconnected for a tour of the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes. The chapel is thought to include the rock where Jesus laid five loaves and two fish, a motif that is depicted in one of the beautiful mosaic floors within the building.

From there, we walked a fews steps down a garden path to reach the Church of the Primacy of Peter. The church covers a flat rock where Christ is said to have passed the church leadership to Peter following the resurrection.

After climbing back on the bus, we took a short ride to Capernaum, the village where Jesus healed the sick, preached in the synagogue, and recruited the first disciples. The ruins provide a sense for a first century fishing village.

Another short ride took us back to the kibbutz area, and we headed for the dock to board a boat for a short ride on the Sea of Galilee. It was interesting to see each of the mornings destinations from the water.

Back on shore, we headed for the Yigal Allen center, home of preserved fishing boats from the Bethsaida site that are being processed in the basement of the facility. Dr. Carl Savage (Drew University) and our own Dr. Chip Bouzard gave a helpful orientation to the work being done at an archeological dig site.

Few of us had any energy left after such a full day! But after a welcome rest under a shady tree, we walked to the kibbutz grocery store for a few supplies. It was an interesting glimspe into the kibbutz community and daily life.

A packed day...full of insights into life along the Sea of Galilee in the first century and our own time!

Rachel Riensche, '80