Run-ins with friends and strangers

On Tuesday (the 11th) we spent our last day in Jerusalem and started the day by going to the Basilica of Agony, otherwise known as the Church of All Nations. It was very dark and depicted the pain that Jesus felt before he was betrayed by Judas in the garden of Gethsemane (where the church is located). Outside was a garden of ancient olive trees which was really neat looking.

After wandering around the old city for a while, we decided to check out the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book (where some of the most important Dead Sea Scrolls are housed) next door. Well, apparently they are doing renovations and have wack hours. We showed up two hours before it opened...at 4 pm. What? Oh well, we went back to the hostel and did some research of the Galilee area.

In the evening we were able to meet up with Katherine and Pastor James Harleman of Mars Hill Church at the Hyatt Regency and eat like kings at their buffet with the rest of the tour group. This was the only day that our schedules aligned. It was such a blessing to be around other Christians and have them pray over us and our trip. It really strengthened us and got us excited for the adventure ahead.

OK, CRAZY STORY:
We decided that the bus to Nazareth could wait because hanging out with our friends in Israel was way more important. We got to Jerusalem central bus station at 8:30pm and they said the next bus to Nazareth left at 11:30 (its a 2 hour trip). Instead, we went to Tel Aviv (1 hour), then Naz. (2 hours). We got off at some random stop in Nazareth at 12:15am with a crappy map and confusing directions to the inn. We stopped at a convenience store but they hardly spoke English. They gave us free beer and juice, told us to pull up a chair and take our packs off while they called the number and looked online. Then a taxi driver came and they talked in Arabic for a long time and we told him we didn't want to pay, we just wanted directions. Then some random guy came in who knew the man behind the counter. He knew NO English but apparently offered to help us by driving us there because apparently he knew the manager. It was definitely scary but we got in his car and he took us straight there (it's like 1:30 am now). The front door of the inn was locked so we sat in some patio furniture while this guy called several numbers trying to get someone to open the door. They weren't gonna do it. He tried to help us for like 30 min. -we tried to offer him money as thanks but he wouldn't take it. At 2 am, stranded in Nazareth we decided to camp out in front of the door. We hardly slept-kinda scary-outside a 200 year old building.

We got up at 6am and walked around the streets wondering what to do. Some guy our age asked if we were looking for the Inn (apparently everyone gets lost). We told him no but he wanted to lead us there. we showed him it was locked. He lead us to his house, got his cell, told us to call (using no English), no answer still. Then he lead us to the house where the manager sleeps, woke everyone up, and got the manager for us. The manager (a guy named Gabi) walked us to the inn, gave us a nice room and told us to get some rest and we'd talk later. We slept well then.

The people up here are insanely hospitable and amazing.
Oh and today is the Jewish new year...year 5000-something, and the Muslum new year is in a couple days. Fireworks, lights, loud people, its fun!
Love you all, until next time...