Dear Byron, I thank the Lord for you and the ministry of Father’s House! My family an dI were so blessed by our fellowship with you and the other members of the team visiting the Holy Land these last weeks.

Our faith was strengthened as we witnessed the historical accuracy of God’s Word affirmed through the sites we visited. We gained a greater appreciation for our Jewish heritage and the foundational importance of every “jot and tittle” of the Old Testament. Finally, our enthusiam for the study of the Scriptures has known no bounds as the Spirit uses the events and teaching of the trip to expand our insight into the Word. May the Lord bless you for your generosity, and may He help us to be good stewards of the insights to greatly increase His kingdom! Gratefully in Christ,

My journey to Israel was God ordained from the very beginning. I was in nursing school and we are limited on how many days we can miss. This was the first time ever the college decided to close down the entire week of Thanksgiving. The insanely busy schedule of a nursing student doesn’t leave much room for anything that doesn’t involve nursing. Waking up an hour earlier to dig into the Word like I did before work started getting less and less every day; attending church and Stonewater U classes every week started to turn into online services and not attending to try to squeeze in any time to study. I have grown a lot over the past few years in my walk with Christ. This trip took the intimacy I have with God to a whole new level. I was excited about this trip and spending a week in the Holy Land, being where Jesus walked and spending much needed time in His Word. The second day in Israel, Roxie asked me what the Lord was speaking to me. To be honest, it took me a day or so to calm my excitement down and hear what He was speaking to me. He was telling me to “be still.” With that I finally slowed down and started soaking everything in. My uncle had shared some insight with us, when you look around Israel there is a lot of trash on the roads, stone buildings, not what you picture when you think of the Promised Land, but it is like our hearts, filthy, full of trash, and ugly, yet we are Holy because God says we are, just like His Land. Standing at the true birthplace of our Savior, the first place we worshiped and I couldn’t get any words to come out; I was humbled, and moved to tears from being overwhelmed with feeling His presence. This wasn’t the only location this happened at. God has done some amazing things in my life, even earlier this year, but He showed up in a huge way while I was in His land. There was a strike with our airlines and talk of maybe not making it back in time, which would’ve had me missing exceeding the number of days we could miss in school, 2. John had the travel agent working to get my mom and I on a flight out on different airlines but it would have to be early. Without a second thought I said, “no, absolutely not.” I felt God saying “are you really going to put all your trust in me or take the first opportunity to get back?” The strike ended for us to get back on schedule, before going back on strike a couple days later. I felt Him putting a whole new passion in my heart. There were some fires being started by terrorists all throughout the land in Israel, including Jerusalem. Not once was I afraid, I felt at home and safer there than I do even here. I feel like God was starting a wildfire in my heart, and John and Moshe’s passion for teaching fanned the flames. I have been non-stop in the Word since I’ve been back, and God has opened a huge door for me to go back this February for a month and learn more about Him. “For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrew 12:29  

Distances of populated sites to others were much closer than previously thought; Historically, the same sites were richly reused. Mountains much steeper than pictured before; great effort, thought, & preparation required then & now to scale them & transport goods & people. The Bible is more personally real now in understanding site, task, & time difficulties faced by the Jews. Seeing, hearing, & witnessing the Bible places unfold: “They were here” & “I am in the same place!” The guide and leader of the group were well educated with clear delivery. Safety minded. Compassionate, pleasant, & professional. Free connections on the bus to the internet, laptops, & cell phones. Materials beforehand & “live” on location. More time to study!! I would recommend a Father’s House Trip to others as it was excellent on all counts.

The recent trip to Israel was a tremendous blessing.  I personally have been able to travel to the Promised Land now on three different occasions.  While each one was special, I think this last trip was the most meaningful because of who went with me.  This is the first opportunity I have had to take members of the Bono congregation as well.  Seeing their joy and amazement at being in the land of the Bible was priceless.  The trip to Israel, over 3,000 dollars.  The gasoline to the airport and home again, 60 dollars.  The smiles and tears on faces of those who saw where Jesus walked, lived, taught, and died…PRICELESS!  They will never view the Word of God in quite the same light again.  Chris Ellison, fellow Bono traveler, perhaps summed it up best.  When ask what he thought about the trip, he said “It’s not just a story anymore!”  The Word has taken on new meaning and a passion for learning more of God has been stirred.  I would encourage, challenge, implore…beg if need be…any Pastor to find his way to a Father’s House tour of Israel.  It is unlike any other tour and is certain to spark renewal in the hearts of all those blessed to go.  Not to mention, the Word promises that God will bless those who bless Israel.  Be blessed by the Father’s House so that they in turn will be blessed in future trips and so that you might bless others with this life-changing experience.  Just let the blessings flow!