He is not here- He is risen indeed! What an amazing trip it has been!

This trip is one of my FAVORITE memories! So beautiful and amazing! To be where Christ did most of his miracles made me feel so close to our Savior.

I “see” what I’m studying and “feel” so much more. I walked where my Savior walked and felt His Spirit. I still feel such a powerful sense of His presence. The trip was so inspirational and it was very educational. (I wish I had a recording of what Moshe said) We had several revelations about some actual “real” locations of historical significance. We feel as though we a part of Israel… every report on the news has become “personal”and our prayers are more special as we continue to pray for the Peace of Israel. We loved our time with Moshe. Byron, Tammy & Isaac were incredible. We feel we were family and will remember many that traveled with us!

I knew a year ago that I wanted to go on the Israel trip. I saw the transformation in Roxie that I knew that I wanted to go if the opportunity came about. When we arrived in Israel we were greeted with welcome home. This is really appropriate since Israel is the birthplace of Christianity.

Our family roots are there. My heart seems tied to Israel in a way I can’t really describe. For me the trip has really created more of a hunger to understand God’s Word and pay attention to every jot and tittle. I’m having fun seeing connections that I’ve never seen before. I loved seeing the covenant signs Israel having fun seeing passages about covenants. We stood at the gate where Boaz gave his right sandal to redeem Ruth. We learned that right is right and left is wrong. Right is clean and left is unclean. Then in Gilgal where the children of Israel had their camp when they crossed in to the Promised Land there is a huge outline of a “right” foot/sandal in boulders in the midst of the camp. What a reminder that they were in a conditional covenant with the Lord. If they obeyed they would be blessed if they disobeyed they would be cursed. Now go with me to The Cave of John the Baptist. You go into the cave and then descend steps that lead into the water. Before you get to the water you find a deep impression of a foot. Those coming to be baptized would put their foot in the depressions cleanse and anoint it and then go into the water to be baptized. Afterwards, they would come out of the water and break the jar against the wall of the cave. What a picture of no longer being a slave to sin that would have been for them. They have entered into a new covenant written on their hearts. Now picture us at the wailing wall. What a visual of Israel breaking covenant with the Lord. They are standing on the outside of a broken wall to worship. I was so moved standing at the wall, touching it, and praying for Israel and the Jews. What a privilege to be a Gentile believer and to be in a covenant relationship with the Lord. Our sign of being in covenant is the seal of the Holy Spirit that was given to us when we believed in Christ.

I want to extend my gratitude for a fantastic experience.  I am already having a wonderful time with God, processing what I have learned!   Thanks again for a wonderful trip.  God is doing wonderful things through Father’s House.

I was on the 2011 / 2012 Holiday trip to Israel. I want to thank Byron, Tammy and Fathers House for making it possible for me to go on this life changing trip. Hardly a day goes by that I do not think about some aspect of our trip, what I learned or what I experienced. It truly is a life changing experience. I firmly believe that every Pastor should go to Israel either while in seminary or in the first few years of ministry. Moshe has so much knowledge of historical importance, Biblical understanding, and archeological perspective of Israel that I was captivated by his lessons and explanations. Each day was something new, exciting, educational and edifying regarding new discoveries, history, archaeology, current events, biblical history, biblical truth and application. A short time ago, my wife was anxious to make plans for our next get away and she asked me, If you go anywhere right now, where would you like to go? My answer came quick and without hesitation; Israel. We hope go to Israel sometime in the next few years this time together.

Thank you so much for inviting me to go on the trip to the Holy Land with The Father’s house. Words cannot express the impact this has made in my life. Truly a dream come true for me. I am and will be forever thankful to you and the Father’s House for making my first trip “Home” so special. I’m praying it will not be my last. For Jesus, Jerry Zucha Psalms 78:72 (72 With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with skillful hands)

The trip Father’s House arranged was way far and above anything I expected. I came home with an enthusiasm to learn to read Hebrew for a deeper understanding of the Bible I have been reading for most of my life and accepting at face value. The Father’s House team took us places off the beaten path where archeological current findings authenticate and place the written Word in perspective with the people’s lives that were writing it down. This helped me link a lot of teachings to my daily life. I came home knowing this time in Israel had been time that will open up new opportunities for me.

It was the most amazing trip! “Enjoyable experience” does not even begin to describe how totally amazing it was! Where to begin? To walk where our Lord walked. Enjoying the fellowship of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Sharing in the expressions of our love for the Lord with the Torah ceremonies and scripture readings. Again, amazing! How does one even begin to describe Moshe the Teacher? I know now why several of the tour members carried digital recorders with them. As one of Moshe’s students, you want to soak up every word and not miss one syllable. He makes it all so real, not just with lectures, but with hands-on experience. Everything from crawling around in tunnels underneath Jerusalem, to actually teaching us how the various tools and equipment worked (like the wine press and olive press and grinding wheat and the heart shaped boat anchors), to riding a camel on the Ancient Spice Route. His passion for the Lord is contagious! The Bible seems so much more real now. I read the scriptures like stories and can visualize the people and places and actions much more clearly. I want to know the “whole story“ , if that makes any sense. I think special mention should be made of our bus driver Sami. He did magical things with that bus! Who knew that a tour bus could be considered an “all terrain vehicle”? And he took such good care of all of us and made us all feel very special. There are not words enough to describe what this trip has meant to me. Each day of the trip was more exciting and more memorable that the day before. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, it did! I can’t wait to do it again! Being a soldier in Moshe’s Army for the Lord is the only way to see Israel!

I am Armando Lagda Valdez, married to Lilybelle Grace Mamaril.  God blessed us with four kids (3 boys and 1 girl), plus added precious children under our care.  I am a product of “Calvary Bible Institute” – supervised by Sir Ken Sandberg.  My wife and I are pastoring a church in Davao City, that is affiliated with – Maranatha Fellowship in Maryland, USA (IPHC).  We have established relationship with Sir Ken & Ma’am Cris and partnered with them in equipping the saints through conferences, summer camps and at CBI. And just recently, after our Sunday morning service (Nov. 8, 2009), we received a phone call with the grandest surprise – A TRIP TO ISRAEL!  It blew me away and made me shout for joy!  Hallelujah, glory to God!  To step in the soil of Israel was only a dream that we hope would come true sometime in the future. Now, that the door to visit the birthplace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is in progress, I can’t explain the thrill and excitement going on as the days go by.  The trip to Israel is truly a big inspiration to us and this is happening because of the Lord’s kindness through my Bible School mentors (Sir ken & ma’am Cris) and through your generosity.  Honestly, we don’t really know how to express the gratitude and the joy that is within us.  Words may fall short to express it, but we sure are grateful to the Lord and to you.  May the good Lord multiply your blessings! Again, i want to let you know that we appreciate the love, the blessings and the big heart.  Thank you for sponsoring our trip.  Indeed, we don’t know how to repay you.  Simply, because we don’t have the capacity to do it.  But the Lord Yeshua HaMashiach will! God bless you and your family Sir Byron and Ma’am Tammy.  God bless you sir/ma’am John Turner.  God bless the “Father’s House Foundation”.  God bless “CBI” family.  We look forward to see you on December 5 & 6, 2009. To Sir Ken and Ma’am Cris, thank you for the high level of trust and favor.  God bless us all. In Christ, Armand & Lilybelle V