Dear Friends in Christ,

” How beautiful upon the mountains

    are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
    who announces salvation,
    who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
    together they sing for joy;
for in plain sight they see
    the return of the Lord to Zion.
Break forth together into singing,
    you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord has comforted his people, 

(Isaiah 52:1-7)

These are the words that were ringing in my ears as I stepped into the dust and hills of Jerusalem.

King David, King Solomon, Ezra, Nehemiah, Peter, Paul, and of course Jesus all walked among these same hills and in this same dust. It is humbling and holy to experience walks and walls that are thousands of years old.

We also toured the security wall that divides the Israelis and Palestinians. I will share details regarding the security wall when I return.

Tomorrow, we will meet with Bishop Munib Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land.