I was an volunteer Bible College teacher with little income. Cindy, my traveling companion, had an accounting job with reliable income. It complicated our travels that we reached Tiberias on Thursday evening before Friday Sabbath/Shabbat. To stretch funds but enjoy the scenery, we bought one-way tickets on a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee. Jewish buses don’t run on the Sabbath. We would walk along the other side until sunset when life resumed and Jewish buses ran again.

The boat’s other passengers were a Dutch-Reformed church members from California. Their Arab Christian guide was alarmed when Cindy and I handed him one-way tickets.

He frowned. “How will you return? What is your plan?”

“We’ll be fine,” I insisted. “We’ll walk and explore the other side until sundown and then ride a Jewish bus.”

He didn’t like my idea. “We’re six hundred feet below sea level. You’ll get sunstroke.” He approached the tour group’s pastor.

That pastor came to us. “Here’s our itinerary. We’ll drive com- around the lake to see all the major sites, then drive to Lebanon’s border and past the Golan Heights. We’ll return to Tiberias by dark and drop you where you need to go.” He studied our faces. “Would you like to join us?”

The minimum cost for such tours was $50 US. Cindy had funds; I didn’t.

“That sounds wonderful, but what would you need to charge us?” I asked.

His blue eyes twinkled. “Could you each give one smile?”

We stopped at Tabgha, another significant place in Jesus’s life and ministry on the Sea of Galilee’s northwestern shore.

Next, we climbed the Mount of Beatitudes above it where five thousand men, women, and children gathered to hear Jesus teach and stayed for three days because they were hungry for more than food. There, Jesus used little to make much, multiplying five loaves and two fishes to feed them. Some translations say they didn’t nibble but ate all they wanted, and the disciples still gathered twelve baskets full. We joined the California pastor and his group on that same hillside overlooking the same sea.

He had reserved a private area and distributed Bibles for us to read from Matthew 5. My verse was Chapter 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled and abundantly satisfied.”

I sensed the Jesus standing among us, His arm sweeping around the countryside, inviting us to take in the view, saying, “Welcome to my land. This is My home. Enjoy. Let me show you around.”

He seemed joyful and personable, His voice warm. My throat constricted. While reading my verse, I uncharacteristically burst into tears, overwhelmed by such caring love in this place so central to His ministry as He fulfilled His name Emmanuel, God with us. He was the powerful historic Jesus yet fully present to meet our current needs.

That day was another divine appointment. I take thorough notes to share with those who can’t come on trips with me because such moments are not to be forgotten. I’m also blessed to stay in touch with many people there.

My newest book, A Traveling Grandma’s Guide to Israel: Adventures, Wit, and Wisdom just went live on Amazon Kindle here https://amzn.to/446gY3G and for pre-order in print. Look for an audio version later.