As shared in my fun, helpful memoir/travelogue, A Traveling Grandma’s Guide to Israel: Adventures, Wit, and Wisdom, there’s a wonderful, little-known network of Christian believers in Israel (if you can find them) that helps travelers know where to go, who to meet, etc. I’m still friends with many I met on my first life-changing trip there in 1980 and connect often again in my eight additional trips since.

That first time, a friend and I stayed with Tina, a dynamo Dutch nurse, and her Jewish-Christian husband in a Jerusalem suburb, they gave a great introduction to the country. When it was time to visit Galilee, Tina put us in touch with friends there who offered simple housing and warm fellowship at low cost. As a volunteer North American Bible college teacher, I had a shoestring budget. To economize, our hostess suggested we ride a boat one-way across the Sea of Galilee on that Saturday (Sabbath-Shabbat) morning to explore the other side until sunset when Shabbat ended and the inexpensive Jewish buses began running again.

We found a boat and bought one-way tickets, but the Arab Christian guide wasn’t happy.

“It’s below sea level and hot. If you walk all day, you’ll get sunstroke.”

I promised we’d be careful, but he spoke to the pastor guiding the group onboard from a church in California. That man came to me and explained that their bus on the other side would take them around the Sea of Galilee, up to Metula in Israel’s northwestern corner where it joins Lebanon, through the Golan Heights overlooking Syria, and back to Tiberias where they would deliver us to where they were staying.

“Would you like to join us?” he asked.

I had priced tours, $50 each in 1980, out of my range for one day’s outing.

“What would you have to charge?” I asked.

He beamed. “Could you could each give one smile?”

Could we? With bursting hearts, we gave some of the biggest smiles of our lives!

At the Church of the Beatitudes where Jesus taught His Sermon on the Mount, the pastor had reserved tree-shaded benches with a fabulous view. He handed out Bibles and assigned verses to read aloud. Mine was Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled and abundantly satisfied.”

Before I could finish reading mine, I burst into tears. It was as though Jesus Himself had joined us, His arm sweeping over the landscape saying, “This is my land. Welcome to my home. Let me show you around. Relax. Enjoy.”

We did!

I’ll never forget that welcome. I wish no finer gift for anyone visiting Israel than to have the Lord Himself invite you into His home!

I share that and more in A Traveling Grandma’s Guide to Israel: Adventures, Wit, and Wisdom, available on Amazon and other sites in print, Kindle, and audio. May God bless you and make every Bible event and conversation live for you!