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We left Campbell River at about 12:30 Saturday afternoon. Natasha Teufel's parents, Kelly and Kathy Gray were gracious enough to pick each of us up and drive us the three and a half hour trek to Victoria with the Teufel's 12 passenger van.  Four of us left from Campbell River and then we picked up the Clausens on the highway in Nanaimo. Then there were 6.
We arrived at YYJ with lots of time to spare. Our flight was scheduled to depart to YVR at 5:10. All 16 passengers arrived early so, perhaps the first time in the history of air travel a flight left ahead of schedule, we actually arrived in Vancouver about the time we were supposed to leave. That was a welcome surprise.
Again, we arrived much ahead of our redeye flight to Toronto scheduled to leave at 10:50. We went through security and off to wait at our gate where would we meet four more travelers who would join our group. Four ladies from the Lower Mainland showed up and we all introduced oursleves. Then there were 10. 
Our flight left on time and we arrived in Toronto at about 6:15. We picked up our baggage, and once out of security we were my by Bob, the representative from Christian Journeys who led us out into the cold. I'm not sure what the temperature was, but it was likely about -15. We stood out in the cold, dressed in anticipation for temperate digits in twenties. "The shuttle won't be long," Bob said. "They are always very punctual." About twenty or thirty minutes later, teeth chattering, we vibrated onto the shuttle bus and got settled in our hotel room where we were able to have about three or four hours of sleep before heading back to the airport. In the lobby of the hotel we met two other travelers who joined our group. Then there were 12.
Once at the airport we found our way to the El Al check in counter. El Al is the Israeli airline that is famous for having the best security in the world. We were met by the head of security. "Who's your group leader?" Everyone pointed at me. He pulled me to the side and told me that he needed to ask me a series of questions to ensure the safety of the flight. He spent about fifteen minutes with me examining and cross examining, and then talking with a colleague and coming back with some more questions. He asked me about each of the travelers in the group and how I knew them and in what capacity and then he reasked all the questions at least once more.He did the same with each person in our group. When we were done  we went through the second teir of security and then then the third. That's why El Al is the most secure airline in the world.
After that I was famished. I hadn't eaten since, well a long time. I can't remember. It was the previous day at some point, so I  went in search of a Starbucks to get an americano and a breakfast sandwich only to be told they did not have any breakfast sandwiches. i grabbed my americano and went to a deli by our gate and bought a sandwich. I was shocked to find out that this sanwich would turn out to be the most expensive morsal I have ever had the dubious "pleasure" of eating. "$14? You gotta be kidding." "Nope," she said, pretending to feel my pain. I felt like handing it back to her, but I was too hungry and there was no time to search for something else before boarding, so I reluctantly consumed the dry bread and chicken sandwich. I actually only ate enough of it to stave off my hunger because it was a wee bit dry.
After finishing my lovely dinner, I sat down to write this blog and a young Israeli lady came over and asked if i was an actor. I knew right away who she had mistaken me for. It happens with a fair bit of frequency. "Would you like my autograph," I said with a smile. She smiled back, and ran over to her seat to grab her smart phone and came back and asked if she could get a picture with me to show her husband that she met a famous movie star. I obliged, but told her I wasn't actually Bryan Cranston. She wanted a picture anyway.
Shortly after that we boarded our plane and got settled in for a long flight. I got an aisle seat for which I was very grateful. I don't care where I sit on a plane as long as I have an aisle seat. Now, here we are twelve disciples anticipating some divine moments with Jesus in Israel. I am praying for each of my travelers that they we have some divine appointments where their eyes will be opened to whatever God wants to reveal t them through his Word and through the land where Jesus walked. Pray with us as we walk where Jesus walked.
Shalom,
Pastor Jeff