John T and Cory are the first to the bus.

Troy, Caitlin, and Deborah try to get a good view.

On top of the possible high place of Gibeon.

Waiting for their turn to descend the stairs...

Overlooking the Wadi Qilt and St. George's Monastery.

Having the wilderness for a classroom helps you to really experience Scripture in a new way.

Noel is in the middle of the Judean wilderness.

Karen points out the remains of the ancients walls of Jericho.

IBEX walked around the ruins of Jericho...

and blew trumpets when we finished.

Looking at excavations of the oldest city on earth.

"Zacchaeus" climbs a sycamore tree.

Nativity Square in Bethlehem.

Noel enters the Church of the Nativity.

Cory and Matt in Bethlehem.

Peter tries to pick up a Roman cannon ball.

Joe in front of the remains of Herod's palace at Herodium.

Caitlin sits above the so called "Solomon's Pools" most likely built by Herod the Great.

In their own words:

As a writer I loved secluded places.  They challenge my mind and offer silence and character that breeds imagination and produces plots and characters.  The land of Benjamin did just that and helped me understand in a new way the powerful purpose of God’s calling various prophets and specifically John the Baptist and His Son Jesus into the wilderness.  The silence and solitude affords greater opportunity for man to hear the voice and instruction of the Lord.

-Ashley Bricks

We saw so many amazing places today.  Because of the great familiarity of the places because of the association with very well known Bible stories, this field trip was very meaningful.  I thought the territory of Benjamin very beautiful – I thought the ruins of Herodium very fascinating – when there are ruins like that it’s easier to use your imagination, where a new city is over the site it’s a little harder.  The skill and architecture of “Solomon’s Pools” amazes me because it was so long ago!

-Jenessa Gonzales

Being in the wilderness was quite a different experience than I originally thought.  It was good to see where Jesus was tempted for 40 days.  It was lonely for Him in our perspective but He had His Father and His Father’s Word and that was enough for Him to persevere.  It made me think of all that I think I need to persevere and it is a whole lot more than the Word of God.  Being in Gibeon where God showed His glory and in Bethlehem where He humbled Himself and became a man gave me even more tangible evidence that what is written in the Bible is in fact true!

-Caitlin Gutierrez

Even after all that I’ve seen, I’m still amazed every time I see something that contains so much history and beauty, even if at first glance it is simply a pile of rocks.  Walking the streets of Bethlehem was amazing.  Although it reminded me of basically every other Israeli city, the fact that it is where our Savior was first brought to this earth brought about a sense of awe I can’t even put into words.

-Lindy Smith