I was excited to join the St. John’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land this year because I expected it would be a wonderful opportunity to enhance my understanding of the Scripture by visiting the Biblical locations that I have read about since my childhood Sunday school classes.  This pilgrimage experience has exceeded my expectations as our knowledgeable tour guide and driver have taken our group to visit dozens of holy sites in and around Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Nazareth while providing fascinating history lessons about the places and people in the region.  A highlight of today’s journey was Gethsemane.  I was moved thinking about what an emotional time it was for Jesus as He prepared to fulfill His mission of sacrifice in obedience to God’s will (Matthew 26:36-39).  The setting in the garden of Gethsemane was a reminder about the importance of prayer to ask God for the strength to truly live out His commandment to love one another.  I feel blessed and grateful to be here in the Holy Land to recharge my spirit in many of the places where Jesus carried out His ministry.

Adelle Simmons