Golan Heights: Today, we visited some beautiful places in the Golan Heights area, which is a high mountain area. Just to our west was Lebanon, and to our north was the Syrian border, which the Israeli's took during the Six Day War in 1967. Now Israel occupies land that Syria still owns. It's weird and sad.
Caesarea Phillipi: We also visited Caesarea Phillipi, and looked at the ruins of the Temple of Pan, Augustus, Zeus, etc., all pagan Gods. The grotto of Pan was a focal point in the worship of this half-man half-goat, flute playing deity. For at least two centuries before Christ, sacrifices were cast into the cave as offerings to Pan. At that time the main spring emerged from this large cave (... meaning that they drank from this sacrifice infected water afterwards). Pretty disgusting, huh? Earthquakes have since caused the water flow to emerge elsewhere.
Banias: We also hiked deep into the forest to the ruins of the palace of King Agrippa II, as well as the ruins of the city of Caesarea Philippi, and the cardo, the main road through Caesarea Phillipi. We also hiked down to the Banias Falls, which feeds the Jordan River. We also saw a Crusader Castle high up in the hills. A lot of hiking today. Very hot but very beautiful. I took a lot of pictures!
Tomorrow, we have a retreat day before we head to Jerusalem. We are all chipping in on some jet skis to play in the Sea of Galilee. Early Thursday morning we head South to Jerusalem.
Hope all is well! I am praying for Dennis!
Loril
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