Holy Land Updates
Holy Land Safety | Interview with Jimmy Nammour
Join Educational Opportunities CEO James Ridgway in a brief interview with Holy Land guide and Jerusalem native, Jimmy Nammour. Jimmy has guided for EO since our inception over 40 years ago. In this video Jimmy addresses the current situation in Israel and assures us that traveling to the Holy Land is safe with EO. Recorded on Thursday, August 21, 2014.
James Ridgway, CEO | Posted 07/22/14
The conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip continues into a third week mirroring the 2008/2009 conflict that also involved Israeli ground forces in Gaza. Rocket fire has diminished greatly during the ground offensive, while fighting is contained in the Gaza Strip and its immediate environs. The rest of the world continues to press for a comprehensive cease fire.
Our groups who have continued on traveling have had a good experience, and each of their days are being followed on this page via their photos and videos above. One of our groups enjoyed floating in the Dead Sea today. We do have 19 guests scheduled to return home tomorrow, and we are in the process of accommodating them on alternate flights.
These changes and the coordination involved have been the number one priority today. EO has no departures to the Holy Land until late August when I believe hostilities should be resolved. Please stay tuned for ongoing updates.
EO Pilgrim, Rev. Jeffrey A. Sumner | July 20, 2014
Long before Jesus, God claimed that land to be holy. Yes it is true that there is passion and there are clashes. But you should know that as we traveled—as you heard threatening report after threatening report—we never felt unsafe. It was as if we traveled in the loving hands of God. We came to learn and to pray, to see holy sites and other cultures with wonder and respect. It has felt that same way every time I’ve gone. If you are physically able to go to this great land with Educational Opportunities, go with confidence regarding your safety. That land is still filled with wonder, with history, and with holiness. Now thirty-six of us are ambassadors, not only of the Good News of Jesus Christ, but the eyewitness news of how gladly we were greeted and how much we experienced. Ask us about our pilgrimage! And, perhaps because of our words, or the reading of your Bibles, you will reaffirm your conviction to be a disciple of light and love.
EO Guide Mike Abu Libdeh | July 17, 2014
Today is the last day for our EO group pilgrims who arrived 9 days ago. They walked the bible land with Educational Opportunities. It was great a biblical adventure. We visited Galilee, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jericho, Jaffa, Dead Sea, Massada, Qumran, and many other great sites. Was great serving you friends and an honor walking the holy land with you. Looking forward to our next EO group.
Source: Mike Abu Libdeh on Facebook
EO Guide Mike Abu Libdeh | July 16, 2014
Today 07/16/2014 our EO group is heading south to Masada, then on to Qumran and the Dead Sea. Another beautiful day in the Holy Land.
EO Guide Mike Abu Libdeh | July 16, 2014
Today 07/16/2014 our EO group is heading south to Masada, then on to Qumran and the Dead Sea. Another beautiful day in the Holy Land.
EO Guide Mike Abu Libdeh | July 15, 2014
Today 7/15/2015 we are starting our day with the group in Jerusalem, now singing to The Lord at Bethesda pools & St. Anne Church. Our pilgrims will walk the Via Dolorosa after this, then we will explore the old city stones, walls, and gates. Our pilgrims prayed on the lithostrotos where Jesus was given the cross.
EO Guide Mike Abu Libdeh | July 14, 2014
Today, 7/14/2014 we are starting our day with the group driving south from Galilee to the baptismal site at Bethany beyond Jordan. Then on to Jericho where we will share Joshua entering Jericho and the walls falling, then up to Jerusalem. Our group is so excited to enter Jerusalem walk where Jesus walked.
Mary Ann Burritt Sumner | July 13, 2014
This is a first on a trip. Our guide is taking photos and posting them on Facebook with the rest of us. We're able to get some great group photos instantly. Fun!
EO Guide Mike Abu Libdeh | July 12, 2014
Today 7/12/2014 our EO group enjoyed the coastal plain ancient harbor city Ceasarea Maritima. We drove from Bethlehem, through Jerusalem by Telaviv and more. We will go to Tel Megiddo, Nazareth and Cana where there will be renewing of vows for the couples. Great day, heading to Galilee where tomorrow we will walk in Jesus' footsteps.
EO Guide Mike Abu Libdeh | July 11, 2014
Our EO group today enjoyed visiting Bethlehem. First visiting the mountaintop "Herodion", then buying olive wood souvenirs from Nissan brother's store. Then we sang silent night where Jesus was born at the Church of the Nativity. Lastly, a great devotion at the sheperd's field by Vicki Sumner. Another blessed day in the Holy Land.
EO Guide Mike Abu Libdeh | July 10, 2014
Today we started our pilgrimage with 36 guests from Ohio and Florida by entering to Jerusalem from East and seeing it for the first time with joy. Then we walked down the Palm Sunday road, we visited Dominus Flevit church where Jesus wept on Jerusalem, we shared the history and biblical background of Jerusalem, then we continued down to the Garden of Gethsemanee where our group had a great devotion. From there we drove around the old city walls to mount Zion, we visited the upper room and King David's tomb.
After our lunch we visited the Wailling Wall and the Archeological Garden with the Teaching Steps where Jesus used to walk up to the house of God. We just arrived back to our hotel in Bethlehem. Everyone in the group feels so excited and happy for the great day. All will eat dinner at 7pm then be ready for tomorrow where we will celebrate the birth of Christ at the cave in the Nativity church.
Blessings to all....
EO Guide Mike Abu Libdeh | July 9, 2014
Today I welcomed a group of 36 pilgrims that arrived by US flight at 4:30pm. The moment we arrived to the hotel in Bethlehem, they felt at home with the great welcoming they had. Tomorrow I will guide and serve them all over the Holy Land.
They were surprised even with the tension two hours away that we live a normal life, driving around peacefully, not what the media is showing. Our group will surely enjoy the Holy Land...
