April 28, 2012 Holy Land Tour
Directed by: Camille Olson Fronk

Price: $1,995 cash/check price per person based on double occupancy
$2,095 if paying by credit card

April 29 (Sun): Arrive in Tel Aviv: Enjoy a relaxing evening, walk on the beach or swim in the Mediterranean as you recover from jet lag and prepare for our wonderful adventure.

April 30 (Mon): Tel Aviv – Jaffa – Caesarea – Mt. Carmel

We will begin our vacation with a city tour of Tel Aviv and then a visit of Old Jaffa (Joppa) and the Artists’ Quarters. Jaffa is where Peter received his vision leading to the expansion of missionary work to the Gentiles and is also the place that Jonah attempted to flee from the Lord’s presence aboard a ship bound for Tarshish. From Jaffa, we will travel along the Mediterranean coast to the Roman, New Testament capital, Caesarea. Once in Caesarea, we will see an ancient Roman theatre and study the Biblical events that happened here. From Caesarea, we will go to Tiberias stopping at Mt. Carmel on the way, where we will discuss the epic battle between Elijah and the wicked priests of Baal. We will overnight at our hotel in Tiberias.

May 1 (Tue):   Cana – Megiddo – Nazareth – Jordan River

Our adventure today begins with a visit to Megiddo, which is prophesied as the venue for Armageddon (derived from the name’s place in Hebrew) or the final battle between the forces of light led by Jesus Christ and the forces of darkness led by Satan or the Anti-Christ after the End of Days. From Megiddo, we will drive via Cana, the place where Christ turned water into wine at a wedding feast, on our way to Nazareth. Nazareth was the boyhood home of Jesus. Here we will see the Church of Annunciation and a local synagogue. We will continue on to a beautiful spot along the Jordan River, where we will discuss Christ’s baptim. Then we will return to our hotel in Tiberias.

May 2 (Wed): Sea of Galilee – Mount Hermon  – Capernaum – Mount of Beatitudes – Golan Heights

 Today will begin with a drive along the coasts of the Sea of Galilee before arriving at traditional site where Christ delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Here we will find a quiet place to study the doctrines of that amazing sermon. Then we will visit Capernaum, which was the center of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. In Capernaum, Christ performed many miracles and gave many profound teachings, including the “Bread of Life” sermon. We will see the remains of a synagogue from the time of Christ, which very well may have been the synagogue in which He taught. Lunch today is included as everyone will have the opportunity to try St. Peter’s Fish. After lunch, we will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Feel the power and peace of this amazing location and learn of those miracles that took place on this Sea. We’ll continue our day with a visit to Banias (Caesarea Phillipi) at the foot of Mount Hermon, which is the site of Peter’s testimony of Savior and one of the sources of the Jordan River as it emerges from the foothills of Mount Hermon. Return to our hotel in Tiberias.

May 3 (Thur): Beth Shean – Jordan Valley – Bethany – Mount Tabor

We will check out of our hotel this morning and begin our drive to Mount Tabor. Few events in the Bible equal the events that historically took place on Mt. Tabor. Many believe that it was here that Christ was transfigured and heavenly messengers conferred the keys of the kingdom to Peter, James and John. We will then visit the strategic site of Beth Shean. At these impressive ruins we will see the splendor of Roman life and Hellenistic culture. Here Saul’s body was nailed to the city walls when he was captured. We will then drive through the Jordan Valley passing by Jericho and review some of the important scriptural events that took place on the road to Jericho. From here we will continue on to Jerusalem. We will make a brief stop in Bethany and talk of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. We will check into our hotel in Jerusalem for a relaxing evening.  

May 4 (Fri): Qumran – Monastery – Massada – Dead Sea

We will begin our day by driving to Massada. Here we will take a cable car to the top of Masada to see the ruins of the palace-fortress built by King Herod. We will discuss the history of the Zealots’ last stand against the Romans. From Masada, we will drive to Qumran to visit the sites in which the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. For those interested in swimming, we will stop on our way back at a beach on the Dead Sea where those who would like can float in the salty water.

  May 5 (Sat): Mount of Olives – Israel Museum – Mount Zion – Western Wall – Bethlehem

We will begin the Sabbath attending sacrament services at the BYU Jerusalem Center. Following which, we will visit the Israel Museum where we will see a scale model of Old Jerusalem. From there we will travel to the Mount of Olives, where we can view and discuss the history of the Old City of Jerusalem. Then we will begin a walking tour of the Old City in which we will see Mount Zion, visit the St. Anna Church with the Pools of Bethesda, and the Antonia Fortress. We will walk a small portion of the “Via Dolorosa”, which is the traditional road that Christ walked on his way to Golgotha. We will walk through the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall and descend into the tunnels of the Western Wall. We will see the Cardo Maximus, the Roman streets at the time of Christ, and conclude walking through the Oriental Bazaar. Time permitting, we will go to Bethlehem where we will visit a shepherd’s field and the traditional grotto of Christ’s birth.

May 6 (Sun): Jerusalem Center  – Garden Tomb – Temple Mount – Mount of Olives – Golgotha

This morning we will return to the Jerusalem Center for a guided tour of the grounds and a video of its history. After our visit to the BYU Jerusalem Center, we will return to the Old City and visit Christ’s tomb and the Temple Mount. We will visit the Garden of Gethsemane.  From the Garden Tomb, we are able to view the ancient Golgotha. Here we will be discuss and ponder the final moments of Christ’s mortal life and his glorious resurrection.  Transfer to airport for late night flight home.

May 7 (Mon): Arrive home 

 Camille Olsen Fronk: 

  

Camille Fronk Olson is an associate professor of Ancient Scripture at BYU.  She completed a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies, a master’s degree in Near Eastern Studies, and a bachelor’s degree in Education.  She has taught the Near Eastern Studies class at the BYU Jerusalem Center.  Her dissertation and subsequent research activities have focused on Palestinian families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  Her current academic interests include biblical studies, women in the scriptures, LDS/evangelical dialogue, LDS doctrine, and the New Testament.  She is the author of Women of the Old Testament; Mary, Martha, and Me; In the Hands of the Potter; and Too Much to Carry Alone. 

 Currently, Dr. Olson is researching materials for a book on the women of the New Testament, considering the Greco-Roman and Jewish cultures of the time, historical background, geography, and women’s roles in society.  She recently completed a collaborative project with three of her colleagues involving research on gospel doctrines.

 Prior to coming to BYU, Dr. Olson taught seminary and institute for the Church in the Salt Lake City area and served as Dean of Students at the LDS Business College.  She is a former member of the Young Women General Board and served a full-time mission to Toulouse, France. She currently teaches Gospel Doctrine in her ward. Camille Fronk Olson is married to Paul F. Olson, a Provo ophthalmologist.  She was born and reared in Tremonton, Utah. 

 To Reserve Call 800-217-7660 or 801-850-1498

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