More Work and Caeserea

Holy Land VIM team Finishes Projects at MEEI, then tours Caeserea
June 15, 2006

Last night, after we had posted our blog, we were just finishing our daily debrief when we had a surprise visit from Michael Chacour, nephew of Elias Chacour. Michael was very appreciative of our efforts and our presence at MEEI. His sincerity and passion touched each of us and validated our decision to come here. Michael also wants to return to the U.S. to help us with a similar project as he himself went on a VIM.

Today we finished our chores, which included sanding the stage (you might recall it was varnished yesterday...hmm), sewing the kids graduation robes, and assembling crosses for sale in the gift shop. After lunch, we toured Caesarea, which is an incredible coastal site of Roman (and other) ruins, built over 2,000 years ago. We viewed Herod's bath house and the public bath house (the group did not visit the bath house without Anne and Susan this time).

We also viewed the Hippodrome where they used to hold chariot races, and the ampitheater which still seemed to be in use today. After a few of us got our feet wet in the Mediterranean, we headed north again.

We had earlier decided that we would eat out tonight, and we asked our driver (same driver we have had all week) if he knew of a place in Haifa. He said he did, so we were anticipating another new experience. Well, the place he knew of was the same Egyptian restaurant we found two nights ago! Hunger and good memories dictated that we eat there again, and once again they treated us with amazing warmth and hospitality. Maybe we will return again???

Tomorrow, June 16, we meet back up with Gail, our HCEF guide, and we head to Nazareth and possibly Cana. I think it will be difficult for us to leave MEEI, but we leave knowing that we are taking a bit of MEEI back with us to the U.S. --Geoff--