Today was a free day for us to explore as we wish, before our planned time of gathering at 4.00pm and then worship at St. George’s Anglican Cathedral at 6.00pm. Some decided to have a total rest day, some decided to go to the Old City, and wander round the bazaars, as well as do the ramparts walk.

We wandered from our hotel up to the Damascus Gate, which was only a 20 minute stroll. The Damascus Gate brought us into the Muslim Quarter with bustling shops, narrow lane ways, alleys going every which way and sellers of all types of wares – from plastic toy rubbish, to underwear, to spices, food, tea, ice cream, lollies, and then to fine wares from skilled artisans. Bargaining was the order of the day and we had a lot of fun.

We weaved our way around many different quarters and eventually even came out at the stairs leading up to the Dome of the Rock, the large gold topped mosque which is the focal point of almost every photo of Jerusalem these days. We were definitely not allowed up those stairs, with two armed security personnel sitting at the top. We asked if we could go up, but on Fridays [Muslim holy day] and Saturdays [Jewish Shabbat] it is not permitted.

We then made our way to Jaffa Gate in the Christian Quarter and had a lovely coffee at the Christ Church coffee shop before buying our tickets to our anticipated ramparts walk. On previous days we had walked the tunnels along the western wall, and either walked the Canaanite Tunnel or Hezekiah’s Tunnel, so to walk the top of the wall today was another wonderful experience.

The views of Jerusalem from up there, both inside the wall, and outside, gave us all a better perspective of this magnificent city. It was so interesting to walk around and see such variety down below – from cafe courtyards, to homes with washing hanging out, to vineyards, to walls being restored, to roof tops with multitudes of satellite dishes, to mosque roofs, minarets, church spires and bells. The breeze was refreshing, the information along the way was excellent, and it was genuinely disappointing to arrive back at the Damascus Gate and return to ground level.

Our time together at 4pm was an opportunity to see some photos of the previous month on the large screen tv, and we shared laughter and joy as we reminisced our way through experience after experience.

St George’s Cathedral was only a 200m walk from the hotel and as a group of 15 we were warmly welcomed. The service in the side chapel was then full, as a new group of pilgrims from various parts of the world had just arrived that afternoon to begin a 2 week tour and study course at St George’s College. We heard a good sermon designed for the people just beginning their time in Jerusalem, but was equally as relevant for us who were finishing. Following the service we returned to the hotel for dinner, and then had a final reflection time together as we each shared our learnings and responses to our time together, whether for the whole month, or the Holy Land section. It was wonderful to hear that the Bible has come alive in people’s hearts, and that mission in the world has a new understanding and focus.

Thank you Lord.