Day 16 & 17 - HaYovel - My Promise - Purity Ceremony - Jordan

 Day 16 & 17 - HaYovel - My Promise - Purity Ceremony - Jordan
March 12-13, 2026 Thursday & Friday 

Total miles traveled to date: 9,625

Steps taken past two days: 27,462

Steps taken to date: 156,053

Details: JTowers to HaYovel - Ein Lavan to Bet Shean border crossing to Amman Jordan

Total Miles Driven past two days: 306

I just wanted to share a little video about our experience in Jerusalem, and how we started almost every day.  Turns out we are right  next to a construction site where they are converting a building to luxury apartments.  Every morning around 7 am, this starts:   

Thursday, we went to HaYovel, a wonderful organization that supports farmers and creates an environment for others to visit Israel and work the land.  They started based on the premise of Isaiah 61, which says that the stranger (foreigner) will come to work the vines and trees in Israel.  Volunteers come from around the world and visit their vineyard in Samaria and work the land while they tour.  You can find out more about them, and contribute or sign up, here: https://serveisrael.com/

This was a wonderful experience.  We were able to meet Tommy and Sherry, and several of their adult children.  We toured their facilities, including their new visitor center, still under construction.  We enjoyed a lovely lunch under the trees, and then settled ourselves into the gathering room to enjoy coffee and a discussion about the miracles that are happening right there in the land.  We also saw huge chunks of shrapnel that have fallen around their farms. 

This is also the place where The Israel Guys record their podcast.  I was delighted to find out that The Land of Israel guys were also there doing an interview! Israel Guys Podcast I was pleased to meet Ari Abramowitz some years ago when he came to talk in Salem.  I also follow their posts and podcasts, and I was hoping our team would get to meet them both, and we did!  Find out more about what they do here:  The Land of Israel Network.

Iran and Lebanon lob their bombs at the cities and population centers.  They do not necessarily aim for strategic targets, but instead deliberately aim for families and civilians.  The bombs are shot down most of the time out in the wilderness, over places like HaYovel.  Because of that, the danger there is not explosions, but falling debris.  They have not experienced a single injury – but they do collect up the pieces and have them on display, one of which was a huge tank which fell almost totally intact.  

One small piece of  shrapnel

 We made our way back to the city, and we each did our own thing.  In my case – I kept the promise.  I CUT MY HAIR!!  It feels so amazing.  I know I overpaid for the haircut, and it’s only an OK haircut, but it looks better than if I had done it myself.  I love how fun and curly it is, and I feel like I lost weight!  Shawna came with me for moral support and pictures, for which I was grateful.  After, I bought here dinner again at our favorite pasta place – this time with bread!!

 During this time, our flights were being rearranged.  We had decided to travel out of Amman, Jordan, as our other flights were cancelled, and I will eventually need to get home.  More on that to come.  I want to say a huge thanks to Mitzi, who not only helped us rearrange our flights and find accommodations, but she also made all the arrangements, tolerated a minor tantrum on my part, and simplified the process for each of us.  We are mostly flying out at the same time, and arriving in Chicago together, and then we will divide up to our individual destinations.  I will be getting home much later than I anticipated, and that’s frustrating, but I will still be home, which I am grateful. 

Friday morning dawned early.  Joe wanted us to be able to Mikvah and complete the modified red heifer ceremony this morning before we got on the bus.  There's a lot we cannot do perfectly in this ceremony - there are no Aaronic priests here, and no temple, and no official mikvah.  We are using the beautiful Ein Lavan spring, which is shockingly cold, and we are doing it in faith and obedience in the hopes Yehovah will honor our willingness to obey. 

I have no photos.  It seemed like a private moment  - one that didn't need pictures.  I dipped, and then Joe sprinkled me and made me realize something.  He pointed out that I had cut my hair the day before as if I was letting of the past, that it's symbolic, and he blessed me with a prayer for healing of my grief.  I can't say I felt an immediate burden lift - but I definitely felt blessed in that moment. Then I dipped again.

As soon as my spine touched the water, another migraine started.  Migraines are one of the things I hope to be healed from, but apparently today was not the day.   I went back to the apartment for a quick nap, but it was time to load the bus to Amman.  This was by far the most torturous bus ride I have ever taken.  As we reached the crossing into Jordan, Anita worked a miracle.  She brought me some oils and some lotion, and literally nursed me with them essential oil.  I don't know the name of it but it almost immediately made me feel better!  Thank you so much, Anita!!

The journey to Amman was eye-opening.  This is a country I've never visited.  Getting across the border was a process.  We had to buy a ticket across, and then go through passport control, then board a bus that took us about half a mile.  Then we had to pay an entry fee, and more passport control, then get our Visas.  Then in chaos and craziness, we boarded the charter bus, and started toward Amman. 

I had no idea how high we would climb to reach the airport.  It took over 2 hours, winding down main highways that would be considered side roads in Oregon.  The area is utterly beautiful!  I know that pictures from a moving vehicle are hardly ever good pictures, but I hope you enjoy them anyway.  

 Tomorrow we board our planes back to America.  We are coming into Chicago, and the weather doesn't seem great.  We covet your prayers for getting home.

I am going to make one more appeal for assistance.  I had my budget for this trip well planned, and tried to stay within it, but these extra flights and other expenses has pretty much blown that up.  I could use your help, friends.  Some of you have already blessed me, and I thank you so much, and I pray over each of you that Yehovah blesses those who bless the widow.   

 Below is the information to my Venmo, Cashapp, and Paypal.  You can also reach out to me on Facebook Messenger.  If you feel lead in your heart, I appeal to you to give.  Thank you!

Venmo: @Rose-Treasure

Cashapp: $RoseTreasure42

Paypal: rose.treasure@outlook.com

I will post one more blog - about my adventures getting home from Jordan and about the flora and fauna of Israel - which I enjoyed so much!

Thank you so much for reading, my friends!  I have been so blessed to write this.  Shalom from Jordan! 

  

 

Day 15-16 the Dead Sea - Ancient Synagogues – and back to Bethlehem

 Day 15-16 the Dead Sea - Ancient Susya – back to Bethlehem 
March 10-11, 2026 - Tuesday & Wednesday

 

Total miles traveled to date: 9,319

Steps taken past two days: 20,413

Steps taken to date: 128,591

Details: JTowers Jerusalem to Dead Sea to Susya to Jerusalem

Total Miles Driven past two days: 207 

Shalom from Jerusalem!

I am combining these two days again due to the fact that we have spent so much time in motion, it’s hard to make time to write!!

This Wednesday we had an appointment to visit Ancient Susya – a town where Israelites lived in the south of the country, near Arad.  This was arranged by Anita for us, we were meant to be there at 9, so we were up early to leave at 7.  For the record, Shawna and I arrived downstairs at the cars and precisely 6:59.  If you want to learn more about ancient Susya - take a look at it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susya

A decision was made in our car that we would like to drive by the Dead Sea.  I want to apologize to our group, because I know this made us late.  I am a punctual person, but with everything closed as it is, I knew that I was not going to be able to have another chance to see the Dead Sea on this trip, so I went along with the plan. 

There is so much strange, stark beauty in this land!  The Dead Sea moves and flows like a regular sea, but there’s nothing alive in there, of course.  We made our way back down past Jericho, then around to the sea.  The views are amazing!  We passed by Masada, which is closed for the wars, and around past many other amazing things that we didn’t get out and look at.  We traveled past ancient Sodom and Gomorrah, which are now just heaps of ashes.  We marveled that you can see the square shapes of buildings, and even something that could be a sphinx.  We did not get to go out and find any sulfur balls, more’s the pity.  This was on my bucket list, but since we were already inconveniencing our friends, we decided to snap car pictures and move on.  

 We saw many camels loping about in their awkward way, and the desert is already turning brown.  After a passport check, we arrived at Ancient Susya.  What is this place?  This is a place where, during the revolt, many of the Cohens and other Jewish people fled Jerusalem and settled here.  They had underground rooms and dwellings, tunnels and cisterns, and eventually they built above ground.  The location is very stunning.  There are birds everywhere – and so many different kinds of flowers.  This is one of the things that has surprised me about spring in Israel.  There are so many flowers!!  

At this location is also the site of an ancient synagogue and has been excavated.  This is a beautiful thing.  There are several mosaics mostly intact, and one of them has the name “Yeshua” (Jesus) right there in the mosaic. Were these Messianic Jews?!  The archeologists at this location seem to think so.  There are several wonderful presentations here – a place for music, a place for drums, and a place for water.  The cistern was impressive.  It was deep, full, and the water was cold.  

 We eventually went to another location where Robert and Marcelyn, Anita’s friends, joined us for lunch at their friend’s house.  She has converted a barn into a restaurant called Ronel Cafe, and we had a lovely lunch of Shatsuka and salad and many sides, including a little tuna salad.  This was one of the most wonderful meals I have had!  I have not been able to have many eggs while I have been here, and eggs are my staple back home, so this was so enjoyable to me. 

We also listened to the wonderful stories she told about moving to this place.  My favorite was about her lemon tree.  I’ll try to tell it here, but I’m not great at telling other people’s stories.  When they moved in, her and her husband planted a lemon tree because she believes every home should have a lemon tree.  They did everything right for this lemon tree, and even after the required three years passed, there was no fruit.  She spoke with the rabbi and he told her to say to the tree that it’s purpose was to give fruit, and if it wasn’t giving fruit then she was going to uproot it.  That spring, the tree bloomed and continues to bloom year round!  This tree always has at least one lemon on it at all times no matter the season. 

I am a person who talks to my plants and animals all the time.  When I first came here, my friends poked a little fun at me about telling the flies to vacate the car and advising the beetles to watch for the humans and ordering the birds to be silent.  I murmur to the trees and praise the flowers.  To have this lovely, grounded lady admit that she, too, talks to her trees is so gratifying.  I don’t think anyone has picked on me since!!

We made our way back to the apartment, and Shawna and I were able to get a little bit of groceries before our final day of unleavened bread, which is a Shabbat.  We joined our friends for the leftovers from our dinner with the Glicks, and we were able to watch an interception over eastern Jerusalem.

Understand, just because the missile or drone was intercepted, there is still debris that falls, landing on houses and cars.  Some of these are “cluster” bombs, that when broken open, they fall to the ground individually, and explode on impact.  Understand, this is happening over a large, highly populated city – not military or strategic targets.  Please pray for the people of Israel and pray for the Hand of Yah that protects them all. 

The next day we returned to ancient Bethlehem Ephraita, the site of the Migdol Eder.  This time we knew what we were looking at. The Star of Bethlehem was there, along with many more of them this time.  In all of Israel, this was the only place any of us saw this flower.

We each took a turn down in the birthplace, and then we sat and read the story of the birth and the rest of the Exodus story out loud.  Then we made our way back to our cars.  

 On the way back to the cars, we saw this wonderful statue!  The statue is of barley, which of course is why we came to Israel to begin with!  This little "square" is in a roundabout very near the Migdol Eder site.  

That evening almost all of us took a nap and laid around the apartments. We ate leavened bread for the first time in a week, and had some pizza. It was lovely!

Tomorrow we head up to HaYovel to take a short tour, and then we will prepare to leave Israel. 

As always, thank you so much for reading!   

Day 13 & 14 - Mikvah - Bethlehem - Jerusalem

 Days 13 & 14: Mikvah - Bethlehem - Jerusalem
March 8-9, 2026 

 

Total miles traveled to date: 9,112

Steps taken past two days: 29,795

Steps taken to date: 118,833

Details: Tel Aviv to Ancient Bethlehem to JTowers in Jerusalem

Total Miles Driven past two days: 72 

There has been so much happening that it's been hard to keep up.  I offer my double portion for my neglect. Let's jump right in!!

 Sunday we were moving to Jerusalem, which was meant to be harder than it was.  We enjoyed a bomb free night, and the sleep was so sweet!  I will never again take for granted my peaceful little city and my soft, peaceful bed.   

We started with some coffee.  The last coffee from the self-serve espresso machine.  I will miss you, dear coffee machine.  After cramming everything back into my suitcase in a haphazard kind of way, we gathered in the conference room to discuss plans. 

At this point we split up.  Some went shopping and visited the sites of Tel Aviv.  Joe, Shawna and I went to Jerusalem.  Our goal was a site that Joe had been told about by a friend.  His friend had sent him a map of sorts – spots circled on a satellite view.  We knew the neighborhood it was in – the same area where we dropped off the jars two days before. 

An ancient well

This time, we parked and walked down around the apartment building, then back up to a rocky area.  Here we found what looked to be an old well.  This was neat, but not what we were there for.  Across the way we saw a group of boys and a couple of men going around a trail and up over a wall, and we decided based on our map, this was the place to go. 

Scrambling behind Joe who walks like he drives – fast – we came to the group of boys and some sort of obvious ruin.  The man and the boys did not speak English well, but one of the boys asked us if we liked Trump, to which we said yes, of course.  He smiled and said, “Biden, no.”  Then the man told Joe something amazing – that we were at Bet-lehem.  Bethlehem!!

Most of the modern sites one sees in Israel are not the original sites.  The modern city of Bethlehem is not what I am discussing here.  Constantine’s mother, Helena, after converting to Christianity, came to the region and did the best job she could finding these places.  However, YHVH protects things, and he protected this. The locals know what it is and there have been some archeological digs here, but I will be keeping the site a secret for now.

We started up into the ruin, and guess what was right there at the gate!  This flower is called the “Star of Bethlehem.” There it was, right at our “gate" into Bethlehem. 

Star of Bethlehem!!

What we saw there was rocks and a broken down walls, and a mosaic floor.  Clearly we were looking at the walls of a building, and basement rooms.  There was a thorny tree growing out of the basement of the building, and a set of stairs. Joe and I made our way down the very narrow stairs, and explored a little, but we didn't want to be too intrusive.  We walked around the space some more – found some cistern openings, and other walls and objects.

There was an old wall there, and the three of us walked down it and around.  That would have been fine if it didn’t require billy goat style traversing around the wall.  I'm not so fond of heights.  Eventually, we wandered back up the other side, and found a very large cave.  At this time we only had a vague idea of what we were looking at, but we thought we were at the ancient site of the Migdol Eder – the strong tower. 

One of our goals here was to find hyssop.  We searched high and low.  Several times we looked at plants we thought were hyssop, but Google was leading me astray!  Eventually, Shawna did find it and we can now easily identify it.  I wish I could share the smell of it with you!  It smells like a cross between oregano and anise.  We are needing the hyssop to complete our purification ceremony.  As we climbed up away from the large cave, we started across the top of the hill and found loads of hyssop!  We gathered up lots of hyssop at the top of the fence, and then made our way back to the car and across Israel to our AirBnB – a rather large apartment building right on Jaffa St. 

Hyssop (pic borrowed from the internet)

 

That evening, I eavesdropped on a call from Joe’s friend again as he talked about what it was that we saw that day.  According to him, this was indeed Ancient Bethlehem Ephraita.  The well in the photo above is a 3000 year old well!  We learned this was the place where they raised and prepared the sacrificial lambs, along with the other products needed for the Temple.  This place was called Migdol Eder, and this is where young David would have grown up and where he would have raised the sheep for the temple, and where it is mentioned he would have gone back to before returning to fight Goliath.  It’s also the REAL place where Yeshua, our Messiah, would have been born!  I believe I put my head into the very place where the Messiah would have laid!!  We were so excited with the day's events, and headed back to the hotel.

The birthplace of Messiah??

The apartment is an ok place to work out of.  Primarily we are hoping to sleep and sometimes eat here, so we are not worried about too much comfort.  I am sleeping in a room with four bunk beds, which makes hanging out at the room less than important.   We got settled, then Joe walked us down Jaffa for a yummy pasta dinner. 

Jerusalem is always a fun place to visit.  The diversity of the people, the history everywhere, and the pace of life is fun to watch. I will miss the hotel for the coffee, the daily room cleaning,and the convenience of the staff and life, but my view there was a wall and this is my view here now!  

Good morning, Jerusalem! - my view

Monday we went to Ein Lavan again first thing in the morning and we did our second mikvah.  I can tell you that this water is COLD.  So cold.  We also were sprinkled with the red heifer ashes water and Joe said a prayer over each of us.  I got a headache – like an ice headache, and later in the day it turned into a full migraine, but more on that in a moment. 

We walked down to the Old City together, stopping at a place for nachos that took way too long, but I needed the food. While we dined, several hungry cats came around to keep us company!  Thanks to Shawna and Anne.  They arranged to go to a store and get the cats some meat, which the cats obviously appreciated.  In the old city, most of what we would want to visit together was closed for the war.  We couldn’t even get to the overlook looking down on the western wall.  We did a little shopping, then came back to the rooms to prepare for our dinner date. 

Our cat lunch companions

We had dinner with Yehuda Glick and his lovely wife Haded at a restaurant called Ofra.  Honestly, I felt so terrible I could barely eat anything, which seemed rather strange to everyone, but I got through it.  I wouldn’t have missed it for the world!  Haded was wonderful, and had so many great things to teach us.  Yehuda is fun to be with and was really excited we were here.  

Yehuda & Haded Glick - photo by Johan

Dinner with the Glicks - Video by Shane 
 

That night, I was so glad to be in bed!!  Most of this trip I have felt fine and I didn’t want to have a migraine, but what can you do?  Two people told me to drink more water, so I have been doing that.  Otherwise, I’m getting through it. I'm grateful for my medication, which makes it less miserable.

Tuesday is Ancient Susiya, and the next day is another trip to Bethlehem to take the whole team.  I will be sure to share more!

Shalom from Jerusalem!!