Tel Aviv

Tel Avi is a large city that sits right on the Mediterranean Sea. You will fly into David Ben Gurion International airport in Tel Aviv. You won't see a lot of Tel Aviv on this trip, just at the beginning and the end. Make sure to take in the modern culture that surrounds this sprawling metropolis.

A lot of Tel Aviv will remind you of Southern California with its large cities near the beaches. It is is the center of commercialism, modernism, and worldliness for the country. There is a lot of business, shopping, and education in Tel Aviv.

Some say, "Go to Jerusalem to worship. Haifa for business, and Tel Aviv to party." Although, that is not entirely accurate, there is some truth to it.

You will get a real taste how modern Israel is and soon you will see why Israel is a "land of contrasts". Tel Aviv is definitely unique from the rest of the country.

It’s almost here! For many of you, going to the Holy Land is a bucket list experience! For most of us, this is something of a pilgrimage - certainly far more than just a trip or vacation. Most of us don’t want to just see the sights, we want to feel something and have an experience with the scriptures on location.

What each of us brings to the trip is as important as what we go home with! Our experience in the Holy Land will be greatly enhanced thru active participation versus passive reception.

So, how can you participate?

First and foremost, plan on getting to know each participant personally right from the start. Coming to know the Savior on location is an inter-relational experience—it is meant to be enjoyed with others, especially those we know. So, start with learning everyone’s name.

Second, you can plan to have a great attitude no matter what twists and turns our trip may take. Nothing is expected to go as planned, so come expecting to experience things you didn’t anticipate, and also expect not to experience some things you did.

Third, plan to speak up. We want to hear from you. Along the way there will be opportunities to share a story, a scripture, a quote, an experience, or a testimony. Sometime we may ask you to share a talent, a joke, or an embarrassing experience. :)

As each of us actively participates, we anticipate we will “understand one another,” be “edified, and rejoice together” (D&C 50:22). Looking forward to next week!

Along the way there will be opportunities to share a story, a scripture, a quote, an experience, or a personal testimony.

We also would like some of you to share a musical number.

Sometime we may ask you to share a talent, a joke, or an embarrassing experience. :)

We will sing together, laugh together, cry together, and share insights together.

Although we will not force you, your experience will be heightened as you are willing to share what’s inside you.

So, think of how you can participate more:

Do you have something to share? Is there a site that has personal significance to you that you would like to share something when we visit there? Do you have any musical talent and desire to share it with us as we travel? Is there a meaningful quote, song, scriptures, poem, etc. that would add to our experience? Please email me at damonlarryjohnson@gmail.com

Itinerary

See a more detailed itinerary here. However, it WILL change as trip progresses, so it is best to use it as information before the trip, but NOT during the trip. We will most definitely see more sites than this itinerary details. Along the way we will adjust the trip to make sure we give the right emphasis to each site for the group. Each day will be a new adventure!

Tip

Allow yourself 3 full hours to get to the airport and check in. Cutting it too close can cost you a day or two of sightseeing!

Get Some Sleep

You do NOT want to start this trip dragging, nor do you want to increase your chances of getting sick. Go to bed early these next couple weeks and be rejuvenated before you head out. Stay healthy.

Roll with it!

Traveling all day and night together will be a lot of fun, BUT it also can be taxing on any of us. So, although we will all do our best to make each other comfortable along the way, decide now to choose charity, gentleness, patience, and long suffering and not only will you learn about the Savior this trip, but you will also become more like Him.

Plan to have a great attitude no matter what twists and turns our trip may take. Nothing is expected to go as planned, so come expecting to experience things you didn’t anticipate, and also expect not to experience some things you did. Roll with it! It’s going to be a great trip, regardless.