I wondered about that as I planned to embark on Graeme Lienert’s Holy Land Pilgrimage. I was just about 84 years old.

With God nothing is impossible. With Graeme’s constant vigilance, my 73-year-old baby sister in tow, and a wonderful group of fellow Christians on tour, I was able to keep up with most of the full and exciting itinerary.

Our young driver, Mohammad, endeared himself to all of us as he swung that huge comfortable bus around in the tightest of corners.

Betty floating on the Dead Sea

We had four full days trailing the sites of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection in Jerusalem, also Bethlehem and three days around Galilee, Nazareth, Capernaum and Cana.

The trip in the ‘Jesus boat’ on the Sea of Galilee was never to be forgotten – humbling and hilarious. Prior to this, a group of us prepared a devotion around the 1950s song “The Stranger of Galilee” – a guitar borrowed from the hotel closet to accompany the singers. More hilarious was my float in the Dead Sea (with a lot of help from Graeme and others).

I’ll never forget the peace I experienced in the Garden Tomb; on the Mount of Beatitudes; at John the Baptist’s baptismal site on the Jordan River. So many unexpected surprises! The sad, but moving visit to the Holocaust Museum; the Kibbutz visit where we collected fresh eggs and prepared our own delicious lunch with organic local produce; meeting Little Solomon, the camel with one hundred wives (and children!); the wonderful farewell dinner at the Kibbutz La Terra Promessa (Land of Promise) with gifts and emotional goodbyes.

I have to mention our amazing guide, Gale. Anyone with access to the Lutheran Women magazine, December 2018, may read her dinner presentation in Sydney at the LWA Convention that year. Inspiring stuff.

So…Go…Immanuel…God with you, plus Graeme and Gale. Never too old for the trip of a lifetime with that trusty trio, maybe better do it before 84!

The Holy Land Tour group

About the Author

Elizabeth Schulz