"I don't know why God keeps sending me here, but I know there is a mission",   stated Reverend Yvette Massey  of the Warren Memorial Church  during her recent visit to Israel, the third visit for Massey.

Reverend Massey arrived in Israel with 9 other

Traveling with kids? Looking for an educational and fun way to entertain them? Head over to the Israel Museum on either a Monday, Wednesday or Thursday this month. The museum has constructed an archaeological tell where your kids can learn and participate in a minature archaeological dig. Let them learn about sifting and antiquities in this hands on activity. The cost is $50 per child and is recommedned for kids 7 years and up. By the way, the museum is offering free admission to kids for the entire month of August. While you're at it, you can enjoy breakfast in a prehistoric cave on Mon, Tues, and Wednesday at 11:30. No need to know hebrew to experience this museum.

The city of Acre (Acco in hebrew) was the first Israeli site recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.  With a history dating back to the Bronze Age (2500 years BC), it's no wonder that this Israeli port city was bestowed with this honor.  From the time of the tribe of Asher's unsuccessful attempt to grab this rocky coastal plateau from the Philistines (Judges 1:31), its value as the main door to the Holy Land has been appreciated by the various conquerors who have ruled this part of the world.

During the first Israelite kingdom, Acre was ruled by a governor appointed by King Solomon.  Later, Alexander the Great conquered the city in 333 BC. and it was eventually named Ptolemais in honor of Alexander's long time friend and trusted general who later ruled Egypt.  This was the name that St Paul knew it by when he visited the city on his final journey to Jerusalem almost 2,000 years ago. You can still see some of the artifacts of the Hellenistic and Roman periods. But the Old City of Acco, approximately 600 square meters occupying Israel's Mediterranean coastline, boasts some of the best preserved Crusader structures in the world.

For those of you who will in Israel on the 9^th of Av, (beginning on the evening of July 29^th and continuing for 24 hours), you might want to know how this unique holiday will be observed in the land of Israel. Perhaps the most prominent observance of the holiday can be noticed in Jerusalem where countless congregations begin their evening prayers at the Haas promenade in southern Jerusalem. From this unique location, you can see the old city, the Ottoman walls built in the mid 16^th century, and a faint outline of the city of David created by King David and his son, King Solomon close to three thousand years ago. From this location, you will also be able to see remnants of the second temple built by Herod approximately two thousand years ago. The view, especially at night is breathtaking, dramatic and full of hope.

On the 9^th of Av Jews observe the anniversaries of the destruction of the first and second temple, both of which resulted in exile, destruction and massive loss of life. It is one of the saddest days on the Jewish calendar. It is not surprising then, that congregations like to go to the Haas promenade to look at the ancient city of Jerusalem and contemplate these terrible moments of destruction. As we gaze upon the flickering lights of the old city and the new city of Jerusalem, we read from the book of Lamentation