Mike,

I am writing to you today to report on our recent tour to the Holy Land, as I thought you would be interested.  We flew out of Chicago on Saturday, January 3, 2009 via Royal Jordanian Airline to Amman, Jordan.  We had a great flight over, spending our first day touring some sites in Jordan--namely, Petra, the ancient Madaba Map @ St. George's, and then Mount Nebo, doing the border crossing over into Israel at the end of the day Monday, January 5.  We began touring Israel on Tuesday, January 6 and continued our tour of Israel through Wednesday, January 14, when we flew back to Chicago--actually out of Tel Aviv Airport, transferring back through Amman on Royal Jordanian.

Mike, I want to be very straight forward with you in saying that this was my 4th tour of the Holy Land and it may have been the best yet!  I ended up taking 29 out of the 30 who had signed up to go.  (We actually had one individual cancel the day before we left, due to family pressures to do so.  Unfortunately, this individual missed out on a trip of a lifetime, unnecessarily!)  As a tour leader, I have never received so many phone calls and emails regarding the current 'situation' in Israel--the Gaza conflict specifically.  Having been to Israel several times prior, and realizing the reality of the geography there, I knew that our tour would not be within 50 miles or so of the conflict.  With assurances from your company, along with personal assurances from our guide in Israel, I could with confidence assure those who were going that our tour would not be affected in the least by the isolated military actions in the Gaza.  Again, 29 out of 30 registered went with me ... and we had a marvelous trip--one of the best ever!

The truth is, Mike, if we had not turned on the evening news while in Israel, we would never have known that any conflict was taking place.  Where many news agencies around the world paint a picture of Israel as if the whole country were a war zone, this is just not true at all.  The conflict is very isolated and the majority of the country is moving along, business as usual.  The only military presence we noticed were a couple of jets that flew over in the distance while we were on top of Mount Carmel--simply a precaution, and a beefing up of the Jerusalem police on a Friday while we were in the city, due to it being the Muslim holy day--traditionally the day that harmful actions would take place against the populace there.

One of the questions I continually asked the participants on this trip was "Are you fearful?"  The answer was consistently "No!"  Again, due to the prior assurances of Maranatha and the wonderful care we received from our guide while in Israel, no one was even slightly afraid.  There was no reason to fear.  So, if it is helpful, from my point of view as a pastor and experienced tour host, if you have upcoming tours who are questioning whether to go or not, let them be assured that there is nothing to fear ... as long as the word from your Jerusalem office is to come!  The people of Israel are ready and more than willing to receive groups and care for them, as they did us.  My prayer is that upcoming tours will experience some of the best possible pilgrimages to and through the Holy Land of Israel. This is what we experienced ... and our prayer is the same for others, too!

Thanks again for Maranatha helping to make this experience possible!  We look forward to planning the next tour with you soon...

Many blessings,

16 January 2009

Malcolm Cartier, Licensed Guide

Department of Tourism

Israel

Dear Malcolm,

Thank you for another exciting, informative, and spiritual tour.  The facilities and opportunities provided by Near East Travel, the management services of Maranatha Tours, and your cooperative discharge of responsibilities as the most knowledgeable guide in Israel always results in a world class tour.

A few of the first time pilgrims on our first winter tour of the season were a little apprehensive of danger.  However, others who had traveled with us before felt completely safe.  By the second or third day, no one was uneasy.  It is tragic that sensational news reporting has so distorted the true situation that earnest tourist wanting to visit Israel are frightened away. It is doubling tragic that some reporters subject their reports to Palestinian Authority for censer so they can receive privileged treatment.  Little wonders that impartial reporting is impossible.

During the many years we have brought tours to Israel, on one occasion we did cancel due to safety.  It was a reasonable decision made after consultation with many friends in Israel.  I would not do otherwise.  On the tour returning in early January this year, my grand daughter and mother of my oldest great grad child accompanied us.  In no way would I allow here to be subjected to heightened insecurity.  She assures us the tour was one of the most moving experiences of her life.  I am so glad fear did not spoil her trip.

It was surely more dangerous during the extended time the rockets were being indiscriminately fired from Gaza than now since the patience of Israel has acted to stop them.  However, that danger was confined to the close (even visible) borders of Gaza.  We would not take our groups there, nor was there need to do so for a successful tour.  Therefore, we have never felt endangered.

We look forward with great anticipation to our third tour this season when we meet you in February.  Continue to pray for us and our country as we also continue to pray for you and the peace of Jerusalem.

Your Friends and Lover of Israel,

Bill and Wilma McFatridge