Welcome to the debut blog for the Long Hollow Baptist Church Israel Tour 2008!  During the pre-tour phase, we will use the blog to communicate important information and helpful hints as well as provide a forum for discussion about tour preparations.  During the tour itself, we will use the blog to communicate daily events, thoughts and observations from tour participants, pictures, videos and a whole lot more for our family and friends back home.  Be sure to share this address to all your family and friends so they can stay up to date with our travels. 

By the way, the picture above was taken last year while we were atop the Mount of Beatitudes.  A beautiful garden in the foreground with the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights in the background.  Simply breathtaking!

Below we have reposted the email that went out earlier today.  Be sure to check back for daily posts.

14 days away!!!

We are planning our final get together for Saturday, May 17th at 6pm at Fattoush Cafe in Hendersonville.  The restaurant is in Hendersonville, on Gallatin Road in the City Square shopping center directly across from Captain D’s.  If you are not familiar with Hendersonville or need additional directions, please let us know.  Your family or friends are invited to come get a taste of Mediterrian food.  The restaurant is run by Arab Christians from Nazareth and their menu is very reasonably priced.  I think it will be a great time of fellowship before the trip.  If nothing else, bring your last minute questions. 

Speaking of questions, there have been a few more that we want to share with the group.

CHECKED BAGGAGE

New rules went into effect a couple of weeks ago regarding excess weight and baggage.  You are limited to one suitcase weighing no more than 50 lbs.  If you go over that weight, it is an additional cost so please keep this in mind when packing.  For more information, please click the link below for Continental Airlines’ baggage policies.  http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/default.aspx

CONTACT INFORMATION ON THE INSIDE OF YOUR CHECK BAG

In addition to your luggage tag on the outside of your bags, the airlines recommend that you include a sheet of paper on the INSIDE of your bag with your name, address, phone number.  In the unlikely event your bags are lost and are not tagged, the information on the inside will allow then to get your bag and its contents back to you.  Please note that this may take several weeks for them to determine ownership.  For more information, please click the link below for Continental Airlines’ baggage policies.  http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/check-in.aspx

CARRY ON ITEMS

Please be sure to check Continental’s policy on carry on items. 

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/carry-on.aspx 

You are allowed one carry on bag (not including a purse, camera or computer bag) not to exceed 40 lbs.  Just remember:  if you pack it, you carry it so be certain it is something you need for the trip. 

POWER CONVERTERS AND ADAPTERS

If you have not had any luck in finding a power converter and adapter, check out this link to Radio Shack.  http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kw=power+converter&f=Taxonomy%2FRSK%2F2818337&categoryId=2818337&kwCatId=2032056&cp=2032056.2818119

There are several to chose from.  Be sure you read carefully what devices will run on what converter.  Some are for heated devices like curling irons or hair dryers and others are for electronics like cameras and iPods and the two do not cross with each other.  As far as stores, you can check out the new Radio Shack store in Hendersonville across from Wal-Mart or the store in Rivergate Mall or order on line or ship-to-store option. 

BLOG

To help our friends and family keep track of us while we are in the land, we are setting up a tour blog.  Your family and friends can use it to follow the tour with daily posts from tour participants as well as pictures and videos.  Each day, we will ask for someone in the group to write a short note (100 words or less) of their thoughts for the day, what they saw or experienced.  At the end of our day, we will post those comments to the blog for your family and friends to read and enjoy.  I think this is a great way to stay connected while we are gone as well as build some excitement for a trip in the future.  I will also see if the church will link the blog to the church website for the duration of the trip.  As soon as we have finished the setup, we will get the address out to you to begin sharing with your family and friends.

As always, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask.  We hope to see you on the 17th.  Keith & Lori.