Tag team blogging! Could that be a new term? I’m first to blog this post, then it’s Heather’s turn.
Okay… the title isn’t quite accurate. 
The title should say “We MIGHT be going to Israel!” but that wouldn’t have drawn you in like the current title. Here’s the dealio: Heather (my wonderful, wonderful wife) signed us up on the Moody Radio website to win a trip for two to Israel. Once a person enters the contest (only one entry per household), you begin listening for your name! If you win the first stage and are mentioned on the radio, then you have 60 minutes to call in. Once you do that, you win some books and get entered into a smaller drawing for the big tamale.
Well, you guessed it… our name was called out on the radio yesterday (Oct. 20) and Heather called in! We are officially entered and have a chance to win a free trip to Israel. This trip is no joke either. $3,450 PER PERSON. And you get to travel with Michael Easley (Moody Bible Institute’s new president) and Charles H. Dyer (MBI provost and certified Israel tour guide)! How sweet would that be!? Talk about an opportunity of a lifetime! All we have to say is… if it’s God’s will… we’ll go. Oh, PLEASE, PLEASE let it be God’s will! 
I mean, how cool would it be to be able to visit our friends Sara and Remi… for free!
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Heather here! I concur, babe! It would be awesome to go. I think being in the Holy Land would bring a unique reality and perspective to Jesus’ earthly life. And it seems like it would .jpg "Israel")
bring such a vitality to reading about geography in the Bible after having “been there.” Don’t you think? A big group from our church (Calvary Chapel) went to Israel a couple of years ago. They had a guide, and it was a sightseeing trip less than a “mission trip.” They came back with pictures of the Garden of Gethsemane, individuals floating like rafts in the Dead Sea, etc. I remember SO wishing we could go then, but of course there were a hundred pragmatic reasons we could not (i.e., the expense, the time off work, responsibilities).
And so, Alas, we may have our chance. Of course, Rich and I have no idea how many people have been entered into this round of the contest, and thus, no idea what our chances are (statistically speaking). B.K. (before kids) would definitely be the time for us to go!
We will try not to be too disappointed if we don’t win! We’ll definitely blog about the final result.
Over and out,
Rich and Heather
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I hope you guys get to go! Of course I will be seriously jealous if you win the big one, and may not speak to you (until you get back).
Keep me in the loop so I can give you a short list of photos I would like you to take for me.
Blessings,
Michael
Looks like I’ll have to drag out our slides from when we went to Israel. A lot’s changed since we were there in 1977, I’m sure. It was a great experience then and it will be a great experience now. It gave us a much better idea of the landscape where our Savior walked.
Love, Mom