My name is James (or Captain)
This is the first time I’ve ever written something here on the blog and, despite having over fifteen years of my life shared on here by my mom, I thought I would tell you a little bit about myself in my own words!
I’m 21 years old and am the oldest of nine in my family. I grew up in beautiful Southern Oregon for eighteen years but currently live (still with my family) in North Idaho. After attending school at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia for two years, I transferred over to University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, where I just finished up my junior year of college. If everything works out, God willing, I will graduate next spring with a degree in Criminal Justice. I know I won’t be able to solve all of the world’s problems, but I can do my best to make right the injustices within the communities and populations that I will be working with in the future and in that way, I hope to strengthen our communities and leave a lasting positive impact for future generations.
Now that you know a little bit about my background, I thought I’d share a little bit about what I enjoy doing. First off, I absolutely love the outdoors and spending time in nature. Whenever I can, I try to go swimming in the lakes or hiking in the mountains all while admiring God's beautiful artwork. If I’m not out spending time in nature, I like to stay active and spend my time with my family and friends playing all sorts of sports and board games. I think I would have to say that pickleball has become one of my favorite sports to play with family and friends and for board games it’s still Settlers of Catan. ;D
Anywhoooo, I hope you enjoyed hearing a little bit about me and what I like in my own words and if you are able to offer any help either spiritual or financial (or both!) I will be forever grateful!
Take care and God Bless :D
(Donate at GoFundMe, my Venmo or Mom's Paypal)
P.S. Here is the tentative itinerary for our trip:
Departure DayDay 2
Departure Day
- Leave North America
Day 1
- Meet at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv
- Transfer to Nazareth for Mass and supper at the hotel
- Basilica of the Annunciation
- Cana of Galilee
- Mount Tabor & Transfiguration
- Mount of the Beatitudes
- Caesarea Philippi & Confession of Saint Peter
- Golan Heights
- Primacy of Saint Peter
- Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee
- Capernaum
- Tabgha Priory & Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes
- Zippori National Park: Sepphoris & the birthplace of Our Lady
- Tel Megiddo National Park: Armageddon
- Muhraqa & Carmelite Monastery: Holy Prophet Elias & the priests of Baal
- Leave Nazareth and drive south for Jerusalem
- Qumran National Park: Saint John the Baptist & the Essenes
- River Jordan & the Baptism of the Lord
- Jericho
- Dead Sea swimming
- Bethlehem & Church of the Nativity
- Shepherds’ Fields
- ‘Ein Kerem & the Visitation of Our Lady
- Mount of Olives, Pater noster & Church of Eleona
- Dominus flevit
- Gethsemane
- Mount Sion: Dormition Abbey, Cenaculum
- Saint Peter in Gallicantu
- Via Dolorosa
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- Bethany & the Tomb of Lazarus
- Drive to Haifa to visit Mount Carmel for the Feast Day
- Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery
- Caesarea Maritima (extremely important early Christian centre connected with the Apostles and Church Fathers: Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Zacchaeus, Philip the Deacon, Cornelius the Centurion, Origen, Eusebius, and the Nicene Creed!)
- Sunday Mass at a place to be determined (Notre Dame? Latin Patriarchate?)
- The Israel Museum
- The Shine of the Book
- Valley of Elah (where David slew Goliath)
- Cross the Jordan River at the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge
- Mount Nebo, where Moses looked out and saw the Promised Land
- Madaba & ancient Christian sites
- Wadi Musa (Spring of Moses)
- Petra
- Mount Hor & the Tomb of Aaron
- Kerak Castle Crusader Fortress
- Queen Alia Airport for travel home
“Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me and for the Gospel will save it.” ~ Mark 8: 34-35