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This 10-13 day pilot mentoring program trip (see "residential" add-on below) is the merging of intellectual learning, spiritual formation experiences, and mentoring in pastoring, on location as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus in Israel. A handful of Vineyard's female pastors are invited to join Dianne Leman, leader of Vineyard Women with 18+ years as co-lead pastor at the Church of Central Illinois, Urbana, a mobile Vineyard Worship Leader to be named, and Kim Frolander, president of Ruth Israel Initiative & administrator of Well-being of Pastors Initiative on our inaugural journey together as we learn to be effective mentors while in the Holy Land. (All this and you'll only miss one Sunday in your city!)
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Mentoring Mentors ProgramGreat mentors mentor mentors who mentor. There is no one-size-fits all schedule for learning to be mentored and to mentor other who in turn will mentor others, but there are some universal guiding principles. Top-tier Vineyard female pastor mentors have laid out 19 critical topics and skills they are ready to pass on to Vineyard Women pastors in a formal mentor training experience in a Be/Know/Do emphasis that emphasizes Vineyard Values. Concepts will be both caught and taught in the same "what happens along the way" mentoring that Jesus used with His disciples as we travel together seeing the places Jesus lived and taught while forging life-long memories and friendships with colleagues. Previous generations of women had to learn by observation and adaptation what a healthy mentoring relationship arc and leadership looks like. During this trip (& its prep time), national-level Vineyard women mentoring pastors will provide language to rally around and explain the why of the things they do in their valuable mentoring relationships, and make sure you come home with formational experiences and tools. They'll unveil the secrets they've learned through decades of experience in being mentored and mentoring others. We will come together around amazing (!) fresh food and beautiful accommodation, dynamic spiritual encounters and experiences in the desert wilderness, the Galilee, and in Jerusalem. This pilot mentoring trip's mentor teachers include Dianne Leman, Clara Maranville, Karen Fields, Becky Olmstead and (others will be named here after they have accepted their invitation). COMING SOON: a chart of what we'll learn as corresponding to our stops & where you can sign up to lead an encounter for the team.
The Flexible Itinerary PlanStops in Israel are not guaranteed, but this is ideal plan that we have developed. If the Lord is moving (or traffic is not!) we'll tweak the itinerary on the go. Many of the locations below are also links.
Monday, June 20, 2022
Take off from your port city and fly, fly, fly. Perhaps you'll have a fun layover in a European city. Tuesday, June 21, 2022 Arrive in Tel Aviv (TLV) between noon and 4 pm, Israel time. Gather your luggage, exchange some dollars for shekels and meet our guide and bus driver at the Aroma Coffee Shop to the right of the main exit from baggage to the lobby. (not all the way outside.) We will bus into Tel Aviv/Joppa to take a short walking tour and see the home of Simon the Tanner and to stretch our legs before heading over to the Valley of Elah, where David slew Goliath to chat about "Navigating Fear" and maybe pick up 5 smooth stones of your own! We'll continue driving south to our David Dead Sea Resort Hotel (2 nights). Upon arrival you may choose to take a refreshing and relaxing swim or go directly to a delicious all-you-can-eat dinner and then soak in the Dead Sea before bed. Wednesday, June 22, 2022 We start with a bountiful Israeli breakfast with lots of Israeli coffee and fresh juices. To beat the heat we will have an early departure around 8 AM to Masada. Then head over to Ein Gedi, where David hid from King Saul. We will hike up to David's Waterfall and you can take a little dip in the pools along the way if you choose. From here you can see the desert blooming with life, according to the Word of God. We will then drive deeper into the Negev Desert to Kfar Hanookdim where we will bump along on a 1-hour Abrahamic camel caravan ride in the desert. For our lunch we will enjoy Bedouin hospitality and local cuisine, and hang out in the camp for a little while. In the evening, you'll have a moment to see the same sky Abram did when God first made Covenant promises to him. We will head back to our resort for dinner, start our personal stories, and enjoy a comfortable night sleep. Thursday, June 23, 2022 We will enjoy another bountiful Israeli breakfast and load up the bus to drive north toward the Galilee today. Along the way we will make several stops. Qumron, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947 is first. Then we will drive by Jericho on our way to see St. George's Monastery (video) from the top of a mountain. It is the traditional site of both Jesus' temptation and the Psalmist's Valley of the Shadow of Death. Continuing north, we will stop and you can put your feet into Gideon's Spring. Depending on time, we will choose either the ruins of the ancient Decapolis city, Bet She'an where there was once a thriving Christian community until a 8th century earthquake froze this city in time. Or perhaps Gan Ha shlosha an Eden-like garden with turquoise swimming hole waters for our last stop. When we arrive in Tiberias, we will check into the Ron Beach Hotel (3 nights), and you can explore the Sea of Galilee area or head right to dinner. Tonight there is planned Home-check-in time after we share more stories. Phone ideas. Friday, June 24, 2022 After breakfast we will stop at the Jesus-related sites and towns around the Sea of Galilee. Today will include a Jesus Boat ride and worship experience on the water; the time we are assigned for our 1-hour ride will influence the timing of the rest of our stops which include: Magdela, St Peter's Primacy (site of restoration), Capernaum, Gamla nature preserve, Ein Gev Kibbutz for a St Peter's Fish lunch, Jordan River Baptism (optional $10 paid on site for convenient gown and towel rental). Dinner back at our hotel. Saturday (Shabbat) June 25th, 2022 After breakfast we will first go to the Mount of Beatitudes then drive north into the Golan Heights. We will visit Caesarea Philippi ("Who do you say that I am?" site) and have a stair-step hike down to a waterfall at Banias. A Druze snack of a large Druze tortilla filled with fresh cheese cooked in front of you can be purchased on site if you're hungry. We have an option as a group for the afternoon to go on a short easy-paddle rafting trip down the Jordan River. We will finish our day at Mount Bental/Mount Hermon where you can climb into a war bunker overlooking the Syrian boarder (photos) and we'll gather for coffee and intercession in the chalet before we drive back to our hotel for dinner. Time tonight for another Home-check-in. (It will be Saturday morning for the U.S.) Sunday, June 26, 2022 This morning we pack our luggage after breakfast and we head west. Our first stop will be at the top of Mount Arbel to wave goodbye to the Sea of Galilee. We continue west to a Monastery on Mount Carmel (Elijah wins over the prophets of Ba'al.) where from the roof, we can see the full Valley of Armageddon. We will stop at Kishor Winery Kibbutz for a wine tasting at a fully inclusive residential kibbutz. Then we make our way into the valley to trek though Tel Megiddo National Park. We will continue on to the massive ancient Port of Caesarea and see the Roman Aqueduct that is still standing. (If you haven't touched the Mediterranean Sea yet, you'll have a minute to put your feet in, though not to swim). We will check into the boutique hotel, West Lagoon Resort, (1 night) right on the Mediterranean Sea in Netanya, one of Israel's cute coastal cities and eat there. Monday June 27, 2022 After a later sleep in morning, we will leave the Mediterranean Coast to head up to Jerusalem today after breakfast. En route, on our first stop, we will leave a lasting impression on the landscape of the Land of Milk and Honey by planting our own tree in the Israel's ground at Neot Kedumim. Then we will stop for a traditional Arab meal (lunch included in price today) at the home of the best pita in the world at Abu Gosh. (seriously, they win awards every year!) Then we will arrive at Yad Vashem, the world's premiere Holocaust Memorial and Museum on the outskirts of Jerusalem. After several hours to take it in, we will drive by to give you a view of Bethlehem and perhaps drive by the new US Embassy in Jerusalem to see what all the fuss was about, Then get your first look at the Holy City of our Great King, Jesus at Panorama Park where we will have a TED Talk on Building Proper Expectations in Mentoring while we gaze at the skyline of Jerusalem! Then a few blocks away, we check into our Jerusalem hotel, the lovely Dan Boutique Hotel in West Jerusalem on Hebron Road (3 nights) and enjoy dinner and time to explore on your own if you feel like going out. Tuesday June 28, 2022 Today is all about the Old City of Jerusalem, above it and underground! We start after breakfast by climbing up on the ramparts (walls) and making our way around from Jaffa Gate, over the Zion Gate, to the Dung Gate (yep, that's what it is called!). We will stand and learn on the Southern Steps where Jesus once taught His disciples, then walk over to the prolific, active archeological dig, the City of David (in Jerusalem, not to be confused with Bethlehem, the city of David's family) and change into our water shoes to slosh through the Gihon Spring for a kilometer in Hezekiah's Tunnel (video) to the Pool of Silom. We will visit a replica of the Upper Room and take some time with the Holy Spirit there. Then we move to see and hear the history of the Zion Gate, then enter Caiaphas's house, stepping into the cistern chamber (video) where Jesus is believed to have been held awaiting trial. Then we will head back to the hotel for a scrumptious dinner. Wednesday June 29, 2022 Today after breakfast and yummy coffee we will explore David's Citadel/Tower of David then have a few minutes of shopping time in the Old City Shuk, and grab a light early lunch on your own, before we get a ride to the top of the Mount of Olives to take that iconic Jerusalem photo and receive some great teaching on the very spot where Jesus ascended and will return! Then we will walk down the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations for some silent contemplative time. We will meet our driver again and ride over to experience worship and communion together at the Garden Tomb before stepping into the empty tomb! From there we will get a short ride or walk over to the historic and beautiful American Colony Hotel or King David Hotel for a relaxing and yummy High Tea experience. We will return to the hotel after this and you can explore on your own or take a nap before a later dinner. Tonight is our last team meeting where we will pray for, bless, and activate each other. Thursday June 30, 2022 We may have blessed each other already, but we still have a full day of experiences ahead! Today is our final day for the regular tour. So we will need to pack our luggage and load the bus after breakfast. We will take a walk through the Old City and take some time to pray at the Western Wall (a.k.a. Kotel, or the "Wailing Wall" but please don't call it that, it's derogatory) and then we will go underground again in the Rabbinical Tunnels. Then head over to Saint Anne's Church and perhaps burst into song in the amazing acoustics in the church. We'll also see the ancient Pool of Bethsaida at this place. We will meander back over toward Jaffa Gate for our finale luncheon together at an Armenian acquaintance's restaurant, Naro's. We will have a leisurely time of eating, saying good bye and debriefing together to prepare you for re-entry. When we are finished, we will have our driver drop off those who are staying for the Residential Experience bonus time at our Air BnB/Vrbo in Jerusalem (we will walk out to a grocery store, buy breakfast foods, and find a restaurant for dinner on our own). The driver will take everyone else about an hour's drive to the airport to catch their flight home and enroute the tour guide will brief you on what to expect for security. Dinner will be on your own at the airport if you don't want to wait for the dinner included on your flight. (Keep scrolling down if you are participating only in the 10-day tour, there's important info after the Resident Experience bonus) Optional "Residential Experience" BONUS DAYS Friday July 1, 2022 the main group will arrive home in the US. The bonus-stay group will have time to relax, hang out in cafes, do some shopping, walk (or take a taxi) to revisit a favorite site, catch up on your journaling. Everything begins to close around 3-4 PM for Erev Shabbat (Friday night), and we will gather at one apartment and cook Shabbat dinner together and hang out for the evening. (Most restaurants in Jerusalem are closed this night). Saturday July 2, 2022 Jerusalem is closed, so there will be a lot of rest, processing, sharing, and hang out time. Perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime experience of God's prescribed Shabbat in Jerusalem. You can walk in parks, wander through empty streets, visit a synagogue (Messianic or Reform Judaism), sort the thousands of pictures you've taken, or just do nothing. Once everything opens back up (45+ minutes after sundown) we can go out to a late dinner (like 9:30/10 PM) or go shopping, or just stay in and eat leftovers--just like at home. Sunday July 3, 2022 Today, bonus folks will need to straighten up their Air BnB in the morning, and we can store our packed luggage. (Book your flight home for around 11 PM-3:30 AM on July 4th). You can explore sites today, or shop, etc. There is an option to attend a Christian Church service at 5PM at King of Kings Assembly. We will have dinner out at a restaurant if you'd like and then return to one Air BnB which we will keep for an extra night to store our bags and have a place to wait for our ride to pick us up, and clean up before the flight.) Monday July 4, 2022 This bonus group should arrive home in the afternoon or evening of July 4th (watch out your airplane window once you're over the U.S. for fireworks from above! so amazing). Exciting details for this Women Pastors' TripWe will be gone 10-13 nights in the Land of Israel. There is lots of walking involved in this kind of learning and experiencing tour. We suggest that you start training your body as you train your heart for this trip so you will be able to fully participate in it with your teammates. This trip is personalized for Vineyard women pastors and the female leaders they are mentoring, and limited to 22 people (the women being mentored by you don't have to be staff pastors though). We have specially arranged for Sonia Waters a Cambridge-trained, tri-lingual guide (Spanish & English & Hebrew) who loves prayer and intercession and has previously led a Vineyard group! Our small-team size allows great access for questions and mobility (& faster bathroom stops). Beyond the pastor mentoring that Dianne Leman & the national-level mentors will be doing, each Ruth Israel Initiative Unhurried Pilgrimage trip incorporates spiritual development & formations, prayer activations, spiritual formation exercises, and "Friendship with Jesus" strengthening & deepening at nearly every location stop in the Land. Most of these will be led by you. (We have a book included for you that offers a suggestion if you get stuck for an idea on what to do. The Lord usually stirs things up in our hearts in a beautiful way.
Be sure to check out all the ways you can start preparing for this life-changing (not an exaggeration!) trip that will cause the Scripture to go from black and white to Living Color forever, as we visit the places where it all took place! B-4 You GO link!
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Most recent update: 9-14-21
9 of 22 spaces remaining. Download a PDF Application
This exclusive mentoring experience is limited to 22 Vineyard women pastors to ensure a best-experience for all. Both top-tier mentors and up-n-coming mentors may invite another leader to participate with you. This Pilot Trip itinerary is currently by invitation only, and applications will open to the general Vineyard women pastors at the NLC in October.
Talking points to share this opportunity with your board. 
Meet our tri-lingual (Spanish, English & Hebrew) guide: Sonia Waters. Check out some of her teaching on her YouTube channel.
Costs & Payment Plan
10 days in Israel $3897 + your flight per person/double occ. Single-room supplement= $990 Credit cards may be used; please plan for an additional 5% to cover the fees.
$500 down payment due with your application $2000 due Nov 1, 2021 Plan to purchase your flight ticket as early as July 2021, but certainly by January 2022 and send a copy of your itinerary to Kim. Balance $1397 (or 1787 for bonus days) due April 1, 2022 (~ 75 days before trip). What's included?
9 nights of very nicely appointed accommodation, air-conditioned transportation, driver, tour guide, mentors, tour leader, worship leader, 9 breakfasts, 9 dinners, 1 high tea, 2 lunches, 1 wine tasting, A Spiritual Journey Through Israel book with journal space, and Unbroken Cord, a book to study ahead. Each lady will have a chance to share her story (details closer to time) and a chance to lead the group on a site of her choice. (Link coming soon to sign up.) Not included, but recommended: Flight, lunches, insurance (no commission medical & trip interruption), tips for your driver and guide ($3-7/day each), bonus-days food & sites, food in transit, and souvenirs. Optional: Jordan River Baptism runs $10-12 USD on site. The Resident Experience
Bonus Add-on Several of us are staying on for some bonus free-time in a Jerusalem Air BnB/Vrbo apartment. We will design groups of 4-6 ladies in each apartment who are interested in time to process or explore on your own. All meals and site entrances will be at your own discretion and expense. June 30-July 3 bonus time= $390 with a minimum of 6 ladies. (Kim will be in staying for questions, helping with plans, show you the grocery store, make sure no one gets lost, and get us back to the airport.) Team zoom meeting Monday April 4, 2022 to prepare culturally and meet your team. 8:30 pm Eastern/7:30 Central/6:30 Mountain/5:30 Pacific (bring your dinner if you need to, and your questions!). Other team prep meetings may be listed here for story sharing. DOWNLOAD A BROCHURE TO STUDY AND SHARE
Download PDF application to mail with your down payment
Wondering what to pack for a summer trip to Israel? Here is a suggested packing list.
How can I prepare?
(click thru these B-4 You GO links at your leisure) Entry Requirements Reading Prep Walking Prep Prayer Team Building Talking points to share your trip with your board members Phone Options to prepare 
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