I played football as young. My best friend, Stefan, had jewish parents. They invited me a trip to Israel in summerholiday. I think i was 17. Stefan and I went to kibbutz Maagan Michael (!) close to Haifa. I met a young israeli woman, Tamar, who liked my blue eyes (!). We spent much time together and at the end of the 7 weeks, we hitch-hiked 5 persons around Israel, famous historical places and slept nearly naked on the beach in Eilat, eating watermelon for breakfast.
We traveled all over Israel, Ein Gedi, close to the dead Sea and I recall, we were standing in the desert, extremely hot, waiting for a car to drive 300km to Eilat. Finally a cap came. We were 7 in the car. No air-condition, just open windows and sand flowing in your face !!
Before I turned 42 I visited Israel 5 times, incl days after my friend nearly were killed in one of those ugly wars. Together we drove around, border to Lebanon, military guards. We had dinner at the Sea of Genesareth (also Sea of Galilee), I think it was Tiberias.
I have been in Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. I have been in Jerusaleim. I walked where Jesus walked. I had Him in my heart.
Later in life, my sister worked with psoreasis patients at the southern parts of the Dead Sea. theory was, that the sun and the minerals from the sea were good for the patient. I visited my sister and took her to Ein Gedi and down to Eilat. To my surprise my sister Eva was ready to put on kilos of diver gear and we went with guides swimming with free dolphins. I was so proud of my sister. I still recall the moment, when a dolphin came close to me, looked me in my eyes. I felt penetrated with love and higher intelligende, not present among humans.