Please Continue to Add Comments

While the travel part of the Vision Trip is over, the adjustment to jet lag and processing the trip is not. Please continue to add ideas and comments as you re-evaluate and process the adjustment back home.

Dennis

Home at Last

By now all the Vision Trip members should have arrived home. Some spent the night in NYC by choice since there was not enough connection time after the arrival of our international flight from London. Others of us spent the night in NYC because of a canceled Delta flight Tuesday night. Our group made it to Kansas City by 8:00 PM Wednesday night.

It was a great trip. I heard the comment on the way home that "it will be hard to go home because we're not the same person we were before we left. We now have to figure out what to do with the information we learned". After hearing that we knew that our main objective for the trip had been reached! We know that each one who went on the trip is facing the same thing. Our prayer is that God will be the one to show each one how we can share what we've learned with others and how it can be used to increase our prayer life. I don't think any of us will be the same after seeing the wall that surrounds West Bank/Bethlehem keeping the Palestinians captive, or the wall that surrounds the hearts of Jews and Muslims keeping them spiritually captive as well. SAT-7 www.sat7.org bridges those walls with appropriate, positive and culturally relevant programming that is giving hope to the Middle East. Continue to pray for our Middle Eastern brothers and sisters as they live in this troubled area.

Dennis and Cindy Wiens

Jet Lagged in JFK

Yesterday was our long flight home. We left our Bethlehem hotel at 3:45 am Bethlehem West Bank time. As mentioned earlier we went to the airport just with our bus chauffeur. Ben Guiron Airport security proved to be everything we had heard. The Sindbad cap and the map given to us by the tour company on arrival in Israel proved to be problematic for security ... free gifts from Palestinians seems to raise security concerns.

The flights were long by uneventful. The connection to the JFK bound flight BO 177 (Ask Cindy or anyone in the back right of the plane for details) was delayed which gave us more bonding time. A purse was lost, causing some scary moments, but was then found as we were boarding the plane. PTL

With the JFK flight arriving in JFK several hours late, it was a mess in NY. Baggage was slow arriving and were mis-tagged by BA in Tel Aviv. Our group of 6 outbound to Kansas City made a frantic run to our connecting Delta flight only to find it was delayed. We sat there for hours with it being delayed every 20 minutes for another 20 minutes. After three hours of this interesting routine the flight was simply cancelled. Delta was nice about it and put us up in a local JFK hotel. Not the type of hotel we our use to! Our tour has spoiled us

by 5 Star International hotels. We are adjusting! this morning, Wednesday, when we went to the restaurant here at the hotel, we only had three pieces of silverware ... not the normal 7-9 pieces of silverware we are now use too!! Ask a Vision Trip team member about the nice hotels we had!

Well, here we are, jet lagged in NYC, waiting for still another flight. We are confirmed for a direct flight at 3 pm.

Hoping to get home today.

Dennis and Cindy

Reflections

For years Jeanne and I have wanted to meet the people behind SAT-7 activites. Fortunately, this trip came along when we were able to do so. It has been exciting to discuss their vision with them and to witness the actions they are taking to bring them to fruition. Christians around the world should be proud of the valiant efforts they are making to bring the message of Christ to believers and non-believers in the Middle East. It is the message of love, compassion, tolerance, and freedom that only the truth makes possible. It is a message that is changing hearts and teaching everyone that there is another way. It is a message that warms our hearts as the airways carry it uncensored across borders into the homes of everyone in the Middle East. It's significance was witnessed to us when a Arab gentleman saw the SAT-7 logo on my wife's blouse and said " Oh, you're from SAT-7... my family and I watch it all the time." That's the SAT-7 impact we have prayed would be achieved and that is but a small example of it success to date. One of our trip members commented that SAT-7 is touching more lives for Christ in the Middle East and North Africa than all that have ever set foot in these countries. We believe he is right! Praise the Lord!!

Luke and Jeanne

Back in Bethlehem

It is now Monday evening here in Bethlehem. We just arrived back in the West Bank/Bethlehem an hour ago. The sun has set and the calls to Muslim prayer (prayer caller) are full volume and from every direction! Some of the group wanted to make one last shopping trip here in Bethlehem so our bus driver took them over to a place to find some last minute things. The rest of us are too tired.

It has been a great trip! We have seen so much. We spent the late morning swiming in the Dead Sea, well just a few of the group actually got in the water. Lunch was at Temptation Restuarant in Jericho. The mountain just outside of Jericho is where Christ's first temptation took place.

We leave the hotel at 3:45 am tomorrow, Tuesday, for the transfer to the airport for the flight home. We will leave our guide here and just go to the airport with the bus chauffeur. The guide is Palestinian and his presence on the bus will add at least an hour to the transfer time to the airport because of security, his security issues (just because he is Palestinian) as we cross the border wall check point. The Jewish authorities really take it out on the Palestinians here, amazing and sad to hear from church leaders having to put up with it all! Fighting and celebrations is Gaza tonight as it is the anniversary of Yasser Arafat’s death today.... it is calm here where we are ....

More updates during the flight home.

SAT-7 USA Church Connections

Vision Trip Project - Lebanon Studio Cameras

At each stop along our Vision Trip journey, we've met with SAT-7 leaders and church leaders. Our understanding and vision to see a growing church in the Middle East and North Africa has been enlarged as we attended the SAT-7 Network meetings. We then met with SAT-7 Lebanon country director, then the SAT-7 PARS Director, we flew to Cairo to visited the SAT-7 Egypt studio and met ministry partners in Cairo. We then moved to Palestine where we have met with a SAT-7 board member in the West Bank and the president of Bethlehem Bible College.

While each one has needs, the SAT-7 Lebanon studio need is most compelling. 30% of SAT-7 programing comes from the SAT-7 studios in Beirut. The soon to be launched SAT-7 KIDS channel will come from Beirut. While there are 3 production studios in Beirut for SAT-7 productions there is only one set of cameras they share between them! This is severely limiting urgently needed programs and production projects.

The SAT-7 Vision Trip members would like to help SAT-7's Lebanon studio and Naji Douad with a set of cameras. Studios cameras and accessories like lenses, controller, recorder, etc. are expensive. We invite all those reading the blog to join with us, their family and friends to help raise $30,000 USD towards the needed cameras for the SAT-7 studio in Beirut, Lebanon. Maybe you know of someone you could ask to help us. We would be glad to give more information on this urgent need. Please contact us for information: Dennis Wiens at denniswiens@sat7.org or (816) 734-4180 or Jim Smith jimsmith@sat7.org or (317) 209-0126

Good News! A matching gift is available. For every two dollars given to SAT-7 it will be matched by one dollar, increasing the value of your gift!! (This match is for new gifts or increased gifts ove last year)

All gifts should be sent to SAT-7 P.O. Box 2770, Easton, MD 21601. Please designate your gift for the Lebanon Studio Cameras.

Changing lives together, SAT-7 USA Church Connections

Memories

The most memorable activity on Sunday was out one hour boat trip on the Sea of Galilee. When we boarded the boat, the crew raised the American flag and played our national anthem. That was great. They also played Christian songs. We had a time of prayer on the lake and sang as a group. It was great fellowshipping as believers on the sea where "Jesus walked in days long ago."

Alvera

Galilee Region

Q. What's in this picture?

A. The placed where 7-sat....today at the site of the synagogue of Capernaum (7 cameras sitting on a column, 7 sitters seated on the front row, 7 on the middle row, (Oops) 7 + 2 on the top row. )

Q. What did we visit today? Seven Sites:

1. Shrine of the Beatitudes - Matt. 5:1-16

2. Capernaum - Synagogue & home of Peter's mother-in-law - Matt. 4:13-17

3. Tabgha - St. Peter's Primacy - Matt 14:22-34

4. Boat ride on Sea of Galilee - Matt. 14:22-34

5. Restaurant El Shark - Ate shavarmas (pita pockets with meat, veggies, and sauces) :-)

6. Nazareth - Basilica of the Annunciation - Luke 1:29-32

7. Cana - Wedding Basilica - John 2:1-11

Q. How do we feel? Seven Feelings:

1. Awed by what God is doing through dedicated broadcasters telling the old, old story through the new, new technology of satellite TV and video streaming.

2. Moved by the hardships people, especially Christian brothers and sisters, are enduring in the Israeli-Arab conflict and other restricted situations.

3. Appreciative of our hosts' warm hospitality, longing for connections with other Christians, and repeated thanks for coming to see them and listening to their stories and dreams.

4. Burdened by people's immense spiritual needs and physical poverty across the Middle East, yet relying on God,s sovereignty and His guidance to each person.

5. Refreshed with times together singing, praying, and reading relevant scriptures on-location at sites we visit.

6. Inspired with new understanding of Christ's humanity...and His divinity.

7. Desiring now all-the-more to worship and to serve Christ our Lord.

Martha Sue

We started off by going to Mount Sermon where Jesus gave the beatitudes. It was beautiful looking over the Sea of Galilee. We proceeded to Capernaum where we saw ruins of St. Peter's mother-in-law lived and was healed. Close to her home was the synogogue where this picture was taken. The highlight of our day was taking a ride on the Sea of Galilee. We spent time reading scripture, singing, and praying. What a meaningful time. Roxy

It is Sunday morning, bright and sunny and we have just finished our breakfast. Our tour today starts with a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. We will end up on the North shore of the sea and visit Capernium, Mt of Beatitudes, Nazareth, and the Golan Heights.

Thanks for your prayers for the Vision Team.

SAT-7 USA Church Connections

The high light of the day was the visit to the Garden Tomb, just outside the city walls of Jerusalem. We followed the Via Delorosa, tracing the 12 stages in Jesus' route as he carried his cross from Pilate's Judgement Hall in the Antonio to Calvary Hill/Golgotha the site of the crucifixion. At the Garden Tomb, we had a small chapel reserved so we could celebrate communion together as a team. Definitely a highlight!

From Jerusalem we headed Northwest to Ceasarea where believers/converts were first called Christians. It is also where in the book of Acts 3000 people were saved in one day. The Apostle Paul, after being arrested in Jerusalem, was imprisoned here for about two years before being sent to Rome for final trial.

SAT-7 USA Church Connections

Ministry Visits in Bethlehem

This was our day to visit ministry partners in Bethlehem, West Bank in Palestine. We started the day by first shopping for just an hour on our way to our first ministry visit. The president/founder of the International Center of Bethlehem (ICB) is Dr. Mitri Raheb. He is also a SAT-7 board members. The ICB is a Lutheran based ministry serving the whole Palestinian comunity "from womb to the tomb" with an emphasis of children, youth and women. At ICB they are producing programs for SAT-7 and will be producing more programs in the coming year. SAT-7, in airing these programs give recognition and legitimacy to the Palestinian church. The ICB has many departments like schools, media, health, college, church, etc.

Our next ministry visit and lunch was Bethlehem Bible College (BBC). It was great to meet with the founding president of the college Dr. Bishara Awad. BBC has added a media department to the college and is as well producing programs for SAT-7.

From BBC we made our way, just a short distance away, to the Church of the Nativity. There were thousands of people and so the visit took some time. From there we visited the Shepards Fields and read scripture and sang together in the Shepards Manger. On the way back to the hotel we visited (drove through) the refuge camp near Bethlehem, finishing a good but long day.

SAT-7 USA Church Connections

Arrived in Palestine

We had a great flight to Palestine. The security was uneventful and our Tour Company and guide was waiting for us. From the Ben Gurion airport to the hotel in Bethlehem the Jacir Palace Inter-Continental, we made several stops in Jerusalem.

Here we are at the Mount of Olives looking across to Jerusalem and the Dome of the Rock. After 6 hours of sightseeing, we moved to Bethlehem.

To get to Bethlehem we had to cross the check point separating Jerusalem from the West Bank. It was at this check point that we drove through the 24 foot high wall that Israel is building to seperate the Palestinians and the people in Israel. Since we were a tour group of Americans we were waved through. The common saying here is "Blue is Through" meaning that if you have the blue (USA blue passport) you get right through. Well here we are at this increduble 5 star hotel in the West Bank. Very few tourists visit here and even fewer spend the night. The staff is great and we feel very welcomed! It is great to be a SAT-7 group spending the night in the West Bank supporting our Palestinian brothers and sisters.

Our Tour Company that has set up the SAT-7 Vision Trip is a Christian Palestinian business owner of the tour company. He was here at the hotel to welcome us when we arrived.

Well, we were up at 3:30 am this morning to get things ready for the day. It is now late and we are tired. Tomorrow will be another exciting day as we visit Bethlehem Bible College and meet with a SAT-7 board member here in Bethlehem.

SAT-7 USA Church Connections

Our SAT-7 Group is now checked in at the Cairo airport. It was an early start this morning Thursday November 8 in order to make the transfer from the hotel to the airport, a 45 minutes drive without traffic. The airport has a special check in area for tour groups so our agent/guide brought us in hassle free. We are now waiting for the flight Air Sinai 042. Some wanted a "Taste from Home" so are having a cup of Starbucks coffee.

It has been a very busy three days here in Cairo. Everyone will now think differently about Egypt and the Middle East. The goals we had for our three days here have been reached.

Please keep checking back for more updates as we transition to Palestine/Israel.

SAT-7 USA Church Connections

One of the SAT-7 studios is in Cairo, Egypt. This Cairo studio represents 60% of all the SAT-7 productions. Here we visited the offices and the production set in the studio. SAT-7 is the second largest producer in Egypt of local indigenous programs. SAT-7 local productions is second only to the government of Egypt.

Notice the nice swimming pool in the background! The tour agency had upgraded the SAT-7 group from the 4 star hotel to the 5 star Intercontinental Pyramids Park Resort hotel. We are very close to the Pyramids. Our SAT-7 group is not known as the SAT-7 group while in Egypt.

Riding the Camels at Giza

What an amazing day!

Today we did the typical tourist things. We began the day visiting the old city of Cairo. Just getting there was an experience in itself as we saw carts loaded with eggs, cauliflower, and push carts of unwrapped bread all going to market. Camels were darting across the road in front of us and people and cars were everywhere! When we got to the old city we visited the place where baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived when they fled to Egypt to escape Herod. The hanging church and the original Jewish Synagogue were also very interesting. It is hard to even wrap our brain around the fact that they are so ancient. From there we wove through traffic to the National Museum. Seeing the gold head cover of King Tut was quite spectacular, but hearing about their view of the after life left us with a feeling of sadness.

After a delicious noon meal of grilled chicken we moved to the Pyramids. The Great Pyramid in Giza is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world! Eight from our group rode camels while the other snapped pictures. We ended our day going to the Perfumery and Papyrus Institute. Everyone is feeling exhausted but are looking forward to tomorrow after a good nights sleep.

-Cindy-

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Sunset in Giza

After a full day in Egypt we experienced this Sunset.

Our Last Day in Cyprus

Today, Sunday November 4 started by watching a beautiful sunrise over the Mediterranean. It was the perfect start to a wonderful day. After a bountiful buffet breakfast, we all checked out of the hotel that had been home to us for the last 4 days. We boarded the bus and headed for the city of Limossol, a 45 minute trip to the West. When we arrived we went to the SAT-7 PARS studio. This is where the Iranian broadcasts are filmed and produced. We were given details about Iran and how the people there are open and searching for Truth. The Iranian director shared her testimony and another Iranian woman and her father sang several songs in Farsi and we joined in in English. We ended our time together by praying for the Farsi production team, Farsi programming, and staff protection. A Persian meal was brought in and we thoroughly enjoyed it. From the SAT-7 studio we then went to the old city of Limissol. We ended our day trip by visiting the Church of St. Lazarus in Larnaca. Cypriot tradition says that Barnabas and Mark brought Lazarus to Cyprus after he was raised from the dead. Lazarus pastored for 30 years on the Island of Cyprus. During this ministry, the proconsul of Cyprus was led to the Christ and Cyprus was the first country ruled by a Christian. When we arrived at church, there was a Greek wedding going on. We’re now at the airport waiting for our flight to Cairo. For some it was a treat to have a hamburger at Burger King in the airport food court. We have already had a 2 hour delay but are hopeful we will be on our way soon. God has blessed our time together today and we’re looking forward to our arrival in Cairo tonight and all that lies ahead of us there.

Well, we didn't arrive in Cairo, Egypt late that night as planned! We arrived early "Monday morning" at 12:15 AM. Visas, baggage, loading the shuttle bus took more time and arrived at our hotel at 2 AM. As we drove up we realized that the hotel was on fire! With fire trucks and security everywhere we thought we were going to have a really long night. We eventually were allowed into our rooms which were at the far, opposite end of this huge hotel.

We were up early ready for the visit to the SAT-7 Cairo Studio.

SAT-7 USA Church Connections

Palm Beach Hotel

The Palm Beach Hotel provided a great setting and enviroment for the SAT-7 Network meetings. Unfortunately the busy Network schedule left little time to enjoy all the aminities that the hotel offered. Most Vision Trip members did get into the Mediterranean. Enjoy the great view from the hotel!

One Reflection of Network

The SAT-7 2007 Network is very enlightening. The quality of the meetings reflect a high quality of productions.

The ministry of SAT-7 is much larger than we realized. It reaches into 52 countries. An independent survey revealed that three to five million adults watch SAT-7 programs on a regular basis.

During the session on audience response we were impressed by the deep concern that SAT-7 personnel have for the people of the Middle East. The love and desire for people to receive the gospel message was huge.

It is a joy to meet and talk with Christians from around the world who are interested in spreading the gospel.

Janet & Hjalmer Tschetter

Friday at Network

We took time out from Network for a group photo.




and took the opportunity to wave to all our friends and family

Yours for advancing the Kingdom,

Church Connections Team

Thursday Network

Today, Network focused on SAT-7 programing both on the Arabic channel and the SAT-7 Pars channel. It is amazing the level of production quality and the content quality at the SAT-7 production studios in Cairo, Beriut and Cyprus. We saw programing focused on Youth, Children and Women, along with the general progams. We also heard from the audience relations department about the responses they receive from the programs SAT-7 airs.

At various times during the day we have coffee breaks where time is spent having fellowship over a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good time to catchup with old friends and make new ones.

Enjoy the buffet video as much as we enjoyed the buffet.

Changing lives together,

Church Connections Team

We've arrived!

Greetings from Larnaca, Cyprus!! Wow, what a great trip! Everyone assembled in New York and we had a good overnight trip to London, England. Since we were an hour late in leaving NY, they had British Airways personnel waiting for our group upon arrival in London to disembark and take us by bus directly to our departure terminal for our next flight. But since we were scattered all over the 747 plane, several didn’t hear them asking for those going to Larnaca to go directly downstairs. So three couples and one single lady (yes, my sister) all missed the call to proceed to the bus. Fortunately, they all found each other and quickly made it to the departure gate with only minutes to spare before take off. This was an answer to prayer as there is only one flight a day to Larnaca and had they missed it they would have been stuck in London for a day.

Cyprus is where Paul visited on his first missionary journey, preaching all across the island. (Acts 11:19, Acts 13:1-13, Acts 21:3, Acts 27: 4.) It is on this island where we have begun our SAT-7 Vision Trip at the SAT-7 Network Meetings www.sat7.org/network2007 This is where SAT-7’s broadcast center and main office is located.

As we close, we hear the Mediterranean waves crashing on the beach. From this island, Cairo is only one hour flight south and Beirut, Lebanon only 170 miles to the southeast.

These next few days during the SAT-7 Network meetings we will be considering the theme: “Key to Tomorrow – Youth in the Middle East and North Africa”.

Thanks for checking in.

Dennis and Cindy
SAT-7 USA Church Connections

At the airport

The group waits for boarding and departure of their flight.

JFK Departure

Two hours away from departure and most of the group has arrived. Everyone seems excited to be going and enjoying getting to know all the others in the group. So far the flight is on time.

Anticipating a good flight and on time arrival for the start of the SAT-7 network meetings in Larnaca, Cyprus on Wednesday afternoon.

Signed,

SAT-7 USA Church Connections

Come join us

as we document SAT7's 2007 Vision Trip. We will be posting regular updates from the group as they travel throughout the Middle East. We will be able to follow them as they visit Cyprus, Egypt, Palestine, and Israel. For more information about SAT-7 click here.