Home Again | Reflections from Israel + the West Bank
Helloooooo beloved Seeds family :)
I’m back … home with a full heart, tired eyes, deep gratitude, and stories still unfolding inside me.
What began as an honor of a lifetime — an invitation to the wedding of the son of dear friends of ours — rippled out into something even more expansive than I could have dared to dream: a journey through Israel and the West Bank marked by friendship, listening, sacred places, shared meals, prayer, beauty, complexity, and deep human connection.
And truly, the PEOPLE were the heartbeat of it all.
Over these days, I found myself sitting around tables and walking ancient streets with Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Israeli, Palestinian, and international sisters and brothers — hearing stories, exchanging hospitality, and being reminded again how powerful it is when we choose curiosity, compassion, and presence over fear and division.
And ohhhh, the wedding itself. Mazal tov, mazal tov to the beautiful family who welcomed me with such extraordinary kindness and love. The dancing, feasting, praying, laughter, blessing, music, tears, and joy will make my cup run over for the rest of my life.
Again and again, I was struck by how much dignity, tenderness, humor, grief, resilience, and hope live side-by-side in this land. I’m still processing so much … but one thing feels especially clear:
There is extraordinary power in slowing down long enough to truly SEE one another.
4 of the many photos are below. ❤️
Until next time … a blessing from my heart to yours.
May peace guide your steps
and love shape the way you move through the world.
May your table always have room for one more.
May your life overflow with courage, compassion, curiosity, and joy.
May you continue to build bridges where fear or division once stood,
and may your presence help others feel seen, welcomed, and valued.
May wonder meet you in unexpected places.
May meaningful friendships deepen.
May beauty surprise you.
May hope rise again and again.
And may you never forget:
you are held,
you are loved,
and you are part of a much bigger story of belonging unfolding across the earth.
Shalom, shalom.
Salam, salam.
Peace, peace.
A Few Heartfelt Shout-Outs from the Journey
To some beautyFULL humans who made this pilgrimage even richer …
Sara Goldsmith
Tour guide extraordinaire, wisdom-carrier, adventurer, and now soul-sister for life. Sara helped craft some truly vital and meaningful elements of my pilgrimage and spent a day and a half guiding me throughout Galilee and Jerusalem. Her knowledge, warmth, humor, flexibility, and deep love for both the land and its people made the experience infinitely richer. If you EVER need a guide in Israel, I wholeheartedly recommend connecting with her. Email Sarah DT for an introduction | Facebook page
Menashe Sikerski
What a gift. I spent a day exploring Jerusalem and the surrounding hills with him, and WOW. Equal parts hilarious company, gifted storyteller, soulful guide, and walking encyclopedia. He brought layers of history, culture, faith, humanity, and humor to life in unforgettable ways. Highly, highly recommend. Email Sarah DT for an introduction | Facebook page
TopSea Surfing | Tel Aviv
And a final shout-out to the beautyFULL crew at TopSea Surfing in Tel Aviv — the first surf center in Israel, founded in 1956. What a joy to paddle out with this incredible family of surfers and hear more of their story, history, and deep love for the sea. Such warm hospitality, great instruction, and a seriously special vibe. If you’re ever in Tel Aviv and want to surf, connect with them! Website: TopSea
And for those who would like to read further, below is a ROOTED in Jesus reflection from the journey — including some sacred stories, spiritual reflections, and a “Magnificat” that burst out of my heart as our plane touched down from Tel Aviv.
If you’d ever like to be added to our weekly ROOTED in Jesus prayer email crew, simply reply through our contact page or send us a note.
ROOTED in Jesus Reflection
Still catching my breath a bit, unpacking suitcases and stories alike, and carrying such deep gratitude for you.
So many times throughout this journey, I found myself thinking of our little ROOTED in Jesus community — your prayers, your encouragement, your faithfulness, your love for Jesus, and your hunger to live awake to His presence in everyday life.
Thank you for covering me in prayer and kindness along the way. I truly felt it.
A couple days ago, I arrived home from Israel and the West Bank (after a stop to visit our Sophia in Oregon en route back to Denver), carrying gratitude, wonder, and a deeper love for Jesus and for the people in our sacred and suffering world.
What began as a wedding invitation unfolded into a pilgrimage of prayer, presence, peace, and profound encounters with God and people along the way.
To walk the shores of the Sea of Galilee, pray in Jerusalem, visit Bethlehem, share Shabbat meals, worship with sisters and brothers in Jesus, and sit with both Israelis and Palestinians — all of it stretched and softened my heart.
Again and again, I sensed Jesus inviting me not into simplistic answers, but into deeper love.
The land itself became a reminder that God is always moving toward people with compassion, mercy, and invitation.
One of the strongest invitations I carry home is this:
to live more fully rooted in Jesus,
to say YES wholeheartedly and immediately,
and to BE more openhearted than ever toward others.
More prayerful.
More courageous.
More present.
More saturated by Him and His Love.
Thank you for praying, encouraging, and journeying with me from afar. 4 of the many photos are below. ❤️
I cannot wait to continue gathering, praying, breaking bread, and contending together for the Kingdom of God to come — on earth as it is in heaven.
A Magnificat of This Journey: Israel + the West Bank | May 2026
My soul proclaims the greatness and GOODness of the Lord,
and my spirit exalts the gift of this journey.
What began as a wedding became a pilgrimage.
A journey of peace, presence, prayer, and holy surprise.
I walked the land where Yeshua walked,
where Isa walked,
where Jesus walked —
the One I have been walking with since I was four years old.
And yet, one of the greatest revelations of all was this:
Yes, this land is holy.
Sacred.
Powerful.
Beautiful.
And so is every place our feet touch.
Every kitchen table.
Every dusty road.
Every airport terminal.
Every ocean shore.
Every neighborhood.
Every nation.
Because God is everywhere.
His love lavishly surrounds everyone, everywhere, always.
So I do not lament leaving this land.
As I return home,
I know He is already there.
Ahead of me.
Among us.
Within me.
With us.
Always.
One of the deepest joys of this pilgrimage
was how often presence became a doorway of connection.
Again and again, people in Israel and the West Bank would stop,
look at me, and say things like:
“Thank you for coming.”
“Is it different than what you saw on the news?”
“What will you say when you go home?”
Sometimes I would simply smile,
or tear up,
or attempt an answer —
to share a story of the Love of God for me … and for all people.
The kind of Love that sits at tables,
crosses checkpoints,
listens to stories,
receives hospitality,
laughs,
prays,
eats,
and walks together.
My soul proclaims the greatness and GOODness of the Lord
for the ways He protected me and provided a way
I could never have orchestrated on my own.
Through exhaustion and wonder,
grace kept arriving.
Again and again and again.
I saw layers everywhere.
Ancient stones beneath modern cities.
Prayer woven into ritual.
Wedding blessings carried through generations.
God’s story unfolding through time.
The page is turning now.
This chapter closes,
and another begins.
And here I am,
standing on tiptoe with anticipation,
wondering what He will do next.
Trusting that even now,
He is already preparing the road ahead.
My soul proclaims the greatness and GOODness of the Lord
for the gift of friends and family,
for beloved companions who witness
and walk
and pray
and bless the journey.
What a sacred thing
to be carried by the love,
encouragement,
faith,
and presence of others.
The road becomes richer when traveled together.
More beautiful.
More courageous.
More holy.
Thank you, dear ones, for walking with me in prayer, encouragement, curiosity, and love.
I’m deeply grateful for this wide and beautiful ROOTED / Seeds community — and for the many ways we continue learning how to listen well, love boldly, and BE present to God, one another, and the world around us.
xoxo, -Sarah DT
