As a pastor, my chief concern was a trip that would be a spiritual high-point in people’s lives. Retreat, adventure, journey, and pilgrimage are better words to describe what loomed large in our hopes and expectations. Our group wanted a pilgrimage.
All the usual questions were there: Is it safe? Who will go? What’ll we see? What happens? These questions were quickly sorted out by Linda in our “interest” meetings that took place beginning a year prior to our trip. With every meeting, our enthusiasm and expectations grew. When it was time to go, we were all not only ready, but eager and focused on the purpose of our journey. Linda covered all the questions, all the bases, and prepared our team for a great trip. It was precisely the careful preparatory work than enabled us to give our full attention—and to be fully present in—our Holy Land adventure.
Our safety was never in question. Most of us remain convinced that Israel is much safer than most of America. Jerusalem is not only safer than Chicago, but probably safer than Omaha, which is to say we all felt perfectly secure on our trip. Whether we were in Israel, one of the Palestinian territories, in hotels, restaurants, or in between—safety was never a concern—we felt safe.
I had travelled to Israel with a church group ten years previously. The tour group I used then provided a satisfactory—though by no means thorough—experience. In that trip, I had organized a detailed study booklet to accompany folks throughout the tour. A week of study leave prior enabled me to research each of the sites we would see so I would have something informational and insightful to say about each stop. Alpha 2 Omega Travel paired us with guides who were both archaeologists and cultural scholars. As much as I thought I knew, I was delightfully surprised to be learning incredible things at every stop. This empowered me to focus on the experience of others. I didn’t have to play at being instructor or guide; I was freed to fulfill my role as their pastor in full.
As to the political landscape, it goes without saying that most of us have biases—like baggage—that we bring with us, and our biblical perspectives tend to shape our personal sentiments about the land. Linda and her team provided us information that was fact-based, balanced, and largely uncontested by either side. We came to see how the majority of folks—be they Jew, Muslim, or Christian—live as good neighbors and long for lasting peace. Our group grew to feel better-informed of the spectrum of differing points-of-view, and had a great time meeting good folks and neighbors from several perspectives.
It’s one thing to have planes that get you there and buses that shuttle you around once you’re there, but it’s another thing to feel like your tour company really has you in its embrace—that it is truly shepherding you and your friends throughout the trip. The Alpha 2 Omega Travel team shepherded us before, during, and after the trip with constant care and attention.
Our trip was a lifetime high for all of us. We connected with God and each other as we walked the paths of Christ. The glow of it is still upon us a month later. Our pilgrimage was a success: our hopes and expectations were all fulfilled.
As to Linda and her team at Alpha 2 Omega Travel, I couldn’t recommend a company more highly. - Rev. Noel K. Anderson, Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Upland, Upland, CA

When thinking back on our wonderful Israel trip, there are many highlights and a few surprises. Among the things that totally standout was the wealth of information and perspective we received from our tour guide. The trip would have been like a black and white movie without all his amazing knowledge and background information giving it living color. This was key throughout the trip.
This was our first trip to Israel, and knowing very little about the country or its many historic sites, it was of tremendous value to have the trip pre-planned to include so many sites and visiting them in an order that allowed us to stay multiple nights in the significant locations. That gave us lots more touring and resting up and lots less packing up and moving. We liked that a lot.
It was also very valuable to be able to fully explore and appreciate each site, receiving lots of information about it and having the chance to ask questions, all without moving in haste, but still finishing in a timely fashion. Taking a group and providing a fulfilling tour, without dragging things is an art and you have it down to a science. It seemed almost magic that each site was allotted plenty of time to enjoy and absorb, but none of our valuable touring time was wasted by padding the visits with excess shopping or un-needed rests or long talks or videos. Your tour was amazing in its effectiveness and organization. We were constantly saying to each other “They’ve done this before!!!” and “It’s really nice to have this so well thought out!” And the best part. . .we didn’t have to do a thing but look, listen, and enjoy. Surprisingly we felt no issues of safety or security. You kept us out of harm’s way, if indeed there was any around. We saw no hint of it.
On the other hand, there were hundreds of other tourists in the country and it was wonderful to see so many people enjoying and revering the significant locations. While we saw many other tourists and tour groups moving about, we rarely had crowds. I think you just have a nose for how and when to take us into the various places without the crowds. I recall one day that you herded us onto the bus fairly quickly after a short break and we thought this was a somewhat unusual behavior for you. We then learned that it was because your driver had learned where a large tour group was headed. It was the same lunch location we were going to use, so you got us there in time to get seated and get our orders in before they arrived. We ate and went on our way without ever seeing them again.
You, the guide and our driver were always watching, evaluating, and helping to bring us the best experience, and the least stress. That was reason enough to be glad we were on your tour. Thank you all so much.
Finally, although it is tough to choose only one highlight, I have to describe the most moving and one of the best highlights for both Janet and me. It was a random event (or maybe not so random…hmmm?) that occurred in Saint Anne’s Church. When we went into the church, there was a Korean group standing in a chorale formation and being led by their conductor. They were singing a round, using the word, Halleluiah, as the only lyric. It was either familiar to all of us, or just easy enough to learn that soon, just out of joy, we all started to quietly sing. Hearing voices raised in song in the old church with a high dome ceiling is thrilling. It reverberates like a choir in a huge shower room and fills the air with music. The Koreans heard us singing and soon started making gestures for us to join them. We came to them and stood all around and beside them. We all raised our voices in the song. The sound was powerful and spiritually overwhelming for all of us. After that song, we asked them to join us in singing the Lord’s Prayer. They were happy to join in. When finished all of us were nodding and smiling and thanking each other for the shared experience. We could not speak or understand a word they said, nor could they understand us, but it was plain that we were all brothers and sisters in Christ right then and we would be so, forever. The faces and expressions of everyone is a memory that will never fade. Again, thank you all so much. - Doug and Janet Hunt, First Presbyterian Church of Upland, Upland, CA