Page 30 - Holyland Magazine - 2023 Edition

It happened

in Israel

A Holy Land Pr oposal

Nick Mancino

n November 28, 2022, seventeen parishioners from
the Church of God of Prophecy in South Ozone Park
(Queens,NY) met at JFK airport. They were all part of the
church’s annual tour of Israel, sponsored by Bishop Linval
OAlfanso Hendricks. Once they arrived in Israel, everything
on the tour seemed to follow their planned itinerary closely. The
hotels, their guide, and the sightseeing—all were what they had
hoped for and expected. That is until the group reached Mount
Carmel.

It was on Mount Carmel where Bishop Hendricks proposed to
Ms. Mirth Angela Purdy. As you can see from the pictures, Bishop
Hendricks was well prepared. He had the ring; he had rehearsed
exactly what he would say. But Angie was very surprised; elated
and full of emotion, but surprised. It was a happy moment for the
rest of the group as well, and that feeling of joy stayed with them
throughout their time in the Holy Land.
The itinerary was very special as it included visits to Petra
in Jordan and the Pyramids of Cairo in Egypt. Of course, the
itinerary continued with many exciting sights such as the Sea
of Galilee, Capernaum, and the Golan Heights. Cana holds
a special meaning for the group as it is the site of Jesus’ first
miracle, changing water to wine at a large wedding. They had all
been thinking about weddings since Mount Carmel. Nazareth,
Caesarea, Megiddo, Dead Sea, Masada, Ein Gedi—all of these
historical biblical places that they read about took on deeper
meaning and understanding when the travelers personally
experienced each one in real life. For many, the city of Jerusalem
most profoundly moved them.
Although Bishop Hendricks has visited Israel many times, each
trip brings new experiences and insights. Born in St. Elizabeth,

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