PEACE CARAVAN TO JERUSALEM

---

PEACE CARAVAN TO JERUSALEM


The Denton Family back in London.
.
A dream came true for Robin Denton, Bjorn Andersson,David Monge , Jan Joubert and Peter Kleinemans when a 1988 Volvo drove all the way from London to Jerusalem and back- over a two year period! An epic pilgrimage to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

The vision started many years ago when Mr. Denton wanted to express his compassion for Israel and the people of the Holy Land by being obedient to the call of King David to Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.(Psalm 122,6).

He like others felt helpless to do anything positive and constructive and he wanted to express his love for the Jewish and Arab people living on the land. So when the whole Muslim cartoon debacle started in Denmark last year he decided to visit Copenhagen to carry a Peace Proclamation from the Free Church of Denmark to Jerusalem- and the Arab world.


In turkey with a local farmer and businessman.

Along the way he helped organise the first Peace in the Middle East Rainbow gathering in which many Israelis, Iranians and Europeans took part. He discovered that many people desire peace but don’t know how to practise it. After reading out this Peace proclamation he with Jan Joubert drove on to Syria via the ancient cities of Konya and Capadocia.

Their faithful Volvo took them all the way from London to Jerusalem with one pint of oil- just like a Channukah candle! It was like a miracle since the car never had one flat tyre or broke down once. Mr. Denton bought it for 600 Euros in Belgium registered and insured it in Poland( its cheaper) ; converted it into environmentally friendly gas and then drove it through Rumania to Turkey stopping off to get a Syrian visa in Istanbul. “Going through Syria was almost surrealistic and I could not believe what I was actually doing!-It felt like I was on the planet Zorg!”

In Damascus he played chess with a Syrian Chessmaster- ( He lost three games)-wandered the streets of the old suq market and visited the ancient ruins of Palymyra where he met up with and lunched with a local Syrian Scoutgroup. Then in Jordan he visited the Bedoin of Wadi Rum before entering Israel.



Sheikh Effendi- a Sufi Sheikh in Konya blessing our journey to Jerusalem.

At the Border with Israel the Immigration officials were totally shocked that two South Africans could do something as outrageous as drive a car all the way from London… needless to say after 5 hours of interrogation and searching the vehicle we were allowed into Israel and we immediately drove to Jerusalem’s Old City to the Jaffa gate.It felt great when they drove the car through the ancient walls of the Holy City…

Straight away we went to the Western Wall and prayed for the peace of Jerusalem- giving thanks to Adonai for our safety , success and protection during our pilgrimage.



Outside Palmyra, near the Bagdad Café- Syria.

During our stay in Israel we also visited many other holy sites and The car was seen by the many orthodox Jews as a sign that the messiah is coming soon!!- We were privileged to be able to do many good mitzvahs for people who needed transport- it even had the son of the head rabbi of Israel sitting in the back seat- he saw it as a miraculous sign that this car had come all the way from London - and Poland ( which was a centre of Hassidic learning). During our journey we had been given many gifts by people who seemed enamoured by the idea of someone on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The Gypsies from Bulgaria gave us a Gypsy flag to take to the Holy City, A Sufi Sheikh gave us a wooden staff, farmers and friends gave us food, herbal tea and musical tapes….even crucifixes… it was quite bizaar really.

And the most bizaar thing of all was the car made it all the way back to London!...(my Spanish friend drove it back to Spain for me)
Near Mount Athos in Greece

We were also able to bless many people including a Jewish friend who had lost his daughter in a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv- he had use of the car for about 6 months to help him get into town as he was alone with his wife on an unprotected farm. I wanted to give him the car but he was not able to register it into his name…

This car was used to bless and comfort others… and well: I will be sorry to sell it…
We also went to Jordan to make the First Oriental Rainbow Gathering in the Desert and many young Jordanians and Israelis came to share the peace and beauty of the desert. In fact we even made a movie about it.. http://www.zoharkan iel.com/? p=CurrentProject


a BEDOIN in Wadi Rum -at the First Oriental Rainbow Gathering

The route coming back was a bit more simple. It went through Cyprus and Greece this time then across to Spain via Italy. The car even went to visit the McCanns in Praia del Luz in Portugal to pray for the McCann Family.

And whilst we can tell you many more stories of our adventures along the way… of frog-plagues in Hungary, Sudden frosts in Turkey, Rainbows -snows and other miracles… we shall say this : it was all worth it… BUT the best moment of all was coming through the walls of the Ancient City and saying…” Baruch Habbashem - Blessed is He who Comes in the Name of the Lord to Jerusalem, amen.
““

---