~by Taylor Teays for The Scranton Journal
Teresa Mowrer, resident of rural Guthrie Center, took a trip of a lifetime, which came to an unexpected end as she was in Jerusalem when the conflict broke out in Israel last month.
Mowrer grew up in the Rippey / Perry (maiden name Vannatta) and has lived south of Guthrie Center since 1984. She is a retired registered nurse, a farm wife, grandmother of six and a volunteer with numerous organizations.
Three and a half years ago, she added a goal to her bucket list: to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. Mowrer is a Protestant, but when an opportunity to take a trip with a Catholic Pilgrimage came up, she didn’t pass it up, despite everyone she asked to join telling her no, or that it wasn’t safe.
“War never occurred to me,” commented Mowrer.
The trip was scheduled for Oct. 2 through the 13th. The group landed in Tel Aviv before traveling to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Cessarea, Haifa, Jericho, Nazareth and northern Israel. Mowrer began to receive texts from home with concerns – the Hamas attack had begun.
“Our tour guide was very calm, so the conflict never seemed dangerous. Our bus driver was from the Gaza Strip and his family moved to Jerusalem after the bombing,” explained Mowrer.
The trip was scheduled to leave Jerusalem on Oct. 11 from Amman, Jordan. Mowrer’s bus was the last through the Israel/Jordan border that day after a six-hour wait. The conflict was just 150 miles from Jerusalem.
“The only time I was frightened was at dinnertime in the dining hall. Sirens went off, people started running to the kitchen, then the drill was canceled and we returned to eating,” said Mowrer. “The travel agency kept us safe. We were told on the eighth that they would get us home, but not through Tel Aviv again.”
Mowrer returned home on Oct. 16 after spending five unexpected days in a Jordan hotel after Oct. 13 was declared Global Jihad by Hamas.
With time to reflect on her trip, Mowrer says: “I would encourage anyone to go to Israel, but it’s probably going to be a long time before that happens. I was and am overwhelmed by all the thoughts and prayers from everyone here. Freedom is priceless!”
“My husband stayed home to harvest, but surprised me by coming to Omaha to pick me up. I never want to see any pita bread or French fries again,” concluded Mowrer.
Israel is still at war with Hamas, with more than 11,240 deaths in the Gaza Strip as of the latest update.
