In my first year of university, my love for the Word of God was awakened by a spiritual mentor who helped me realize that Scripture was exciting, relevant and challenging. As the Word became a living experience, my heart developed a deep longing to walk where Jesus walked, to experience the heat of the desert, to dip my feet into the Sea of Galilee, to pray in Gethsemane and to sit at the Garden Tomb.

Over the years as the political situation in the Middle East became more volatile, I wondered if my hope of a trip to the Holy Land would ever happen. In the summer of 2008, the Lord opened the door for me to fulfil this lifelong dream. As I prepared for this trip of a lifetime, I tried to imagine what the experience would be like. How would I handle the heat? Would this be different from other vacations? What life lessons would I learn from this holy pilgrimage? My prayer for all in our tour group was that God's Word would become clearer, our faith would become deeper and our passion for Christ would grow stronger. Was this too much too hope for?

I also believed within my heart that in going to the Holy Land, I would not be a tourist, just taking in the sights and sounds of a new place, but rather a pilgrim. I wanted to allow my faith to be open to a deeper experience that could transform my Christian walk.

Travelling to the Holy Land with my husband and some of our dearest friends and family was the greatest gift of this journey. Sharing a Holy Land experience with people you love will always strengthen and deepen the bonds of grace in the lives you share. Sharing a pilgrimage with those with whom we experience daily life, worship with, pray with and laugh with called each of these relationships to a deeper place of life, worship, prayer and laughter.

The fabric of my life is now tightly woven with my fellow pilgrims because a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a journey of the heart. It's a walk in the land where Jesus walked and now holds the roots of my faith. It became a celebration of worship as we reflected on Scriptural truth through prayer, song, and fellowship. This journey was and continues to be a life-changing experience and I know I will never be the same. I look forward to sharing my experience with you in the months ahead.

Nancy Turley is the territorial abuse advisor for the Canada and Bermuda Territory. She and her husband, Joel, attend the Bracebridge Corps with their three children: Ethan, Aidan and Jordan. Nancy enjoys hiking in Algonquin Park with her family. Her column will feature reflections from her journey to the Holy Land.