A group of 44 travelers connected to Louisiana is back home after their pilgrimage to Israel was interrupted by missile alerts, repeated trips to bomb shelters and a long journey out of the region.
Michael Sprague, who led the group, said the trip began as a 13-day pilgrimage through the Holy Land before the reality of war suddenly became part of their experience.
About the trip:
“We went from the Holy Land experience to the curriculum was a war,” Sprague said. “And the lesson was faith. So we had our faith tested, and we needed to trust God.”
The group was staying in Jerusalem when emergency alerts began sounding on their phones, followed by sirens warning of incoming missiles.
“The siren in your ear, the phone alarm goes off. And so you need to move quickly to the shelter,” Sprague said. “I looked out my window right over the Old City and the King David Hotel, and there you had the missiles coming in and the Iron Dome doing its thing… boom, boom, boom right before my eyes.”
Witnessing war:
Sprague said the group rushed to bomb shelters more than 20 times over several days as missile alerts echoed across the city.
At one point, they moved quickly into an underground bunker at their hotel. Later, after an all-clear was issued, the group sought shelter again inside a nearby mosque that was being used as a bomb shelter.
“We all gathered together, sang, prayed, trusted God, and we’re thankful for the outcome,” Sprague said.
In the middle of the fear and uncertainty, Sprague said the group leaned heavily on their faith and counted each moment of safety as a blessing.
Even as the conflict unfolded around them, he said the group tried to focus on compassion for the people they encountered.
“Our weapon was love,” Sprague said. “The people in that land, they are scared. They feel alienated, alone, and sometimes like the whole world hates them. We were there to stand with them and say we love this land, we love the people, and we want the best for you.”
As tensions escalated, attention turned to finding a safe way out.
Getting out:
Sprague said experienced tour guides worked quickly to develop an evacuation plan while Louisiana leaders helped support the effort from home. He said he was able to connect with Sen. Bill Cassidy’s office, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and other state leaders while the group was still overseas.
“You sure appreciate that when you feel like you’re a long way from home,” Sprague said. “Our state leaders care.”
The group eventually began traveling south toward the Red Sea before crossing into Egypt.
From there, Sprague said the group boarded buses for a long overnight trip through the desert. The journey lasted roughly 19 hours, and their route avoided parts of Egypt that the U.S. State Department warned could be unsafe.
During the trip, one of the buses experienced a tire blowout in the middle of the night.
“We wandered through the wilderness in the middle of the night, dark, and finally made it to Egypt,” Sprague said.
Returning home:
The travelers eventually made their way to flights out of the region and safely returned home to Louisiana.
Their return comes as thousands of Americans across the Middle East are still trying to leave the region as the conflict continues.
The U.S. State Department says it has already provided travel guidance or assistance to nearly 6,500 Americans who registered for help. Officials say more than 17,500 Americans have safely returned to the United States from the Middle East since February 28, including more than 8,500 who arrived back in the U.S. in a single day.
Officials say many more Americans have left the Middle East for other countries in Europe and Asia, while others remain in transit back to the United States.
The State Department says assisting Americans abroad remains its top priority and is urging travelers to register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, known as STEP, to receive security updates and assistance if needed.
Sprague said the experience changed the group and left them with a deeper appreciation for home.
“We had to learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,” he said. “These people live this every single day. We experienced it for a few days, and it gave us great appreciation. The United States is a special place. This is home.”
Sprague said despite the danger and uncertainty, everyone in the Louisiana group made it back safely.
READ MORE:From Holy Land pilgrimage to war zone: Louisiana group escapes Israel missile attacks
