Chapter 4 – Advent’s Way to the House of Bread: Marcel and Gabi’s Last Stop with the Caravan

Marcel and Gabi’s Last Stop with the Caravan - Advent’s Way to the House of Bread

Just a few more kilometres. The road still rolled gently through the hills. They descended the last hill before the designated stop. They passed small settlements – a few houses made of light limestone, wells lined with stones, women drawing water with ladles into clay vessels. Some carried the water from the wells in these heavy clay containers, while shepherds guided flocks of sheep into pens. Children ran along the sand paths, shouting and laughing without care.

At last, as the sun slowly leaned toward the west, they saw a small village tucked into the Galilean hills. It looked peaceful and ordinary. Light stone houses stood among terraces of olive orchards. Smoke rose from a few chimneys, and the air was filled with the scent of baked bread and everyday life.

The caravan stopped by a small spring. The water gurgled softly, cool and clear. The sandy ground turned into darker soil, and a few low, spreading trees grew by the water, providing shade.

This was their place for the night.

Immediately, the camp came alive. The camels murmured and snorted. Children laughed and ran around. They could now share stories from the last, longest stretch of the journey. Women once again spread mats and dishes, while men guided the animals to the creek.

The man leading the camel carrying Gabi and Marcel unfastened the basket straps. He smiled and helped them down. Marcel rolled up the blanket that had kept them from the evening chill. He grabbed both backpacks and jumped down on his own.

Smiling from ear to ear, he looked at the man and asked, " So, what’s your name, actually?"

"Gabriel," he replied softly, looking Marcel straight in the eyes. "Don’t be afraid. Everything will be fine." He seemed to know the boy’s heart, which tried to hide shyness and worry about what was coming, with a smile and quick gestures.

"A great adventure awaits you. Trust and be obedient. I will be with you even when you can no longer see me. Watch and listen carefully. Take care of your sister. The Lord is the Shepherd who takes care of all your needs…"

Gabriel patted Marcel on the shoulder and turned toward the camel. He lifted Gabi and helped her out of the basket. She squeezed Gabriel’s hand and whispered,

"Thank you for helping me. I was afraid the camel might move, and I'd fall. Thank you again."

She hugged her little plush lamb tighter to her chest, unable to understand how it was possible that that morning they had been in a comfortable, warm car, and now… in a small Galilean village two thousand years ago. She was so tired and sore from the ride that she only dreamed of a warm shower and her cozy bed.

"Come with me. Tonight, the family of Sara, the same one you played with earlier and sat by the fire with, will take care of you. You’ll stay with them for the night. Now she will show you everything and explain what to do."

The sun touched the horizon. Fires were already burning around them. A calm but mysterious evening slowly settled over the camp.

Gabi sat on the warm earth, which smelled of dust mixed with the moisture of the spring by which they had stopped. They approached the fire Gabriel had led them to. Clutching her plush lamb the same way, she leaned against her brother. Darkness was falling, and the familiar faces now seemed strange; everything so different, unreal, magical in the colourful flames from the campfire. She stared at them and whispered:

"Marcel… we really… are in ancient times… What will happen to us? I want to go home…"

The boy just nodded and shrugged uncertainly. He gently patted, deep in thought.

The smell of baked flatbread began to rise above them. Women poured water into clay bowls. Around the fires, it became warm and cozy. The scent of burning wood mingled with the aroma of bread and dried figs.

Of course, traditionally, everyone washed their hands before eating and offered thanks to God, as they had before. Their prayer sounded again like a bow of gratitude before the Almighty, who had safely led them to this place… step by step…

[Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz.]

“Blessed are You, Lord, God of the world, who brings forth bread from the earth.”

The children sat together with the adults around one of the many fires. Marcel, again with the men and the same boys, ate dates, dried figs, a piece of hard goat cheese, and a few olives from the brine. Later, Gabi nibbled on barley bread, breaking pieces just as Sara and her sister Miriam did. She slowly chewed dried apricots, nuts, and other fruits.

The elders told stories from the journey and laughed loudly, while the camels chewed their hay calmly, watching the people lazily.

[Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, she-zan et ha-olam be-lechem.].

“Blessed are You, Lord, God of the world, who satisfies the world with bread and the gifts of the earth.”

And again, before sleeping, they heard:

[Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu lishmor et hanefesh v’la’anachot beshalom.]

“Blessed are You, Lord, God of the world, who sanctifies us with Your commandments and commands us to care for our souls and rest in peace.”

Marcel added in his thoughts: "Thank You, God, for today, for our adventures and this safe stop, for those who cared for us. Help us return home. Thank You, Lord God of all creation…"

Gabi held his arm tightly, and he didn’t even shake off her hand. He felt how much she needed his support. After all, he is the older brother!

The caravan spent the night under the open sky. Some spread blankets and sheepskins directly on the ground; others rested in the baskets on which they had travelled on the camels. Gabi and Marcel slept with the caravan’s caretakers, a family with several children they had met during the stop. They were travelling to Bethlehem for the census.

The children lay on soft skins and woollen blankets, close to the fire to stay warm and safe. They had no strength to worry or fuss, to run to the bathroom or kitchen whenever one of them suddenly became hungry or thirsty. Marcel, who usually tossed and turned in bed when the lights went out, fell asleep as soon as he closed his eyes, listening to the crackling fire.

And the night, cool and bright with stars, had yet to bring the first answers.

They did not know that in the morning in Nazareth they would meet an extraordinary family. And that, in fact, their journey was just beginning. They would become witnesses to a path that no one had forgotten for centuries.

Advent’s Way to the House of Bread – want to know if this is the end of their adventure?

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Chapter 5 – Advent’s Way to the House of Bread: Going to Meet Mom!