The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (GHWB) made a port visit to Haifa, Israel, in July, marking the first time a carrier stopped in Israel in 17 years.

While there, Sailors went on an Morale, Warfare and Recreation (MWR) tour to the old biblical town of Nazareth. Jesus grew up in Nazareth 2,000 years ago, and while much has changed since then, it still holds special historical significance for Christians and non-Christians alike.

In Nazareth, Sailors visited the Church of the Annunciation, where Mary lived when Gabriel appeared to her and announced that she would give birth to the messiah. Sailors also visited other places of biblical importance, including Cana and the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus performed many miracles.

The final stop of the tour was the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. While that was where the tour ended for most of the group, roughly 100 Sailors chose to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and be baptized in the Jordan.

"When the opportunity to be baptized came about, I thought long and hard about it. I wasn't sure if I even deserved it," said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Seaman Kaylan Stevens. "I came to the conclusion that I did want this opportunity, and that I was ready for a positive change in my life."

Lt. Cmdr Margaret Siemer, a Navy chaplain, along with three other Navy chaplains assigned to GHWB, waded into the river and baptized the Sailors.

"It is a great honor to be a part of these Sailors' spiritual experience," said Siemer. "To be able to participate in that journey along with them is very special."

"Being baptized in the Jordan River was kind of surreal," said Stevens. "It was exciting and I had a lot of different feelings, but I'm glad that I did it and I'm really looking forward to what comes next. Done with the old, ready for the new."

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