Isai and Kayla Aguilar first visited Israel during the winter 2024/2025 trip season, where they rang in the New Year in the Holy Land. Their desire to visit Israel endured through two canceled trips due to the war and originally began with a trip to Washington, D.C., with Passages.

“Our trip to Israel was canceled twice due to the war, so when the D.C. experience became available, I was eager to go and catch a glimpse of what Israel could be like in terms of the organization and the people I would be surrounded with on a trip to the Holy Land,” Kayla said.

For Isai and Kayla, the D.C. Experience both inspired and challenged them. It introduced them to the complexities of Israel and the Middle East. Hearing from siblings of hostages held in Gaza deepened their understanding of advocacy.

“The D.C. experience taught me how to advocate for the Jewish people and to be bold in doing so. Hearing from the siblings of hostages in Gaza while in D.C. was what prepared me the most emotionally for my trip to Israel. I knew I would be stepping into broken, yet hopeful, territory,” Kayla said.

When the time finally came for them to visit Israel, their Passages trip deeply impacted their faith. From being baptized in the Jordan River to praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, visiting Israel brought their faith to life.

“It was more than stories—it was history, and it hit deep in my soul seeing it all,” Isai said. “When I read about the Garden of Gethsemane in the Bible, I can now see the Garden of Gethsemane. When I read about John baptizing people in the Jordan River, I see myself being baptized in those waters.”

Experiencing Israel together as a married couple made their journey even more meaningful. They shared that they both reflect on their Israel trip often.

“Experiencing Israel together made it all the more special. This trip changed me, and I am so grateful that my husband was there to share those life-changing experiences with me,” Kayla said.

“To see it [Israel] with my wife by my side amplified everything,” Isai said. “The heroes of the faith walked that land, and now we can say that we did too.”

Kayla and Isai’s understanding of advocacy for Israel began during their D.C. trip with Passages but deepened as they experienced Israel firsthand.

“This experience impacted my understanding of Christian advocacy. As a Christian, I must speak up for people who are being targeted. In the Middle East, Israel is surrounded by nations that want to see it fall,” Isai said. “As Christians, we must advocate for the voiceless, for those who believe justice is out of reach, and for those who long for peace. The values that Jesus calls us to uphold—we should live them out in the most loving way possible.”

Through visiting Israel, Isai and Kayla grew in their understanding of their Christian heritage while also learning how to love others and advocate for peace like Jesus. Their faith was strengthened, and so was their desire to show Christ’s love to the world.

“There is no doubt that what I have been reading is true,” Kayla said. “Jesus is alive. I have seen the tomb, and it is empty!”