MEADVILLE – It’s been a longtime dream for Charles Calcote and his wife, but an upcoming trip to the Holy Land may not be possible. Calcote, a Meadville resident, had planned to visit the area next month, with his wife, Beverly, but the couple is now understandably worried about unrest in the region. Violence in the Middle East — from escalated fighting between Israelis and Palestinians to the possible terrorist attack on a U.S. Navy ship — have prompted the couple to rethink the trip.

Calcote said he and his wife have discussed visiting the Holy Land four or five times, but next month’s trip was the closest they had ever come to making the trip a reality.

&uot;I’ve thought about going, I guess, for as long as I’ve studied Scripture,&uot; Calcote said.

Calcote said he and his wife are now waiting for the organizer of their trip, evangelist Gary Bowlin, to decide within the next week if it is safe.

&uot;I think it’s going to be a really good trip if everything works out,&uot; Calcote said. &uot;I just hope the situation comes to the point where it won’t be dangerous.&uot;

The couple had planned to travel with a tour group to Egypt and Israel from Nov. 21 to Dec. 1.

Last Thursday, the State Department issued a worldwide alert, saying it was extremely concerned about the possibility of violence against U.S. citizens and interests. Americans were urged to maintain ”a high level of vigilance.” Americans were advised to defer all travel to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.