Two Wonderful Days of Touring

It's been a few days since we updated everyone...our apologies, it's been a whirlwind of a tour all around the country(s).

I'll start from the beginning and then you can follow along with the few pictures that I've posted. We started off Saturday morning driving from Bethlehem down to the Jericho area and then south by way of the shore of the Dead Sea to reach Masada. Masada, was a desert fortress built by Herod the Great atop a large mesa on the shores of the Dead Sea. It's been through many changes throughout the years, but was the sight of a Jewish mass-suicide during the middle of the first century A.D. while revolting against the Romans. Rather than be taken alive as slaves (or killed) the 970 Jews chose death by their own swords. Half the group took a tram up to the top while the other half hiked the snake path up the steep, rocky slopes to get to the top (with Will and Lisa B. running the whole way up). It was hot and sunny, and a wonderful glimpse back into rich history and important Biblical landscape (notice the picture of the Judean Wilderness taken at the top).

Next we drove north along the Dead Sea to reach En Gedi...also known as David's spring/pool. It was a wonderful contrast with the hot desert to reach the cool spring waters flowing down in waterfalls over the rocks. The next picture is taken from the springs looking east towards the Dead Sea. A few of us jumped in and went swimming along with dozens of other people. This is the traditional Biblical site where David and his men hid out from Saul...you could just feel the presence of the dirty soldiers finally reaching the refreshing water and jumping in.

Finally, we reached Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. It was the site of fascinating excavated ruins dating to the first century. It was then back to Bethlehem to spend the evening after a long, hot, and exciting day.

This morning (Sunday) it was off the the northern Palestinian territories and the predominantly Christian town of Birzeit. We went to a wonderful church service held at the Latin Patriarchate church there. Pastor Keith got to stand up and give a short prayer for peace in front of the congregation, and we got to listen to beautiful songs sung by the congregation...as well as see a bunch of kids get confirmed. All together a stirring experience. On the way up to Birzeit, we drove along the wall separating the West Bank from Israeli territory, and I was able to get a haunting picture of the wall with the Dome of the Rock and the Old City of Jerusalem in the background. What a contrast. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see the way that life functions for the Palestinian people here. It is nearly impossible to move around, and the walls get constructed deeper into previously held Palestinian territory as the conflict continues. It is sad to see whole cities get split in half (the site of ancient Bethany on the east side of the Mount of Olives for example) and families get uprooted. The visuals were overwhelming. We visited Bethany and the site of Lazarus' tomb before heading back to the Bethlehem area and visiting the Shepherds Field and a wondeful sweet shop that our guide, Elias, took us to. We ate way too much.

Thank you all for your prayers...the Lord is definitely opening up our eyes to the suffering and pain that is all around us. Pray for peace. Pray for hope.

Tomorrow we'll be touring Bethlehem University in the morning before resuming our work activities in the afternoon.

More to come!!