M.M. – Breakfast was very similar to yesterday, but instead of scrambled eggs it was poached eggs in a tomato/veggie “salsa” for lack of better description. (Editor’s Note: this is a Mediterranean dish called shakshuka)
L.H. – After a delicious breakfast and boarding the bus we traveled north from Arad where we are staying. We started traveling down, down, down through the desert hills and valleys. As we descended we started to see signs specifying how many feet we were above sea level. Eventually we dropped below sea level and the Dead Sea appeared in view. Since we were at the southern end of the Dead Sea there were salt pans and mounds of salt being harvested. Caribbean blue in color with a backdrop of mountains behind it, the Dead Sea sits 1,400 feet below sea level, making it the lowest place on the earth.
M.M. – The Mountains of Moab, on the other side of the Dead Sea were very clearly visible today. They said it was exceptionally clear. Aaron pointed out Mt. Nebo.
Our driver was very careful. Cars passed him, but he didn’t go fast. I was sitting where I could see the speedometer, and the time I checked it looked like he was going 60 km/h if I could see right. Aaron told some of us that the driver is Muslim.
L.H. – But in all its beauty we were not headed to the Dead Sea. We were headed to a high mesa where a cable car awaited us to enter Masada Park. While this site is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, it has much historical relevance. Herod the Great had four palaces and a fortress here. Masada was also the site of the Jewish Zealots’ last stand in 72 AD.
We had a short worship service with singing and a message by Orval Graybill. We explored the storage rooms, and the bathhouse complete with some original mosaic tiles and the casement walls. Because there is very little rain here, these sites have not been eroded away. We saw the Roman encampments (8 of them) and battle ramp below. We soon were short on time and there was still much to see so we hurried through parts of it. We did stop to say hello to the scribe who was tucked away in the Synagogue, copying the Torah.
Our next stop was at Ein Gedi. Ein means spring and Gedi means young goats in Hebrew. This was the hiding place when David was hiding from Saul. It really made this story come alive when we saw the caves tucked away into the cliffside. It was easy to imagine Saul asleep in a cave and David slipping in and cutting off a corner of Saul’s robe but choosing not to slay him. There was a lovely waterfall and stream. It was refreshing to remove our shoes and socks and enter the crystal clear water. The air was filled with lovely birdsong as this area is on the migration path for birds.
En Gedi is a symbol of refreshment. God is our En Gedi. We are to be an En Gedi to others. Do you know someone going through a desert time? You can be their En Gedi.
After a lovely lunch by the Dead Sea we had a time of exploration and cooling off in the Dead Sea. What an experience! Andrew said this is his first tour ever where everyone entered the water. Some floated, some sat, and some stood but we all enjoyed the water. It was a very unique feeling on your skin. It stung a little but it felt thick and almost oily. It’s hard to describe. It was clear all the way to the bottom with no waves. The bottom was white and had a crust of bumpy salt. After changing back into dry clothes we headed back to our hotel for a showers.
M.M. – One of the ladies had a few terrifying moments when she lost her balance and was face down in the water. Thankfully a couple people were able to hurry to her aid. We led her to the outdoor shower and showered her off. She kept her eyes closed as the salt water stung her eyes. But after she had recovered her equilibrium, she enjoyed a soak too.
We gathered salt from the bottom of the lake into ziplock bags to keep as a souvenir. The bottom was all just salt. No sand whatsoever where we were.
We saw fighter jets for the first time today, in practice runs down the Jordan/Rift Valley.
L.H. – For supper “Akiva” Jonathan Hollinger and his wife joined us. They were formerly Mennonites from Pennsylvania who moved to Israel and converted to the Jewish faith. We had a discussion time with them in the lobby following our meal till some of us couldn’t keep our eyes open any longer. Jet lag is still a part of our travel experience.