Skip to main content

Pilgrims' Progress 3

By
Jordan

I pick up the tale of our pilgrimage as we cross into Jordan at the Sheik Hussein northern border crossing.  This exercise is not for the faint hearted so it's just as well we were a band of four intrepid explorers.  Well, we probably looked like four disoriented, dazed, sweating over the hill pensioners (well 3 at least!) but don't let that fool you!

The tour organiser did her best to prepare us for the crossing but when she said it can be a lengthy, convoluted process she was not exaggerating.  Those Jordanians certainly love their bureaucratic processes.  Bus it over there; walk here; stamp that; haul your suitcases through the heat to this shed for screening; now haul yourself over there for screening; now stamp that and show your passport again; now convince a taxi driver to take you to the gate; now fall in a grateful sweaty heap at the feet of your Eco Desert Tour driver.  Someone (not naming any names) decided to turn the heat up to the 40s just as we head into the desert country.


Today we will be driven the length of Jordan to visit the ancient Jerrash ruins, Mount Nebo and Petra.  This country belonged to the Ammonites and Moabites and I really enjoyed seeing the difference in terrain, culture and atmosphere.  Our driver, Muhammad, was a great guy and made the day quite enjoyable.  He is a Bedouin and gave us a running commentary on many interesting political facts, the Bedouin culture and introduced Mum to the delights of street Turkish coffee.  


Dad and I had a guide take us through the Jerrash ruins and listening to the history of the place was very interesting, although I think I would have enjoyed the walk more if it wasn't so hot. We were very grateful that Muhammad took us to a lovely restaurant to enjoy a typical Jordanian buffet for lunch.  I found the Jordanians at these establishments most courteous and eager to please, which was a refreshing change as customer service is a bit hit and miss in Israel to be honest.  


After a couple of hours on the road we arrived at Madaba to view the mosiac map before heading off to Mount Nebo.   I didn't know anything about the mosiac map until then but I found it very interesting and the mosiac remains were quite beautiful, albeit yet another visit into a catholic church.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madaba_Map

Mount Nebo

Muhammad dropped us off at the base of the Mount Nebo site and yep, you guessed it, the catholic church had taken possession of the entire area.  Not to be daunted by the extreme heat we traipse up the small hill, along with many other people, to take in the view that Moses would have spent time gazing on as well.  It was quite sobering to think that 3,000 years ago, give or take a day or two, Moses took in the sight of the promised land.  What he must have been thinking and feeling in that moment, knowing that he would not be allowed to enter but yet his assignment has been completed.  


It's a shame that a common occurrence is for the horizon to be hazy, something we encountered at most places, so you can't get a clear view of the distant landscape.  Could be dust in the air or different surface temperatures but whatever the reason, it was difficult to get good photographs and to be honest, quite annoying.

While I was kneeling down to take this photo someone thought I was either a complete idiot or being very spiritual and praying because when I stood up and looked around he was taking a photo of me.

After our hot day we were dropped off at a lovely hotel in Petra to rest up before our visit to the Petra site tomorrow, something I was very much looking forward to.  


Stay tuned for the next instalment of the Pilgrims' Progress.




Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for taking the time to contribute to the Hebron Herald.

Shalom

Popular posts from this blog

Unleavened Bread - 2024

By
For this small part of Yeshua's body, Healing to the Nations in South Australia, the last few months, including the past week of Pesach, has been ....well, different and unusual.  It has truly been a period of time where Father YHVH has been rooting and grounding us in His love, word and truth.  We gathered together at Hebron to keep the Pesach memorial and there was a stripping back.  No traditions, no add-ons, just Yeshua's Pesach and Yeshua's words.  The following day, the first day of Unleavened Bread, the Father's kindness and uncompromising truth was manifested amongst us.  It was truly a blessed time together.  Traditionally the week of unleavened bread will have an emphasis of dealing with the carnal ego, which is very apt, or the leaven of the pharisees, which is also very apt.  However, Paul emphasised that sin that is tolerated is also leaven that must be exposed and dealt with to ensure that the body of Yeshua is kadosh, which was emphasise...
1 comment
Read more

Sukkot in the Adelaide Hills

By
  With the autumn feasts upon us I was reflecting on Sukkot last year and how the year since has been full of YHVH's blessings and encouragements.   The HTTN community purchased the property nearly 19 years ago and we have worked hard to develop it.  There is still much to be done so that it can facilitate the purposes that YHVH wants for it but He has proven Himself faithful to His word over the years.  Not a minute too late, not a minute too soon.   We are looking forward to celebrating Yom Teruah next week and then Sukkot a few weeks later.  Hebron will once again be filled with the sound of shofars, singing and laughter.  Yes, there have been times of weeping and even then He proves Himself merciful and faithful. Hallelu Yah!  
Post a Comment
Read more

Shalom with Messiah

By
In a few weeks we will begin the next phase of the moed with Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot.  As with every year, we are eagerly anticipating this time with YHVH and the community in the Adelaide Hills.   One thing we say every year is that we long for the day when the wider Messianic community come together at Sukkot to celebrate with praise, feasting and fellowship.  It would seem that the Messianic community is relatively young and scattered in Australia and in the early days we would at times wonder if there was anyone else responding to the call to come out of the Christian church system and return to the ancient paths.  And of course there were and are. It's always so exciting when we meet another person or family who are on the same path and we can rejoice together.  We all have different stories, backgrounds and experiences but the common and binding truth is that YHVH is love and that love is expressed not only in His redemption but in the fullness o...
1 comment
Read more