Willie finally speaks with someone who works in the customs office in Walvisbay where our furniture is in storage in a warehouse. According him the furniture can be released without me being in the country. We are relieved, but not 100% sure that the problem is solved. Willie feels comfortable enough with the situation that we decide to carry on.
Will Mc Collum, Andrej and Hugo’s friend, who teaches English in a nearby city, joins us for the weekend. Now we are 4 boys +1 (Sammie) and me!
Will Mc Collum, Andrej and Hugo’s friend, who teaches English in a nearby city, joins us for the weekend. Now we are 4 boys +1 (Sammie) and me!
One of our friends that we used to work with ordered a new charger for Willie’s laptop. We stop by the office to pick it up and arrive at the same time when all the staff was together for a meeting. We see several friends that we’ve not seen on Monday and Willie has an opportunity to explain the details, route and purpose of our trip to the group. The video of the car’s transformation causes excitement and brings several questions. We are thankful that we could reconnect with dear friends and former colleagues and that we could spend time together catching up. We leave with the blessing of a beautiful prayer.
About an hour from Amman is the market town, Madaba, “the City of Mosaics” considered one of the most memorable places in the Holy Land. The chief attraction, a 6th century Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land can be found in a Greek Orthodox Church of St George. Soft choral music greets us we enter the church whose walls are adorned with different size painted icons as well as mosaics depicting different scenes and people from the Bible. I am struck by the size of the mosaic map in which 2 million stones were used to put the 16 x 6 metre map together. Clearly visible is Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethlehem, the river Jordan and even a little fish swimming away from the Dead Sea!
We stock up on food supplies when Willie goes to an internet cafè for an update on our container situation.
Mount Nebo:
“Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land – from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zora. Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, Í will give it to your descendants. I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” And Moses the servant of the Lord died, there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face… Judges
“…but you will not cross over into it.” For many years, some of the saddest words in the Bible for me – difficult to understand-words… and now I have the immense privilege to take a small step back into history. I try to place myself in Moses’ shoes as I walk up the hill. I have many questions… How did he feel? Did he know that this was the end for him? Was he tired after all the years of leadership? Would he have wanted to cross over into the Promised Land…?
The view from Mount Nebo is breathtaking. My thoughts stall as I looked over the rolling hills into the hazy distance – to the Promised Land! In my mind’s eye I see God’s friend surrounded by the intimate presence of God as He shows him the land – a holy, tender moment and peace descends in my heart…I believe that Moses was content with God’s decision; his vision reached further than the Promised Land…to the Promised Paradise eternally in the Presence of His Friend.
Mount Nebo:
“Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land – from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zora. Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, Í will give it to your descendants. I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” And Moses the servant of the Lord died, there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face… Judges
“…but you will not cross over into it.” For many years, some of the saddest words in the Bible for me – difficult to understand-words… and now I have the immense privilege to take a small step back into history. I try to place myself in Moses’ shoes as I walk up the hill. I have many questions… How did he feel? Did he know that this was the end for him? Was he tired after all the years of leadership? Would he have wanted to cross over into the Promised Land…?
The view from Mount Nebo is breathtaking. My thoughts stall as I looked over the rolling hills into the hazy distance – to the Promised Land! In my mind’s eye I see God’s friend surrounded by the intimate presence of God as He shows him the land – a holy, tender moment and peace descends in my heart…I believe that Moses was content with God’s decision; his vision reached further than the Promised Land…to the Promised Paradise eternally in the Presence of His Friend.
Far in the valley below us lies the Dead Sea – the end destination of our day. We slowly drive down the curving road to the lowest point on earth: 400 meters (1,312 ft.) below sea level. I am excited to see the sea that I’ve heard of and read about so often. It all feels unreal, because the Salt Sea, as it is referred to in the Bible, borders Jordan to the east, Israel and the West Bank to the west and has the Jordan river as its main tributary.
Big resorts, hotels and spas line the shore and it is obvious that this is a popular destination for travelers from all over the world. It is close to sunset – that ‘dreaded’ time of the day – finding a camping spot! We can camp in the parking lot of a resort – “No!” out of one mouth, so Willie decides to take a steep road that leads to a panoramic view overlooking the Sea. Halfway up we see a dirt road track leading to a rocky hill and as we disappear out of sight from the main road we find the perfect spot. I continue to keep my cool during this high tension slot of the day and this far it has worked well for me. We have a few minutes left to watch as the Dead Sea swallows the sun spewing reds and oranges in all directions.
There is always a sense of uncertainty when you bush camp. You don’t know the area, on whose land you might be, who is watching…Just before darkness sets in we hear a car’s engine in the distance and we quickly realize it is on our dirt road. It appears around the bend; we all watch with anticipation…and then a waving hand appears out of the window and a friendly honk greets us as he passes. Why do we so often expect the worst? Why have we lost our trust in the goodness of people? Not once on our trip this far did we have anyone who was rude or unfriendly or inhospitable – rather: friendliness, kindness, helpfulness and abundant hospitality have been lavished on us from country to country we’ve traveled through.
We enjoy a lovely evening around a small campfire and crawl into our tents thankful for another beautiful day filled with unforgettable experiences.
The name of our campsite: Dead Sea Panorama
Big resorts, hotels and spas line the shore and it is obvious that this is a popular destination for travelers from all over the world. It is close to sunset – that ‘dreaded’ time of the day – finding a camping spot! We can camp in the parking lot of a resort – “No!” out of one mouth, so Willie decides to take a steep road that leads to a panoramic view overlooking the Sea. Halfway up we see a dirt road track leading to a rocky hill and as we disappear out of sight from the main road we find the perfect spot. I continue to keep my cool during this high tension slot of the day and this far it has worked well for me. We have a few minutes left to watch as the Dead Sea swallows the sun spewing reds and oranges in all directions.
There is always a sense of uncertainty when you bush camp. You don’t know the area, on whose land you might be, who is watching…Just before darkness sets in we hear a car’s engine in the distance and we quickly realize it is on our dirt road. It appears around the bend; we all watch with anticipation…and then a waving hand appears out of the window and a friendly honk greets us as he passes. Why do we so often expect the worst? Why have we lost our trust in the goodness of people? Not once on our trip this far did we have anyone who was rude or unfriendly or inhospitable – rather: friendliness, kindness, helpfulness and abundant hospitality have been lavished on us from country to country we’ve traveled through.
We enjoy a lovely evening around a small campfire and crawl into our tents thankful for another beautiful day filled with unforgettable experiences.
The name of our campsite: Dead Sea Panorama
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