Here's just a quick update on some adventures and thoughts. There has been soo much more, but space and time is limited.
We visited some great Roman ruins in Jeresh Jordan.
Saw a crusader castle at Karak.
Currently in Wadi Musa visiting Petra, an ancient city with magnificent tombs carved in the red stone. Today a few of us climbed Mt. Hur or Jabal Huran in Arabic, the mountain where Aaron died. (Num 20:22)
In past travels I've been annoyed by feeling like a tourist, but this time its different... kind of. Yes I stand out, and take out my camera, and I travel in a big bus with a group, but now I am a student. I have a greater purpose. I am here to learn and not flash around my North American wealth for my own traveller's curiosity. It's a small difference, but it makes me feel better none-the-less.
Something that we experience all the time here is the Islamic call to prayer. 5 times a day the minerets announce the time of prayer. During the time of prayer Muslims recite part of the Qur'an. I wanted to bridge this faith tradition with my own, so I've decided to say the Lord's Prayer every time I here the singing for prayer. It's my small contribution to connecting with others in a common practice over the wide gulf of religion and language.
There is more, so much more. But you'll have to wait a few more months to hear the rest ;)
