Aqaba and the Red Sea

Last night we left Wadi Rum and came down to the southern most point of Jordan. We have never strayed far from the River Jordan. Up in Tel Dan we saw the source of water, we saw how it came down into the Sea of Galilee and on into the Dead Sea (we will dip our toes in later) and now we see where it empties into the Red Sea. We are in Aqaba! Before Israel reformed, Jordan had Mediterranean ports (Jaffa and Haifa). I never imagined, and several others agreed, God would bring me to the Middle East. Some of us walked around the beautiful hotel. Others of us walked around the small down town area and along the shoreline. Some people even took a swim in the sea. It is beautiful here and we can see over into Israel where we will go later today via another border crossing. We have been told it will be more difficult to get back into Israel. Sadly life and relations between the two nations are limited as Israelies are allowed into Jordan, but Jordainians are not allowed into Israel. Last night was our worship service I told you about in another post - the missionaries we met shared that the persecution of Christians has begun!

In spite of all these things, God is still the Lord Most High who loves us and Israel and Jordan and He will watch over His people as well as bring more lost people to His side. There is hope.

Aqaba to the Dead Sea

Today was a travel day - back across "no-man's-land" from Jordan to Israel. We got to sleep in a little and enjoy last trips around town or quick swims in the Red Sea. This has been one of my favorite cities we have visited - very beautiful, worth a visit.

We pulled out at noon, crossed the boarder, and met up with our previous Israeli tour guides. Micky told us about the Rift Valley stretching from Turkey well into Southern Africa. We rode along for a couple hours looking out at a wildlife preserve (ostriches were everywhere) and then pulling up along side the Dead Sea. It was apparent that salt was caked onto the shoreline.