Monday morning came real early… But I somehow got myself up and on the bus by 6:45. I was in and out of sleep the whole time but woke up for the border crossing where we changed buses and met our guide Yousef. Our first stop was Mount Nebo, which is a peak on the west Jordanian Plateau facing the Jordan Valley. This is where Moses went to visualize the Promised Land and was translated. It was really cool because you could see all of the holy land from where we stood.
One thing that’s really cool about Jordan is the mosaics they have everywhere. We stopped at a place where they make mosaics and it was really cool. We got to watch them in the process. It looked pretty time-consuming but actually kind of fun. And that’s coming from a very non-artistic, non-crafty girl.
Our last stop of the day was the best. It was the site of Herodias’s palace where John the Baptist was beheaded. It was at the very top of a hill overlooking the Dead Sea. The view was absolutely incredible! While we were up there we had both Brother Huntsman and Brother Harper talk to us about John the Baptist and what an amazing prophet he was. I gained such a greater respect and love for the prophet John at this site. As Brother Harper said, John the Baptist may have died there while his enemies lived on, but I have no doubt in my mind that God’s perfect justice and mercy will be enacted and John will receive the glory far beyond anything his enemies could have ever acquired in this life.
Tuesday was Indiana Jones day! Petra was a site that once again, far exceeded my expectations. I thought it was going to just be a desert wasteland with the one cool treasury monument. I was way wrong. When we got there we began hiking through the most beautiful siq. It was a narrow valley eroded into the red sandstone and it was breathtaking. Then the siq opened up and right there was the treasury. It was incredible. And I rode a camel! So I thought that was all there was to Petra but then we moved on and found out that was just the beginning of an amazing city. There were ruins to ancient temples and tombs and all sorts of carvings in the walls. We then had the option to go up to the monastery, which I didn’t realize was quite a commitment. So 800 steps, a long hike, and one very sweaty girl later I found myself at the monastery. And believe me it did not disappoint. The monastery itself was quite a bit like the treasury but bigger. But the view was what was really amazing to me. We were on top of a mountain! I just can’t get over how beautiful and amazing Petra was. Think southern Utah, but better! Gorgeous! It’s places like Petra and Oregon that let me know that God loves us.
That night we stayed in Amman, the capital of Jordan. The next day was pretty packed. We started off by going to King Abdullah Mosque. All the girls had to wear full-on black cloaks to go inside. Not very flattering, but it gave me a new respect for the Muslim women that always dress that way. Our guide Yousef is Muslim so he had some neat insight and things to say to us while we were in the mosque. I am more and more impressed with Islam the more I learn about it. I am especially touched by their commitment to prayer. It is a very dedicated and consistent way for them to remember their relationship with God. I have a lot I can learn from them in this respect.
We then went to the citadel of Amman, which had the remains from several different peoples and time periods. The city was called Philadelphia by the Greeks and was then changed to Amman by the Arabs. There were some cool remains there and it had a great view of the city of Amman.
We made a quick pit stop at the Jabbok River, the site where Jacob wrestled with an angel in Genesis 32. We had a little devotional and sang a few hymns. It was nice.
Jerash was the real highlight of the day. Jerash is one of the best preserved Roman cities in the world. Who knew? I would even say it was as cool as Ephesus, but without the crowds. Just another hidden treasure in the Middle East. We watched a Roman gladiator/army reenactment, which was hilarious. And I rode on a chariot around the hippodrome!
Right now there is a BYU study abroad in Jordan for the students studying Arabic at BYU. My friend Esther and her husband Griffin are both there right now and I got to meet up with them! We went out to a Yemen restaurant where we ate on cushions on the floor. It was fun for me but not super comfortable for my 6’4 friends… After dinner we went back to their apartment and had some dessert. It was a really fun time. And we kept making random connections. Apparently one of Griffin’s best friends is Josh Snow, my friend Nicole’s husband. He’s been to Wilsonville for Josh and Nicole’s wedding. How crazy is that?! So I saw him 2 years ago in Wilsonville and then went to his apartment in Jordan. So random.
Thursday morning we went to the Roman theater in Amman. It was sweet! Of course I had to do the Lizzie Mcguire reenactment. (Julia and Melinda know what I’m talking about). A group of us even sang “What Dreams are Made of” on the stage together. Now there’s something to check off a bucket list. ☺
Our last stop in Jordan was of course the Jordan River. We went to the assumed baptismal site of Jesus and had a devotional there. To be honest, I wasn’t really expecting too much from the site just because we’d been to so many that they kind of start losing their novelty. But as soon as Brother Huntsman started talking about the baptism of Jesus Christ, I was overwhelmed by the spirit. I thought about my own baptism and the covenants I made when I was 8 and reflected on how well I was keeping those covenants. I thought about Tommy and how badly he wanted to follow Christ’s example and be baptized. And of course whenever I think about Tommy, all composure is lost. I am so grateful for the example Tommy has been to me in my life in his desire to follow Christ as I know he has been to many others as well. I know that baptism is an essential part of our progress back to our Father in Heaven and I am so grateful for that knowledge. I am so grateful for the example Jesus Christ set by being baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. I know that really did happen and that all mankind must follow His perfect example.
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