Last Saturday, my travels in the Middle East hit a low point--we swam in the Dead Sea! At approximately 400 m under sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. We sang, "
Under the Sea," and it was fun.
I had heard that you could float with great ease and the Dead Sea, but I was still surprised when my feet left the bottom and flew up to the surface--and stayed there! It was actually quite relaxing because you could literally lay out on the water and, without any effort whatsoever, float in perfect, salty, comfort. I collected a few salt rocks from the crystallizations that lined the shore, as well.
We also applied some of the famous Dead Sea mud liberally. This annoyed the local mud vendor, because we cheap college students collected our own "dirty" mud rather than buying his "clean" mud!
However, before we could do that, we had to get our cultural/historical/Biblical education, of course! We began our journey by taking the King's Highway out to Madaba. This highway is the oldest known in the world (although it has seen a few improvements in recent years--asphalt, for instance). I could just picture Moses leading the Children of Israel across the hills I saw on either side, probably staying in similar abodes to the Bedouin tents I saw (see
Numbers 21-22).
In Madaba, we saw a very famous mosaic which features a map of the entire Holy Land made by Byzantine Christians. It was a little rushed though, so I want to return.
Mt. Nebo, where Moses looked down one the Promised Land for the last time and was then translated, was our next trip. The day was hazy because of pollution, but we could still see Amman, the Dead Sea, the Jordan River, Jericho, and even the hills on which Jerusalem sits.
We were able to see the Jordan River in much greater detail a little later though, when we descended down to the possible Baptism Site of Christ. Obviously, they don't know precisely where on the Jordan River this took place, partly because nobody really recorded the exact site, and partly because the Jordan River has changed its course three times in the last century alone. However, archaeologists have recently discovered the ruins of the church which the Byzantines built to commemorate the site, and we visited that.
My professor sang us a charming rendition of "
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," and we also sang, "Jesus Came to John the Baptist." Goodness, but it was hot! We joked that anyone who visited this site would understand the need for baptism by immersion.
Politically, the site is interesting because the Jordan site and the Israel site are only separated by about five feet of very dirty, green river water. There were also interesting spiritual reflections, because, especially since everybody has been damming the river lately, and this is a dry season in a dry year, the site was not overly impressive. I admit I understand Naaman's objection to Elijah's order to dip 7 times in the Jordan River and be healed!
Still, my cold finally cleared up after this trip, so perhaps my dip in holy water did me good in more ways than one. I was also impressed with the idea that the Savior, who could have chosen Iguacu or Niagra Falls, sought John the Baptist at the lowly Jordan, because priesthood authority means more than scenery.
And now, if any of you have noticed my attire on this trip with amusement, must assure you that you are not alone! When we stopped for lunch at a Middle Eastern buffet, one of the Arab servers asked me how I liked the food, Jordan, etc. I could not understand why he kept looking at me so strangely, though, until he asked, in halting English, "So, you have tigers on?"
Yes friends, I did.
