In the morning, we stopped at the touristy site of the Jordan River. See the people wearing white robes in the water below? They had to pay to be baptized there... kinda sketchy.
Next, we visited Harod Spring, where God decreased Gideon's army size from 32,000 men to 300 men before Gideon could fight the Midianites.1 Samuel 7:1-2 - Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands..."
1 Samuel 7:5 - So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink."
We are imitating how Gideon's men probably drank from this same spring.
We stopped at Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. All of the books of the Bible (except for Esther and Nehemiah) were found in the caves here. Also, the oldest Hebrew copy of the book of Isaiah was found in its entirety here. Below are the exact caves that contained those texts.
Then, we hiked around En Gedi, ducking under trees, climbing up rocks, and ending up in a waterfall! There were ibexes (mountain goats) and hyraxes (furry, round, squirrel-looking animals) running all around.
En Gedi is where David hid from Saul and also where David spared Saul's life.1 Samuel 24:1-4 - After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi." So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.' " Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe...
Day 5: Dead Sea, Mt. Sodom, Masada, Bedouin camp
Here we are all floating on our backs in the Dead Sea - arms and legs out of the water. Such a weird feeling. We had to work to keep our feet down underneath us. They just want to float up. And I could float standing straight up without even tredding water. But don't put your face (especially eyes or mouth - I did that) under water because it stings and burns badly!!
After changing into normal clothes, we hiked Mount Sodom nearby. This is the place where, while fleeing from Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. The whole mountain is made of salt, which makes sense because it is along the coast of the salty Dead Sea. I fell down while climbing around and scrapped my foot up. A wound on Mt. Sodom.... ouch.
Next, we went to Masada. This mountain really is huge! And we hiked up to the top of it!
Early in the morning, before we had to leave for touring, we got up and bathed in the Dead Sea (aka Salt Sea). It didn't feel like I was swimming in water. It felt like I was swimming in thick oil. The sea floor was covered in salt crystals, not sand, and there were occasional icebergs of salt here and there. Matt, Melanie, and I covered ourselves with Dead Sea mud (not found on the sea floor near the beach like you would think). To get the mud, we mooched off of other tourists who had bought some mud earlier and who gave us some extra.
Here we are all floating on our backs in the Dead Sea - arms and legs out of the water. Such a weird feeling. We had to work to keep our feet down underneath us. They just want to float up. And I could float standing straight up without even tredding water. But don't put your face (especially eyes or mouth - I did that) under water because it stings and burns badly!!
After changing into normal clothes, we hiked Mount Sodom nearby. This is the place where, while fleeing from Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. The whole mountain is made of salt, which makes sense because it is along the coast of the salty Dead Sea. I fell down while climbing around and scrapped my foot up. A wound on Mt. Sodom.... ouch.
Next, we went to Masada. This mountain really is huge! And we hiked up to the top of it!Zealot Jews used to live in isolation up on the top of Masada, until the Romans seiged Masada and built a ramp up it. In fear, the Zealot Jews on top committed mass suicide before the Romans reached the top. Crazy!
Relaxing in the grass at an Israel park while our lunch sandwiches are being made.
After the hike up Masada, we were ready to relax. The bus pulled in here for the night - a Bedouin camp. Bedouins are predominantly Muslim, desert-dwelling Arab nomads. It looked like an oasis among the miles of desert that stretched around us.
Some Bedouin men helped us onto their camels - two people per camel - and we took a walk around the desert as the sun set - so fun!
Here I am petting our camel, Susanna. Some people did not have good luck with their camels. Matt and Rebecca's camel looked like it was nearing its end. Every other step, it would stumble forward. Rebecca was almost hysterical, afraid for her life. I felt so sorry for it, but all our camels were roped together, and if it fell, it would be a domino effect. Their camel made it - barely. Oh goodness.
Here is the Bedouin tent that our whole group spent the night in! There was a rug hanging up to separate the girls and the boys. It was definitely not like the hotels we were used to, but I felt very adventurous!
After arriving and drinking the traditional three cups of coffee that Bedouins always serve to their guests, we had a pita, kabab, and rice feast for dinner. Four of us sat on the ground around a big platter of food and we all dug in! Below (from L to R) are Jessica, me, Diane, and Matt.
Samantha, Stephanie, and I take a break to give each other back massages - ahh!
After dinner, I tried to help Dylan start a campfire in the middle of the Bedouin camp. After we got it roaring, we saw songs and drank hot tea together.
Relaxing in the grass at an Israel park while our lunch sandwiches are being made.
After the hike up Masada, we were ready to relax. The bus pulled in here for the night - a Bedouin camp. Bedouins are predominantly Muslim, desert-dwelling Arab nomads. It looked like an oasis among the miles of desert that stretched around us.
Some Bedouin men helped us onto their camels - two people per camel - and we took a walk around the desert as the sun set - so fun!
Here I am petting our camel, Susanna. Some people did not have good luck with their camels. Matt and Rebecca's camel looked like it was nearing its end. Every other step, it would stumble forward. Rebecca was almost hysterical, afraid for her life. I felt so sorry for it, but all our camels were roped together, and if it fell, it would be a domino effect. Their camel made it - barely. Oh goodness.
Here is the Bedouin tent that our whole group spent the night in! There was a rug hanging up to separate the girls and the boys. It was definitely not like the hotels we were used to, but I felt very adventurous!After arriving and drinking the traditional three cups of coffee that Bedouins always serve to their guests, we had a pita, kabab, and rice feast for dinner. Four of us sat on the ground around a big platter of food and we all dug in! Below (from L to R) are Jessica, me, Diane, and Matt.
Samantha, Stephanie, and I take a break to give each other back massages - ahh!
After dinner, I tried to help Dylan start a campfire in the middle of the Bedouin camp. After we got it roaring, we saw songs and drank hot tea together.
Day 6: Elah Valley, Bethlehem 
I searched for smooth stones of my own, so that I could remember the place.
Next, we drove to Bethlehem, which is in the Palestinian-controlled area. We all had to get off the bus and board a new bus. Our tour guide was not allowed to go with us because he was an Israeli citizen. We were given a Palestinian tour guide on our new bus. This is the sign at the security check point. 
While in Bethlehem, we visited a cathedral that was built over the supposed site of Jesus' birth. We waited in line for almost two hours in order to touch this shrine - silly.
Exiting Bethlehem and crossing back over into the "safer" zone, we saw lots of graffiti on the walls.
I had my friend Matt Smith take this picture of Jessica and me coming out through the Arab security gate. Bad idea. Right as the camera flashed, an Arab officer yelled, "Hey! No pictures in here!" We were so scared! 
Our bus pulled off on the side of the highway to let us all off. I had no idea we were in the Valley of Elah, where David killed Goliath!
1 Samuel 17:1-3 - Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.
I saw walked around the valley and saw the two hills on either side of it.
Here I am in the wadi (dry riverbed) from which David probably gathered his 5 smooth stones.
I searched for smooth stones of my own, so that I could remember the place.
Next, we drove to Bethlehem, which is in the Palestinian-controlled area. We all had to get off the bus and board a new bus. Our tour guide was not allowed to go with us because he was an Israeli citizen. We were given a Palestinian tour guide on our new bus. This is the sign at the security check point. 
While in Bethlehem, we visited a cathedral that was built over the supposed site of Jesus' birth. We waited in line for almost two hours in order to touch this shrine - silly.
Exiting Bethlehem and crossing back over into the "safer" zone, we saw lots of graffiti on the walls.
I had my friend Matt Smith take this picture of Jessica and me coming out through the Arab security gate. Bad idea. Right as the camera flashed, an Arab officer yelled, "Hey! No pictures in here!" We were so scared! 
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