June 12th – Monday
Hey guys! It’s Jess. Today was the day we took on P3tr@!
We had a long night of planning prior to our expedition, and most of us woke up around 5:30 am to be fed and ready to leave in the car by 6 am. After some tough decisions, tummy aches, and even a pair of pants being split, we hit the road at about 6:15 for a 3-hour car ride. Getting inside this historical site was a feat in its own, as we had to split up into groups to get through the gate!
Eventually, though, we were in the park successfully and were able to begin our journey through a huge canyon down to the treasury. There were a ton of amazing carvings and architecture along the way. We learned about ancient Roman waterways and civilizations, while also turning down many bold barters who were trying to sell us donkey ride after donkey ride.
After a few miles of walking, we finally reached the treasury. It was incredible! This wonder of the world was hand carved into the side of the mountain. Some of us bought a camel ride and took some photos, while others just basked in all its beauty. What a once in a lifetime experience.
After we took a look at the treasury, we continued down the trail as we made our way to the monastery. We walked past so many tombs and trails that we wanted to go down but couldn’t for time’s sake. The hike started to get a little more difficult as the sun was beating down on us, and our feet were beginning to fatigue.
Eventually, we made it to the base of the trail to the monastery. Little did we know it would take us up 83 flights of stairs. It was honestly really difficult! We took breaks here and there to catch our breath, and we were solicited by the Bedouin people, which was a unique and equally heartbreaking experience. So many young children desperately tried to sell us donkey rides or bottles of water. I even saw one family with a shop huddled over a small fire, cooking just a pot of beans for their meal. The amount of poverty and desperation that we walked through definitely made the trip bittersweet, but we also know that the Lord is showing us these truths to continue to propel us into a greater passion for His ministry and plan for our lives.
After those 83 flights of stairs, we finally made it to the monastery! It was incredible. The amount of detail and craftsmanship of the ancient people is almost unbelievable. We took a ton of photos and met some other tourists from Nevada. It was a great time!
After that, we went up to the top of the mountain to get an amazing view. It was so rewarding after a long journey to the top. Here, we could look to one side and see the massive trails and sights of this historical site, and on the other side, we could see the border of Israel. We shared some snacks, reminisced about our journey, hydrated, and then ventured down.
This is where the heat began to really settle in. Some of us had to take frequent breaks, while others just wanted to book it to the end, and finally rest our throbbing feet and legs. After a total hike of 9.5 miles, we made it back to the cars safely, regrouped, and then began a drive to dinner!
It took about two minutes to get to our restaurant, and we had some delicious food. It was buffet-style, featuring dishes like rice, chicken, noodles, the BEST pita bread and hummus, and a wide variety of local desserts. We all got huge bottles of water to drink and then returned to the library for the night!
We all got about an hour of free time to shower, rest up, and relax before the team debrief at 8, where we shared our highs and lows of the day, cracked jokes, and then our team leaders surprised us with ice cream bars! Woohoo! It really is the little things. So many of our members have expressed how grateful we are for our team. We work so well together, appreciate one another, and have some of the craziest and funniest moments. It is an honor to be led by such incredible leaders while being alongside such a funny, heartfelt, and truly, truly, caring team. Everyone has a great attitude and looks out for each other, which is one of the biggest blessings.
And that brings us to now as I write this (6/12/23, 11:51 AM PDT)! Everyone is settling down for the night, as we finally get to sleep in a little bit and don’t have to be ready to go until 10 am! Tomorrow and basically the rest of this week, we will do tons of library projects. We are all eager to get our hands dirty and continue serving.
As you continue to support us, we ask that you pray for the kid’s camp we are hosting on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. We pray that we will be able to connect with the kids and impact their lives with the hope of shining the light of Christ through our actions. We also ask for continued prayers of health and safety, as some of us have had tummy aches from food sensitivities, headaches, or even homesickness.
Thank you so much again for your gracious support. We are so thankful to have this opportunity, and we pray it will be a blessing to you as you sow seeds into our lives and individual walks with Christ!
Signing off!
-Jess 🙂