Streams of Living Water

Day 5 took us up 1500 feet by cable car to the top of a mountain called Masada.  Originally it was built by King Herod as a palace, but became a religious memorial to remember the Jews who died there in resistance of Roman occupation.  We saw ancient remains and appreciated the gorgeous views from on high. 

Then we went to Ein Gedi National Park.  We hiked up uneven paths in the desert in order to get to the three waterfalls.  And when we arrived, we delighted in the cool refreshing water.  As I stood near the water fall, I could not help but recite the words of Psalm 42: “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O Lord.”

Finally, we ended up back at the Dead Sea, to enjoy some time of relaxation.  The water was both warm and cold.  The sea floor was salt crystals.  We enjoyed floating in the Dead Sea.  As one person said, “I guess this is what it feels like to be an astronaut in space.”

Stay tuned for more blog postings as we continue our pilgrimage through the Holy Land...