cairo, dahab, sinai, petra, nebo, jerusalem, and all that lies between

(sunrise on mount sinai)

I always figured that the desert would be a warm place, but this last week of travel has most certainly proved that idea wrong.

Early Tuesday morning, our group gathered together, packed into vans, and embarked on a small-scale journey out into the wilderness to one of the potential locations of Mt. Sinai (there are a few different places they think it may have been). We arrived at the base of the mountain at about 1:30 AM, and we had made it top by about 4:30 AM – just enough time to sit shivering in our sleeping bags until the sun came up at 6:30. I found it ironic that the name of the man who guided us up the mountain, translated to English, is Moses. It was weird to think of the real Moses, who stayed on top of (possibly) the same mountain, interacting with and knowing God in such a personal way.

It was so beautiful to watch the sun come from peaking behind the mountains. It was an amazing sight; my fingers were a bit numb, but I did my best to get a few pictures.

(on our way to the oasis)

After our trip to the top of Mount Sinai, our group once again arranged ourselves into a couple vans, and traveled to a different location in the desert, where we stayed with a group of Bedouins for a night. Basically, we arrived at the side of the road in the middle of the desert, and were greeted by a large group of Bedouins, young and old, all trying to communicate to us to get on their camels. It was quite hectic, but as a couple of the Bedouins spoke English, we soon understood and were able to be taken to the camp in a nearby oasis. Though our time with these people was short, it was such a new experience to stay with people who have only known a life that is almost completely different than mine. Though modern influence is certainly evident with the Bedouin tribes, it seems like their lifestyle may be fairly similar the lifestyle people may have had living in the desert during the Bible times – at least more similar to anything I have ever known.

(faraj, 11, guided my camel through the desert)

(in transit to jordan)

Thursday night we arrived in Petra, Jordan, where spent a couple days. We passed through mainly because it is near Mount Nebo, but Friday morning a few of us were able to go see the ancient city of Petra. Considered to be one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, it was an incredible sight.

(the ancient treasury at petra)

(mount nebo, looking into the promised land)

Later in the afternoon, our group traveled up north of Petra to Mt. Nebo, where Moses is believed to have died after seeing the Promised Land.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I told them I would give it to their descendants. I have now allowed you to see it, but you will not enter the land.” Deuteronomy 34:4 (New Living Translation)

Originally, it should have only taken 11 days for the Israelites to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea (Deuteronomy 1:2), but because they did not believe that God was able to bring them into the land he promised to give them (as they were intimidated by the people who were occupying the land,) that generation of Israelites was not able to see the land that God had promised them, save for Joshua and Caleb.

… “We arrived in the land you sent us to see, and it is indeed a magnificent country – a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit as proof. But the people living there are powerful, and their cities and towns are fortified and very large…” Numbers 13:27-28 (New Living Translation)

I often struggle to believe God for the promises and words he speaks to me. It is cool to see his promises in the Bible, and hear the words spoken through the Holy Spirit, but in actuality, a lot of times it’s hard for me to walk into the reality of these promises. Often overwhelming circumstances keep me from believing that God can truly bring me into the reality of his promises. But, if God is willing to speak to us his promises, surely he intends to bring us into the reality of those promises, if only we will choose to believe and have faith to walk in what he has said. We can be sure that the God who brought the entirety of creation into existence can overcome any sort of circumstances that would appear to stand in his way.

…”Everywhere you go, you will be on land I have given you…I command you – be strong and courageous!" Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:3, 9 (New Living Translation)

(via dolorosa, where Jesus walked to the cross)

(at the western wall)

Currently, we are in Jerusalem. We arrived just last night, and will be here for the next couple of weeks. I have gotten to look around a little bit this morning, and it is an amazing place, with a lot of meaning to many different groups of people. As we’re here, I look forward to learning more about different people’s perspectives on the current state of this land.

This week in class we will be learning about the heart of an artist. To me this sounds like a very interesting topic, so I look forward to sharing with you all what I learn this week.

I hope that this week you may all know and experience the reality of trusting in God for his promises, whatever that may look like in your life.

a week in the pentateuch, a morning in city of the dead

(the view above city of the dead)

This week we have spent studying the Pentateuch (the first five books of the bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).

For the longest time these books have seemed sometimes boring, sometimes monotonous, sometimes mundane; they come across very dry at first glance. This week, as we have just had time to touch the surface of these books, I have seen that there is a wealth of knowledge and insight stored in these books, far more than I would ever be able to comprehend even in a lifetime

As I was reading through Numbers this week, it was getting a little dry. So many laws, so many tribes so many regulations; I was getting a little sleepy. But then I came to chapter 28, yet again talking about daily offerings that the Israelites were to bring before the Lord. In verse 2, it says,

Give these instructions to the people of Israel: The offerings you present to me by fire on the altar are my food, and they are very pleasing to me…

Numbers 28:2 (New Living Translation)

I had to think about this. We had just finished learning about how all the Gods of other cultures and places are needy, and dependent on the offerings that their worshippers bring them. I wondered why our God, a sovereign, self-sustaining God would say that the offerings of the Israelites were his food. But the more I thought about this, the more I saw a God that is not needy, but a God that is more so concerned simply with spending time with his people. God certainly is not sustained by the offerings, worship, or praise that we bring him. Instead, I think that he was giving the Israelites such strict laws and regulations concerning the sacrifices because he simply wanted their attention, devotion, and their hearts.

I see an adult who sits down for an imaginary tea party with their children. The adult knows they are not drinking real tea or eating real biscuits, but they go along with the imagination of the child because they simply enjoy spending time with them.

You must worship no other gods, but only the Lord, for he is a God who is passionate about his relationship with you.

Exodus 34:14 (New Living Translation)


In the Pentateuch as a whole, I see the story of God creating our universe so that he could be in relationship with human beings. Man though, in his disobedience, distanced himself from God. God however, did not just give up when man seemed to have gone awry; but rather, he began to institute a system that would bring man back into close, loving relationship with himself. In these books I see how God was redeeming the Israelites back to himself through the sacrificing of certain animals, but this appears to be only a shadow of the way in which he would allow all of mankind to come back to himself through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

(a tomb area in city of the dead)

This Sunday we are leaving Cairo, headed for Mount Sinai, where we will hike to the top at sunset. Throughout the week we will be visiting different geographical locations on the Sinai Peninsula, and eventually Petra and Mount Nebo, both of which are in Jordan. Next Sunday, we plan on crossing from Jordan to Jerusalem, where we will be staying to study for a few weeks. I am very excited about seeing such richly historical places in this next week, and throughout the time that we will be in Israel. I love learning about the history of these places as the history pertains to the Bible, but I am also equally excited to learn more about God’s heart for these places as they are today. I truly believe he continues to be just as passionate for the people in these places today as he was when he originally created them.

(a home in city of the dead)

Many of the pictures in this week’s blog were taken in a place here in Cairo called “City of the Dead.” Originally, this was basically a graveyard, but due to the massive amount of people in Cairo, and not much room to spread out, many people have made their homes here, living amongst the various tombs.

(we can know a God who is committed to showing us the way to life)

egypt, pyramids, furry camels, sand, tourists, etc.

I now write to you from Cairo, Egypt.

Myself and some other students arrived here at about 4:00 on New Year’s Morning, and we quickly found slumber as we had not had much over the previous days of travel. The last few days we have been able to explore some of the sites around Cairo, which has proved to be quite interesting, beings as this is my first time in the Middle East.

Yesterday we went as a school to go visit the site of the Pyramids. I always imagined that the Pyramids would be far removed from anything even remotely modern, but they truly sit directly next to the sprawling metropolis that is Cairo. It was an amazing site to see structures that have been standing for literally thousands of years. It is hard for me to comprehend.

(sphinx and pyramid - from pizza hut?)

A couple days ago, I had the chance to go with a smaller group of people to a Camel Market, also on the outskirts of Cairo. Here I am told, people come from all over Africa to buy and sell Camels. It was one of the more interesting things I have experienced thus far in my life, probably mostly because I don’t recall having ever met a camel in person. I found the camels to be a bit unruly when they were being herded by their owners; but when they were left to themselves, the camels seemed to be very friendly. While I was taking photographs, I had a couple of them come behind me to sniff my ears. In camel language I think this must constitute some sort of friendship.

(bahi, my camel-dealing friend)

I also met some friendly camel dealers. As I was walking through the market, one of the men saw me with my camera, and began pointing to all his other camel-dealing friends, motioning for me to take their pictures. They had me come over to sit with them, where I tried to learn their names, which proved to be slightly difficult, beings as their names are Arabic. One man, Bahi (I’m not sure exactly how it is spelled in English) took me further into their group’s camel pen, where they kept more of their camels. He wanted to have his photo taken with a few specific camels, so I followed him and took his picture with many-a-camel. He soon had his friend bring me a cup of tea, and Bahi and I went over to sit on an upside-down bathtub by an old brick wall of the camel pen. We sat for a while, and I asked to learn the numbers in Arabic, which also proved to be difficult. (I will be able to keep practicing though, because I wrote down the sound of each number, 1-10.)

(bahi, and one of his many camels)

(bahi's friend)

(suprisingly they don't smoke camels at the camel market. i believe this is a marlboro.)

This time with Bahi was very new for me. I have never spent time with people from a culture such as this. For the most part, I didn’t understand anything they were saying throughout the time I was there, but I feel like just by sitting there with Bahi on an upside down bathtub, I was able to see a little piece of what their life is like.

...

Our friend here tells us about the different value systems of the Middle Eastern Culture. He says that where our western society values love, honesty (justice and fairplay), and cleanliness, the Middle Eastern culture for the most part values hospitality, relationships, and dignity (honor/shame). It would seem at first glance that this is no problem, it is just a difference in cultures. However, I have found that the differences in these values can prove to be quite a frustration, especially in regards to the justice aspect.

Growing up, I was always taught to be polite, waiting for my turn, and giving priority to others before myself. It makes sense to me to wait in line when I am needing to get food, go to see pyramids, or drive in traffic. Here though, I have quickly found that it doesn’t work to be a polite little American boy, at least in regards to waiting for my turn. It is hard for me; justice seems to make the most sense. I so often love how God is described as a God of justice.

But I often forget that this same God of justice is also The God of mercy. He has given me life through his son Jesus, when my actions, tainted with sin, condemned me to death. Through this I see that I must learn to have mercy for people, even when it does not seem to go along with my natural sentiments of justice. Can I afford to be ok when someone gets their food before me, even when I’ve been waiting for 15 minutes longer than they have? I think so.

And I will also have to learn the art of finding my way to the front of a crowd of people in order to get to the cashier.

As I learn to adjust to the people and the different things they value, please know that your prayers are a huge help. On my own strength things can be difficult, and it’s easy to get frustrated; but I believe and am trusting in God’s promises to come to our assistance where our abilities run out.

oh bulgaria, how i will miss you...

(myself, john paul, aaron)

(krassimir and mama mitcka (my most recent bulgarian mother))




(sonja and todor - my mama and papa from a previous visit to bulgaria. they were quick to rustle up some cake, coffee, and baklava as i stopped by to pay them a visit.)


(the day after christmas, krassi's family invited us to visit them in the village of palenitza)


(krassi's sister annie)

(krassi's grandfather and father)






(annie, touring palenitza)

(pastor timotei, and a pastor from the village of septemvre. on my first visit to septembre in 2005, we were helping this pastor on the construction of his church. the church should be completed by this june.)


(in 2005 this room was still without a roof)

(misho, the pastor of a church in a gypsy village)

(this kind man i encountered as he came from the basement of our apartment building)