July

Trip to Jordan
It was time for a break! We joined our friends Justin and Marjorie Carlson on an eleven day trip to Jordan.	Our Itinerary: October 28: Arrive in Amman Jordan October 29: Um Qais, Ajloun, Jerash October 30: Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Dead Sea October 31: Um Ar-Rassass, Mukawir, Karak November 1: Petra November 2: Petra, Turkish Bath, Petra Kitchen November 3: Little Petra, Baidha Neolithic Site, Jeep tour and overnight in Wadi Rum November 4: Aqaba (Snorkeling) November 5: Aqaba (Scuba Diving) November 6: Maqdas Baptism Site, Lot's Cave November 7: Tour Amman, Arrive back in Doha
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Um Qais, Ajloun, Jerash
Modern Um Qais is the site of the ancient Greco-Roman town of Gadara. It overlooks the Sea of Galilee and is referenced in the bible in Matthew 8:28-34. In this passage Jesus healed two demon possessed men by casting the demons into a herd of pigs. The main attraction at Ajloun was a medieval Arab/Islamic castle. It was interesting to walk through and hear how they defended this castle against enemies. Jerash is considered one of the best preserved Roman cities outside of Italy. It was impressive! Nymphonium (fountain) in Jerash	View of Sea of Galilee from Um Qais The Romans had assigned seating in their Jerash theater!
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Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Dead Sea
Madaba was the home of many ancient mosaics including a famous 6th century map of the holy land. It is the Moabite town of Medaba mentioned in the Old Testament (Numbers 21:30, 2 Kings 3,I Chronicles 19:7). Mt. Nebo is where the bible says Moses viewed the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34:1-8) There is two ways to describe the Dead Sea---FUN and RELAXING! We thoroughly enjoyed our time floating and getting all mucked up in mud! Madaba Map of the Holy Land On top of Mt. Nebo	Dead Sea Mud Justin enjoys the floating! Lanny enjoys the sunset by the pool!
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Um Ar-Rassass, Mukawir, Karak
Um Ar-Rassass had an impressive Mosaic floor. On the border of the floor it had the cities of the holy land. According to the historian Josephus, Mukawir is the site that Salome danced for Herod. Herod was so pleased he gave Salome he promised to grant anything she wanted. At the advice of her mother she asked for John the Baptist to be beheaded. See Matthew 14:1-12. Karak was home to a large, Crusader castle. Gaza - border of Um Ar-Rassass Mosaic	Mukawir - Remains of Herod's Castle Overlook from Karak Castle
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Petra
One of the definite highlights of the trip was spending two days in Petra hiking and marveling at the Nebatean Kingdom. Saving our legs for the hiking Petra is known as the Rose Red City, here is some of its stone Walking through the Siq Our first view of the Treasury Remember the Treasury from the Indiana Jones movie The Last Crusade? Starting the 900 steps toward the Monastery The hike to the Monastery was worth it!	David, Marjorie and Lanny in the city theater, carved entirely in stone Day 2 we hiked to see the view of the city from the top A cup of tea with a Bedouin women and our tour guide Mahmoud At the end of the 2 days of hiking we enjoyed a relaxing drink, a massage at a Turkish Bath and we joined another tour group from Germany at Petra Kitchen. We made traditional foods like tabouleh, hummus, babaganoush, samosas, lamb kofta, and more. Drinking some coke at the Petra Cave Bar And scrape they did! Justin makes cheese samosas Don't get in a hurry in the kitchen...it wasn't that bad! Group picture at Petra Kitchen
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Little Petra, Baidah Neolthic Site, Wadi Rum
Little Petra These carvings were thought to represent a marriage Climbing to see the carvings	Looks like melting chocolate Our camp site at night Wadi Rum: Where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed
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Aqaba
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving were a highlight of the trip. We enjoyed a few days relaxing and seeing the amazing life in the Red Sea.
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Maqdas Baptism Site, Lot's Cave
Lot's cave (Genesis 19:30) Dead Sea	Jordanian and Israeli flags Baptism site of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17 & Mark 1:9-11)
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Amman
Dead Sea Scrolls	Ruins
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