firsts

This weekend was probably one of my favorite weekends so far. We went to En-Gedi which is right on the shore of the Dead Sea. Here we had a fun filled weekend and many firsts.

swimming in dead sea - We waded into the water and it was one of the weirdest feelings that I have ever felt. It was very difficult to keep your feet under you and you could easily keep your shoulders out of the water because you just float. The water felt very oily because of the high salt content, just for fun Nicole and I dipped our finger in the water and put a drop on our tongues, it was like salt water times 1000!

mud baths - Right on the shore of the dead sea you can go rub mud all over yourself, the guys got to experience their first spa treatment and loved every minute of it, I think even more than the girls.

 
being below sea level - the Dead Sea lies 1380 ft below sea level, it is the lowest point on earth. So much oxygen here but it was close to 105 degrees. 

camping next to a sea - After swimming in the Dead Sea we set up camp right on the beach and had a great dinner, time of fellowship, and time in the Word. We read some Psalms that David wrote while He was in the wilderness at En-Gedi and being pursued by Saul. One of my favorite things to do here, is read the Biblical events in the places that they happened, I have a whole new understanding for many passages in the Bible and it is all so vivid. I have never been camping and been able to sleep in shorts and on top of my sleeping bag, but since it was so hot here that is what we did, one down side to this was being woken up at 5:30 AM by the bright sun and the most flies that I have seen in my entire life. Waking up this early turned out to be a good thing because we were able to get going to our next thing early and in the "cool" of the day. 

hiking a mountain in the desert - We loaded the bus and headed to the Nahal Arugot. We hiked to a waterfall and swam around, just before we headed up the mountain to our right that was around 1700 ft tall. This was a challenge and the highest mountain that I have ever hiked, but once we reached the top it was the best feeling. A friend read Psalm 63 once we reached the top, and the words rang so true and I could sort of relate to David. 

               "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."

I have never wanted water or shade so bad, this is a great reminder of how we should thirst and earnestly seek after God, because He is the only true source of life.