The Yaya Adventures: Day 7- Jordan, Jordan River and the Dead Sea 4-13-12

This is actually day 7 but Layton forgot to hold his thumb in...
Today we flew to Jordan. We had a 5AM wake up call. We left the Intercontinental Star Cairo Hotel after we ate breakfast at 6. We have been flying since or at least in the airports too. Our guide is now Jay.
* From the book:
Ammon and Jordan significance- Lot's son Ammon was the father of the Ammonites and his son Moab was the father of the Moabites (Genesis 19:37-38)
Jordan is a land steeped in history. It has been home to some of mankind's earliest settlements and villages, and relics of many of the world's great civilizations can still be seen today.As the crossroads of the Middle East, the lands of Jordan and Palestine have served as a strategic nexus connecting Asia, Africa and Europe.Thus, since the dawn of civilization, Jordan's georgraphy has given it an important role to play as a conduit for trade and communications, connecting east and west, north and south. Jordan continues to play this role today. It is a geographic prize for this part of the world.
There are around 50 million people that live on 50,000 square miles.

Loading our buses were always organized but quite the experience when you have that many people traveling at once.

Sites and sounds of the early morning city on our way to the Jordan River and site of Jesus' baptism.

Saying good bye and tipping our guides who we will not see again.

This guard did NOT like me taking pictures of him and pointed his finger at me and shock his head. I obeyed!

WEll, after I took another shot when he wasn't looking. What? I liked his hat.

This was our bus family. The man and lady on the left in the second row are from back east. Their last name is "Cottrell" and we found out that they are distant cousins to Layton's family. His name is Mark Cottrell. He has a brother named "Gordon Cottrell" that lives in Bridger Valley and we hear of him all the time when we work up there with our Agency. He was a school teacher and their father's name was...dig this.... Ralph Cottrell. Man, it can be such a small world!

Busing to baptism site and then on to the dead sea. Jordan seems much more clean and peaceful than Egypt so far.

DEAD SEA - EIN GEDI
WATER TO BE HEALED ( EZEKIEL 47:1-2)
DAVID UTS SAUL'S CLOAK (1 SAMUEL 23:29; 24:3-15)

Here is the Jordan River Site where Jesus was believed to be baptized. Well, no one knows exactly where but the way the river runs, this seems to be where everyone would assume. The site was just absolutely amazing to think about. There were a lot of other people there that we making noise and even some groups were baptizing and re-baptizing members in the water on the other side of the river. It is a much smaller river than you would think as far as the width. We enjoyed Br. Wilcox's comments before we were given time to wander and contemplate this site. The main thing that he talked about besides history from the scriptures was that we need to build others up and not put them down. We live in a world that puts us down every minute so we need to continually try to build others up. I hope that I can do better at that... thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habits and habits become your character.... oh please let me think sweet thoughts about everyone! It's so amazing to think that we walked where Jesus walked today. What a great blessing for us! So so so grateful right now!

This bowl of water was where you could dip a bottle in and take Jordan River water home with you. We did not do this but I have since heard that people add a few drops of water to their grandchildren's font when they are baptized so that they can be baptized in the River Jordan like Jesus did.

There are several churches built near the site of the baptism and you see them as you walk to the water. The path to walk on is about a mile from the road but it is a nicely groomed path.

JORDAN RIVER

Places in the river are quite low and narrow.

We are now back on the buses and headed to Amman Beach or rather....the Dead Sea.

Here is the Dead Sea. There were many people here and it was around 4 in the afternoon. The bathrooms to change in were pretty much disgusting and so of course we didn't participate. Most of our group did and we were happy to just wade in a bit and let everyone else swim and float. You can see towers in Israel from this side of the sea too which was cool.

This guy was dressed in his "beach" attire I guess. I just wanted a picture with him before he joined his little family by the beach. He looks thrilled doesn't he?

Of course, Ross and Claralyn got in and enjoyed the water. Wasn't too cold.

brave hearts

The dead sea mud is suppose to give you healing powers so they decided to cover themselves...lol The mud was carried in unwelcome crevasses they said for the remainder of the trip. Ross had on brand new 'WHITE" swim trunk's but who know why he covered them with the mud as well. They are permanently gray after washing. funny.

Bill and Susan didn't venture in either. (more new friends)

Heading back to our new hotel, Intercontinental Hotel Amman, Jordan, we found it to be very lovely. The countryside was pretty too. We ate dinner again with Claralyn and Ross who bacame such great friends. We were so blessed to meet them. Tomorrow we wake at 6am and leave by 7am to head for Israel and also Masada.