After frantic last minute packing, weighing luggage and deciding what to leave at home (travel iron missed this trip - I was destined to look crumpled!), I was off to Sydney International Airport to meet up with the other pilgrims and board our Emirates flight.
After over 3 hours waiting at the airport, 23 hours travelling and two stopovers in Bangkok and Dubai, we finally arrived at Amman (Jordan) airport to commence our pilgrimage.
On our way at last!
We immediately made our way through Amman to our first stop - Mount Nebo, the place to which Moses led the Israelites and from where they could see the Promised Land. We travelled through the poor countryside around Ma'daba and immediately were aware of the great difference between the lifestyle we experience in Australia and that of the Jordanian people. 78% of Jordan is desert and 85% of the people live on 22% of the land.
There was rubbish everywhere - lots of plastic bags flying about - and no one seems to do anything about it. The adults and children also don't seem to have much to do. There are many people just hanging about outside very humble shops or on the roadside talking. The children couldn't be seen playing with sporting equipment. How fortunate are our children in Australia!
When we crossed the border into Israel it was completely different - they even have recycling crates along the streets in jerusalem. We need to appreciate how good life is in Australia despite the difficulties we currently face.
There was rubbish everywhere - lots of plastic bags flying about - and no one seems to do anything about it. The adults and children also don't seem to have much to do. There are many people just hanging about outside very humble shops or on the roadside talking. The children couldn't be seen playing with sporting equipment. How fortunate are our children in Australia!
When we crossed the border into Israel it was completely different - they even have recycling crates along the streets in jerusalem. We need to appreciate how good life is in Australia despite the difficulties we currently face.
Many flat topped buildings have steel reinforcement bars sticking out from the layer below so that they can keep adding storeys on top for other family members.
A shepherd and his sheep in the middle of the town!
Plastic bags everywhere amongst the sheep!
A barren land
Plants are stunted in their growth due to the lack of rain and nutrients in the ground.
People living in tents
The familiar Parable of the Sower came to life!
Mount Nebo is the most revered holy site in Jordan. Moses was not to lead his people all the way to the Promised Land - he is believed to have died on Mount Nebo after he blessed Joshua who was to take over leadership of the people. Tradition tells us that Moses is buried on Mount Nebo.
Just to prove I was actually there!
Maintenance on the church and the roof has been happening since 2008 but progress is subject to funding of work on these holy sites.
The serpentine cross
It is symbolic of the bronze serpent created by Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4–9) and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified (John 3:14).
The view to the Promised Land
Looking towards the promised land from Mt Nebo - the dust haze from sand storms in the Sahara Desert limit the view.
There are hundreds of Byzantine churches in Jordan and remains of 4th Century mosaics and other items have been found by archaeologists in the area.
From Mt Nebo the pilgrims made our way to the border with Israel - what an experience! Four members of our group were held for four hours while background checks were completed - because they had Lebanese or Assyrian surnames.
The sun set over the hills of Israel as we waited for our companions.
Jenni, what a wonderful way you have of describing things in detail. It's like I am reliving it all over again and I am savouring every bit.
ReplyDeleteI am way too impatient to include this much detail so God bless you and please continue.
This blog will be a wonderful resource for your school and beyond!
It's amazing how differently we see things from each other depending on where we sat on the bus or how well our camera worked. Imagine if we were writing about this pilgrimage 60 years after the event like the Gospel writers!! My memory wouldn't be reliable ha ha