Thursday, January 12, 2011

*NOTE:  Since I have been without internet access for a few days, what follows are my postings for those days.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Well today certainly didn’t start out the way I had hoped.  As I had shared previously, there has been some lingering “stomach issues” affecting, not only myself, but several other individuals in our group.  I thought mine had passed but late yesterday it “re-surfaced” with a vengance! This morning and Egyptian doctor was called to the hotel in St. Catherine’s Village to see us.  It appears to have been a bacterial infection...not sure how or where we picked it up.  While some were able to get by with a shot or pill, myself and one of my professor’s had to be given IV’s to rehydrate us.  I was skeptical of the doctor...but really felt I had no choice.  What was even less reassuring is when the nurse accompanying the doctor asked me for a tip.  That is a common practice in Egypt...everyone expects a tip!

Well, to make a long story short, our trip to Bethlehem was postponed a few hours and we arrived around 8 PM this evening.  I’m feeling much better and the “stomach issues” have seemed to have cleared up.

Tonight, after arriving at the Sancta Maria Hotel in Bethlehem we enjoyed a very nice dinner and I was able to venture out on a walk with one of my seminary friends, Brent.  I look forward to journeying out tomorrow as we visit Jerusalem, the Church of the Nativity, Church of the Holy Sepluchre, the Via Dolorosa and the Garden of Gethsemane.  One might say we’re hitting the Greatest Hits of Jesus tomorrow!

Until tomorrow...

Tuesday, January 11, 2011  8:53 PM

Our morning began this morning with a trip to the St. Catherine Monastery.  A monastery inhabited by 25 Greek Orthodox monks.  We were able to tour the facility for about 20 minutes before hiking down the road a bit to began our ascent up Mt. Sinai…where Moses appeared before the burning bush…where he received the Ten Commandments.   It was a beautiful day in Sinai with temperatures this morning in the low 60’s.  We began our journey up the 8,000 ft.  (3 miles) mountain at approximately 9:30 AM.  As required, we were led by a Bedouin tour guide up the mountain.   The sites were breath taking (see pics).  As I walked the path I couldn’t help but imagine Moses walking up this mountain.  We reached the peak of Mt. Sinai at 12:30 PM.  I really wasn’t sure of what my reaction would be…but as I stood there overlooking the Sinai desert I was moved to tears as I recalled the words, “The place your are standing on is Holy ground.”  I was brought to tears.  We were able to spend about 45 minutes on the top of Sinai.  I was even able to break away for awhile to read the Exodus narrative of Moses at Mount Sinai.  It was a very moving experience!

After our descent down Sinai we returned to the Monastery where we were able to come in and observe the liturgy and vespers of the monks at 4 PM.  This service is not  usually opened to tourists.  Since our guide for this journey, Rev. Peter Miano, knew Father Justin, we were allowed to observe and then had dialogue time with Father Justin following.  I know very little of the Greek Orthodox religion…especially when it’s done in Aramaic.  It was a very beautiful service ...and while I didn’t understand what was being said...I truly was able to appreciate the manner in which different faiths express their worship...and in the midst of this different worship experience...in my own way...I was able to worship too.

Tomorrow is an early morning, leaving St. Catherine’s Village at 7 AM as we head towards Israel…journeying to Bethlehem tomorrow.

Monday, January 10, 2011  10:30 PM

Most of today was spent traveling by bus from Cairo to Sinai.  On the way to Sinai we made one last stop in Cairo at the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services.  While there we were able to spend time in dialogue with the director, Dr. Andre Zackey.  This organization seeks to contribute to the transformation of Egyptian society by nurturing moral and spiritual awareness, enhancing a sense of belonging, promoting respect for diversity and advancing social justice for individuals and communities.  Through this organization over 5,000,000 people in Egypt are assisted each year.  For those of you who are United Methodist, this organization is able to accomplish many of it's services through the support of United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

After our time at CEOSS we journeyed east/north toward Sinai through the desert.  Along the way we were able to stop at The Spring of Moses...a well/Oasis out in the dessert.  A short time later we found ourselves traveling along the coastline of the Red Sea.  We spent about a half hour at the Red Sea...let me tell you....that was a big sea Moses had to part!!!  It was beautiful!

We arrived at St. Catherine's Village around dinner time and enjoyed a wonderful buffet meal at our hotel.  St. Catherine is a village named for St. Catherine, a pagan woman who converted to Chrisitianity.  Her family tried to persuade her to renounce her faith and return to paganism.  When she refused she was crucified on a wheel.  St. Catherine's Village is the home of St. Catherine's Monastery and is also located near Mount Sinai which I will attempt to climb the 8,0000 feet tomorrow.