Musings with Nathan (official camel whisperer)

The morning started out with a breathtaking sunrise over the Dead Sea and ended with many of us floating as unsinkable logs in the very same...But this day is truly about all the other incredible moments that occurred in-between.

The question now is where to begin…after another solid breakfast at Isrotel Gamil. We quickly (read slowly) boarded our tour bus and headed for Masada National Park. I was excited about the opportunity to see this amazing biblical site, but at the same time my enthusiasm was tempered by the fact that I knew I was not going to be able to do the right of passage…the Masada mountain hike. You see our guide had made the unfortunate truth a reality to me and a handful of others the day before, our group were not going to do the hike, due to an overall lack of interest/ability. To be honest a part of me was crushed…but the trip is not about my goals it is about the Lord’s goals, so I humbly accepted my fate.

That all changed upon arrival, as Jeff Price and myself stood talking about our desire to hike, our amazing guide Rich, came up and imparted upon us the fact that we now may have a chance to do exactly that. Factoring in amazing weather that day…75 as opposed to the average 100, as well as having three men that exemplified physical prowess (regardless of age), Rich allowed us to tackle the mountain. I would not lie and tell you it was easy, what I will tell you is that it was an incredible, once in a lifetime opportunity. And I will thank the Lord every day that I was blessed to experience it. Jeff Price and Derek West, thank you for dragging a young buck with much to learn about life up that mountain, I am eternally grateful to both of you!

Shifting gears after an amazing two hours of adventure and teaching in Masada National Park. We made our way to a small village on the outskirts of the wilderness of zin. As soon as the bus pulled up many of us realized this was not going to be a normal tour….25 camels were lined up in rows and tethered to one another…incoming camel ride!

Suffice it to say I have ridden a number of animals in my years upon this earth…the camel was not one of them. After realizing I had no partner (Pastor Doug and I realized it would not be smart to put the two largest guys on the same camel) I set out on my own camel.

I felt like Laurence of Arabia riding that mighty steed and at the same time certain man parts cried out in agony. Several other male members agreed. But it was an amazing experience and one that I would not give up for the world. Shout out to Clem…you my dear make everything we experience as a group…better!

After the exhilaration of the 40 years (read 40 mins) of camel wandering, we disembarked, and had coffee, tea, and lunch in the village. It was at this point though, that we get to the heart of this Tour of Israel…Growing as men and women in Christ!

And despite the challenges of the day before…Pastor Doug was once again ready and able to guide us through the wilderness…and into the glory of the Lord. He deftly guided us through his own four years in the wilderness and how through that time he realized he could never be separated from ministry again! As Pastor Doug has reminded us time and again on the trip so far, be motivated to do for the lord, and give him all the glory. If the Lord chooses to put you in the wilderness so that you may grow rejoice…but if your own choices put you there, woes to you. So I stood there remembering the two major wilderness events in my own life (both self-inflicted) and I couldn’t help but see, no feel, that what I will draw in the next 2 weeks here, will forever change my life for His Glory.

Your brother in Christ,
Nathan Steinbacher