Day 04 - Negev: Beth Shean, Ein Gedi, Qumran

Dead Sea Day!  We descended from the Hights of Golan to the lowest (breathable) spot on our great planet earth today, but before we did, we stopped at a little place called Beth Shean. But do not be deceived, it's some mere kiddy park that we could have easily skipped and not really missed. Au contraire, my friends. Beth Shean is a place that has one of the best "WOW" moments on the entire trip. This ancient Roman city has been meticulously excavated and is in beautiful condition. There is a theater, a long agora, pillars, a bathhouse, two separate toilet areas, this place has it all!  And if you ask nicely the park will send a ranger to unlock the back gate so that you take in the whole city for the first time as you come over the crest of a hill. So yes, we hiked up the back way, and I was delighted to hear as each of our group did their best Keanu Reeves impression and instantly reached for their cameras! We spent some time (not as much as we would have like but that's always the case) exploring and seeing the site then climbed back in the bus to continue our journey to the lowest elevation we could find without using oxygen tanks.

And what did we find there. EIN GEDI!!!! I was maybe just a little too excited for this site. Nah, that's not possible. You see, this desert oasis is surrounded by a legit desert. There is not a whole lot going on on either side of it. And yet, here we find a beautiful and calming oasis with fresh living (moving) water that flows all the way down to the Dead Sea.  This is the place King David used to come for rest or to escape from his enemies. It was in Ein Gedi that he cut off the edge of Saul's robe (1 Samuel 24) and pleaded for peace. It was in Ein Gedi that he wrote some of the Psalms (in fact, Psalm 57 was written about that very incident). This year many of our group decided to join David in being refreshed by the waters of Ein Gedi and it was a joy to witness! 

We are beginning our time in Jerusalem tomorrow. It is going to be a very full day, and one that I have been looking forward to for a very long time. I am grateful to @gtitours for arranging our trip and @friscobible for the support and help that they have been. God is using this trip to help us to know Him better and to experience Him more!