MARCH 29, 2009
We’ve had a really wonderful experience this week end. I rented a car—and it was easy as can be. It was a little 4-door Hyundia—and Wilma, Mary and I took off Saturday afternoon about 3:00 from Jerusalem heading to the Dead Sea to En Gedi Spa and Resort. We were able to get a room there and enjoy a great overnight time. The rooms were sorta like little cottages—it is a very large place with a beautiful swimming pool and large dining room. The meals were included, so we had a delicious dinner and breakfast. We arrived too late to enjoy the pool, and it opened too late this morning. It is still very cool there in the morning.

The sights around were just nearly too much to describe. From our room, we looked out on the Dead Sea and the Jordanian mountains were beyond that...and behind our rooms were the Judean hills. Jordan is on the other side of the Dead Sea, and the mountains are just spectacular—they look pink and purple—and the reflection in that Dead Sea water was just amazing. The water itself is deep green or deep turquoise or deep blue—or parts were brown…depending on when and where you looked. Then on the Israeli side, the mountains were sheer sandstone—so high and full of cliffs and caves. That is the area where David and his men hid from King Saul. They were right behind our room and we got some beautiful pictures of that. With the Jordanian mountains, the Dead Sea and the Judean hills—I can’t really put words to the beauty and grandeur I saw this week end.

With the room, we were given entrance to the En Gedi Spa across the highway. It is right on the Dead Sea…we changed into swim suits and rode the little “train” (?)down to the beach. For those who know me and my water-phobia, you will know how antsy I was about getting in the Dead Sea. Wilma kept saying, “You cannot drown in the Dead Sea.” And I kept hearing the young man in Chicago saying, “NO ONE ever falls off of a Segway”—but I did! Wilma and Mary sunned in beach chairs and I enjoyed a shaded one for a good while. Then I knew I had to get in—so I headed out—Wilma beside me and Mary snapping pictures! Mary got some really good pictures—through the whole process of my getting in! The water was very cold—because it’s too early for warmer water. It is the most amazing thing—you really do float…and there are absolutely no creatures of any kind in that water. And the bottom is flat beds of salt…it is salty and oily too. I got a bit in my eye that stung pretty good, but other than that it really was about the most unusual experience I’ve had. We took pictures of the salt that was coated on everything down there—it looks just like frozen ice. There were two bicycles lying on the beach that were completely covered in salt…been there for some time. The water has receded dramatically, so they may have been in the water at some time.

We really enjoyed a very relaxing time there—and then showered, changed and headed on down the road to the Dead Sea Resort area. There are a number of very large, very nice hotels there—and shops, beach chairs, etc. There were many people down there—almost none at the En Gedi beach where we had been. And the weather was really warm…but at this area, the salt at the bottom of the water was in little balls instead of flat beds—I brought home 3 little balls of salt with me. We ate, got coffee at Aroma’s and headed home. We dropped Mary off with all our stuff, and Wilma and I returned the car. It seemed like we had been on a vacation—even though it was just barely over 24 hours!

We went right by Masada, and we could have done that too today. But I didn’t really feel great—still have a cold and almost no voice—so we just enjoyed the Dead Sea. Elaine has not been to Masada either, so we plan to go one Sunday for the day.

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday—and we plan to join a huge throng of people who traverse the path Jesus took from the Mount of Olives down to the Old City. Wilma has never done that—even though she has been here 3 years—and Mary wants to do it again—and Elaine wants to go and I’m sure there will be others of us. So that will be quite an experience also.

Our roommate Joy is back in the states, so we are three now in the apartment. I do plan to move into Joy’s room—sometime this week. It is larger and has a very nice, large piece of furniture that is a closet with drawers and shelves. I’ve grown so accustomed to my little room with its bright furnishings I am going to miss it. But the larger room will be nice…for the next 69 days—but who’s counting?

My junior students had a really rough week because of their classmate’s mother’s death—I have prayed so much for them—and for Bashar and his little brother and the rest of the family. They are really a close bunch of kids—and I am so blessed to teach them. Having grown up in a small town—and with only 21 people in my graduating class from Groom High School—I really relate to their long-time friendships. Those friends will mean so much to Bashar in the coming months.

The yearbook deadline is Tuesday-March 31—so I do pray that all goes well there. Those girls have really worked—especially Natalie. She is such a mature, capable young girl. I admire her very much.

Erin leaves in the morning for Turkey—and we are hoping and praying she can get back in the country next Friday—and be able to finish the school year. She does plan to go home in June to Atlanta—enroll in school to finish her degree in Middle Eastern studies. She is such a loving, sweet and pretty young girl—the kids all really love her.

Thank you for your interest and patience to read through all my gabbing and send me little comments and emails. I appreciate your love and prayers for me and my family and for Jerusalem School.
Love
Beth