Day 1 with photos

After a long flight of 14 hours to Dubai, a frantic dash through Dubai airport and another 2 1/2 hours to Amman we finally gathered as a group of 43 and commenced our Holy Land adventure. With our Jordanian tour guide (Maha) and our government proscribed Tourist Security Guard we boarded our coach to our first destination - the town of Madaba (the town of mosaics). On the way we drove through the land of the Moabites and the Amorites passing large tents set up by Bedouins. This was the area where Moses led the children of Israel heading to the promised land.

After viewing an ancient floor mosaic of a map of the Holy Lands in a Greek Orthodox Church, we enjoyed a marvellous el fresco lunch of Arabic food and got to know some of our travelling companions.

After lunch came our first real highlight - a visit to the top of Mt Nebo from where The Lord God showed Moses the land of Canaan, but into which he would never go. Moses died somewhere in the valley blow. From Mt Nebo we could see from Jericho to the Dead Sea, glimpsed the Jordan River and the outline of Jerusalem. Bishop Paul Barnett read several passages of scripture and prayed. It was a moving experience in at that amazing spot.

On our way again we drove for 3 hours to the city of Petra along the ancient Kings Highway.

We are all in good health but please pray this will be sustained.

PS  still having trouble getting photos in. Will try again tomorrow.