Hey friends, welcome back! We said goodbye to the Galilee area this morning (Friday) and made our way down to Ein Gedi and Masada. If you saw our last post, you know how those adventures went, so let’s pick it up from there!

When we left Masada, we made the short drive to Ein Bokek, a resort community on the shores of the Dead Sea. It was my first time there, but I heard they had a fantastic beach from which to get in and float. Sure enough…smooth sandy beaches (shipped in from the Mediterranean coast) and an absolutely beautiful setting. Ein Bokek is a public beach, so there is no fee to get in.

Our group is all adults, yet the Dead Sea must have taken years off their ages! They laughed and played as they got up nerve to actually avoid fighting the water and just sit and lean back, allowing their feet to float to the top. You see, the Dead Sea is over 30% salt and minerals, making it truly impossible to sink! One can lay back with feet afloat and hands in the air without sinking! It is an odd sensation, but one most people soon relax into and enjoy. The only drawback…no mud at this location to spread all over the body!

BTW – Despite threats of flooding, God sent a rainbow to remind us He will never again judge the world by water.

As we left Ein Bokek, the rain started once more. Outside the resort, police officers were preparing to close down the main road, if necessary. Should rain increase and chances of flash flooding increase, they will waste no time in closing the road. We got out without incident and the rain stopped again before we got to Jerusalem.

Though we didn’t face flash flooding challenges, I pulled a couple of photos online to illustrate what flash flooding looks like in those parts:

Having made it safely out of the Dead Sea area, we entered Jerusalem! The first view of Temple Mount always seems to put a lump in the throat, a tear in the eye, or at least an odd sensation of “I’m home!” Many people experience those senses and it creates an insatiable desire to return to Israel.

At this time of year, the sun goes down by 5:30 in Israel, so our entrance was in the dark…which I like best because we can clearly see Temple Mount the second we emerge from the tunnel just outside Jerusalem!

I’ll leave you with the same scene we saw as we entered the Holy City:

Be sure to follow us over the next few days as we visit the city upon which Yahweh put His name! Shalom from Jerusalem!