Sinai Desert

While we were in Egypt and heading to Jordan and Jerusalem we were given the opportunity to climb Mount Sinai. We didn't do it because it is something to check off a to do list but we really wanted it to take us deeper with studying the first five books of the Bible and have God take us to a new height with Him. To really be able to understand what Moses did by climbing the mountain twice to get the tablets from God! 

We started climbing the mountain at 1 am because we wanted to see the sunrise at the top (what photographer won't do to get a good picture)!!  We were wrapped up in multiple layers, coats, gloves, scurfs, hats, and even blankets going up the mountain because it is still winter and absolutely freezing when the sun isn't up. I was determined to get up the mountain with my own two feet the whole way up but I knew with my heart rate and chest problem still not being 100% God was going to have to carry me up that mountain. So that was my prayer as I headed up the mountain. As much as I believed that God could get me up the mountain it just wasn't God's plan for me right now in life. 

I climbed for about an hour until my heart just wouldn't let me up any farther. At that point I was frustrated and didn't understand why I couldn't just get up the mountain but after one of my friend/staff paid for me to ride a camel the middle part of the climb. During that time I struggled with God and really just felt Him tell me that it wasn't about me getting up the mountain by foot but my heart to get up the mountain. That I had the heart which is exactly what He askes of me right now in life. That I am willing to do anything and everything for Him even when I can't physical do something because of money, equipment, or health. He taught me that its what's on the inside of my heart that He cares about. So I took the camel to the bottom of the 500 stairs that lead to the top. Climbed the stairs with God carrying me every step of the way! 

When we got to the top we tried to sleep for an hour or two but it was simply too cold. So we curled up in blanket and sleeping bags together waiting for the sun to come! Around 5:30 the sky started to change colors and about an hour late the sun was shining bright right at us. I was amazing at the site of the sun and felt God whisper that one day soon the sun would rise in my life! That He has amazing things planned for my life and I just have to keep waiting for the sun to rise! I know that when it does it will be beyond anything I ever imagined in my life!! 

Right after we climbed the mountain we drive about an hour to the middle of no where and met some of the Sinai tribe people with camels. We loaded all our stuff onto the camels and headed into the desert, where we spent the rest of that day and half of the next day. It was an experience of a lifetime and let me tell you it definitely took me and my camel so time to get comfortable with each other! At first it was not my favorite thing the world to do and completely different from riding a horse. However, in the end I loved it. 

[My Smelling but oh so faithful camel]

After we traveled around on the camels  and hiked around in the rocks, they cooked for us and we spent under a little canopy. It was so cold and we were so tired that we went to bed at 8:30 that night, trying to not freeze. The view that night was amazing! I didn't know that many stars were even in the sky. Its amazing what happens when there are no city lights and buildings around. Its like nature comes alive! After that night we eat breakfast and took the camel ride back through the desert to the cars. It was hard and tiring but something that I can say I did and have a better understanding of the people that live out there. 

[Rock formations in the Sinai Desert]

[All of our uncomfortable faithful camels]