Vox Lucens

Ever since knowing that we would be heading for a full trip to Jordan, I hoped that we could take the trek to Petra, one of the new wonders of the world - and rightfully so. Anyone who has seen Indiana Jones knows of this ancient city, and let me tell you, seeing it in person was far more amazing than I had even guessed.

Petra has been a city since around 300 B.C., if you can imagine that, and remained prominent for hundreds of years. The Nabateans founded the city, conquering it from the Edomites, and it survived, and indeed thrived, through the Greek, Roman, Christian, and Islamic periods. It is filled with Nabatean, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine influences, combining incredible history with unique and fascinating beauty on an incredible scale.

If you’re interested in a full history, check out this site from Brown University, which is actively involved in excavating the ruins. But enough words - let’s try pictures. I only wish they could do the ruins justice.

The most famous facade in Petra, known as the Treasury.

Anyone else singing the theme song?

The team in front of the “poor people’s tombs” that catacombed the cliff walls just past the Treasury.

The tallest facade at Petra.

The view from inside the tallest facade.

History was everywhere.

For instance, this facade dating back almost seven decades before Christ.

I could show so many more pictures - these have been weeded out from the 400 or so that I took during this day alone. But you should just go yourself, sometime, and be blown away as I was…

It looks like my full Petra post is going to have to wait until I get back to the states.

Until then you get this…

Gratuitous rhyming aside, I have lots of both shots and thoughts from this trip.

Pictures and thoughts are at Remember Ambassadors.

A powerful story in the Weekly Reminder.

And a few of my favorites…

Last night I couldn’t help but sit and wonder at the Lord’s amazing power, as I sat with a brother in Christ on his porch overlooking a huge portion of Amman. He spoke limited English, but our conversation was rich and deep – it was true fellowship with broken communication.

Did you know that Uriah was killed only a few miles from where I am today?

Did you know that when the angel of the Lord commanded, “Unto the church of the angel in Philadelphia write…” the letter went to modern-day Amman?

I didn’t. But this brother was from Jerusalem, and his wife was from Nazareth, and her family was from Bethlehem, so he was well acquainted with the history that surrounds us. It makes Scripture come alive to see these places, up close or even at a distance. But it is perhaps even more profound to see the Body of Christ come alive by seeing it at work. We’ve worshiped with them, talked to them, ministered to them, and yes, been ministered to by them. And we share a very common bond.

It’s beyond amazing to fellowship with each one – my conversation with this brother was just one example that I could give. He is 40 years older than I, with a vastly different life experience than any I can anticipate. His language, his culture, his home are so different than mine, but we share a Savior. And we share a common eternity.

Some shots from the last two busy days…

The olive grove that is supporting the hospital we visited today - from the orphanage that this ministry is building.

This evening a couple of the members of our Remember team attended an Iraqi worship service before heading over to the coffee shop for Internet access. And the worship was amazing, transcending all language barriers.

To see the joy in these believers was surreal, and as they raised their hands in worship, singing from the depths of their hearts, I couldn’t help but notice the wonderfully familiar feeling of the Spirit of God. In an unfamiliar land, in an unfamiliar church, in an unfamiliar language, the Spirit was the same.

And we have seen more than our share of that Spirit. We have seen that Spirit at work every step of the way. (Read the current Ambassadors update here.)

Today’s pictures–

Amman from the 11th floor of the Belle Vue.

My main job here.

Making lahm bi ajeen in the Lebanese bakery.

The Remember team.

You know, I don’t really mean to focus this trip’s pics on beverages.  Tomorrow we’re starting our clinics, so stay tuned!