The PCLG Travel Buddies in the Valley of the Kings

The Travel Buddies of PCLG have just returned from their wonderful adventures in Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. They saw most of the incredible sites in those countries. It’s hard to imagine the size of the pyramids, the colossal columns and sculpture, the still-beautiful colors in the paints in the tombs.

Cruising along the banks of the Nile, we heard the sounds of call to prayer from minarets behind palm trees drifting over reflecting waters. One imagined the pictures from Bible story books, with children playing in the water, women washing clothes, and shepherds watching over flocks of sheep and goats. Cairo is huge with skyscrapers alongside shanties with trash and rubble everywhere.

We had to drink bottled water and use it for brushing our teeth. Alexandria is a beautiful city on the Mediterranean coast. Petra in Jordan is amazing—façades carved out of the pink rock—and the scale of the city is also amazing. We saw so much in Israel even though it is a little country. We visited Bethlehem, crossing the tightly-controlled border into the Palestinian West Bank.

We had an evening visit with the Presbyterian Mission co-worker in social justice in Cairo. In Amman, Jordan, we met with the top Presbyterian liaison of the area. For Easter Sunday morning service, we attended the Scottish Presbyterian Church in Jerusalem, a lovely simple experience.

There is so much to tell! We will have a Part Two with more pictures next month!

—Article submitted by Bill Buckman, photos by Alan Baker
The SPIRE - April 2008