Maundy Thursday and Good Friday

Journey to the Garden in Amman, Jordan.

I'm performing some of my play Journey to the Garden on Maundy Thursday and taking part in an experiential Good Friday service that is going to be unforgettable. 

All are welcome: WestchesterChapel.org.

Crossing the Jordan

This is one of the last photos I took in Jordan. 

A personal relationship

Jennifer G. reads Scripture as Tom M.

plays Moses in Rich's Bibliodrama.

We were doing a bibliodrama atop Mt. Nebo. Our friend Tom was playing Moses, who was looking down Mt. Nebo to the rock that he struck, the act which was keeping him out of the Promised Land, which he could also see from atop Mt. Nebo. I directed him to have a conversation with the Lord about his sin and a final word with his people before they left him there to enter the Promised Land without him.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw an Arab family and particularly the father watching us. I was afraid he was angry because we were performing on the path. I thought they wanted to get past us. After we were done the man, who was Muslim, asked about Tom. He said, "He spoke like a man of God. How can he know God like that?" He allowed us to pray with him, and I prayed that God would show him how to have a closer relationship to God through the study of the life of Isa, the Arabic name for Jesus, who is considered by Muslims to be a prophet. The man was beaming with joy after our prayer.

Jesus was baptized here

Archeologists believe this is where Jesus was baptized, based on a first century Byzantine church that was discovered in 1998. We performed the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, not far from here. I played John the Baptist and then stayed in the river to help Kim, our other tour leader, and my bride, Rev. Joyce, baptize some who wanted to rededicate their lives to the Lord. Two women who were watching, a Belarusian and an Arab, joined our group.

Elijah's Cave

It's near the scaffolding, and we're 25m from the Baptismal site of Jesus.

Our last night in Jordan

We had an amazing final meal in Amman, but we're already talking about a return.

One of our students brought us a cake!

We were astonished and delighted by how our group bonded with our students in Amman, Jordan. This cake was a physical symbol of what we were sensing: that we were making an impact on their hearts as well as their minds.

The only school music complex in the kingdom.

We're standing in the only school music complex in the Kingdom of Jordan.
Our host just had a teaching moment with a disrespectful student. This is apparently quite rare, but our host said that youth exposure to media and internet has been eroding their respect.

Coaching the students

We've had an AMAZING time working with students here in Amman, Jordan. Today is our last day with them (sniffles). We're going to coach them on some scenes. Then we're off to do a bibliodrama of Moses entering the Promised Land atop Mt. Nebo (pray the air has totally cleared from the dust storm), and a sketch of Jesus' baptism at the site where, according to the remains of a Byzantine church built about 100 years afterward, it took place.

Jordan Is One

Jordan has remained quite peaceful in the face of their neighbors' squabbles, and this campaign, which indicates that Jordanians, Palestinians and Iraqis are all one here, has been a part of keeping the peace.

Picking up the rest of the team

The remaining members of our team are working their way through customs. Our classes and performances start tomorrow.

On the way to the airport I was going over how much I can share about Jesus with the Muslim students. Our host said, "More than you can in a public school in America."

I told her about my driver who spoke positively of the assassination of Osama bin Lauden. She said most here are hopeful that it will bring peace, and those that are not keep quiet. One Jordanian said to her that she must be happy now that bin Lauden is dead. He was shocked when she said no. She explained that she's never happy when someone dies without knowing Jesus.

Petra by day

I'd never been interested in Petra because it's not a biblical site, but when this trip came up it seemed to make sense to add it to our itinerary. I'm so glad we did! The work of man here, while impressive, pales in comparison to the Lord's handiwork.

Petra by night

We hiked by moon and candle light through Petra. I'll be posting more of both soon.

Drive to the Dead Sea

While floating on the Dead Sea we chatted with some Germans who had driven all the way here! It was a rally to raise money for a charity here. They bought old cars, drove them almost 3,000 miles, not counting ferries they had to take because Syria and Egypt wouldn't let them cross.

Bellat Jamille

That means beautiful country, and I mean more than the landscape! Everyone we've met has been lovely! One of our first points of contact was named Isa (Arabic for Jesus), and he was wearing a crucifix on his necklace.

One of our drivers told us how glad he was that Americans assassinated Osama bin Lauden. He said now maybe there is more chance for peace. I over paid him, and he immediately pointed out my error.

Jordan and Israel

This is a shot of Joyce and me in Bethlahem in 1999.

We returned to the Holy Land, and helped lead a team of a Christians in Theatre Arts to perform and teach throughout Jordan and Israel May, 2011.

We posted stories and some photos here and more photos to CITAToTheNationsJordanAndIsrael.shutterfly.com.

Click here to see photos from our previous trips.