Middle East Travel Seminar: Petra and an epic storm

BY DR. SAMUEL ADAMS

Day 5 of our seminary was eventful, to say the least. After enjoying a hearty breakfast at our hotel, we walked a few steps to the entrance of Petra (meaning “rock”), one of the true wonders of the world. After hearing an insightful presentation from Richmond student Rebecca Heilman, we traversed through the sandstone formations of the Siq. We marveled at the aqueduct system and many tombs. Then we rounded a corner and were met by the majestic beauty of the Treasury (al-Khazneh in Arabic). This is one of the largest structures in the complex and lives up to the hype. The colors and history make for an overpowering experience and sensory overload. Several members of our group took camel rides.

We then continued on through the Petra complex, looking at tombs, steps, inscriptions, and the other incredible aspects of this Nabatean masterpiece. The group enjoyed an excellent buffet on a patio overlooking Petra, and we were joined by several restaurant dogs and cats.

Some members of the group then chose to explore the beauty of Petra on the lower levels, while others decided to hike up the 800 steps to the Monastery. Some went on foot, while others took donkeys to the top. This structure was used as a grand meeting room for Nabatean religious groups in the second-century CE and was then converted to a Christian monastery.

Pastor Shadi (fourth from right) and his two oldest kids

On the way down, we encountered Pastor Shadi and his two oldest kids on the path. Pastor Shadi was our speaker on our first night in Amman, and we all thought it was providential to run into him. We talked about ways we could be in partnership/dialogue, as he addresses such issues as poverty in Jordan and the Syrian refugee crisis.

Then the rains came! The heavens opened, and a fierce thunderstorm ensued. I will spare all the nitty-gritty details that involved a lot of “Keystone Cops” moments, and some of us hiking BACK UP TO THE MONASTERY to look for everyone. The most important thing to happen was our looking out for one another. A special shout-out to one of our intrepid group members, Becky Jones, who was a huge supporter for other folks hiking down the hill (Becky also made special friends with her donkey Jack on the way up). We all marvel at Becky’s courage and kindness on the trip.

After the rain.

The storm was so bad that the Petra police shuttled out those of us who were left in trucks, because the Siq was flooded and gushing with water. I rode out on Pastor Shadi’s lap. Both the Indiana Jones movies and Jurassic Park were invoked as parallels to the thunderstorm.

A disaster of a day? Quite the opposite. We experienced the incomparable beauty of Petra and came together as a group. It is most often through trying experiences that koinonia (“community”) happens. But I am sure glad we are all down off that mountain!

Dr. Samuel Adams is a professor of Old Testament at Union.