At the end of October, I had the chance to attend a regional YFC conference in Jordan. We met in Ajloun, an area about an hour and a half north of Amman. A beautiful area with little towns nestled among the rocky mountains and olive trees, it was an ideal setting for a retreat. I loved the beautiful views, the cool weather (it is fall after all!) and just the chance to be outside. I met YFC teams from Lebanon, Egypt, and Tunisia as well as some of the regional and area directors. It was a good opportunity to learn more about YFC as an organization and develop a broader understanding of the YFC community, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. We had daily Bible studies, small groups, and teaching sessions. One of the most interesting sessions was on inter-faith dialogue between Christians and Muslims. We also had some free time to explore the area and an extra day at the end to spend in Amman. I was even able to meet up with a former Al Raja teacher who is now living there! It was great. Here are some of my favorite photos of the trip.
Hadrian's Gate--Roman ruins in Jerash, Jordan |
Gotta love the Arab bag pipers :) |
The ruins are in the middle of the town |
surrounding countryside |
Amman, Jordan a city build on hills |
strolling through the Citadel |
old meets new Roman bath house vs. high-rise buildings |
view of Amman from the Citadel |
These ruins called the Citadel literally sit on top of a mountain in the middle of Amman |
view from the Citadel--a Roman amphitheater. Our hotel was right across the street from that. |
steep steps in the amphitheater |