Our day started out rather early this morning with breakfast at 4:00 AM and loading the bus to head out for the day by 4:30. Even though it was early, it was not a huge struggle for most of us as we are still getting acclimated to the time change. The reason for our early start to the day was to have the opportunity to climb Masada before the heat of the day hit. The fortress of Masada was built in 30 BC and to this day is one of the largest and most complete Roman siege camps. Once we made it to the top of the mountain, we saw all of the remains of what was known as King Herod's palace. Seeing these things was very eye opening because we were standing on the grounds where many Jews had committed suicide in an act of courage because they did not want to fall into the hands of the Romans. Although the climb to the top was rough, the reward of what we experienced was indescribable. 
 
Our next stop for the day was visiting Qumran, the sight where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. The Dead Sea Scrolls are the first ever written evidence of the Old Testament. After being found, they were placed in the Israel Museum, which we will visit later in our trip. 
 
After visiting Qumran, we then went to take a dip into the Dead Sea. Your body felt weightless and you felt like you had no control of yourself or your movements. After being in the water for a few minutes, we began to feel a little bit of a burn from the combination of the mud and the salt in the water. Even through the burn, floating in the Dead Sea was amazing and like nothing I had ever experienced before. 
 
Our last stop of the day was the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Seeing some of the guys get baptized in the Jordan was by far one of my favorite moments of this trip so far. For some of the guys it was their first time being baptized and for others it was a way of rededicating their life to Christ. This is what it's all about. Being in fellowship with one another day in and day out throughout the year to then making that profession of faith amongst your "brothers" is a moment I will never forget. 
 
Even though today started early, it could not have began or ended any better. From a hike up a mountain while sweating and pushing through pain with everyone, to praising the Lord through baptism is just two small examples of how God is moving in the life of everyone on this trip.