The Gift of Rain

Last weekend, we landed in the Negev Desert. The Negev is a beautiful place of extremes--hot and dry in the day and cold and windy at night. We get to our starting point and begin the hike. A few hours later, we arrive at our camping site where we need to pitch tents before darkness arrives. After pitching the tent, Susy (one of the participants, begins preparations for the meal: Homemade Pizza and Chinese Stir Fry (vegetarian and Chicken options). Many hours later and with full, satisfied bellies we all try to fall asleep in the crapped quarters of the tent. My tent slept the boys, 4 of us, in a 3 person tent. Uncomfortable, Iftach (our guide), decides to sleep outside which gives all of us more room. In the middle between sleep and being lucid, we begin to hear rain drops. Not hard rain, but soft rain. Meanwhile, all of us left our stuff outside to give more room in the tents for our bodies. We were all told that the place was secure, and robbery was the last thing on our minds. Because I didn't want to get my camera, cell phone and clothes wet, I took everything inside. So did most of my tent-mates. At about 3:30 in the morning, we are awakened by Israelis who had been sleeping about 1 km from our tents. They tell us that they had been robbed by Bedouins and the we needed to check for our stuff. 3 or 4 of my group members had all their cash and valuables taken and found their bags a few feet from our tents. We were all in shock, and I was thankful to God or whatever power that be, that rain (in the desert of all places) got me to take my things into my tent; otherwise, I'd be writing this without my Canon camera or iPod!

Other than that, the next day we hiked nearly 8 hours in the blistering sun. It was a great workout, and I loved it with a passion. Can't wait to do more of it.

Here are the pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2050460&id=164200005&l=526a3659d4