"What a strange dream that was," Joseph thought as he opened his eyes. Suddenly he remembered where he was. It was afternoon, memory came flooding back and as he sat up, he held his head. It wasn't a dream, it was real and he was sleeping in a cave in Petra.

He jumped out of bed and grabbed his clothes on. Feeling the pangs of hunger Joseph looked at his watch. The day was nearly gone; it was 5:00 p.m. From the door of the cave he saw his father standing beside his parents' cave surveying the countryside around him. Joseph joined him.

"It's quite a place, isn't it, Dad?" He asked.

"Yes," Mr. Kahn said. "It's a beautiful, majestic country." Debbie joined them as they looked over the countryside.

"Boy, am I hungry," Joseph said. " I wonder where you eat?"

"I guess we'll have to ask someone what we do for food around here," Debbie said.

A tall dark man was climbing the rocky stairs. His face was pleasant as he smiled at them.

"Hello, neighbors," he said. "My name is David, and my wife, Sarah and I live next door, or next cave should I say? We came to Petra a couple of months ago."

"We just left Jerusalem yesterday," Frank Kahn explained.

"That's where we lived," David said.

"Say, David," Mr. Kahn said. "Where do we go to eat?"

The neighbor pointed to a group of adobe buildings in the wide space below them.

"Those are the cook buildings," he said. "They are set up so that we can eat in a communal fashion. My wife cooks and helps do the dishes. The food is very good."

"I think I could eat just about anything," Debbie said. "I would love to meet your wife."

"I'll take you down to meet her," David said. "She's been lonesome, so will be glad to have you for a neighbor. Follow me and we'll get you something to eat." As he climbed down the rock stairs he pointed to a large two-story building that was built into the hill. "That is the Petra City store where we can get provisions."

"We don't have much money," Mr. Kahn said. "I was out of work for awhile and we left home in a bit of a hurry."

"We have no need of money here," David said. "Some of the provisions were put here for us before the rapture took place and the rest have been brought here since."

"But we can't live on charity," Mr. Kahn protested. "We're used to working hard."

"You will continue to work," David said. "As I told you this is communal living and everything is pooled together. Each person here has a special knowledge given to them by our good Lord and it is used to help the community as a whole."

"Like Israel started," Joseph said. "If it hadn't been for the communal living it would never have survived."

"True," Mr. Kahn said. "So then how do we get provisions from the store if we don't use money?"

"Well," David said. "You sign your name and records are kept. As Paul said," he laughed. "Those who don't work don't eat. That is the reason my wife cooks and washes dishes. That is her ability from the Lord. I am a construction man and I'm helping to build the new adobe buildings that you see here."

"Well," Frank Kahn said. "I'm an electrician, so I suppose that is what I will be doing, then."

"Yes," David said. "So far it has worked out well. Oh, there are a few people who think they don't have to work, aren't there always?" He laughed. "There's a need for everything here. Many more people are arriving each day."

They had come by this time to the cook building and beside it stood tables.

"By winter we will have to have these tables enclosed," David said. "Some people will want to build their own kitchens and eat in the privacy of their homes, but for now this plan has worked well."

A jolly, fat woman with a hairnet holding back her brown hair came over to them.

"This is my wife, Sarah," David said as he looked at the two women. "These are our new neighbors, the Kahns. They just got here from Jerusalem."

"Oh, how glad we are to have you, " Sarah said. "I want to hear all about Jerusalem. It seems as if we have been gone for so long. Are you hungry?"

"Starved," Joseph said.

"Of course, boys are always hungry," Sarah laughed. She turned toward the serving line where people were filing through. "The serving line is in operation most of the day. We have people who come in for early breakfast, late breakfast, early lunch, late lunch, afternoon snacks, early supper and late supper." She laughed.

"Oh, how good everything looks," Mrs. Kahn said as she looked at the giant serving pans. Plates sat beside the pans.

"We even make some of our own pottery," David said with pride as he picked up one of the plates. "It will get better as we get more experience."

Joseph heaped his plate full of boiled beef and cabbage, rice and bread. It seemed like forever since they had eaten in Jerusalem, a lifetime ago.

"It's just like the pioneers," Mrs. Kahn said as she watched the progress that went on in the open spaces. "It's exciting."

"Yes," David agreed. "It's truly wonderful to be a part of such a great community and it will be even better now that the rest of God's people are here."

Joseph listened as David and his wife told them of the work there was to do in the new city of Petra.

"See, there is the adobe factory," David laughed as he pointed to an adobe building. "It is not very big but we are learning to make our own adobes just as the people of Petra made them before the birth of Christ. It's soft sandstone but it makes good adobes and buildings." He pointed to a hill. "We are building a school there so we can continue with education. There is much to learn."

"I would like to plant a garden," Debbie Kahn said. "I've always liked to work in the yard."

"I have never been very good at gardening," Sarah said. "You can do the gardening and I will do the canning."

"Wonderful," Debbie said. "And I love to sew."

"There is much need for all of our talents," David said. "What do you like to do Joseph?"

"Well," Joseph hesitated. "I like to build things."

"Wonderful," David extended his hand. "You can work with me."

"I also love art and music," Joseph added.

"There will be need for some of both here," David said. "There are a lot of young men around here close to your age. As soon as you finish eating I'll introduce you."

Joseph ate his lunch, feeling better than he had for a long time. At last life could get back to normal, even if it was in a group of caves.