Can you say all nighter? Rather than crawling into my bed and going to sleep last night, I chose to stay awake and fight my eye lids. It was a good idea in theory, but it was killer by the end of the day. Two o'clock in the morning was met by a light breakfast in the Oasis. Whoever thought eating at two o'clock in the morning was a good idea is crazy! I could barely put anything in my mouth because I was so dazed - that and I found everything funny so I was laughing practically the entire time. With a word from Brother Huntington, we were all climbing the stairs to put our luggage on the buses and take our own seats. It was a bittersweet moment, saying goodbye to those who have taught and cared for me during the past few months. These people have become my family: the Muhlesteins, the Judds, the Chadwicks, the Ohmans, the Huntingtons... It was wonderful having them in my life and being able to learn from them. They taught me so much and it was because of them that my Jerusalem experience was as amazing as it was. Thank you to all of you and your families - for all of the hardwork that you put in, for all of the sleepless nights you encountered; I will never forget you.
We arrived at the Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport before four o'clock in the morning. We then proceeded to wait at security for the next...oh, I don't know...hour. It was absolutely ridiculous. I love how thorough the airport is; it keeps us safe from everything. But do you really think a group of Mormon American students is that big of a threat? Sure, we have our moments of stupidity but we aren't going to blow up a plane! I wish I would have gone off on my own and pretended I wasn't a part of the group. I could have been through the security lines in a few minutes rather than a few years! We eventually made it through the first series of security and checked-in. As soon as I had my ticket, I took off for the gate. While there were some who stayed behind...waiting and waiting for everyone else...I decided to be independent and get through the next series of security as quickly as possible so that I could sit down at the gate with a nice cup of hot chocolate. I was the first one to get to the gate, quickly followed by the other few who didn't wait around. I happily got my hot chocolate and waited for the plane to be boarded. Within fifteen or twenty minutes, I was walking to my seat on the plane as happy as can be.
The flight to Vienna was delightful. We made it without any problems. I slept for about twenty minutes of the flight and spent the remainder of the time watching Heavyweights and reading. The time flew by and I was elated. We landed in Vienna with just enough time to go through security lines and board the plane. However, I appeared to be a threat by this security and was thoroughly patted down. Can I just say awkward and uncomfortable? Let's just say it wasn't one of my finest moments. At least it was a woman rather than a man though... The ride to the Washington D.C. Dulles Airport was...BRUTAL. Luckily I was sitting by Ashley Wilkinson so I had the best plane buddy in the world. Unluckily, it was a nine hour flight that was extended to ten hours due to weather disruptions. We flew over Iceland and Greenland; that wasn't too horrible though. Have you ever seen those glaciers? Amazing! It was so beautiful that I had to take a few pictures! I couldn't let that just pass on by! For the ten hours or so on the plane, Ashley and I tried to sleep. Honestly, we did, but it was highly uncomfortable AND freezing. I thought my toes were going to fall off I was so cold! I snuggled up to Ashley for warmth and got in a couple hours of sleep but that was all. We watched a silly teenage drama called Prom and laughed through that...I can't say that I ever had that much drama while I was in high school. I'm glad I escaped all of that. I colored for a few minutes and read as well. But that was basically all I did. It was a long ride...
Touching down on American soil was...oh, I don't know...brilliant? As we walked through customs, we were greeted by security guard after security guard welcoming back to America. It felt good to be back in the land of the free. And the carpet and cleanliness was so foreign but so amazing. It is amazing what little things you take for granted. The layover in D.C. was about three hours and our terminal was very quiet. It was nice to sit back, relax, and eat the most unkosher food I could: spicy italian sandwich with bacon and cheese from Subway. Delicious. The plane ride to Salt Lake City was great! I was in and out for most of it. The last two hours, however, seemed neverending. It's amazing how anticipation can almost stop time. It was ridiculous! As the plane began to descent, my anticipation continued to build. By the time I was walking off the plane, my heart was just pounding! I would get to see my family in less than ten minutes. Rounding the corner and seeing my family waiting for me, I couldn't walk. I had to run! I ran straight into my mom's arms. It felt great to be home. To be back with them. Julie, Ben, Mom, Dad, and Rachel all met me at the airport. I have a wonderful family. I can't tell you how amazing they are. They brought me tacos at the airport! That was...the best thing ever. Haha too long had I been without Mexican food!
The ride back to Bountiful was quiet but great. It was nice to be in a real car again...to not have honking horns all around me, but at the same time it felt so strange. As I walked into my home, I was almost confused...this wasn't home, was it? Where were the arches? Where were the workers? And most importantly, where were all of the people? But as I spent more time there...as I was with my loved ones...I don't know how or why anything else could have been home. I was beyond excited to be back with my family where I belonged. This is my home and I am happy to be back in it. I took a shower and chatted with my family for a few minutes, but then it was off to bed. I was exhausted and ready to sleep. (I had only slept for five hours during the past 48 hours...) I crawled into bed at eleven o'clock at night with thoughts of Jerusalem on my mind.
It was an amazing summer. It's hard to believe that it really happened...that it is already over. But it did happen. And I loved every minute of it. The experiences that I had with forever be a part of me. They will never go forgotten or unremembered. Jerusalem is a part of me and I will never let it go.
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
11 August 2011
O Jerusalem, if I forget you…
It was a lot harder for me to wake up this morning than I thought it would be; but then again, I didn’t go to sleep until after two o’clock in the morning…haha so I should have expected to be tired! I didn’t let my sleepy eyes get the best of me, though. Rather, I got up and got dressed and ran upstairs for breakfast! Breakfast was…okay this morning. Nothing really sounded good so I had a couple pieces of watermelon and a piece of bread. I am excited to go back to a different breakfast every day. Oatmeal, pancakes, eggs, waffles, quiche, smoothies…the possibilities are endless! I am also excited for my Simply Orange. The orange juice in Jerusalem is more like Tang than anything else. I like Tang, but it isn’t Simply Orange…nothing really compares to a cold glass of Simply Orange, though. As soon as I finished breakfast, I headed downstairs to wait for Ashley on the fourth floor. We had planned to grab Jarom and go to Hezekiah’s tunnel this morning. But…Jarom wasn’t really up to it so we ended up changing our plans – it turned out really well, though! I love Hezekiah’s Tunnel but I am glad that we didn’t go today. There were other things that we did that I am happy we did instead.
Rather than go to Hezekiah’s we decided to go to the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene. This church is set on the Mount of Olives above the Garden of Gethsemane and can be seen from miles around. Its golden spires are absolutely beautiful and unforgettable. We didn’t spend a lot of time inside of the church, just enough to get good pictures. Then we headed out so that we could accomplish other things and get to the Garden Tomb before it closed at noon! So we made our way to the bottom of the Mount of Olives – taking a walk around the Garden of Gethsemane – and walked up to Lion’s Gate. I have used Lion’s Gate a lot this semester. Most students choose to walk through Damascus Gate, but if I had a choice, I would choose Lion’s Gate. It is just as close to the sites of the Old City, but it isn’t as crowded. It is nice not to be shoved and suffocated when walking down the streets! We walked up to the Christian Quarter to purchase a few last items from Shabon; our visit lasted much longer than I thought it was going to, but I didn’t mind. I enjoyed sitting out in the streets and taking pictures of the people passing by.
As we made our way toward the Garden Tomb, we stopped to buy some saffron as well as some gummies for the plane ride home… The Garden Tomb is my favorite place in Jerusalem beside the Western Wall. I couldn’t leave without one more visit. While I wandered around the grounds of the garden, I reflected on my time here in Jerusalem and everything I have seen and done…all the people I have met and interacted with. It is hard to believe that I have been here for four months; it feels like it’s only been a few weeks or so. When I signed up to come on the BYU Jerusalem Study Abroad, my main reason for doing so was because I wanted to go to Egypt. The fact that I was going to Jerusalem did not really play into my decision. I wanted to go to Egypt and see the pyramids and learn about the ancient pharaohs. However, as many of you know, I did not get to go to Egypt. Instead, I was taken to Turkey. This bummed me out for a couple of weeks prior to departure. I thought about not going…but from the urging of a close friend, I decided to come and learn and see the Holy land. And I couldn’t be more grateful. I may have signed up for Egypt, but I came…I stayed to become closer to my Savior, my Redeemer – Jesus Christ. He is the reason I am here. He is the reason. The past four months I have come to know Him in ways unimaginable. I know that He lives. I know that he suffered and died for me so that I can return and be with Him and the Father again. He provided a way for me to be saved and I am so thankful for Him. I know He lives and I look forward to seeing Him again someday. Before leaving the Garden Tomb, we chose to sing a few Hymns. It left me with a feeling of peace and calm…I would be leaving Jerusalem, but it would not be leaving me.
Ashley, Jarom, and I walked back to the Jerusalem Center in silence. Few words were exchanged as we made our way past the walls of the City, through the Kidron Valley, and up the hill to the J.C. It wasn’t until we stopped for our last Magnum bar that any words were exchanged…that the threat of tears ever came. Lucky, we calmed our feelings of sadness by going to the park beneath the Center and playing on the teeter-totter and going down the slide. (We also played on a spinning toy…bad idea. Ashley and I were so sick afterward!!)
Back at the Center, I finished packing up my belongings and typing up my journal. It was a very calm afternoon…but very strange. As students rushed around to get their things together, to get their luggage up the stairs, I could help but wonder where they were going. And then, I remembered that they were leaving. At seven o’clock tonight, we walked out fifty of our best friends to say goodbye. It was hard; I’m not going to lie. Some tears were shed; hugs were given. No words can explain the feeling of watching their buses drive away…some of us felt like they were just going on a field trip and that we would see them again soon. But that wasn’t the case. They were going home and we would soon follow.
How do you spend eight hours at night? Well, I watch movies, copy pictures onto my hard drive, and stare at people. I had no idea that eight hours would pass by so slowly. I was ready to leave the Center by midnight…but our bus wasn’t leaving until three o’clock in the morning. It was a long and quiet night. It was almost eerie with only thirty of us left at the Center….
I am excited to go home. But I am going to miss Jerusalem. This has been the best summer of my life, the greatest experience of my life. I am so thankful for the chance I have had to come to this land…to learn about Jesus Christ and His life and to grow closer to Him and His Father. I know He lives. And I love Him. Thank you to all of those who made this trip possible…especially to my loving family, my grandparents, my parents. I wouldn’t be here without you. I’ll see you all in twenty-eight hours.
It was a lot harder for me to wake up this morning than I thought it would be; but then again, I didn’t go to sleep until after two o’clock in the morning…haha so I should have expected to be tired! I didn’t let my sleepy eyes get the best of me, though. Rather, I got up and got dressed and ran upstairs for breakfast! Breakfast was…okay this morning. Nothing really sounded good so I had a couple pieces of watermelon and a piece of bread. I am excited to go back to a different breakfast every day. Oatmeal, pancakes, eggs, waffles, quiche, smoothies…the possibilities are endless! I am also excited for my Simply Orange. The orange juice in Jerusalem is more like Tang than anything else. I like Tang, but it isn’t Simply Orange…nothing really compares to a cold glass of Simply Orange, though. As soon as I finished breakfast, I headed downstairs to wait for Ashley on the fourth floor. We had planned to grab Jarom and go to Hezekiah’s tunnel this morning. But…Jarom wasn’t really up to it so we ended up changing our plans – it turned out really well, though! I love Hezekiah’s Tunnel but I am glad that we didn’t go today. There were other things that we did that I am happy we did instead.
Rather than go to Hezekiah’s we decided to go to the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene. This church is set on the Mount of Olives above the Garden of Gethsemane and can be seen from miles around. Its golden spires are absolutely beautiful and unforgettable. We didn’t spend a lot of time inside of the church, just enough to get good pictures. Then we headed out so that we could accomplish other things and get to the Garden Tomb before it closed at noon! So we made our way to the bottom of the Mount of Olives – taking a walk around the Garden of Gethsemane – and walked up to Lion’s Gate. I have used Lion’s Gate a lot this semester. Most students choose to walk through Damascus Gate, but if I had a choice, I would choose Lion’s Gate. It is just as close to the sites of the Old City, but it isn’t as crowded. It is nice not to be shoved and suffocated when walking down the streets! We walked up to the Christian Quarter to purchase a few last items from Shabon; our visit lasted much longer than I thought it was going to, but I didn’t mind. I enjoyed sitting out in the streets and taking pictures of the people passing by.
As we made our way toward the Garden Tomb, we stopped to buy some saffron as well as some gummies for the plane ride home… The Garden Tomb is my favorite place in Jerusalem beside the Western Wall. I couldn’t leave without one more visit. While I wandered around the grounds of the garden, I reflected on my time here in Jerusalem and everything I have seen and done…all the people I have met and interacted with. It is hard to believe that I have been here for four months; it feels like it’s only been a few weeks or so. When I signed up to come on the BYU Jerusalem Study Abroad, my main reason for doing so was because I wanted to go to Egypt. The fact that I was going to Jerusalem did not really play into my decision. I wanted to go to Egypt and see the pyramids and learn about the ancient pharaohs. However, as many of you know, I did not get to go to Egypt. Instead, I was taken to Turkey. This bummed me out for a couple of weeks prior to departure. I thought about not going…but from the urging of a close friend, I decided to come and learn and see the Holy land. And I couldn’t be more grateful. I may have signed up for Egypt, but I came…I stayed to become closer to my Savior, my Redeemer – Jesus Christ. He is the reason I am here. He is the reason. The past four months I have come to know Him in ways unimaginable. I know that He lives. I know that he suffered and died for me so that I can return and be with Him and the Father again. He provided a way for me to be saved and I am so thankful for Him. I know He lives and I look forward to seeing Him again someday. Before leaving the Garden Tomb, we chose to sing a few Hymns. It left me with a feeling of peace and calm…I would be leaving Jerusalem, but it would not be leaving me.
Ashley, Jarom, and I walked back to the Jerusalem Center in silence. Few words were exchanged as we made our way past the walls of the City, through the Kidron Valley, and up the hill to the J.C. It wasn’t until we stopped for our last Magnum bar that any words were exchanged…that the threat of tears ever came. Lucky, we calmed our feelings of sadness by going to the park beneath the Center and playing on the teeter-totter and going down the slide. (We also played on a spinning toy…bad idea. Ashley and I were so sick afterward!!)
Back at the Center, I finished packing up my belongings and typing up my journal. It was a very calm afternoon…but very strange. As students rushed around to get their things together, to get their luggage up the stairs, I could help but wonder where they were going. And then, I remembered that they were leaving. At seven o’clock tonight, we walked out fifty of our best friends to say goodbye. It was hard; I’m not going to lie. Some tears were shed; hugs were given. No words can explain the feeling of watching their buses drive away…some of us felt like they were just going on a field trip and that we would see them again soon. But that wasn’t the case. They were going home and we would soon follow.
How do you spend eight hours at night? Well, I watch movies, copy pictures onto my hard drive, and stare at people. I had no idea that eight hours would pass by so slowly. I was ready to leave the Center by midnight…but our bus wasn’t leaving until three o’clock in the morning. It was a long and quiet night. It was almost eerie with only thirty of us left at the Center….
I am excited to go home. But I am going to miss Jerusalem. This has been the best summer of my life, the greatest experience of my life. I am so thankful for the chance I have had to come to this land…to learn about Jesus Christ and His life and to grow closer to Him and His Father. I know He lives. And I love Him. Thank you to all of those who made this trip possible…especially to my loving family, my grandparents, my parents. I wouldn’t be here without you. I’ll see you all in twenty-eight hours.
10 August 2011
As the last full day at the Jerusalem Center…in Jerusalem…I decided it had to be a full day spent in the city. No sitting in the J.C. staring at the ceiling; no pointless naps. I would spend the entire day in the city no matter what, and guess what. That’s exactly what I did.
After saying goodbye to my blessed headset and fanny pack and eating a breakfast of delicious pancakes, I made my way to the fourth floor lounge to wait for Jarom Smith and Ashley Wilkinson so that we could begin our day in Jerusalem. By 8:30a we were walking down the slope of the Kidron Valley, making our way to the walls of the Old City. On our way to our designated entrance into the Old City – New Gate – we stopped and took different pictures of the scenery, of the city. We didn’t want to miss a thing; we didn’t want to risk forgetting a thing either. It is amazing how clear the city is in the early mornings. There are few people, few shops open, and few cars driving down the streets. It’s very picturesque.
We began the day in the Christian Quarter of the Old City at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. While we had gone there only a few days before, Ashley and I were eager to get some better photos and be inside of the church without a million other people. There were still people there, but it wasn’t anything in comparison to what we had previously experienced. It was nice to finally get some uninterrupted photos and to truly appreciate the beauty of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Finishing up in the church, we made our way to the Western Wall. Our intent was to take pictures, but we ended up saying our own prayers at the wall as always. I think the Western Wall is my favorite site within the Old City of Jerusalem. There are other sites that are grander or more beautiful, but none of them are the Western Wall. The atmosphere, the spirit of that part of the city is different than all of the others; it makes you feel at home, like you belong. It doesn’t matter if you are Jewish or if you aren’t Jewish. You are welcomed with open arms to say a prayer to God and to keep Him in your heart.
The time eventually came that we had to leave the Western Wall and do some other things. We began by making our way up the stairs to the Jewish Quarter of the city to do some last minute shopping in the Moriah Bookstore. That store is probably one of my favorite stores in the old city. It can easily be compared to a Jewish version of a Deseret Book! Haha so yes, I spent a lot of time in there but I got what I wanted! And that’s was all that mattered at the time. Our stomachs began growling at about this time, but we had to head over to Christian Quarter Road so Jarom could exchange money before we could get anything to eat! It turned out, as it always does, that we did a bit of shopping on the way. Ashley needed to find something for her sister; Jarom needed some t-shirts; I needed to buy something else for my niece (because I haven’t gotten her enough already). It was really fun though and we met up with some fellow J.C. students along the way. We actually ran into a lot of people today; that rarely happens! It was nice to see a smiling and familiar face every once in a while!
Our stomachs led us back to the Jewish Quarter for lunch (because apparently we wanted to play ping pong between the two quarters all day). We ended up in Hurva Square at B.B.Q. I don’t know why, but that place has the best schawarma in the world! I got mine on laffa bread with tomatoes, onions, pickles, and tahini sauce, and oh my goodness. It was possibly the best thing I have eaten in a very long time. The meat was amazing. The accompanying vegetables and condiments were amazing. And the onion rings that I got…equally as amazing. Haha Jarom, Ashley, and I all ended up with the same lunch, actually. Well, except that Jarom got French fries….psh. Why he chose French fries over onion rings is a mystery!
We spent the next couple hours or so in Independence Park talking and resting and massaging shoulders. At one point, Ashley was rubbing Jarom’s neck as I took a nap on his stomach. Haha it is nice that we can all be such good friends…we may be a tad too close though. Maybe it’s a good thing that we will all be going home very shortly! We need some distance from one another. Haha but really, it was nice just to sit in the park. It sounds like doing nothing, but nothing is the best thing that you can do. It gives you a chance to appreciate your life a little bit more and to take in the world around you. Plus, it gives you time to sit down! We eventually made our way out of the park as ice cream called our names from Ben Yehuda Street. As we walked up and down Ben Yehuda with our ice cream cones, we were reminiscent about our first time on Ben Yehuda…our first day in Jerusalem, actually. It was weird to think that this would be our last time on Ben Yehuda Street…well, our last time as students at the Jerusalem Center. I don’t know about everyone else, but I will be coming back here; I can’t not come back here. This city has become such a part of me now; and I want to share it. I want to walk my friends and family around the Temple Mount and show them what a Herodian stone looks like. I want to teach them about King David and King Solomon and King Hezekiah. I want to show them the infamous Broad Wall that I walked by every single day. I want to introduce them to the shopkeepers and to the amazing foods that you can eat. I want to show them where Christ performed the Atonement and where he later raised from the dead. I want to share with them the Jerusalem I know, the Jerusalem I love. I want everything I have seen, everything I have experienced, and everything I have loved to become a part of their lives just as it has become a part of my life.
We made it back to the Jerusalem Center at about 4:30p in the afternoon. We wanted time to relax and clean-up before the barbecue. The barbecue was absolutely amazing! There were steak, chicken, hot dogs, kabobs…salads, desserts, breads. It was absolutely delicious. Unfortunately, I still wasn’t hungry because of the giant lunch I had eaten! That seems to happen a lot lately, but that’s okay. I ate what I could and then called it quits…so that I could begin packing. The good news is that I finished all of my packing tonight! The bad news is that I have no idea how much my big suitcase weighs! I hope it is below the limit…because I really don’t want to have to worry about repacking. And my small suitcase is completely full so I don’t know what I would do! Haha cross your fingers for me!
Tonight was our Memory Slideshow. I think most people expected it to be a sad experience but very few tears were shed. Mostly it was nice to see pictures of everyone we love and to remember all that we had done and been through together. Incorporated into the slideshow were different skits put on by different students. As always, they were entertaining and funny. There are some very talented people in this group! After the slideshow, we all got together as a group to take a few pictures. It took forever, but the pictures are worth it. The more memories created here, the better.
I spent the night outside on the grass talking with different people. We shared different stories about our time here at the J.C. It was nice to recall our embarrassing moments, our happiest moments, our spiritual moments. We have had so many great experiences the past few months. I am sad to see it go, but I hope to always have it with me. It would be near impossible for me to forget Jerusalem, to forget everything I have gone through here. I may be going home, but Jerusalem won’t be leaving me.
After saying goodbye to my blessed headset and fanny pack and eating a breakfast of delicious pancakes, I made my way to the fourth floor lounge to wait for Jarom Smith and Ashley Wilkinson so that we could begin our day in Jerusalem. By 8:30a we were walking down the slope of the Kidron Valley, making our way to the walls of the Old City. On our way to our designated entrance into the Old City – New Gate – we stopped and took different pictures of the scenery, of the city. We didn’t want to miss a thing; we didn’t want to risk forgetting a thing either. It is amazing how clear the city is in the early mornings. There are few people, few shops open, and few cars driving down the streets. It’s very picturesque.
We began the day in the Christian Quarter of the Old City at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. While we had gone there only a few days before, Ashley and I were eager to get some better photos and be inside of the church without a million other people. There were still people there, but it wasn’t anything in comparison to what we had previously experienced. It was nice to finally get some uninterrupted photos and to truly appreciate the beauty of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Finishing up in the church, we made our way to the Western Wall. Our intent was to take pictures, but we ended up saying our own prayers at the wall as always. I think the Western Wall is my favorite site within the Old City of Jerusalem. There are other sites that are grander or more beautiful, but none of them are the Western Wall. The atmosphere, the spirit of that part of the city is different than all of the others; it makes you feel at home, like you belong. It doesn’t matter if you are Jewish or if you aren’t Jewish. You are welcomed with open arms to say a prayer to God and to keep Him in your heart.
The time eventually came that we had to leave the Western Wall and do some other things. We began by making our way up the stairs to the Jewish Quarter of the city to do some last minute shopping in the Moriah Bookstore. That store is probably one of my favorite stores in the old city. It can easily be compared to a Jewish version of a Deseret Book! Haha so yes, I spent a lot of time in there but I got what I wanted! And that’s was all that mattered at the time. Our stomachs began growling at about this time, but we had to head over to Christian Quarter Road so Jarom could exchange money before we could get anything to eat! It turned out, as it always does, that we did a bit of shopping on the way. Ashley needed to find something for her sister; Jarom needed some t-shirts; I needed to buy something else for my niece (because I haven’t gotten her enough already). It was really fun though and we met up with some fellow J.C. students along the way. We actually ran into a lot of people today; that rarely happens! It was nice to see a smiling and familiar face every once in a while!
Our stomachs led us back to the Jewish Quarter for lunch (because apparently we wanted to play ping pong between the two quarters all day). We ended up in Hurva Square at B.B.Q. I don’t know why, but that place has the best schawarma in the world! I got mine on laffa bread with tomatoes, onions, pickles, and tahini sauce, and oh my goodness. It was possibly the best thing I have eaten in a very long time. The meat was amazing. The accompanying vegetables and condiments were amazing. And the onion rings that I got…equally as amazing. Haha Jarom, Ashley, and I all ended up with the same lunch, actually. Well, except that Jarom got French fries….psh. Why he chose French fries over onion rings is a mystery!
We spent the next couple hours or so in Independence Park talking and resting and massaging shoulders. At one point, Ashley was rubbing Jarom’s neck as I took a nap on his stomach. Haha it is nice that we can all be such good friends…we may be a tad too close though. Maybe it’s a good thing that we will all be going home very shortly! We need some distance from one another. Haha but really, it was nice just to sit in the park. It sounds like doing nothing, but nothing is the best thing that you can do. It gives you a chance to appreciate your life a little bit more and to take in the world around you. Plus, it gives you time to sit down! We eventually made our way out of the park as ice cream called our names from Ben Yehuda Street. As we walked up and down Ben Yehuda with our ice cream cones, we were reminiscent about our first time on Ben Yehuda…our first day in Jerusalem, actually. It was weird to think that this would be our last time on Ben Yehuda Street…well, our last time as students at the Jerusalem Center. I don’t know about everyone else, but I will be coming back here; I can’t not come back here. This city has become such a part of me now; and I want to share it. I want to walk my friends and family around the Temple Mount and show them what a Herodian stone looks like. I want to teach them about King David and King Solomon and King Hezekiah. I want to show them the infamous Broad Wall that I walked by every single day. I want to introduce them to the shopkeepers and to the amazing foods that you can eat. I want to show them where Christ performed the Atonement and where he later raised from the dead. I want to share with them the Jerusalem I know, the Jerusalem I love. I want everything I have seen, everything I have experienced, and everything I have loved to become a part of their lives just as it has become a part of my life.
We made it back to the Jerusalem Center at about 4:30p in the afternoon. We wanted time to relax and clean-up before the barbecue. The barbecue was absolutely amazing! There were steak, chicken, hot dogs, kabobs…salads, desserts, breads. It was absolutely delicious. Unfortunately, I still wasn’t hungry because of the giant lunch I had eaten! That seems to happen a lot lately, but that’s okay. I ate what I could and then called it quits…so that I could begin packing. The good news is that I finished all of my packing tonight! The bad news is that I have no idea how much my big suitcase weighs! I hope it is below the limit…because I really don’t want to have to worry about repacking. And my small suitcase is completely full so I don’t know what I would do! Haha cross your fingers for me!
Tonight was our Memory Slideshow. I think most people expected it to be a sad experience but very few tears were shed. Mostly it was nice to see pictures of everyone we love and to remember all that we had done and been through together. Incorporated into the slideshow were different skits put on by different students. As always, they were entertaining and funny. There are some very talented people in this group! After the slideshow, we all got together as a group to take a few pictures. It took forever, but the pictures are worth it. The more memories created here, the better.
I spent the night outside on the grass talking with different people. We shared different stories about our time here at the J.C. It was nice to recall our embarrassing moments, our happiest moments, our spiritual moments. We have had so many great experiences the past few months. I am sad to see it go, but I hope to always have it with me. It would be near impossible for me to forget Jerusalem, to forget everything I have gone through here. I may be going home, but Jerusalem won’t be leaving me.
09 August 2011
Our last field trip led us through the Atonement and the Resurrection of my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. It was amazing to visit the sites of His atonement and of His resurrection and to feel His presence there. I know that my Savior lives. He did atone for the sins of all men. He took upon Him the infirmities, the pains, the sorrows of all men. He suffered so that all men could be saved. He died upon the cross for all men. And after three days, He was resurrected as a glorified body of flesh and blood. He provided the way for all men to be resurrected, to return to their Father in Heaven, to be with their families for eternity. I know my Savior, Jesus Christ, lives; and I know He loves me. He knows everything I am feelings, everything I am experiencing. And he will never leave me alone.
We began our morning by making another stop at Orson Hyde Park. However, this time we didn’t simply eat lunch. Brother Judd shared with us the history of the park and how it came to be. It was interesting to learn a little more about how the Holy Land was opened up to the LDS Church and how Orson Hyde led the way. Without Orson Hyde, the Jerusalem Center probably wouldn’t be in existence today. Orson Hyde created quite a legacy in Israel, in Jerusalem. As we left the park/garden, we took many pictures. While there are no flowers, the switchbacks provide beautiful scenery for group pictures overlooking the Old City. As we made our way down the Mount of Olives, we stopped in at the Garden of Gethsemane. Rather than going into the public garden near the Church of All Nations, we were allowed to go into the private garden across the street. It was nice to not have to worry about large tour groups interrupting our devotional and to have an opportunity to sit and reflect on Jesus Christ and the Atonement. Jesus worked many miracles throughout His lifetime; He healed the sick and raised Lazarus from the dead; He made the lame man walk and caused the blind to see. But His greatest miracle was taking the sins of the world upon Him. Jesus Christ suffered for all men so that we could return and be with Him. My fifteen minutes of contemplation were spent thinking about the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made and about my role in His sacrifice. I cannot simply rely on the atonement and do nothing. I have to be diligent in keeping the commandments of God and actively repent. I am so thankful for everything that my Savior did and for everything that was accomplished through Him.
As we left the Garden of Gethsemane, we made our way to Lion’s Gate (St. Stephen’s Gate) and to the Churches of the Flagellation/Condemnation. This church is located on the Antonia Fortress, the believed venue of Jesus’ Roman trial under Pilate. At that trial He was condemned and scourged, took up His cross and began the “Way of the Cross” (Via Dolorosa). Very little explanation was given at these two churches; rather, we were given free time to explore and take pictures. It was nice not to have to stay plugged into my headset for once! From the Churches of the Flagellation/Condemnation, we headed down the road to St. Anne’s Cathedral/Pool of Bethesda. St. Anne’s is one of the only Crusader churches in the Old City and has beautiful architecture. It also has some of the best acoustics ever. We spent a lot of time singing inside of the cathedral! Before leaving the site, we were given time to explore the Bethesda, the site where Jesus Christ healed the lame man. It was amazing to walk down to the ruins and be where Christ would have been, where He showed forth His power. As stated many times, I will never get over the fact that I am living where Christ lived, that I am walking where Christ walked. It is beyond amazing…near incomprehensible.
Our last stop of the day was at the Garden Tomb. Little Emily Judd, tired and hot, was carried by yours truly all the way from St. Anne’s to the Garden Tomb. It was nice to talk to her! She made me miss my niece like crazy!! Haha and my arm was dead by the time I got to the Garden Tomb! But it was worth it. In the Garden Tomb, we held separate class testimony meetings on the Savior, Jesus Christ. It was a wonderful experience and gave us the opportunity to get even closer. However, we were short on time… So we had to cut our testimony meeting short. At three o’clock in the afternoon, we boarded the vans to return to the J.C.
Throughout the afternoon, I mostly relaxed and continued to update my pictures and my blog/journal. After dinner, we gathered together for a sort of fireside where Brother and Sister Muhlestein and Brother and Sister Judd spoke and shared different experiences with us. It was the perfect way for us to say goodbye to them, the perfect way for us to remember them. I think that many students are worried that they will forget their time in Jerusalem and everything they have seen and everyone they have met. But I really don’t think this is something that can be forgotten. Even ten years from now, we will be remembering back to these experiences and sharing them with our families and friends. This is a summer that will never be forgotten.
The rest of the night was spent socializing with everyone. I actually went to bed early tonight, which was a first in a very long time! Haha…however, going to bed early isn’t that early at the J.C. That just means I went to bed before one o’clock in the morning!
We began our morning by making another stop at Orson Hyde Park. However, this time we didn’t simply eat lunch. Brother Judd shared with us the history of the park and how it came to be. It was interesting to learn a little more about how the Holy Land was opened up to the LDS Church and how Orson Hyde led the way. Without Orson Hyde, the Jerusalem Center probably wouldn’t be in existence today. Orson Hyde created quite a legacy in Israel, in Jerusalem. As we left the park/garden, we took many pictures. While there are no flowers, the switchbacks provide beautiful scenery for group pictures overlooking the Old City. As we made our way down the Mount of Olives, we stopped in at the Garden of Gethsemane. Rather than going into the public garden near the Church of All Nations, we were allowed to go into the private garden across the street. It was nice to not have to worry about large tour groups interrupting our devotional and to have an opportunity to sit and reflect on Jesus Christ and the Atonement. Jesus worked many miracles throughout His lifetime; He healed the sick and raised Lazarus from the dead; He made the lame man walk and caused the blind to see. But His greatest miracle was taking the sins of the world upon Him. Jesus Christ suffered for all men so that we could return and be with Him. My fifteen minutes of contemplation were spent thinking about the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made and about my role in His sacrifice. I cannot simply rely on the atonement and do nothing. I have to be diligent in keeping the commandments of God and actively repent. I am so thankful for everything that my Savior did and for everything that was accomplished through Him.
As we left the Garden of Gethsemane, we made our way to Lion’s Gate (St. Stephen’s Gate) and to the Churches of the Flagellation/Condemnation. This church is located on the Antonia Fortress, the believed venue of Jesus’ Roman trial under Pilate. At that trial He was condemned and scourged, took up His cross and began the “Way of the Cross” (Via Dolorosa). Very little explanation was given at these two churches; rather, we were given free time to explore and take pictures. It was nice not to have to stay plugged into my headset for once! From the Churches of the Flagellation/Condemnation, we headed down the road to St. Anne’s Cathedral/Pool of Bethesda. St. Anne’s is one of the only Crusader churches in the Old City and has beautiful architecture. It also has some of the best acoustics ever. We spent a lot of time singing inside of the cathedral! Before leaving the site, we were given time to explore the Bethesda, the site where Jesus Christ healed the lame man. It was amazing to walk down to the ruins and be where Christ would have been, where He showed forth His power. As stated many times, I will never get over the fact that I am living where Christ lived, that I am walking where Christ walked. It is beyond amazing…near incomprehensible.
Our last stop of the day was at the Garden Tomb. Little Emily Judd, tired and hot, was carried by yours truly all the way from St. Anne’s to the Garden Tomb. It was nice to talk to her! She made me miss my niece like crazy!! Haha and my arm was dead by the time I got to the Garden Tomb! But it was worth it. In the Garden Tomb, we held separate class testimony meetings on the Savior, Jesus Christ. It was a wonderful experience and gave us the opportunity to get even closer. However, we were short on time… So we had to cut our testimony meeting short. At three o’clock in the afternoon, we boarded the vans to return to the J.C.
Throughout the afternoon, I mostly relaxed and continued to update my pictures and my blog/journal. After dinner, we gathered together for a sort of fireside where Brother and Sister Muhlestein and Brother and Sister Judd spoke and shared different experiences with us. It was the perfect way for us to say goodbye to them, the perfect way for us to remember them. I think that many students are worried that they will forget their time in Jerusalem and everything they have seen and everyone they have met. But I really don’t think this is something that can be forgotten. Even ten years from now, we will be remembering back to these experiences and sharing them with our families and friends. This is a summer that will never be forgotten.
The rest of the night was spent socializing with everyone. I actually went to bed early tonight, which was a first in a very long time! Haha…however, going to bed early isn’t that early at the J.C. That just means I went to bed before one o’clock in the morning!
08 August 2011
I woke up this morning excited for the adventures the day would bring. We had a half-day field trip today around Jerusalem and its surrounding areas. After a quick breakfast we left promptly at 7:30a in the morning for the village of Bethany. Jesus Christ spent much of His time in Bethany visiting His friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. It was in Bethany that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and showed forth His power as the Son of God, His power over death. Bethany is a quick walk across the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem. However, due to the newly constructed Separation Barrier, we had to take a thirty minutes bus ride on the highway in order to get to the village. To honor the town of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus a church was built near Lazarus’ tomb. The church is simple but beautiful and was a great place to remember the miracle that was performed nearby. Prior to entering into the church, Brother Judd held a small devotional to talk about the story of Lazarus. It was a very peaceful moment and one that prepared us for the remainder of the day. Brother Judd always invites the spirit into our field trips by sharing his testimony, by giving us time to reflect on the Savior and strengthen our own testimonies. It has been great to have him as a professor. Hopefully I can take a class from him in the near future!
Pater Noster (meaning Our Father in Latin) is generally associated with Jesus Instructing His Apostles during the last week, his Ascension, and the Lord’s Prayer. After a short devotional about the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15, Luke 11:1-4) we were given time to walk around the grounds and take pictures. I went on an expedition to find the Lord’s Prayer in several different languages. I was pleasantly surprised when I found one of the translations to be in Guarani, a language Mike’s brother, David, has spoken on his mission (in addition to Spanish). I happily took a picture to send to him at a later date and continued my expedition, getting pictures of the prayer in English, Spanish, Thai, Nahuatl, and German. The grounds of the church were beautiful, surrounded by many gardens. As I was walking around with Kymberly, we were approached by one of the young men who maintains the property. He picked up two roses that had fallen on the ground and handed them to us. Haha it easily made our day. While our roses were wilted within in a couple of hours, it was nice to have flowers given to us!
Dominus Flevit Church commemorates the incident when “the Lord wept” over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37, Luke 19:41). It is also one of the many churches where the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang when they last came to Jerusalem. We didn’t do much at this site. As he does at all the other sites, Brother Judd took some time to explain the significance of the site and to read some scriptures. We also sang a few Hymns inside the church. Most of us spent our time outside taking pictures of the Old City. Dominus Flevit is located on the Mount of Olives so it gives a beautiful overview of the Old City, especially of the Temple Mount. It was fun to take some pictures. I have taken a lot of pictures since I have been here, but you can never have enough!
On our way down the Mount of Olives, we stopped in at Orson Hyde Park to eat a quick lunch. We then made our way to the Upper Room near to Dormition Abby on Mount Zion, another site to commemorate the Last Supper. We held a devotional, sang a few Hymns, and continued on our way to a church down the road: Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. The site commemorates Jesus’ trial by the High Priest Caiaphas and also Peter’s denial. We spent some time inside of the church contemplating the significance of the site and then made our way to ancient steps that Christ would have ascended if this was the place of His trial. It doesn’t matter how many times I have realized that Jesus Christ was in this city, that he walked many of these very streets; it will still feel unreal to me. I can’t believe that I am here, walking in His footsteps. As we made our way back up to the buses to go back to the Center, Brother Judd gave us the choice to stay in the city or go back to the J.C. Along with Jenessa and Jenny S., I decided to stay in the city! (There were only three other students from our class who stayed.) I only have so much more time in Jerusalem…I don’t want to waste it in the Center! We didn’t do very much. We went over to the Jewish Quarter to relax and then we slowly made our way back to the J.C. and stopped into a few shops. It was nice just to be out in the city. You don’t have to go to some extravagant site to be in the City. All you have to do is be there to fully appreciate it…to be in the City.
Tonight we were privileged to sit in a meeting on how to check-out of the J.C. and how to go home. I spent most of the time coloring in my Tangled coloring book… I didn’t have the patience or the attention span to listen to much of what was said. Haha but…I also don’t feel like I am going to have that many problems once I get to the airport. I have flown around the world; I’ve flown out of Israel once before. I am not very worried about it. I am mostly worried about being in a group. It is much harder for a group to get through security that it is for individual people, but I don’t have much choice in the matter. We have been asked to stay together as a group so I will do that the best way I know how…if that happens to be floating off on my own to get through security and then meeting back up together in the terminal, then that’s life…haha.
The evening was spent watching movies and talking to friends as usual. I stayed up way too late…but what else do you expect? I only have so many nights left in Jerusalem. I don’t want to waste them away by sleeping. I can sleep when I get home!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
07 August 2011
Happy free day! I did not want to wake up this morning, but I didn’t want to waste away the day in bed like some people. I have only so much time left before I have to go back to the United States, and I want to make the best of them.
The morning began in an obnoxious manner. It was more difficult than it should have been to get a group together to leave to the city. However, after waiting around for about twenty minutes, I finally got my group together and left for the Old City. (My group consisted of my favorite people: Ashley Wilkinson, Andrew Null, Julie Rencher, and Kymberly Stone.) We decided to begin our day by visiting the Temple Mount for the last time before we head home and take plenty of pictures. Well, plenty of pictures we did take. It was fun to walk around the Mount and take pictures together. We ended up on Solomon’s Porch where Ashley really got into the mood; she enlisted Andrew’s help to reenact different Biblical accounts from Acts. It was fun to watch and the action was caught by her beautiful camera.
From the Temple Mount, we chose to make our way to the City of David to make use of our National Parks Cards…by going through Hezekiah’s Tunnel – again. You simply cannot go through that tunnel enough times. It is always a new adventure! The water was much higher and much colder than a couple of months ago, but we didn’t let that stop us. With amazing speed Kymberly, Ashley, and I (Julie and Andrew decided to go through the ‘dry’ tunnel) sloshed through the water to make it to the end of the tunnel. There were times when we turned off our flashlights and ran into the walls of the tunnel (it’s very narrow in there….I wonder how big, fat people go through – there must be a weight limit!) but it was all in good fun. I may have a bruise in the morning but it is definitely worth it. We exited the tunnel and found Andrew and Julie fairly close to our exit! We took a new path/tunnel back up to the top. We had no idea where we were, or where we were going! But we were pleasantly surprised when the tunnel let us out across the street from the entrance to the City of David. It is amazing what can happen when you walk underground! You lose all track of direction.
We spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon in the Jewish and Christian Quarters. In the Jewish Quarter, we took a load off of our feet to eat lunch, chat, and relax. Ashley and I chose to get our lunches at the Holy Bagel – delicious. I chose to get a bagel with a sun-dried tomato and feta spread; it was a good choice! We also got a few different pastries to share (including a chocolate éclair which immediately reminded me of my loving father). The Jewish Quarter has remained my favorite area of the Old City. While the other areas are fun and exciting, the Jewish Quarter is relaxing and provides a calm atmosphere; it is just a nice place to sit back and smell the roses. We finished up the morning in the Jewish Quarter and then made our way to Christian Quarter Road to pick up a few souvenirs and other items. I spent most of my time chilling in a chair outside of Shabon’s shop and watching the passing people; there are some very interesting people in the world…that’s all I have to say about that!
At this point in the day, our group split. Andrew and Julie left with people who were in Shabon’s and Ashley, Kymberly, and I made our way to West Jerusalem. On the way, we decided to stop in at the Mamilla. It flooded my mind with thoughts of shopping with my mom next week! I am definitely looking forward to that. It has been far too long since I have been to a good mall with my mom and bought a few things just for myself. We mostly just window shopped and took a few pictures. We did wander into a jewelry shop…where I happened to find my wedding ring. It is absolutely gorgeous! And I want it…or something similar when I find a man! Haha…anyways… As we left the Mamilla, we decided to go to Independence Park and chill before we had to be at Waffle Bar for dinner at five o’clock. We spent the next two hours or so sitting on the grass and taking pictures and laughing and talking. It was nice to just have some girl time. It never feels like we get enough of that because we always have boys with us!
A group of eleven of us met up at the Waffle Bar to celebrate Ashlyn’s twentieth birthday. The Waffle Bar has become one of my favorite places in Jerusalem to eat! I shared a Laffa Toast with Ashley and had a Hot Carmel Apple Waffle for dessert…oh my gosh. It was amazing! And it tasted like apple pie! (Dad, you would have loved it!) We were all stuffed by the time we left the restaurant…but it was well worth it. There is nothing better than a waffle for dinner/dessert! We split up again when we left the restaurant. This time it was Ashley, Morgan, Crystal, and I. We went to the ‘puzzle store’ and spent the next twenty minutes or so trying to solve the puzzles. We didn’t get very much done…those things are so tricky! But it was fun. We grabbed a taxi back to the Center at seven o’clock so we wouldn’t be late for a final ‘class’ meeting. As a class, we decided that we wanted to meet with Brother Muhlestein one last time to thank him for everything he had done for us. It was a short but sweet meeting. We shared different experiences that we had and just thanked him for all he did for us. It was a good experience.
Dr. Chadwick had a Book of Mormon lecture scheduled for nine o’clock this evening, but I couldn’t stay for all of it. I had other things I needed to do (like take a shower) before eleven o’clock rolled around! As it got later and later, I got more and more excited! However, my excitement burst at about 9:45p when I received an email from my dad of three scanned letters from Elder Michael Watson! I was so happy that I couldn’t stop smiling for a few hours. He is doing really well and is still as excited as ever to be a missionary. He has now been out for nineteen months; it is crazy how quickly time has passed by (but also exciting). The evening just continued upward when I FaceTimed my family for about an hour. It is always nice to talk to them on the phone but it is even better to actually see their faces! It got me really excited to actually see them in a few days!! We didn’t talk about much…mainly, we just chatted like always. They also talked to Dr. Chadwick for a little bit; I had intended for them to talk to his wife but apparently she had gone to bed! It was just a nice way to end the night…to hear their voices, to feel of their love, to see their faces. I have an amazing family. I am so thankful that I can be together with them forever.
The morning began in an obnoxious manner. It was more difficult than it should have been to get a group together to leave to the city. However, after waiting around for about twenty minutes, I finally got my group together and left for the Old City. (My group consisted of my favorite people: Ashley Wilkinson, Andrew Null, Julie Rencher, and Kymberly Stone.) We decided to begin our day by visiting the Temple Mount for the last time before we head home and take plenty of pictures. Well, plenty of pictures we did take. It was fun to walk around the Mount and take pictures together. We ended up on Solomon’s Porch where Ashley really got into the mood; she enlisted Andrew’s help to reenact different Biblical accounts from Acts. It was fun to watch and the action was caught by her beautiful camera.
From the Temple Mount, we chose to make our way to the City of David to make use of our National Parks Cards…by going through Hezekiah’s Tunnel – again. You simply cannot go through that tunnel enough times. It is always a new adventure! The water was much higher and much colder than a couple of months ago, but we didn’t let that stop us. With amazing speed Kymberly, Ashley, and I (Julie and Andrew decided to go through the ‘dry’ tunnel) sloshed through the water to make it to the end of the tunnel. There were times when we turned off our flashlights and ran into the walls of the tunnel (it’s very narrow in there….I wonder how big, fat people go through – there must be a weight limit!) but it was all in good fun. I may have a bruise in the morning but it is definitely worth it. We exited the tunnel and found Andrew and Julie fairly close to our exit! We took a new path/tunnel back up to the top. We had no idea where we were, or where we were going! But we were pleasantly surprised when the tunnel let us out across the street from the entrance to the City of David. It is amazing what can happen when you walk underground! You lose all track of direction.
We spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon in the Jewish and Christian Quarters. In the Jewish Quarter, we took a load off of our feet to eat lunch, chat, and relax. Ashley and I chose to get our lunches at the Holy Bagel – delicious. I chose to get a bagel with a sun-dried tomato and feta spread; it was a good choice! We also got a few different pastries to share (including a chocolate éclair which immediately reminded me of my loving father). The Jewish Quarter has remained my favorite area of the Old City. While the other areas are fun and exciting, the Jewish Quarter is relaxing and provides a calm atmosphere; it is just a nice place to sit back and smell the roses. We finished up the morning in the Jewish Quarter and then made our way to Christian Quarter Road to pick up a few souvenirs and other items. I spent most of my time chilling in a chair outside of Shabon’s shop and watching the passing people; there are some very interesting people in the world…that’s all I have to say about that!
At this point in the day, our group split. Andrew and Julie left with people who were in Shabon’s and Ashley, Kymberly, and I made our way to West Jerusalem. On the way, we decided to stop in at the Mamilla. It flooded my mind with thoughts of shopping with my mom next week! I am definitely looking forward to that. It has been far too long since I have been to a good mall with my mom and bought a few things just for myself. We mostly just window shopped and took a few pictures. We did wander into a jewelry shop…where I happened to find my wedding ring. It is absolutely gorgeous! And I want it…or something similar when I find a man! Haha…anyways… As we left the Mamilla, we decided to go to Independence Park and chill before we had to be at Waffle Bar for dinner at five o’clock. We spent the next two hours or so sitting on the grass and taking pictures and laughing and talking. It was nice to just have some girl time. It never feels like we get enough of that because we always have boys with us!
A group of eleven of us met up at the Waffle Bar to celebrate Ashlyn’s twentieth birthday. The Waffle Bar has become one of my favorite places in Jerusalem to eat! I shared a Laffa Toast with Ashley and had a Hot Carmel Apple Waffle for dessert…oh my gosh. It was amazing! And it tasted like apple pie! (Dad, you would have loved it!) We were all stuffed by the time we left the restaurant…but it was well worth it. There is nothing better than a waffle for dinner/dessert! We split up again when we left the restaurant. This time it was Ashley, Morgan, Crystal, and I. We went to the ‘puzzle store’ and spent the next twenty minutes or so trying to solve the puzzles. We didn’t get very much done…those things are so tricky! But it was fun. We grabbed a taxi back to the Center at seven o’clock so we wouldn’t be late for a final ‘class’ meeting. As a class, we decided that we wanted to meet with Brother Muhlestein one last time to thank him for everything he had done for us. It was a short but sweet meeting. We shared different experiences that we had and just thanked him for all he did for us. It was a good experience.
Dr. Chadwick had a Book of Mormon lecture scheduled for nine o’clock this evening, but I couldn’t stay for all of it. I had other things I needed to do (like take a shower) before eleven o’clock rolled around! As it got later and later, I got more and more excited! However, my excitement burst at about 9:45p when I received an email from my dad of three scanned letters from Elder Michael Watson! I was so happy that I couldn’t stop smiling for a few hours. He is doing really well and is still as excited as ever to be a missionary. He has now been out for nineteen months; it is crazy how quickly time has passed by (but also exciting). The evening just continued upward when I FaceTimed my family for about an hour. It is always nice to talk to them on the phone but it is even better to actually see their faces! It got me really excited to actually see them in a few days!! We didn’t talk about much…mainly, we just chatted like always. They also talked to Dr. Chadwick for a little bit; I had intended for them to talk to his wife but apparently she had gone to bed! It was just a nice way to end the night…to hear their voices, to feel of their love, to see their faces. I have an amazing family. I am so thankful that I can be together with them forever.
06 August 2011
Due to the lateness of the hour when I went to bed last night, I ended up sleeping in this morning. I haven’t slept in very often since coming to Jerusalem; my body is craving rest! I woke up with about an hour to get ready and make it to church on time. All three of my roommates had gone to either the Garden Tomb or the Garden of Gethsemane so I had the room to myself for the next hour. That rarely happens. It was nice to be able to listen to my Sunday tunes and take up the entire bathroom as I got ready. That is something I have greatly missed. Don’t get me wrong, though. I love my roommates; I think they are great. But I miss the time I have always had to myself on Sabbath mornings to get ready and to think about the meaning of this special day.
As I climbed the stairs to the eighth floor of the Jerusalem Center to the auditorium where Sacrament Meeting is held, a thought flooded through me: this was my last Sabbath in Jerusalem. Next Sunday, I would be sitting inside of a chapel staring at a while wall instead of in the Jerusalem Center staring out over the beautiful Old City, the Dome of the Rock, the Judean Hills. I don’t want to see that white wall! All good things must come to an end, I guess. The meeting went by very smoothly. When I walked into the auditorium, I was pulled down to the stage with Joan to sing with the choir. I can’t remember what we sang, but I had never seen it before in my life! (People said it sounded good though.) As the first Sabbath of the month, it was Fast Sabbath – meaning fast and testimony meeting. President Ohman, our Branch President, made a point to let the permanent members share their testimonies before any of the students. I know that a few students were upset because this was our last Fast Sabbath in Jerusalem, but the messages, the stories, the spirit these people shared were exactly what I needed. The sweetness of a simple testimony can influence you in so many ways. It will be hard to go back to a meeting house that isn’t set on the Mount of Olives, that doesn’t overlook the Old City of Jerusalem. But, the spirit will be the same. That is one thing I love about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; no matter where you are in the world, no matter what language you are speaking, no matter what culture you are a part of, the Gospel that is taught is the same, the spirit is the same.
The two hours following church, I planned my lesson for seminary and just relaxed. At three o’clock in the afternoon, we were pleased to have a ‘fireside’ given by Professor Kearl. It wasn’t anything spiritual or doctrinal; rather, he shared the story of the Jerusalem Center and how it came to be. It was very interesting to learn about all that had to happen for me to be studying here. With the fireside over, we flooded into dinner and then I was able to give my seminary lesson, my last seminary lesson (at least for this time in my life). The lesson greatly centered on the Savior as we read The Living Christ and our roles as members of His Church. It was amazing how quickly time flew by. Before I knew it, it was six o’clock in the evening and time for me to run through songs with everyone and their dogs!
Tonight was our ‘experience’ in the Upper Room. A triclinium (three-sided table one would recline at) was constructed on the stage of the eighth floor auditorium, songs were sung, explanations were given, and John 13-17 and Matthew 26 were read by students. It was a very sweet experience to remember the Sacrament and think about the purpose of it. I accompanied on the piano for each of the special musical experiences – all three of them. And I didn’t mess up which was a definite relief! At the end of the program, we were given fifteen minutes of quiet contemplation time. It was amazing to remember the Savior and his Last Supper.
Later that night (like, 9:30p) I left the Jerusalem Center with the Chadwicks and a few girlfriends to hang out on Ben Yehuda Street…to close Shabbat. It was a lot of fun to hang out with them and welcome the new day! There was a girl there that was hula-hooping like no other! It was amazing. She had two hula-hoops; they both lit up with colored lights. And she sparked my newest dream in life. To be an Olympic Hula-Hooper! Sounds like just the life, right? Haha seriously, she was so entertaining. As we made our way up Ben Yehuda, we stopped to get some ice cream (the sun had set…Shabbat was over); I got triple chocolate and cookies n cream. Oh baby, oh baby – it was delicious! Triple chocolate has marshmallow in it! Nothing is better than marshmallow! (I don’t want to hear it Candace…you love marshmallow, and you know it!!) The night ended far too quickly, but we had a curfew to beat. So we piled back into the Chadwick’s car and headed back to the J.C…to find the building completely empty.
As we walked around the Center, there was no one in sight! It was kind of creepy. We eventually found them…in the Library…playing Murderer in the Dark!! Haha I love the people that I live with. They make life so much more fun! (This was also the night that Joshua and Chris tried to pour water into my mouth from the level above as I laid on the couch…yeah…it didn’t work!!) Haha we ended up going to be at about two o’clock in the morning…yeah. It was late. But why not?
As I climbed the stairs to the eighth floor of the Jerusalem Center to the auditorium where Sacrament Meeting is held, a thought flooded through me: this was my last Sabbath in Jerusalem. Next Sunday, I would be sitting inside of a chapel staring at a while wall instead of in the Jerusalem Center staring out over the beautiful Old City, the Dome of the Rock, the Judean Hills. I don’t want to see that white wall! All good things must come to an end, I guess. The meeting went by very smoothly. When I walked into the auditorium, I was pulled down to the stage with Joan to sing with the choir. I can’t remember what we sang, but I had never seen it before in my life! (People said it sounded good though.) As the first Sabbath of the month, it was Fast Sabbath – meaning fast and testimony meeting. President Ohman, our Branch President, made a point to let the permanent members share their testimonies before any of the students. I know that a few students were upset because this was our last Fast Sabbath in Jerusalem, but the messages, the stories, the spirit these people shared were exactly what I needed. The sweetness of a simple testimony can influence you in so many ways. It will be hard to go back to a meeting house that isn’t set on the Mount of Olives, that doesn’t overlook the Old City of Jerusalem. But, the spirit will be the same. That is one thing I love about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; no matter where you are in the world, no matter what language you are speaking, no matter what culture you are a part of, the Gospel that is taught is the same, the spirit is the same.
The two hours following church, I planned my lesson for seminary and just relaxed. At three o’clock in the afternoon, we were pleased to have a ‘fireside’ given by Professor Kearl. It wasn’t anything spiritual or doctrinal; rather, he shared the story of the Jerusalem Center and how it came to be. It was very interesting to learn about all that had to happen for me to be studying here. With the fireside over, we flooded into dinner and then I was able to give my seminary lesson, my last seminary lesson (at least for this time in my life). The lesson greatly centered on the Savior as we read The Living Christ and our roles as members of His Church. It was amazing how quickly time flew by. Before I knew it, it was six o’clock in the evening and time for me to run through songs with everyone and their dogs!
Tonight was our ‘experience’ in the Upper Room. A triclinium (three-sided table one would recline at) was constructed on the stage of the eighth floor auditorium, songs were sung, explanations were given, and John 13-17 and Matthew 26 were read by students. It was a very sweet experience to remember the Sacrament and think about the purpose of it. I accompanied on the piano for each of the special musical experiences – all three of them. And I didn’t mess up which was a definite relief! At the end of the program, we were given fifteen minutes of quiet contemplation time. It was amazing to remember the Savior and his Last Supper.
Later that night (like, 9:30p) I left the Jerusalem Center with the Chadwicks and a few girlfriends to hang out on Ben Yehuda Street…to close Shabbat. It was a lot of fun to hang out with them and welcome the new day! There was a girl there that was hula-hooping like no other! It was amazing. She had two hula-hoops; they both lit up with colored lights. And she sparked my newest dream in life. To be an Olympic Hula-Hooper! Sounds like just the life, right? Haha seriously, she was so entertaining. As we made our way up Ben Yehuda, we stopped to get some ice cream (the sun had set…Shabbat was over); I got triple chocolate and cookies n cream. Oh baby, oh baby – it was delicious! Triple chocolate has marshmallow in it! Nothing is better than marshmallow! (I don’t want to hear it Candace…you love marshmallow, and you know it!!) The night ended far too quickly, but we had a curfew to beat. So we piled back into the Chadwick’s car and headed back to the J.C…to find the building completely empty.
As we walked around the Center, there was no one in sight! It was kind of creepy. We eventually found them…in the Library…playing Murderer in the Dark!! Haha I love the people that I live with. They make life so much more fun! (This was also the night that Joshua and Chris tried to pour water into my mouth from the level above as I laid on the couch…yeah…it didn’t work!!) Haha we ended up going to be at about two o’clock in the morning…yeah. It was late. But why not?
Monday, August 8, 2011
05 August 2011
When I woke up this morning, I had zero desire to get out of bed, to eat breakfast, to shower…to do anything. I groggily dragged myself out of bed, pulled on some sweats, and headed up to the Oasis to grab something to eat. This was at 7:35a in the morning. I grabbed two pieces of watermelon, sat down at a table, and wordlessly at it. I finished at 7:45a in the morning. After putting my dishes into the dish return, I walked back down to my room, took off my sweats, and went back to bed. When I woke back up, I looked at my iPod. It was now ten o’clock in the morning. Nothing felt better than extending my sleep for a couple of hours. After staying up late and waking up early for over three months straight, I guess I was in need of some sleep. That three hour nap the other day didn’t do much for me, apparently!
When I finally dragged myself out of bed, I pulled my sweats back on and went upstairs to the study room. For the next two hours, I sat in a study room and talked to Kymberly as she studied for our New Testament exam. It was a delight! Once noon o’clock rolled around, we went into the Oasis to enjoy our last lunch of cold-cuts at the Jerusalem Center.¡Que lastima! It is so strange to think that we only have a week left in Jerusalem. Our time here has gone by so quickly. I can only imagine how quickly this next week is going to go by. Although…maybe it will be similar to our first week here and feel like seven months rather than seven days! I can’t decide if that would be a good thing or not… After lunch, I decided I should think about studying, especially since the exam would be starting in fifteen minute! I quickly read through my notes and decided it was good! The test wasn’t too bad. The hardest part was remembering what scripture passage came from which Gospel – Matthew or John. And, guess what? My grade was above the class average. Whoever said you have to study for finals is crazy! I like my way so much better.
I can’t say I did much this afternoon…mainly, I just sat around talking and reading. It was fairly relaxing. As soon as dinner was over, we all met at the lower gate to go to the Western Wall for one more Friday night of welcoming Shabbat! The Western Wall is great every day of the week, but it is the best on Friday nights. The square is flooded with people; there is dancing; there is singing. However, besides the festivities, it is also a special and spiritual experience to pray at the wall, to be among the Jewish people at one of their most holy sites. We didn’t have very much time at the wall, but what time we did have was well spent. After slipping my own prayer into the wall, I met back with a few girls to take in the moment, to memorize the faces of the passing people, to remember Jerusalem in this way. Our time to leave came far too soon, but I hope to return someday to pray at wall, to walk where my Savior walked.
Back at the J.C., a dance party was planned. However, and this may come to a shock to you, I am not the biggest fan of dance parties. Sure, I love dancing, but dance parties aren’t my scene! I would much rather go salsa dancing or something similar. So, I ended up in the Student Lounge with quite a few other people watching My Best Friend’s Wedding. I don’t know why I watch that movie; it has the worst ending ever! Haha but what can you do? I am a sucker for romantic comedies; I am a girl after all. Plus, it was the perfect way to unwind after today.
When I finally dragged myself out of bed, I pulled my sweats back on and went upstairs to the study room. For the next two hours, I sat in a study room and talked to Kymberly as she studied for our New Testament exam. It was a delight! Once noon o’clock rolled around, we went into the Oasis to enjoy our last lunch of cold-cuts at the Jerusalem Center.¡Que lastima! It is so strange to think that we only have a week left in Jerusalem. Our time here has gone by so quickly. I can only imagine how quickly this next week is going to go by. Although…maybe it will be similar to our first week here and feel like seven months rather than seven days! I can’t decide if that would be a good thing or not… After lunch, I decided I should think about studying, especially since the exam would be starting in fifteen minute! I quickly read through my notes and decided it was good! The test wasn’t too bad. The hardest part was remembering what scripture passage came from which Gospel – Matthew or John. And, guess what? My grade was above the class average. Whoever said you have to study for finals is crazy! I like my way so much better.
I can’t say I did much this afternoon…mainly, I just sat around talking and reading. It was fairly relaxing. As soon as dinner was over, we all met at the lower gate to go to the Western Wall for one more Friday night of welcoming Shabbat! The Western Wall is great every day of the week, but it is the best on Friday nights. The square is flooded with people; there is dancing; there is singing. However, besides the festivities, it is also a special and spiritual experience to pray at the wall, to be among the Jewish people at one of their most holy sites. We didn’t have very much time at the wall, but what time we did have was well spent. After slipping my own prayer into the wall, I met back with a few girls to take in the moment, to memorize the faces of the passing people, to remember Jerusalem in this way. Our time to leave came far too soon, but I hope to return someday to pray at wall, to walk where my Savior walked.
Back at the J.C., a dance party was planned. However, and this may come to a shock to you, I am not the biggest fan of dance parties. Sure, I love dancing, but dance parties aren’t my scene! I would much rather go salsa dancing or something similar. So, I ended up in the Student Lounge with quite a few other people watching My Best Friend’s Wedding. I don’t know why I watch that movie; it has the worst ending ever! Haha but what can you do? I am a sucker for romantic comedies; I am a girl after all. Plus, it was the perfect way to unwind after today.
04 August 2011
I would like to start off by apologizing for my inability to post on a regular basis lately. I don't have much time to sit down and type. Thank you for your patience! You should expect things to be up-to-date by tomorrow night!!!
My time in Jerusalem is getting shorter and shorter. The cooler the air gets, the quicker the days end, the more aware I am that I'll be on my way back to reality, back to the United States. A month ago if you had offered me a plane ticket home, I would have accepted it without a second thought. However, if I had been offered that same plane ticket home and one-thousand dollars this morning, I wouldn't have hesitated to decline the offer. I am excited to go home, to see my family and friends, to eat different foods, but I am devastated to leave this land, this people, this culture. I am tired of eating the same food every day at the Oasis; I am tired of not being able to go into the city in groups of two or just by myself. But, despite the restrictions and the lack of variety, I am happy. And I love this land. I hope to leave my studies in the Holy Land only to come back to visit Israel.
This morning was the final exam for Ancient Near Eastern Studies. Hands shaking, I headed into the forum to meet my doom. I wasn't prepared for what was coming; I had no idea what Chadwick would ask me, what he would expect me to know. I sat in my seat and waited for the worst. Dr. Chadwick eventually stood up, introduced the exam, and began the test. Question after question, I answered in amazement; the test couldn’t be this simple, could it? All 100 questions of the exam were visual - given by PowerPoint. Thus, I was forced to go the speed of every other student. We were given one minute per question, but it felt like a near eternity. By the time we got to the last question, I was ready to rip my test to shreds. A test that I could have finished in forty minutes had taken over two hours. Finally, the answer key was placed up on the screen and to my incredible delight, I only missed three. The thrills of excitement that passed through me are impossible to describe. With this grade, I had the ability to obtain an “A” grade in the class (an “A” being a 96% on his final grading scale). I happily skipped out of the room and into the Oasis to eat lunch, and what more appropriate than a falafel for lunch on a day as great as this?
After lunch, I left the Jerusalem Center and headed out to West Jerusalem with Andrew, Julie, Ashley, Ariel, and Jenny to go to the Shuk (open air market). Like any other day at the Shuk, it was crowded beyond belief! There are always people everywhere buying meat, produce, and other items for their daily/weekly needs! It is one of my favorite places to be in all of Jerusalem. It is always an adventure to do as the locals do, to go where the locals go. You can find anything at the Shuk; and it is always at a good prices. I chose to purchase a tub of lychees, a fruit I had grown to love in Australia. The smell of the fruit brought me to open the bag before we even left the Shuk, and the taste was just as amazing as I remembered it. I happily shared some with the five people I was with. Lychees are either something you love or you hate – kind of like butterscotch. And unlike butterscotch, lychees are something that I love. Leaving the Shuk, we made our way to the McDonald’s off of Ben Yehuda Street for an ice cream cone and then to a store at the bottom of the street. This store is called the Art of Creativity and is the coolest store (other than the Discovery Store) that I have ever been to. The store sells different puzzles…not picture puzzles, but puzzles that you could attempt to compare to a Rubik’s Cube. But trust me – a Rubik’s Cube pales in comparison! We spent quite some time trying to solve these puzzles. It was a lot of fun. Possibly even too much fun.
We made it back to the Jerusalem Center before four o’clock in the afternoon. (Ashley, Andrew, and I happily took a taxi while the others walked.) Once back at the J.C., I went over to the Chadwick’s to talk for a few minutes. A few minutes turned into over an hour as it always does. Chadwick and I discussed the final exam as well as what I am planning to do with my future. For those of you who are interested, we decided that I am going to go to graduate school and get a Ph.D. in Ancient Near Eastern Studies. I will then be a professor at BYU and eventually gain the opportunity to return to the Jerusalem Center to be a teacher. We will see how that plan goes... It was nice to think about coming back here to teach though! I headed into the computer lab to work on a paper or two after leaving the Chadwick’s but I did not get nearly as much done as I had planned. Before I knew it, it was six o’clock in the evening and time for dinner! Dinner time (well, any mealtime really) causes a lot of excitement among the students at the J.C. As growing young adults, we need our nutrition and we find that at the Oasis! As usual, I grabbed some rice and chicken and sat down to eat with everyone. Also, there were brownies tonight which caused a stir among the students. You just can’t go wrong with brownies. They always disappear within twenty or thirty minutes.
I moved into a study room after dinner to ‘study’ with Kymberly for our New Testament exam. As she studied, I went into the gym to play volleyball with a few people. There is always fun to be had on a volleyball court in a gym at the J.C. We haven’t played nearly enough volleyball since getting back from Jordan. It kind of fell away as a basketball tournament started, as classes got more intense, as Canton kicked everyone out so he could play soccer…hahaha, I am glad it is back and that we can play the night away. After all, there is nothing more satisfying than ending your night with a killer spike.
My time in Jerusalem is getting shorter and shorter. The cooler the air gets, the quicker the days end, the more aware I am that I'll be on my way back to reality, back to the United States. A month ago if you had offered me a plane ticket home, I would have accepted it without a second thought. However, if I had been offered that same plane ticket home and one-thousand dollars this morning, I wouldn't have hesitated to decline the offer. I am excited to go home, to see my family and friends, to eat different foods, but I am devastated to leave this land, this people, this culture. I am tired of eating the same food every day at the Oasis; I am tired of not being able to go into the city in groups of two or just by myself. But, despite the restrictions and the lack of variety, I am happy. And I love this land. I hope to leave my studies in the Holy Land only to come back to visit Israel.
This morning was the final exam for Ancient Near Eastern Studies. Hands shaking, I headed into the forum to meet my doom. I wasn't prepared for what was coming; I had no idea what Chadwick would ask me, what he would expect me to know. I sat in my seat and waited for the worst. Dr. Chadwick eventually stood up, introduced the exam, and began the test. Question after question, I answered in amazement; the test couldn’t be this simple, could it? All 100 questions of the exam were visual - given by PowerPoint. Thus, I was forced to go the speed of every other student. We were given one minute per question, but it felt like a near eternity. By the time we got to the last question, I was ready to rip my test to shreds. A test that I could have finished in forty minutes had taken over two hours. Finally, the answer key was placed up on the screen and to my incredible delight, I only missed three. The thrills of excitement that passed through me are impossible to describe. With this grade, I had the ability to obtain an “A” grade in the class (an “A” being a 96% on his final grading scale). I happily skipped out of the room and into the Oasis to eat lunch, and what more appropriate than a falafel for lunch on a day as great as this?
After lunch, I left the Jerusalem Center and headed out to West Jerusalem with Andrew, Julie, Ashley, Ariel, and Jenny to go to the Shuk (open air market). Like any other day at the Shuk, it was crowded beyond belief! There are always people everywhere buying meat, produce, and other items for their daily/weekly needs! It is one of my favorite places to be in all of Jerusalem. It is always an adventure to do as the locals do, to go where the locals go. You can find anything at the Shuk; and it is always at a good prices. I chose to purchase a tub of lychees, a fruit I had grown to love in Australia. The smell of the fruit brought me to open the bag before we even left the Shuk, and the taste was just as amazing as I remembered it. I happily shared some with the five people I was with. Lychees are either something you love or you hate – kind of like butterscotch. And unlike butterscotch, lychees are something that I love. Leaving the Shuk, we made our way to the McDonald’s off of Ben Yehuda Street for an ice cream cone and then to a store at the bottom of the street. This store is called the Art of Creativity and is the coolest store (other than the Discovery Store) that I have ever been to. The store sells different puzzles…not picture puzzles, but puzzles that you could attempt to compare to a Rubik’s Cube. But trust me – a Rubik’s Cube pales in comparison! We spent quite some time trying to solve these puzzles. It was a lot of fun. Possibly even too much fun.
We made it back to the Jerusalem Center before four o’clock in the afternoon. (Ashley, Andrew, and I happily took a taxi while the others walked.) Once back at the J.C., I went over to the Chadwick’s to talk for a few minutes. A few minutes turned into over an hour as it always does. Chadwick and I discussed the final exam as well as what I am planning to do with my future. For those of you who are interested, we decided that I am going to go to graduate school and get a Ph.D. in Ancient Near Eastern Studies. I will then be a professor at BYU and eventually gain the opportunity to return to the Jerusalem Center to be a teacher. We will see how that plan goes... It was nice to think about coming back here to teach though! I headed into the computer lab to work on a paper or two after leaving the Chadwick’s but I did not get nearly as much done as I had planned. Before I knew it, it was six o’clock in the evening and time for dinner! Dinner time (well, any mealtime really) causes a lot of excitement among the students at the J.C. As growing young adults, we need our nutrition and we find that at the Oasis! As usual, I grabbed some rice and chicken and sat down to eat with everyone. Also, there were brownies tonight which caused a stir among the students. You just can’t go wrong with brownies. They always disappear within twenty or thirty minutes.
I moved into a study room after dinner to ‘study’ with Kymberly for our New Testament exam. As she studied, I went into the gym to play volleyball with a few people. There is always fun to be had on a volleyball court in a gym at the J.C. We haven’t played nearly enough volleyball since getting back from Jordan. It kind of fell away as a basketball tournament started, as classes got more intense, as Canton kicked everyone out so he could play soccer…hahaha, I am glad it is back and that we can play the night away. After all, there is nothing more satisfying than ending your night with a killer spike.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
03 August 2011
One day down; two days to go. I don't know how much more studying I can take; and I haven't even studied for more than two hours. Finals, no matter where you are studying, are of the devil. That's all there is to it.
Classes ended today. I am not sure how I feel about this. I am going to miss learning from Brother Judd and from Doctor Chadwick. They are both wonderful professors; I would definitely consider taking classes from both of them in the coming semesters. I am actually taking a Pearl of Great Price class from Brother Muhlestein (my Old Testament professor in Jerusalem) in the Fall. I am really looking forward to it.
Both classes finished by noon, releasing us to eat lunch. It was pizza today! The pizza is one of my favorite things at the Oasis! After lunch, I headed into the computer lab to commence studying for Dr. Chadwick's final, but I didn't get much studying done. After three hours of sitting in front of a computer, I managed to study for approximately twenty minutes; what I did with the rest of that time is a mystery to me!
At four o'clock in the afternoon, I headed out into the Old City with Josiah and Jenny. It was a blast! There was never a dull moment as we made our way through the Christian Quarter, searching for different items and souvenirs. It was a short but pleasant outing; and I got gummies which made it all the better! We made it back to the Jerusalem Center, after a quick beverage stop at the "7-11" down the street, just in time to wash our hands for dinner.
With dinner done and out of the way, I moved back into the computer lab to "continue" studying. I ended up standing behind Josiah and massaging his shoulders for the next hour as he read through Dr. Chadwick's slides. I actually learned a lot! And counted it as my studying for the night! It was definitely a productive evening. At least I got some form of studying done though, right? Haha there's always a first for everything.
Overall, I would say it was a fairly delightful day. I didn't do much, but I still went into the city and had fun!
Classes ended today. I am not sure how I feel about this. I am going to miss learning from Brother Judd and from Doctor Chadwick. They are both wonderful professors; I would definitely consider taking classes from both of them in the coming semesters. I am actually taking a Pearl of Great Price class from Brother Muhlestein (my Old Testament professor in Jerusalem) in the Fall. I am really looking forward to it.
Both classes finished by noon, releasing us to eat lunch. It was pizza today! The pizza is one of my favorite things at the Oasis! After lunch, I headed into the computer lab to commence studying for Dr. Chadwick's final, but I didn't get much studying done. After three hours of sitting in front of a computer, I managed to study for approximately twenty minutes; what I did with the rest of that time is a mystery to me!
At four o'clock in the afternoon, I headed out into the Old City with Josiah and Jenny. It was a blast! There was never a dull moment as we made our way through the Christian Quarter, searching for different items and souvenirs. It was a short but pleasant outing; and I got gummies which made it all the better! We made it back to the Jerusalem Center, after a quick beverage stop at the "7-11" down the street, just in time to wash our hands for dinner.
With dinner done and out of the way, I moved back into the computer lab to "continue" studying. I ended up standing behind Josiah and massaging his shoulders for the next hour as he read through Dr. Chadwick's slides. I actually learned a lot! And counted it as my studying for the night! It was definitely a productive evening. At least I got some form of studying done though, right? Haha there's always a first for everything.
Overall, I would say it was a fairly delightful day. I didn't do much, but I still went into the city and had fun!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
02 August 2011
I feel like I have done next to nothing all day. I would feel bad about this, but I haven't been feeling that well. I woke up this morning with my ears ringing, my head congested, and my nose running. Unfortunately, I wasn't about to miss the second to last day of classes, so I put on a mismatched outfit and headed up the stairs for a breakfast of watermelon. The watermelon helped me feel a tad better, but it didn't stop my head from pounding. I am hoping this doesn't escalate into something worse; taking finals when I am sick isn't exactly my cup of tea!
The Atonement of Jesus Christ and His betrayal was the topic of discussion in New Testament this morning. Words can't really describe what I learned or even what I felt, but it was an amazing lesson. While Brother Judd focused on the facts of what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane, of what happened before Annas and Caiaphas, the Spirit was not absent from the room. Following New Testament, we moved into the Forum for Ancient Near Eastern Studies with Dr. Chadwick. He spent a good portion of the class showing us excavation pictures from Tel es-Safi, where he spent the few weeks digging. I can't say that I have ever wanted to be an archaeologist. Digging in the dirt all day, getting dust up my nose, being dirty no matter what I do just doesn't appeal to me. However, how cool would it be to discover an ancient burial ground or even a water-storage jug? Or in Brother Chadwick's case, the first two-horned built-in altar! He was very excited about that, and I was excited for him. It is part of his job description to make new discoveries! It was even cooler because I guess the discovery was covered on CNN! The rest of class was spent building up to the Common Era. We didn't quite get to Herod the Great, but we have two hours tomorrow to get there.
With classes done and lunch eaten, I headed down to my room with the intention of studying. But one thing led to another and I ended up taking close to a three hour nap instead! It was just what I needed. Since...I got to Jerusalem, I haven't been getting more than six hours of sleep a night. After an entire summer of running on minimal sleep and hiking across tels in the hot sun every day, I have officially crashed! It was a lovely nap...I even slept through my roommate taking a shower. That means a lot when it comes to me; I rarely sleep through anything. When I finally woke up, I grabbed my flashdrive and headed up the stairs to finish one of my papers for Dr. Chadwick's class. It took me a couple of hours, but I finally go it done. It feels amazing to have one paper out of the way. I am not looking forward to the next one in the least!
Dinner brought with it this amazing vanilla pudding topped with strawberry sauce. I remember there being chicken and rice as well, but the pudding was my favorite part. As soon as I was done with eating, Dan found me and we wandered down to the the laundry room so that I could cut his hair. It was a definite party, but I was spitting little Dan hairs for the next hour! I have no idea how I managed to get so much of his hair in my mouth, but it happened and I didn't particularly enjoy it! But that's okay; I enjoyed cutting his hair!
Dr. Chadwick held a review session this evening for all of the students in order to help prepare us for his final on Thursday. I think I am going to be spending the next 36 hours in a hole, studying my butt off. This is going to be pleasant. There is just so much to remember! From dates to sites to cities to wadis, I don't know if my mind will be able to take in all of this information! But I am definitely going to try. I am determined to do well on this final - even if it kills me. Dr. Chadwick told us that he wants this test to be a learning experience for us, one that we can walk away from smarter and prepared. It will definitely be an interesting next few days! Tomorrow I will have to go to the Old City to get some gummi bears or something!!
It was a fairly relaxing day. I am glad that I took a nap today! Hopefully tomorrow I will be up and ready to study and prepare for the next couple of days. Let the games...begin!
The Atonement of Jesus Christ and His betrayal was the topic of discussion in New Testament this morning. Words can't really describe what I learned or even what I felt, but it was an amazing lesson. While Brother Judd focused on the facts of what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane, of what happened before Annas and Caiaphas, the Spirit was not absent from the room. Following New Testament, we moved into the Forum for Ancient Near Eastern Studies with Dr. Chadwick. He spent a good portion of the class showing us excavation pictures from Tel es-Safi, where he spent the few weeks digging. I can't say that I have ever wanted to be an archaeologist. Digging in the dirt all day, getting dust up my nose, being dirty no matter what I do just doesn't appeal to me. However, how cool would it be to discover an ancient burial ground or even a water-storage jug? Or in Brother Chadwick's case, the first two-horned built-in altar! He was very excited about that, and I was excited for him. It is part of his job description to make new discoveries! It was even cooler because I guess the discovery was covered on CNN! The rest of class was spent building up to the Common Era. We didn't quite get to Herod the Great, but we have two hours tomorrow to get there.
With classes done and lunch eaten, I headed down to my room with the intention of studying. But one thing led to another and I ended up taking close to a three hour nap instead! It was just what I needed. Since...I got to Jerusalem, I haven't been getting more than six hours of sleep a night. After an entire summer of running on minimal sleep and hiking across tels in the hot sun every day, I have officially crashed! It was a lovely nap...I even slept through my roommate taking a shower. That means a lot when it comes to me; I rarely sleep through anything. When I finally woke up, I grabbed my flashdrive and headed up the stairs to finish one of my papers for Dr. Chadwick's class. It took me a couple of hours, but I finally go it done. It feels amazing to have one paper out of the way. I am not looking forward to the next one in the least!
Dinner brought with it this amazing vanilla pudding topped with strawberry sauce. I remember there being chicken and rice as well, but the pudding was my favorite part. As soon as I was done with eating, Dan found me and we wandered down to the the laundry room so that I could cut his hair. It was a definite party, but I was spitting little Dan hairs for the next hour! I have no idea how I managed to get so much of his hair in my mouth, but it happened and I didn't particularly enjoy it! But that's okay; I enjoyed cutting his hair!
Dr. Chadwick held a review session this evening for all of the students in order to help prepare us for his final on Thursday. I think I am going to be spending the next 36 hours in a hole, studying my butt off. This is going to be pleasant. There is just so much to remember! From dates to sites to cities to wadis, I don't know if my mind will be able to take in all of this information! But I am definitely going to try. I am determined to do well on this final - even if it kills me. Dr. Chadwick told us that he wants this test to be a learning experience for us, one that we can walk away from smarter and prepared. It will definitely be an interesting next few days! Tomorrow I will have to go to the Old City to get some gummi bears or something!!
It was a fairly relaxing day. I am glad that I took a nap today! Hopefully tomorrow I will be up and ready to study and prepare for the next couple of days. Let the games...begin!
01 August 2011
Can you believe it is already August; where did this year go? It was such an amazing day. I saw lions and tigers and bears!
The morning began with a light breakfast of watermelon and cantaloupe. Watermelon has become my favorite food at the Oasis in the mornings! I don't know why I haven't eaten it before now! Haha with breakfast eaten, I headed down to my room to brush my teeth and gather my stuff together for a day out in Jerusalem. We had planned to meet on the fourth floor at 8:45 to depart for the Hebrew U bus station. However, we soon learned that the bus left on the hour...and we were rushing. Ashlyn, Niffer, and I split off from the bigger group and made our way to Hebrew U - diving over walls, walking through underbrush, tripping up stairs, and running through hallways. The good news was that everyone made it there in time; some made it about 45 seconds before the bus arrived, but they made it! I chose to sit by Niffer and Jarom on the bus (and we were later joined by Ashley). Let me just tell you, these are three of my favorite people on this program; there is never a dull moment when they are around. For the next hour or so, we laughed back and forth and shared random stories and experiences. It was a good bus ride - my first in Jerusalem! Everyone was shocked that I hadn't ridden the bus yet; but I like to walk. And when I don't walk, it is just easier to grab a taxi than try and figure out the bus routes that are generally written in Hebrew. The bus reached our destination near after ten o'clock in the morning, a small village traditionally known as the birthplace of John the Baptist: Ein Karem.
Ein Karem is the home of many churches and monasteries, attracting millions of visitors each year. The churches and monasteries were the reason for our visit. We began our descent to the village at the "Moscovia Monastery". The monastery was built by the Russian Orthodox Church in the 19th Century AD and houses two church compounds. The artwork and the architecture was remarkable; unfortunately we couldn't take any pictures inside of the building. Hopefully my memory will preserve was my eyes have seen! The outside of the church was beautiful as well, but our location did not result in the best pictures! The top of the monastery has tented (like many other Russian Orthodox churches) spires that are covered in gold plates; these spires could not be seen from ground level! It was a major disappointment but that didn't keep me from taking pictures. Continuing our descent, we headed next to the Church of the Visitation. This church is attributed to John the Baptist's parental home, where Mary would have visited Elizabeth. The church was beautiful, and we could take pictures this time! There were two parts to this church. The upper floor held an organ as well as your standard altar. Paintings covered the walls and the ceiling; it was gorgeous. Down below, however, the church is venerated as the"stone in which John was concealed", in reference to the Protevangelium of James. The room was more peaceful and held a different atmosphere than the chapel above it. When we first arrived, the room was filled with nuns, worshipping and praying. It was an interesting experience to watch and to listen to them.
We headed to our next destination quickly as time was running out! (All of the churches in Ein Karem close at noon.) We stopped for a few minutes at Mary's Spring, the traditional site where Mary and Elizabeth met, to take a few pictures and then made our way through the streets to the Church of St. John the Baptist. The church was built by the Catholic church in the second half of the 19th Century AD on the remnants of earlier Byzantine and Crusader churches. Inside are the remains of an ancient mosaic floor and a cave where, according to Christian tradition, John the Baptist was born. I loved the inside of this church. With blue tiling on the walls, it was beautiful and bright. However, while the building itself was beautiful, it was what we did inside the church that made the experience. Kymberly Stone is an organ major at Brigham Young, and she is really good. In nearly every church we go to, there is an organ but she has never thought to ask if she could play before. However, with my urging, she approached the Franciscan monk in church and asked him if she could play. He happily gave her consent! (Apparently the church does not currently have an organist!) After locating the key, Kymberly climbed onto the bench and began playing different LDS Hymns. It was beautiful. Granted, the organ wasn't in the best of shape, but it was so fun to listen to her play! At one point, the pedals began syphoning, so she had to stop using them, but that didn't stop her. It was fun to watch her face light up. And she even let me play a Hymn (though my organ skills are nothing in comparison to hers! It was a great experience, for both of us.
On our way out of Ein Karem, most of us stopped to eat lunch. I chose to grab a slice of pizza and a scoop of lemon-mint gelato. It was absolutely delicious. And it felt great to sit down for a little while! You never realize how tired you are until you sit down to rest! We eventually left Ein Karem behind us and boarded another bus for our next destination: the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. For those of you who don't know me very well, zoos are right down my alley. I love seeing all of the animals and talking to them...haha :) The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo is probably second on my list of favorite zoos (San Diego being the first, of course). It is nothing like the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake where are the animals appear to be dying!!There were many different animals and they were all fairly interactive (unless they were asleep like the lazy lion). There were probably close to fifteen of us all together at the zoo: Kym, TC, Ashley, Niffer, Fenton, Holly, Josiah, Josh, Jarom...we had a blast together. I couldn't tell you what my favorite part of the zoo was, but I can tell you what animals I liked the most. THE PENGUINS! I'm sorry, but nothing is better than a penguin. They are so cute. I love how they waddled around their tank and dove into the water. It was fun to watch them but we had to move on eventually. I also enjoyed the elephants, the bears, the giraffes, and of course, the lemurs. For those of you who have never seen lemurs (except for King Jullian on Madagascar), you are seriously missing out! The lemurs were hilarious, and we were in side of their habitat with them. They were swinging above our hands and running across the path; I hate to admit it but I was scared of them. I thought they were going to eat me or land on me or something! Jarom, however, had no fear; he embraced the lemurs. He may have been more entertaining than the lemurs when it comes down to it. He loved them...lol. I don't think his life will ever be the same.
Our time at the zoo ended much too quickly in my opinion. I could have spent much longer there, but every good thing has to come to an end at some time...and we had to get back for dinner. It was a definite adventure to get home. We weren't entirely sure of the bus schedules or drop-off points, but we eventually made it back to Hebrew U. It was an amazing day - an exhausting but an amazing day! Prior to eating dinner, I purchased my All-Sports Pass for the next school year; it is going to be a great year (and many of the J.C. students grouped together for the football games)! After dinner, I took a quick shower, did laundry, and finished up some homework for the week so that I could begin studying for finals. Ugh. Finals. They are a necessary evil - or so I am told. It was a great day; one that I wouldn't mind reliving. Ein Karem was great; the zoo was wonderful. And I spent the day with amazing people. Could life get any better than this?
The morning began with a light breakfast of watermelon and cantaloupe. Watermelon has become my favorite food at the Oasis in the mornings! I don't know why I haven't eaten it before now! Haha with breakfast eaten, I headed down to my room to brush my teeth and gather my stuff together for a day out in Jerusalem. We had planned to meet on the fourth floor at 8:45 to depart for the Hebrew U bus station. However, we soon learned that the bus left on the hour...and we were rushing. Ashlyn, Niffer, and I split off from the bigger group and made our way to Hebrew U - diving over walls, walking through underbrush, tripping up stairs, and running through hallways. The good news was that everyone made it there in time; some made it about 45 seconds before the bus arrived, but they made it! I chose to sit by Niffer and Jarom on the bus (and we were later joined by Ashley). Let me just tell you, these are three of my favorite people on this program; there is never a dull moment when they are around. For the next hour or so, we laughed back and forth and shared random stories and experiences. It was a good bus ride - my first in Jerusalem! Everyone was shocked that I hadn't ridden the bus yet; but I like to walk. And when I don't walk, it is just easier to grab a taxi than try and figure out the bus routes that are generally written in Hebrew. The bus reached our destination near after ten o'clock in the morning, a small village traditionally known as the birthplace of John the Baptist: Ein Karem.
Ein Karem is the home of many churches and monasteries, attracting millions of visitors each year. The churches and monasteries were the reason for our visit. We began our descent to the village at the "Moscovia Monastery". The monastery was built by the Russian Orthodox Church in the 19th Century AD and houses two church compounds. The artwork and the architecture was remarkable; unfortunately we couldn't take any pictures inside of the building. Hopefully my memory will preserve was my eyes have seen! The outside of the church was beautiful as well, but our location did not result in the best pictures! The top of the monastery has tented (like many other Russian Orthodox churches) spires that are covered in gold plates; these spires could not be seen from ground level! It was a major disappointment but that didn't keep me from taking pictures. Continuing our descent, we headed next to the Church of the Visitation. This church is attributed to John the Baptist's parental home, where Mary would have visited Elizabeth. The church was beautiful, and we could take pictures this time! There were two parts to this church. The upper floor held an organ as well as your standard altar. Paintings covered the walls and the ceiling; it was gorgeous. Down below, however, the church is venerated as the"stone in which John was concealed", in reference to the Protevangelium of James. The room was more peaceful and held a different atmosphere than the chapel above it. When we first arrived, the room was filled with nuns, worshipping and praying. It was an interesting experience to watch and to listen to them.
We headed to our next destination quickly as time was running out! (All of the churches in Ein Karem close at noon.) We stopped for a few minutes at Mary's Spring, the traditional site where Mary and Elizabeth met, to take a few pictures and then made our way through the streets to the Church of St. John the Baptist. The church was built by the Catholic church in the second half of the 19th Century AD on the remnants of earlier Byzantine and Crusader churches. Inside are the remains of an ancient mosaic floor and a cave where, according to Christian tradition, John the Baptist was born. I loved the inside of this church. With blue tiling on the walls, it was beautiful and bright. However, while the building itself was beautiful, it was what we did inside the church that made the experience. Kymberly Stone is an organ major at Brigham Young, and she is really good. In nearly every church we go to, there is an organ but she has never thought to ask if she could play before. However, with my urging, she approached the Franciscan monk in church and asked him if she could play. He happily gave her consent! (Apparently the church does not currently have an organist!) After locating the key, Kymberly climbed onto the bench and began playing different LDS Hymns. It was beautiful. Granted, the organ wasn't in the best of shape, but it was so fun to listen to her play! At one point, the pedals began syphoning, so she had to stop using them, but that didn't stop her. It was fun to watch her face light up. And she even let me play a Hymn (though my organ skills are nothing in comparison to hers! It was a great experience, for both of us.
On our way out of Ein Karem, most of us stopped to eat lunch. I chose to grab a slice of pizza and a scoop of lemon-mint gelato. It was absolutely delicious. And it felt great to sit down for a little while! You never realize how tired you are until you sit down to rest! We eventually left Ein Karem behind us and boarded another bus for our next destination: the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. For those of you who don't know me very well, zoos are right down my alley. I love seeing all of the animals and talking to them...haha :) The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo is probably second on my list of favorite zoos (San Diego being the first, of course). It is nothing like the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake where are the animals appear to be dying!!There were many different animals and they were all fairly interactive (unless they were asleep like the lazy lion). There were probably close to fifteen of us all together at the zoo: Kym, TC, Ashley, Niffer, Fenton, Holly, Josiah, Josh, Jarom...we had a blast together. I couldn't tell you what my favorite part of the zoo was, but I can tell you what animals I liked the most. THE PENGUINS! I'm sorry, but nothing is better than a penguin. They are so cute. I love how they waddled around their tank and dove into the water. It was fun to watch them but we had to move on eventually. I also enjoyed the elephants, the bears, the giraffes, and of course, the lemurs. For those of you who have never seen lemurs (except for King Jullian on Madagascar), you are seriously missing out! The lemurs were hilarious, and we were in side of their habitat with them. They were swinging above our hands and running across the path; I hate to admit it but I was scared of them. I thought they were going to eat me or land on me or something! Jarom, however, had no fear; he embraced the lemurs. He may have been more entertaining than the lemurs when it comes down to it. He loved them...lol. I don't think his life will ever be the same.
Our time at the zoo ended much too quickly in my opinion. I could have spent much longer there, but every good thing has to come to an end at some time...and we had to get back for dinner. It was a definite adventure to get home. We weren't entirely sure of the bus schedules or drop-off points, but we eventually made it back to Hebrew U. It was an amazing day - an exhausting but an amazing day! Prior to eating dinner, I purchased my All-Sports Pass for the next school year; it is going to be a great year (and many of the J.C. students grouped together for the football games)! After dinner, I took a quick shower, did laundry, and finished up some homework for the week so that I could begin studying for finals. Ugh. Finals. They are a necessary evil - or so I am told. It was a great day; one that I wouldn't mind reliving. Ein Karem was great; the zoo was wonderful. And I spent the day with amazing people. Could life get any better than this?
Sunday, July 31, 2011
31 July 2011
It was our last field trip day outside of Jerusalem today! I can't believe it has come to this point. Everyone made it a point to take tons of pictures, to make the most of the bus rides, and to have as much fun as physically possible. Of course, none of this would have been possibe without Brother Judd, his amazing fashion-sense, and his magical pink umbrella.
It was hot today. I know I have said this a million of times, but I mean it this time. I am talking 107 degrees. But, thankfully, we have an amazing assitant director this semester who allowed us to wear shorts today! Trust me; it would have been impossible to stand outside in the blazing sun for six hours in pants. We all would have died. Our day began at Qumran, a city situated below the cliffs of the Judean wilderness near the shore of the Dead Sea. Deeming the later Hasmonean and the Herodian rulers to have corrupted Judaism, the Essenes practiced "monasticism" at Qumran, where they produced or preserved the Dead Sea Scrolls. There emerged within Judaism two main factions by the Second Century BCE: Sadducees (hellenized elite hereditary priesthood) and Pharisees (rabbi-led commoners committed to Jewish culture). When the Hasmoneans, who led an anti-hellenization revolt, usurped the high priest's office and promoted hellinization, some Jews (most probably the "Essenes") disassociated themselves from "corrupt" Jewish society and established a virtually all-male monastery-like community at Qumran. There, calling themselves the "sons of light", they prepared militarily to defeat the "sons of darkness", in part through purifying themselve in mikvaot, with communal meals, and by copying sacred writings in a scriptorium. These writings were discovered in 1947 by a Bedouin in the caves at Qumran and have been properly named the Dead Sea Scrolls. These scrolls are the oldest Old Testament manuscripts in existence - pieces of true history.
Last week I was able to see the Dead Sea Scrolls in person at the Israel National Museum. So it was so cool to be able to see the site that they were discovered at, the very caves in which they were found! It was hot on the tel, but it was worth it. The view of the Dead Sea was amazing and the history of where we were standing was unbelievable. We really do have the opportunity to visit some great places. I may grumble about the number of tels that we visit, but each of the sites we visit has some importance, some connection to the Old Testament, to the Israelites.
Masada, another of Herod's Fortresses, was our next destination. Herod left his family at Masada, first fortified by Hasmonean ruler Alexander Jannaeus, when he went to Rome to be named puppet king of Judea and while he consolidated his power. To protect his tributary kingdom's southeast flank, Herod later rebuilt and enlarged Masada. Herod's complex featured northern and western palaces, Roman bath, swimming pool, storage buildings, and a casemate wall that included living quarters and a messhall (triclilnium) for the soldiers. Aqueducts (from the wadi to the south) and cisterns (in the western cliff-face) kept Masada supplied with water. During the First Revolt against Rome, Masada was seized by a band of robber-assassins called Sicarii, who - led by Eleazer Ben Yair - assassinated foreigners and Jewish collaborators and who raided nearby Jewish villages. The Sicarii remade the triclinium into a synagogue with its scriptorium inside and a mikva outside. The Romans attacked Masada after conquering Jerusalem and the Herodion. Although he was not present at the event, Josephus provides the only description of Masada's fall. According to him, the Romans built a siege ramp, besieged Masada for a period of about four months, and used siege engines and fire to destroy Herod's wall. On entering Masada, the Romans discovered that the Jewish inhabitants were all dead.
Wasn't that a great history? Basically, everyone died in the end...happy, I know. Masada is another tel, another fortress. It was cool to walk around...but very hot. At one point, I grabbed Emily Judd and put her on my shoulders; she was carrying an umbrella so I was shaded from the sun! It was the smartest decision I had made all day! My skin can only take so much before it begins to burn and boil. Curse my Scandinavian heritage! Haha. :) My favorite part of Masada was probably the western palace. It still had a lot of its decorations and mosaics. It was a great place to take pictures as well. The views that you get at these tels are amazing.
Ein Gedi came next on our agenda. Brother Judd gave us its biblical history before we got off of the bus (which was very kind of him) so we were given an entire hour to do as we pleased. I chose to use that time to the fullest and hiked through the harsh sun to see three (or four) different waterfalls. Ein Gedi is a site where two wadis meet, delivering spring water and creating waterfalls. The waterfalls were beautiful but incredibly crowded. I couldn't believe there were so many people there. And almost all of them were standing/swimming in the pools...making it impossible to get any good pictures. It was ridiculous. However, many of us found that if we walked up to the farthest waterfall, there were less people and better photo opportunities. It was hot and I was sweating up a storm by the time we got there, but it was worth it. Waterfalls really are breathtaking.
From Ein Gedi, we boarded the buses for the Dead Sea (or, as I called it all day, El Mar Muerto). The Dead Sea is located 1300 feet below Sea Level, making it the lowest spot on earth. It is also very, very rich in minerals, especially salt. The sea is 30% salt...three-times greater than the Great Salt Lake in Utah. So, you float. It was the coolest thing ever! I have never been to the Great Salt Lake so this was a brand new experience for me. We were all cautioned to avoid getting water on our faces or in our eyes...for obvious reasons (it burned forever if it got on in your eyes...it was awful). It was fun to float around and do cool tricks in the water. It was also very tiring. While you don't have to tread water, it's no fun if you just sit there. Most of us were running through the water and swimming in long trains. We had a lot of fun. But, like the outside temperature, the water was incredibly warm. Most of us only last about thirty minutes before we had to get out and rinse off. But we were able to get popsicles once we were out of the water, and who doesn't like popsicles? I can now say that I have swam in the Mediterrean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Dead Sea. Awesome. :)
The rest of the day/evening was spent very quietly. We were all exhausted from the field trip so we mostly just lounged around. I attempted to do laundry...but it was full, so I ended up studying instead. Festive, I know. However, I could only take studying for so long before I had to do something else, so I chose to call my mom and dad. I situated myself on the fifth floor (outside of the Chadwick's apartment, actually) and talked to them for a good while. They were both exhausted though so it was a fairly one-sided conversation...but that's okay! It was still great to talk to them. When I hung up, Brother Chadwick walked outside...so I ended up talking to him and Sister Chadwick for a good while. It was fun to catch up with them. It was a good way to leave my day. You can't go wrong with the Chadwicks!
It was hot today. I know I have said this a million of times, but I mean it this time. I am talking 107 degrees. But, thankfully, we have an amazing assitant director this semester who allowed us to wear shorts today! Trust me; it would have been impossible to stand outside in the blazing sun for six hours in pants. We all would have died. Our day began at Qumran, a city situated below the cliffs of the Judean wilderness near the shore of the Dead Sea. Deeming the later Hasmonean and the Herodian rulers to have corrupted Judaism, the Essenes practiced "monasticism" at Qumran, where they produced or preserved the Dead Sea Scrolls. There emerged within Judaism two main factions by the Second Century BCE: Sadducees (hellenized elite hereditary priesthood) and Pharisees (rabbi-led commoners committed to Jewish culture). When the Hasmoneans, who led an anti-hellenization revolt, usurped the high priest's office and promoted hellinization, some Jews (most probably the "Essenes") disassociated themselves from "corrupt" Jewish society and established a virtually all-male monastery-like community at Qumran. There, calling themselves the "sons of light", they prepared militarily to defeat the "sons of darkness", in part through purifying themselve in mikvaot, with communal meals, and by copying sacred writings in a scriptorium. These writings were discovered in 1947 by a Bedouin in the caves at Qumran and have been properly named the Dead Sea Scrolls. These scrolls are the oldest Old Testament manuscripts in existence - pieces of true history.
Last week I was able to see the Dead Sea Scrolls in person at the Israel National Museum. So it was so cool to be able to see the site that they were discovered at, the very caves in which they were found! It was hot on the tel, but it was worth it. The view of the Dead Sea was amazing and the history of where we were standing was unbelievable. We really do have the opportunity to visit some great places. I may grumble about the number of tels that we visit, but each of the sites we visit has some importance, some connection to the Old Testament, to the Israelites.
Masada, another of Herod's Fortresses, was our next destination. Herod left his family at Masada, first fortified by Hasmonean ruler Alexander Jannaeus, when he went to Rome to be named puppet king of Judea and while he consolidated his power. To protect his tributary kingdom's southeast flank, Herod later rebuilt and enlarged Masada. Herod's complex featured northern and western palaces, Roman bath, swimming pool, storage buildings, and a casemate wall that included living quarters and a messhall (triclilnium) for the soldiers. Aqueducts (from the wadi to the south) and cisterns (in the western cliff-face) kept Masada supplied with water. During the First Revolt against Rome, Masada was seized by a band of robber-assassins called Sicarii, who - led by Eleazer Ben Yair - assassinated foreigners and Jewish collaborators and who raided nearby Jewish villages. The Sicarii remade the triclinium into a synagogue with its scriptorium inside and a mikva outside. The Romans attacked Masada after conquering Jerusalem and the Herodion. Although he was not present at the event, Josephus provides the only description of Masada's fall. According to him, the Romans built a siege ramp, besieged Masada for a period of about four months, and used siege engines and fire to destroy Herod's wall. On entering Masada, the Romans discovered that the Jewish inhabitants were all dead.
Wasn't that a great history? Basically, everyone died in the end...happy, I know. Masada is another tel, another fortress. It was cool to walk around...but very hot. At one point, I grabbed Emily Judd and put her on my shoulders; she was carrying an umbrella so I was shaded from the sun! It was the smartest decision I had made all day! My skin can only take so much before it begins to burn and boil. Curse my Scandinavian heritage! Haha. :) My favorite part of Masada was probably the western palace. It still had a lot of its decorations and mosaics. It was a great place to take pictures as well. The views that you get at these tels are amazing.
Ein Gedi came next on our agenda. Brother Judd gave us its biblical history before we got off of the bus (which was very kind of him) so we were given an entire hour to do as we pleased. I chose to use that time to the fullest and hiked through the harsh sun to see three (or four) different waterfalls. Ein Gedi is a site where two wadis meet, delivering spring water and creating waterfalls. The waterfalls were beautiful but incredibly crowded. I couldn't believe there were so many people there. And almost all of them were standing/swimming in the pools...making it impossible to get any good pictures. It was ridiculous. However, many of us found that if we walked up to the farthest waterfall, there were less people and better photo opportunities. It was hot and I was sweating up a storm by the time we got there, but it was worth it. Waterfalls really are breathtaking.
From Ein Gedi, we boarded the buses for the Dead Sea (or, as I called it all day, El Mar Muerto). The Dead Sea is located 1300 feet below Sea Level, making it the lowest spot on earth. It is also very, very rich in minerals, especially salt. The sea is 30% salt...three-times greater than the Great Salt Lake in Utah. So, you float. It was the coolest thing ever! I have never been to the Great Salt Lake so this was a brand new experience for me. We were all cautioned to avoid getting water on our faces or in our eyes...for obvious reasons (it burned forever if it got on in your eyes...it was awful). It was fun to float around and do cool tricks in the water. It was also very tiring. While you don't have to tread water, it's no fun if you just sit there. Most of us were running through the water and swimming in long trains. We had a lot of fun. But, like the outside temperature, the water was incredibly warm. Most of us only last about thirty minutes before we had to get out and rinse off. But we were able to get popsicles once we were out of the water, and who doesn't like popsicles? I can now say that I have swam in the Mediterrean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Dead Sea. Awesome. :)
The rest of the day/evening was spent very quietly. We were all exhausted from the field trip so we mostly just lounged around. I attempted to do laundry...but it was full, so I ended up studying instead. Festive, I know. However, I could only take studying for so long before I had to do something else, so I chose to call my mom and dad. I situated myself on the fifth floor (outside of the Chadwick's apartment, actually) and talked to them for a good while. They were both exhausted though so it was a fairly one-sided conversation...but that's okay! It was still great to talk to them. When I hung up, Brother Chadwick walked outside...so I ended up talking to him and Sister Chadwick for a good while. It was fun to catch up with them. It was a good way to leave my day. You can't go wrong with the Chadwicks!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
30 July 2011
Can you believe it's Sabbath again? Already? I remember the afternoon of my first Sabbath in Jerusalem. I was sitting in a group of people, and they were discussing how sad it would be when we had to go to church back in Utah, in Idaho, in Hawaii. Someone piped in and said that we had sixteen Sabbaths left in Jerusalem...that sixteen Sabbaths was a lot. Well, sixteen Sabbaths is nothing. I can't believe that there is only one more Sabbath Day left in Jerusalem...one more day to look out over the Old City during Sacrament meeting, one more day to listen to Brother Chadwick bust Mormon Myths in Sabbath School, one more day to share in the sweet spirit of Relief Society. I didn't expect this day to come for a few more weeks...months even. And now, here I am, wondering where all of the time went...wondering if I will ever have this again, if I will ever have another Sabbath (after next week) of partaking of the Sacrament in the same city where the Last Supper occurred.
Sacrament was fully centered around Jesus Christ - becoming like Him, seeking after Him, taking His name upon us. It was a great time to reflect on what I have learned about Him and on what He has done for me. I couldn't tell you why I chose to come to study in the Holy Land; the best answer I can come up with is that I wanted to go to Egypt. But as most of you know, that part of the program was cancelled and replaced with a trip to Turkey. As my time in Jerusalem is coming to an end, I have been searching for an answer to why I chose to come to Jerusalem, why I was supposed to come here. The one thing...or person, rather, that comes to my mind is my Savior, Jesus Christ. On this program, I have had many opportunities to grow closer to Jesus Christ through study, through personal experience, through prayer. It has been a chance for me to come to know my Savior in a different light, to leave the world behind and really focus in on Him and on His love for me. I know without a doubt that He is the promised Messiah, that He came into this world to save all men from sin, that He died upon the cross so that all men can return and live with Him and the Father someday. It is only through Jesus Christ and His Atonement, His Sacrifice that we can be saved. We have to make an effort. We have to be obedient to the commandments; we have to search after Him. We must do our part if we expect His Atonement to have any effect on us. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have had to come to know my Savior the past few months. I have said this before, and I will continue saying it. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior, my Redeemer, my Brother, my Friend. And I know that He lives; without a doubt in my mind, I know He lives.
Once church let out, I had the opportunity to go to the Old City with a few other students to participate in a service activity. We were able to meet with a elderly member of the Christian Quarter in the Old City, to learn a little bit about her life, and to sing a few songs to her. It was the first time I had been inside of a home in Jerusalem. It wasn't what I was expecting. They live very differently from me; their entire culture is different. She seemed to really appreciate our visit. Like in the United States, there are so many elderly people who are not visited, who are left alone. I think it is so important for us to reach out to the elderly in our societies. We don't truly understand how lonely they really are, how eager they are for a simple conversation until we speak with them. There is so much we can learn from them. Reach out to them. Go out and visit someone in your neighborhood, in your city. Adopt a grandmother; adopt a grandfather. You will not regret this decision.
We got back to the Jerusalem Center just in time for a delicious Sabbath meal in the Oasis. I always look forward to Sabbaths when it comes to food! There is always roast and potatoes and vegetables. I love it. And dessert tonight...I cannot express how amazing the dessert was tonight! Imagine a chocolate fudge brownie....covered in a hot chocolate sauce. It was amazing. And the chocolate was dark and rich. (Rachel...you would have been in heaven; it was that amazing! We don't always have amazing desserts at the J.C. Like many foreign countries, the desserts aren't always sweet. But tonight, this was not the case. Yum. Yum. Yum.
Seminary was amazing, as usual. And it was even better because I didn't have to teach! Lizzie taught the lesson tonight, and it was amazing. She finished up the prophets (Ezra Taft Benson, Howard W. Hunter, and Gordon B. Hinckley) and then spoke on The Family: A Proclamation to the World. For those of you who have not read that document recently (or ever), I encourage you to read it. (A copy can easily be located on lds.org.) The family truly is essential to the Father's Plan; without the family, His plan becomes pointless. I have gained such a great appreciation for my family this summer. I am so grateful for them and to them, and I am so thankful that we have the ability to be together forever. Forever it a scary thought sometimes, but through the Father's plan, this forever is perfect happiness. We watched one of those cheesy seminary videos made in the 1990s and I just...I started crying (and I am not usually one to outright cry). My mom and dad have given me everything in life. It is because of them that I am in Jerusalem, that I am studying at BYU, that I have the developed talents that I have, that I have a knowledge of my Savior, that I am happy. We don't realize how much our parents do for us until we stop and think about it, and I don't think I will ever truly realize the love and devotion they have for me until I have children of my own. It has been such a great experience for me to teach seminary this semester. The Lord really does call people to callings where they can grow, where they can learn.
Brother Judd gave a fireside tonight on the choices that we have in life and how we can better make those choices with our minds centered on Jesus Christ and our Father's Plan for us. He centered a lot on the Spirit of Revelation and how we can better turn to the Lord for assurance, for answers to our questions. The past few nights, I have had something on my mind that has been a little unsettling. This fireside helped to settle those feelings. God really will do all that He can to help us and to answer our questions and to guide us in life, but we have to do everything in our own power to accopmlish the goals that we seek and turn to Him before He will reach out to us. We have to show forth that faith. I loved the insights Brother Judd had. He really is an inspired man. I am lucky to have him as a professor in Jerusalem.
The day is over. And it was an amazing day. I know that I am continually saying that everyday I have is amazing, but I really do mean it. The way I am touched with the Spirit, the interactions I have with those around me, the insights I gain both through classes and experiences make each of my days amazing. Like I've said multiple times, you just can't have a bad day in Jerusalem. Even if you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, everything will work out by the end of the day.
Sacrament was fully centered around Jesus Christ - becoming like Him, seeking after Him, taking His name upon us. It was a great time to reflect on what I have learned about Him and on what He has done for me. I couldn't tell you why I chose to come to study in the Holy Land; the best answer I can come up with is that I wanted to go to Egypt. But as most of you know, that part of the program was cancelled and replaced with a trip to Turkey. As my time in Jerusalem is coming to an end, I have been searching for an answer to why I chose to come to Jerusalem, why I was supposed to come here. The one thing...or person, rather, that comes to my mind is my Savior, Jesus Christ. On this program, I have had many opportunities to grow closer to Jesus Christ through study, through personal experience, through prayer. It has been a chance for me to come to know my Savior in a different light, to leave the world behind and really focus in on Him and on His love for me. I know without a doubt that He is the promised Messiah, that He came into this world to save all men from sin, that He died upon the cross so that all men can return and live with Him and the Father someday. It is only through Jesus Christ and His Atonement, His Sacrifice that we can be saved. We have to make an effort. We have to be obedient to the commandments; we have to search after Him. We must do our part if we expect His Atonement to have any effect on us. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have had to come to know my Savior the past few months. I have said this before, and I will continue saying it. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior, my Redeemer, my Brother, my Friend. And I know that He lives; without a doubt in my mind, I know He lives.
Once church let out, I had the opportunity to go to the Old City with a few other students to participate in a service activity. We were able to meet with a elderly member of the Christian Quarter in the Old City, to learn a little bit about her life, and to sing a few songs to her. It was the first time I had been inside of a home in Jerusalem. It wasn't what I was expecting. They live very differently from me; their entire culture is different. She seemed to really appreciate our visit. Like in the United States, there are so many elderly people who are not visited, who are left alone. I think it is so important for us to reach out to the elderly in our societies. We don't truly understand how lonely they really are, how eager they are for a simple conversation until we speak with them. There is so much we can learn from them. Reach out to them. Go out and visit someone in your neighborhood, in your city. Adopt a grandmother; adopt a grandfather. You will not regret this decision.
We got back to the Jerusalem Center just in time for a delicious Sabbath meal in the Oasis. I always look forward to Sabbaths when it comes to food! There is always roast and potatoes and vegetables. I love it. And dessert tonight...I cannot express how amazing the dessert was tonight! Imagine a chocolate fudge brownie....covered in a hot chocolate sauce. It was amazing. And the chocolate was dark and rich. (Rachel...you would have been in heaven; it was that amazing! We don't always have amazing desserts at the J.C. Like many foreign countries, the desserts aren't always sweet. But tonight, this was not the case. Yum. Yum. Yum.
Seminary was amazing, as usual. And it was even better because I didn't have to teach! Lizzie taught the lesson tonight, and it was amazing. She finished up the prophets (Ezra Taft Benson, Howard W. Hunter, and Gordon B. Hinckley) and then spoke on The Family: A Proclamation to the World. For those of you who have not read that document recently (or ever), I encourage you to read it. (A copy can easily be located on lds.org.) The family truly is essential to the Father's Plan; without the family, His plan becomes pointless. I have gained such a great appreciation for my family this summer. I am so grateful for them and to them, and I am so thankful that we have the ability to be together forever. Forever it a scary thought sometimes, but through the Father's plan, this forever is perfect happiness. We watched one of those cheesy seminary videos made in the 1990s and I just...I started crying (and I am not usually one to outright cry). My mom and dad have given me everything in life. It is because of them that I am in Jerusalem, that I am studying at BYU, that I have the developed talents that I have, that I have a knowledge of my Savior, that I am happy. We don't realize how much our parents do for us until we stop and think about it, and I don't think I will ever truly realize the love and devotion they have for me until I have children of my own. It has been such a great experience for me to teach seminary this semester. The Lord really does call people to callings where they can grow, where they can learn.
Brother Judd gave a fireside tonight on the choices that we have in life and how we can better make those choices with our minds centered on Jesus Christ and our Father's Plan for us. He centered a lot on the Spirit of Revelation and how we can better turn to the Lord for assurance, for answers to our questions. The past few nights, I have had something on my mind that has been a little unsettling. This fireside helped to settle those feelings. God really will do all that He can to help us and to answer our questions and to guide us in life, but we have to do everything in our own power to accopmlish the goals that we seek and turn to Him before He will reach out to us. We have to show forth that faith. I loved the insights Brother Judd had. He really is an inspired man. I am lucky to have him as a professor in Jerusalem.
The day is over. And it was an amazing day. I know that I am continually saying that everyday I have is amazing, but I really do mean it. The way I am touched with the Spirit, the interactions I have with those around me, the insights I gain both through classes and experiences make each of my days amazing. Like I've said multiple times, you just can't have a bad day in Jerusalem. Even if you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, everything will work out by the end of the day.
29 July 2011
It has come to the point in the term that I cannot separate one day from another. I feel like everything this past week has been nothing more than a blur. This may have something to do with the fact that my days are so similar: class, study, city, sleep. There is little to no variation in my daily activities. However, it doesn't bother me. Each time I walk down the Kidron Valley and enter the Old City, I have a new experience; each time I enter Classroom One for New Testament, I learn something new. It doesn't matter if I have done something a million times or once; it always brings something new, something I have never felt. I truly hope this followed me back to the United States. The next four months are going to be fairly monotonous, so I hope I can continue finding the positive in doing the same thing over and over again. But Provo isn't Jerusalem - not even close.
New Testament was two hours today, rather than the usual three, which was a huge relief for most students, especially me. My attention span was next to non-existant this morning. If we hadn't taken a break halfway through the class, I'm not sure I would have made it. My eyelids were falling far too quickly. Once New Testament was over, I hurried into the Forum to wait for my next class to start - Ancient Near Eastern Studies. That's right; Chadwick is back! It has been so weird to have Doctor Chadwick and Sister Kim gone for the past three weeks. They were welcomed back with hugs and smiles. His class went by fairly smoothly. We were greeted with amazing news at the beginning of his lecture: no more midterms for the rest of the term! He has decided to stop giving them because he hasn't been able to teach us regularly enough. Instead, he has assigned us readings to do and report on. It was a relief.
As soon as lunch was over, we shuffled into the parking garage for a Humanitarian Activity....what did we do, you may ask? Well, we assembled hygiene kits! What else is there to do? It was so much fun...and incredibly hot. There is no air-conditioning in that garage. Within minutes, everyone's forehead was creased with sweat. Delightful. The activity didn't last as long as it was planned to...but only because we ran out of supplies! Our group has been the most proactive when it comes to hygiene kits. We get in there and we get the job done! The service couple definitely wasn't prepared for us! Haha what one group usually did in eight sessions, we did in five! It was awesome. And we met our quota: 10,000! We have reason to believe that we have done far more kits than 10,000...but I guess numbers aren't what really matter in this situation. What matters is that we are serving others...and that we are the winner! Mwahahahaha. :) But really, it's not a competition...because against us, there is no competition!
Once we ran out of toothbrushes I grabbed painting supplies and headed down to the playground on the first floor to seal the arches on the murals that were painted earlier in the semester. It took all of ten minutes to get it all done, but it was dangerously hot. The jeans I had on were stuck to me but falling down by the time I headed back into the building. It was ridiculous. This heat is beginning to get to me. It just keeps getting hotter and hotter! I miss being surrounded by air-conditioning... That was another great thing about Ein Gev. No matter what room, what building you walked into, you were greeted by a cold burst of air. The Jerusalem Center doesn't always use its air-conditioning so it gets fairly warm in certain areas of the building. But, I guess we can't be too bothered by that. After all, the building is beautiful and well-kept. There are much larger things that we could be complaining about.
I spent the afternoon attempting to complete one of my assignments for Doctor Chadwick's class. I got four out of the seven pages completed! I was rather proud of myself, but there is still a long way to go until I am finished. I have ten pages total that I have to write by August 8th. I can do it, no problem. It will just take a lot of focus to do so. It is difficult to focus when everyone around you is laughing and screaming and playing and having a good time! By eight o'clock at night, I couldn't take another minute of writing. So Kymberly and I decided to watch a movie, a classic: Charade. There is nothing better than an evening of Audrey Hepburn. She is by far one of my favorite actresses. She is just so proper, so...I don't know. I grew up with a mother would loves Audrey, and that love has definitely rubbed off on me. But I don't mind at all. I would much rather watch older movies than newer movies! You can't go wrong with Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Judy Garland, Ava Gardner, Doris Day, and Fred Astaire! As soon as Charade was over, I shuffled into the next room to watch a different movie: The Adjustment Bureau. Now that was the trippiest movie I have seen since Inception. I liked it, but it was different...and incredibly cheesy! But cheesy movies are always the best ones, right?
I didn't get to bed until fairly late. After the movie was done, I stayed and talked with Dan for a few minutes. And then on my way down to my room, I got a text from Kymberly so we stayed up talking for a few minutes. These early hours of the morning and I have got to stop meeting like this! There is no way that I am going to survive finals if I don't start going to bed at an earlier hour! Perhaps tomorrow night will be different...don't hold your breath...
New Testament was two hours today, rather than the usual three, which was a huge relief for most students, especially me. My attention span was next to non-existant this morning. If we hadn't taken a break halfway through the class, I'm not sure I would have made it. My eyelids were falling far too quickly. Once New Testament was over, I hurried into the Forum to wait for my next class to start - Ancient Near Eastern Studies. That's right; Chadwick is back! It has been so weird to have Doctor Chadwick and Sister Kim gone for the past three weeks. They were welcomed back with hugs and smiles. His class went by fairly smoothly. We were greeted with amazing news at the beginning of his lecture: no more midterms for the rest of the term! He has decided to stop giving them because he hasn't been able to teach us regularly enough. Instead, he has assigned us readings to do and report on. It was a relief.
As soon as lunch was over, we shuffled into the parking garage for a Humanitarian Activity....what did we do, you may ask? Well, we assembled hygiene kits! What else is there to do? It was so much fun...and incredibly hot. There is no air-conditioning in that garage. Within minutes, everyone's forehead was creased with sweat. Delightful. The activity didn't last as long as it was planned to...but only because we ran out of supplies! Our group has been the most proactive when it comes to hygiene kits. We get in there and we get the job done! The service couple definitely wasn't prepared for us! Haha what one group usually did in eight sessions, we did in five! It was awesome. And we met our quota: 10,000! We have reason to believe that we have done far more kits than 10,000...but I guess numbers aren't what really matter in this situation. What matters is that we are serving others...and that we are the winner! Mwahahahaha. :) But really, it's not a competition...because against us, there is no competition!
Once we ran out of toothbrushes I grabbed painting supplies and headed down to the playground on the first floor to seal the arches on the murals that were painted earlier in the semester. It took all of ten minutes to get it all done, but it was dangerously hot. The jeans I had on were stuck to me but falling down by the time I headed back into the building. It was ridiculous. This heat is beginning to get to me. It just keeps getting hotter and hotter! I miss being surrounded by air-conditioning... That was another great thing about Ein Gev. No matter what room, what building you walked into, you were greeted by a cold burst of air. The Jerusalem Center doesn't always use its air-conditioning so it gets fairly warm in certain areas of the building. But, I guess we can't be too bothered by that. After all, the building is beautiful and well-kept. There are much larger things that we could be complaining about.
I spent the afternoon attempting to complete one of my assignments for Doctor Chadwick's class. I got four out of the seven pages completed! I was rather proud of myself, but there is still a long way to go until I am finished. I have ten pages total that I have to write by August 8th. I can do it, no problem. It will just take a lot of focus to do so. It is difficult to focus when everyone around you is laughing and screaming and playing and having a good time! By eight o'clock at night, I couldn't take another minute of writing. So Kymberly and I decided to watch a movie, a classic: Charade. There is nothing better than an evening of Audrey Hepburn. She is by far one of my favorite actresses. She is just so proper, so...I don't know. I grew up with a mother would loves Audrey, and that love has definitely rubbed off on me. But I don't mind at all. I would much rather watch older movies than newer movies! You can't go wrong with Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Judy Garland, Ava Gardner, Doris Day, and Fred Astaire! As soon as Charade was over, I shuffled into the next room to watch a different movie: The Adjustment Bureau. Now that was the trippiest movie I have seen since Inception. I liked it, but it was different...and incredibly cheesy! But cheesy movies are always the best ones, right?
I didn't get to bed until fairly late. After the movie was done, I stayed and talked with Dan for a few minutes. And then on my way down to my room, I got a text from Kymberly so we stayed up talking for a few minutes. These early hours of the morning and I have got to stop meeting like this! There is no way that I am going to survive finals if I don't start going to bed at an earlier hour! Perhaps tomorrow night will be different...don't hold your breath...
Friday, July 29, 2011
28 July 2011
The semester is nearing to an end. I can almost taste the stress in the air. Finals begin one week from today. It is strange to think that the summer is almost over. Before I know it, I'll be back on the BYU-Provo campus on my way to the JFSB, the JKB, or the SWKT for class. I need more time; one month to prepare for another eight months of intense course work needs mental, emotional, and physical preparation. Otherwise, I will be running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I guess I should get through with my upcoming finals before I start worrying about the next eight months, though. Bring it on.
After three hours of New Testament and a falafel lunch, I left the Jerusalem Center with Kymberly Stone and Jenny Stewart. We had originally planned to begin at the Garden Tomb, but our time schedules were incorrect. We had thirty minutes to spare before the Garden Tomb opened for the afternoon. We chose to spend that time (and then some) shopping in the Christian Quarter of the Old City. I am glad I purchased souvenirs and gifts throughout the entire semester; it has taken a definitely load off of my shoulders! After hitting a few different shops, we eventually made it up to Shabbon's on Christian Quarter Road - as usual. I ended up purchasing gifts for my siblings, grandparents, and parents all in his shop! You really just can't beat Shabbon's prices. Anything in his shop is half the price that other venders will charge you. There is no point to spend ten dollars on something that you can get for five dollars from Shabbon! You would think that the other shopkeeprs around the Old City would take a hint and do the same.
As the afternoon wore on, we finally made our way over the the Garden Tomb. We planned to go over there to read for a paper due in New Testament the following day; I am glad we chose to do so. The readings we were assigned all dealt with the atonement and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the prompts for the paper dealth with the same topics. It was nice to sit and ponder within the traditional site of the Savior's resurrection and write a paper about the way it has influenced and impacted my life. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had to be so close to the different acts of my Savior, Jesus Christ. It is difficult to explain what it feels like to be where He was, where He atoned for my sins, where He raised from the dead, but I can tell you that you cannot enter those sites questions Christ's divinity and leave without an answer. Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He lived and died for all mankind; He has provided a way for all men to return to the HIm and Father someday. He lives and He will come again. I cannot testify of this enough. If you don't know for yourself that Jesus is the Christ, that He atoned for your sins, that He died for you, I challenge you to bow your head in humble prayer and ask with faith and sincerity if He is the Christ. The Spirit with testify of the truthfulness of these things. I know these things to be true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
The walk back up to the Jerusalem Center was miserable. That's all there really is to it. I had chosen to wear jeans that morning and didn't change out of them before I left for the city. It was the worst choice I had made in a long time. I don't know how so many people can stand to wear jeans here. If they aren't falling off of you, they are sticking to you because of the heat. It is uncomfortable, and they make things much warmer than they need to be! But, we finally made it back to the J.C., large bags in hand! I went straight to my room and flopped down on my bed to cool down before washing the dirt off of my feet. Because I always wear sandals into the city, my feet are always black by the time I gete back to the Center....the bottom's of my feet are permanently stained brown. It doesn't matter how hard I scrub. That dirt is not coming off! I am looking forward to going home and getting a pedicure; that's for sure!
Tonight was the night of the Formal Talent Show. I hadn't originally wanted to do anything (and to be honest, I still didn't), but a friend needed another piano player for her trio so I told her I would. From the time I got back to the J.C. until the start of the show I was practicing, eating dinner, and mentally preparing myself to perform. I hadn't performed on the piano since my Sophomore year in high school - over four years ago, so I was a little nervous. Thankfully, we were scheduled to go first. Along with Megan Judd and Megan Nuttall (never before have I wanted my name to be "Megan" so badly), I played a trio waltz composed by Rachmaninov, and it turned out fairly well. It was fun playing with them. Of course, I was shaking like a banshee by the time I sat back down in my seat, but it was a good experience. The rest of the talents were amazing. It was fun to sit and watch the different abilities of my fellow students. Some danced, some sang, some played music instruments; Joan Johnson did I 'silent play' about the Holy Land and the Light of Christ. It was a really good program. I am deifnitely here with a very talented group!
When the talent show came to a close, we all headed down to the Oasis for quick refreshements. I grabbed a piece of bread and then headed outside to my "spot" so studying my scriptures and spend a few minutes by myself. I haven't done this for a few weeks now, so it was nice to look out over the city and think about where I am and where I am going in life. It is hard to find that time in a building with eighty other students. It was a good way to end the day, though. I headed back inside near 10:30pm and washed my hair. As I was towelling it dry, I decided to clean the bathtub and mop up the floor a little bit; it was beyond needed...haha. There is a reason why I clean my own bathroom weekly (even bi-weekly) back in Provo!
In two weeks, I'll be preparing to go to the airport. It is so strange to think that I'll be heading home in only fourteen days. This summer has gone by so quickly, but I am thankful that I was able to spend it in the Holy Land, studying the life of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Gospel.
After three hours of New Testament and a falafel lunch, I left the Jerusalem Center with Kymberly Stone and Jenny Stewart. We had originally planned to begin at the Garden Tomb, but our time schedules were incorrect. We had thirty minutes to spare before the Garden Tomb opened for the afternoon. We chose to spend that time (and then some) shopping in the Christian Quarter of the Old City. I am glad I purchased souvenirs and gifts throughout the entire semester; it has taken a definitely load off of my shoulders! After hitting a few different shops, we eventually made it up to Shabbon's on Christian Quarter Road - as usual. I ended up purchasing gifts for my siblings, grandparents, and parents all in his shop! You really just can't beat Shabbon's prices. Anything in his shop is half the price that other venders will charge you. There is no point to spend ten dollars on something that you can get for five dollars from Shabbon! You would think that the other shopkeeprs around the Old City would take a hint and do the same.
As the afternoon wore on, we finally made our way over the the Garden Tomb. We planned to go over there to read for a paper due in New Testament the following day; I am glad we chose to do so. The readings we were assigned all dealt with the atonement and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the prompts for the paper dealth with the same topics. It was nice to sit and ponder within the traditional site of the Savior's resurrection and write a paper about the way it has influenced and impacted my life. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had to be so close to the different acts of my Savior, Jesus Christ. It is difficult to explain what it feels like to be where He was, where He atoned for my sins, where He raised from the dead, but I can tell you that you cannot enter those sites questions Christ's divinity and leave without an answer. Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He lived and died for all mankind; He has provided a way for all men to return to the HIm and Father someday. He lives and He will come again. I cannot testify of this enough. If you don't know for yourself that Jesus is the Christ, that He atoned for your sins, that He died for you, I challenge you to bow your head in humble prayer and ask with faith and sincerity if He is the Christ. The Spirit with testify of the truthfulness of these things. I know these things to be true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
The walk back up to the Jerusalem Center was miserable. That's all there really is to it. I had chosen to wear jeans that morning and didn't change out of them before I left for the city. It was the worst choice I had made in a long time. I don't know how so many people can stand to wear jeans here. If they aren't falling off of you, they are sticking to you because of the heat. It is uncomfortable, and they make things much warmer than they need to be! But, we finally made it back to the J.C., large bags in hand! I went straight to my room and flopped down on my bed to cool down before washing the dirt off of my feet. Because I always wear sandals into the city, my feet are always black by the time I gete back to the Center....the bottom's of my feet are permanently stained brown. It doesn't matter how hard I scrub. That dirt is not coming off! I am looking forward to going home and getting a pedicure; that's for sure!
Tonight was the night of the Formal Talent Show. I hadn't originally wanted to do anything (and to be honest, I still didn't), but a friend needed another piano player for her trio so I told her I would. From the time I got back to the J.C. until the start of the show I was practicing, eating dinner, and mentally preparing myself to perform. I hadn't performed on the piano since my Sophomore year in high school - over four years ago, so I was a little nervous. Thankfully, we were scheduled to go first. Along with Megan Judd and Megan Nuttall (never before have I wanted my name to be "Megan" so badly), I played a trio waltz composed by Rachmaninov, and it turned out fairly well. It was fun playing with them. Of course, I was shaking like a banshee by the time I sat back down in my seat, but it was a good experience. The rest of the talents were amazing. It was fun to sit and watch the different abilities of my fellow students. Some danced, some sang, some played music instruments; Joan Johnson did I 'silent play' about the Holy Land and the Light of Christ. It was a really good program. I am deifnitely here with a very talented group!
When the talent show came to a close, we all headed down to the Oasis for quick refreshements. I grabbed a piece of bread and then headed outside to my "spot" so studying my scriptures and spend a few minutes by myself. I haven't done this for a few weeks now, so it was nice to look out over the city and think about where I am and where I am going in life. It is hard to find that time in a building with eighty other students. It was a good way to end the day, though. I headed back inside near 10:30pm and washed my hair. As I was towelling it dry, I decided to clean the bathtub and mop up the floor a little bit; it was beyond needed...haha. There is a reason why I clean my own bathroom weekly (even bi-weekly) back in Provo!
In two weeks, I'll be preparing to go to the airport. It is so strange to think that I'll be heading home in only fourteen days. This summer has gone by so quickly, but I am thankful that I was able to spend it in the Holy Land, studying the life of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Gospel.
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