No Classes = Best Day Ever.
It was such a relief to get back out into the beautiful city of Jerusalem after being away for a week. Being away from it really does take a toll on you. I end up feeling like I have lost something, but I have no idea where to even begin looking for it. The Old City of Jerusalem has become a daily part of my life; I don’t know how I will stand living my life without that knowledge of being able to walk through the Kidron Valley, of being able to see the Temple Mount from my window, of being able to enter the beautiful site of the Garden of Gethsemane. It is going to be a change when I leave.
I spent the day walking around Jerusalem with Kymberly and Kerri Allison. We had such a wonderful day together. We began our adventure right after breakfast was over by leaving the J.C. and heading done the Kidron Valley to Absalom’s Pillar. This pillar is traditionally the tomb of King David’s rebellious son, Absalom. Custom holds that Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike bring their children to the site to teach them what becomes of unruly children by throwing rocks at the tomb. The pillar is structurally beautiful but nothing too special. We snapped a few pictures, Kymberly got stabbed by wire through her shoe, and we left. It was a highly entertaining moment. From there, we went to the Ariel Center, where we watched another movie about the ancient City of David and Solomon’s Temple and the Temple Mount. It was actually nice to see that I could answer most of the questions and complete many, if not all, of the statements about these areas. Apparently I have learned a lot more since being here than I thought! For lunch, I grabbed a warm schawarma from my favorite street vendor up Salidn Street in East Jerusalem, and then we headed to the Rockefeller Museum to look at pots. I love looking at pots. Nothing is better than that, except for maybe more pots and rusty, old daggers and, perhaps, more pots.
From the Rockefeller Museum, we actually went back up to the Jerusalem Center so that we could begin studying for the finals we have that begin this week. We stopped by the Arab Costco, a store that sells in bulk for cheap…like Costco. Haha and began our long trek up the Kidron Valley to the Jerusalem Center. That hill is beginning to get more brutal as the days wear on. The heat of summer is definitely beginning to set in! Once back at the Center, I grabbed my computer and books and headed to one of the study rooms on the sixth floor. It didn’t take long for Andrew and Justin to make their way into the same room. Instead of studying, we ended up watching the TV show How I Met Your Mother. It was definitely a more productive way to spend our time!
We were pleased to view a talent show this evening, put on by the Judd and Muhlestein kids. It was one of the most entertaining things I have seen in a very long time. Kids are very creative, very imaginative, and very cute; it’s impossible not to love them. The show began with a sword fight choreographed by our very own B.J. “Justin Bieber” Muhlestein. It was a great way to start off the show. We were pleased to listen to piano pieces, stories, and puppet shows. It was a very well spent hour and a definite relief before I had to head back into my study room to tackle more work. I ended up finishing my last paper for Old Testament and called my parents back (I had called them early that day, but they were leaving for ward choir practice). We had a fairly decent conversation. I feel like I may have been a bit grumbly during it; I wish I knew why. Sometimes you just need to grumble, I guess, because I do love being here. I love wandering the streets of Jerusalem; I love spending time with the people here; I love the classes I am taking; I love each experience I am having. Sometimes that love is slashed by doubt when you are stressed and have a lot going on…or so I am told. I am happy and well. There’s no other place right now that I want to be.
No comments:
Post a Comment