01 July 2011

Who doesn’t enjoy dinner and a show?

Kimbo Slice, Scott Curtis, and Jarom Smith put on quite the show for us this evening during dinnertime; it wasn’t intentional, I’m sure, but no one could turn away once he saw what was happening at their table. Every two weeks or so, the chefs at the J.C. make a side dish that is similar to tator tots, only they are softer and not as salty (Candace, they aren’t nearly as good, either). Well this evening, our Israeli tots were available at dinner, but rather than eat them, Kim decided to show us a rare talent, one that involved her putting as many of these tots in her mouth as she could. By the time she got to number eleven, she was laughing so hard we were all sure she would gag; she made it to thirteen before she had to spit them out. Scott followed suit. Jarom blew both of their pitiful attempts out of the water, however, when he fit at least twenty of these potato bites into his mouth. Of course, we all looked on with laughter and eager faces. It doesn’t take much to entertain a group of college-age kids.

Our first class of New Testament was bright and early this morning. I read the assignment for understanding and inspiration, but no amount of study or preparation could have prepared me for what was waiting for me in class. By the end of the first hour, my brain was ready to burst with information. It felt as though I was cramming for an exam or a quiz on the history of the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It was a bit of an information overload. It is definitely going to take some time for me to get used to the way that Brother Judd teaches, but I already know that I am going to learn a lot, that I am going to become a scholar of the New Testament. And that’s the point, anyway, the reason why I am here.

I went out into the city for the first time today in what felt like forever. Hiding in a study room can do strange things to you after some time; I was beginning to have hallucinations of Jaffa Gate and the Palestinian shopkeepers. It was definitely time for me to get out, even if it was only for a couple of hours. We headed down to Jimmy’s so that Megan Miller could pay for a nativity that she purchased a while back. We also stopped into Baghdadi’s and Omar’s. It was a day full of olive wood nativity sets! I stopped into a shop on the way home to get a Dr. Pepper and then we began our climb up the Jerusalem Center! It wasn’t particularly difficult though. The sun wasn’t beating hot so we weren’t drenched in our own liquid by the time we got back to the J.C.

The evening came and went without incident. I was able to have some personal time with Ashley which was definitely needed. She is one of those people whom I can always talk to and whom I feel I can confide in. I don’t generally feel that way about most girls so it is nice to have her to talk to. After dinner, I completed a take-home exam given out by Dr. Chadwick earlier that day and spent time in the Chadwick’s apartment with T.C. and the Chadwick’s, themselves. It was fun; it’s always fun with the Chadwick’s. We talked and laughed and ended up watching the ending of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. You just can’t get away from Indiana Jones when you are anywhere near “Indiana” Chadwick. The best part of the movie was Chaddy’s many narrations on why the movie was made, on why it’s fun, and so forth. The things that come out of that man’s mouth just cannot be ignored. It’s impossible.

The Jerusalem Center’s Friday Night Movie was The Nativity Story. If you are looking for a dramatic version of the birth of Jesus Christ, of the Savior, than this is the movie to write. Haha it was fun though. And great preparation for our field trip to Bethlehem on Monday! It was a really good day. While I didn’t do anything very exciting, it was the people I spent time with and the things we did together that made me happy. Oh, and happy July everyone!!