Moon shining on the Sea of Galilee. Tiberias Boardwalk. A day spent in the Sea of Galilee is a day unlike any other...
The day began much like any other. My alarm went off much earlier than I wanted. Breakfast consisted of my typical choice of yogurt, granola, and orange slices. I handed out sack lunch to each student in Brother Muhlestein's class (those going on a field trip). Nothing too exciting occurred. Mostly, I was just eager to run into the water and swim!
I didn't have a field trip today, but that didn't mean that I had the entire day to myself. Immediately after handing out lunches, I was herded into a room in the basement of the main building of the resort. For the next three hours, I did my best to focus-in on what Brother Judd was saying about the New Testament; it is just so hard to pay attention when the Sea of Galilee is 100 meters away! Brother Judd is a great teacher, though. In the few classes I have had with him, I have already learned much about the New Testament that I didn't know; I have truly gorwn to love him and to appreciate all the hard work he goes through to teach us about the life of Jesus Christ and about His ministry and His teachings. Class ended up going by much quicker than I imagined it would. I can't generally sit still for three hours at a time, but we were given five minutes breaks here and there, which probably helped more than I thought they would.
As soon as class was let out, I realized something that could alter my entire stay at Ein Gev. I had brought my swimsuit, but I had not brought the strap to hold my swimsuit up...so I had a bit of a problem. The gift shop at the resort was closed until five o'clock in the evening. I had two choices, according to the front desk: wait until five or go to the kibbutz's gift shop up the road. What do you think I chose? With Jenny by my side, we were driven up to the kibbutz by the resort to purchase a swimsuit. It took some time, but I eventually found one that I was happy and comfortable wearing! It wasn't until after we had arrived at the kibbutz that we realized that we weren't technically supposed to leave the resort, and we hadn't told anyone where we were...haha. But not to worry, we made it back safely to the resort.
The day began much like any other. My alarm went off much earlier than I wanted. Breakfast consisted of my typical choice of yogurt, granola, and orange slices. I handed out sack lunch to each student in Brother Muhlestein's class (those going on a field trip). Nothing too exciting occurred. Mostly, I was just eager to run into the water and swim!
I didn't have a field trip today, but that didn't mean that I had the entire day to myself. Immediately after handing out lunches, I was herded into a room in the basement of the main building of the resort. For the next three hours, I did my best to focus-in on what Brother Judd was saying about the New Testament; it is just so hard to pay attention when the Sea of Galilee is 100 meters away! Brother Judd is a great teacher, though. In the few classes I have had with him, I have already learned much about the New Testament that I didn't know; I have truly gorwn to love him and to appreciate all the hard work he goes through to teach us about the life of Jesus Christ and about His ministry and His teachings. Class ended up going by much quicker than I imagined it would. I can't generally sit still for three hours at a time, but we were given five minutes breaks here and there, which probably helped more than I thought they would.
As soon as class was let out, I realized something that could alter my entire stay at Ein Gev. I had brought my swimsuit, but I had not brought the strap to hold my swimsuit up...so I had a bit of a problem. The gift shop at the resort was closed until five o'clock in the evening. I had two choices, according to the front desk: wait until five or go to the kibbutz's gift shop up the road. What do you think I chose? With Jenny by my side, we were driven up to the kibbutz by the resort to purchase a swimsuit. It took some time, but I eventually found one that I was happy and comfortable wearing! It wasn't until after we had arrived at the kibbutz that we realized that we weren't technically supposed to leave the resort, and we hadn't told anyone where we were...haha. But not to worry, we made it back safely to the resort.
Once we returned to the resort, I am sure you can imagine where I ended up: on the beach! I quickly changed into my swimsuit, slathered my skin in sunscreen, and bounded down to the beach to play in the sand, to play in the water. I took a quick twenty or thirty minute break for lunch at one o'clock in the afternoon, but that was it. I spent the day in the water, swimming and laughing. My entire classs was down at the beach, and we made the most of our numbers. After lunch, Joshua Dance got the idea to construct a human tower. This takes a lot more energy and muscle power than you would imagine. After creating a base of four or five men, a girl would cimb onto and stand on their shoulders to create another layer. A smaller girl would then climb up to the very top of the tower. It was so much fun. I was generally in the middle layer, but one time, I was pushed to the bottom. I held my own for about twenty seconds until I started drowning and falling over; it was at this moment that Adam, who was climbing to the top, slipped. His butt landed straight on my face and slid down the entire thing in slow motion. It was...pleasant. And everyone was laughing. I can't say I have ever had that happen before, but I don't plan on having it happen again. It has been deemed as the funniest thing to happen in Galilee. Hopefully something else outdoes this little moment that Adam and I had together. I wouldn't complain! In addition to the tower, we played a bit of tackle football in the shallows. That was interesting. Haha I have never gotten out of the water with so many bruises in my life! I am surprised that I was still able to move by the end. My hips and shoulders are covered in patches of blue and purple from where I was hit. But I think it was worth the pain. It was a fun day in the Sea of Galilee! Everyone was sad to see it go, but we had other things to do and to get done!
Rather than eating dinner in the dining room, we travelled as a class to the Ein Gev kibbutz, one kilometer up the road. Coincidentally enough, this was the same kibbutz Jenny and I had gone to earlier in the day to purchase me a swimming suit! For dinner, we had the choice to eat pizza, pasta, or a St. Peter's Fish. What do you think I chose? A ST. PETER'S FISH! After completely destroying the thing to get the meat off of it, I happily ate the little fishy. I then dug its eyes out; Ashely ate one, and I ate one. Mom and Dad, I know what you might be thinking. Does thsi girl ever learn? But this eye was nothing like the one I ate in Turkey a couple of years ago! Rather than the eye popping in my mouth, it was hard...and that might be too much information, but I don't care! During dinner, Ashely made up her own version of the song Friday. Instead of singing about her love for the favored day of the week, she sang about her love and desire for ice cream every day of the week; it was the best form of entertainment.
When dinner ended, the bus drove us to Tiberias to explore the boardwalk and to eat ice cream. Nothing too exciting occurred, but it was fun to walk around. I wandered with Ashley and Justin, mostly. It had been a long time since we had just hung out together. We ended up watching part of the light show and getting some ice cream and drinks before getting back on the bus. There was a lot to see but very little time. I wish we would have had more time to explore and wander deeper onto the boardwalk. One hour really isn't enough time! I went straight to the beach after the bus pulled back into Ein Gev. There is nothing comparable to studying your scriptures on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Plus, I love being able to put my feet in the water and splash around with friends! Haha it will be hard to go back to studying my scriptures at my desk when I get back to Provo. Israel definitely pampers me way too much with its views of the Old City in Jerusalem and Sea of Galilee in Galilee! I got to bed at a semi-decent hour, which turned out to be a good thing. The next day was busy and required a lot of movement!
Rather than eating dinner in the dining room, we travelled as a class to the Ein Gev kibbutz, one kilometer up the road. Coincidentally enough, this was the same kibbutz Jenny and I had gone to earlier in the day to purchase me a swimming suit! For dinner, we had the choice to eat pizza, pasta, or a St. Peter's Fish. What do you think I chose? A ST. PETER'S FISH! After completely destroying the thing to get the meat off of it, I happily ate the little fishy. I then dug its eyes out; Ashely ate one, and I ate one. Mom and Dad, I know what you might be thinking. Does thsi girl ever learn? But this eye was nothing like the one I ate in Turkey a couple of years ago! Rather than the eye popping in my mouth, it was hard...and that might be too much information, but I don't care! During dinner, Ashely made up her own version of the song Friday. Instead of singing about her love for the favored day of the week, she sang about her love and desire for ice cream every day of the week; it was the best form of entertainment.When dinner ended, the bus drove us to Tiberias to explore the boardwalk and to eat ice cream. Nothing too exciting occurred, but it was fun to walk around. I wandered with Ashley and Justin, mostly. It had been a long time since we had just hung out together. We ended up watching part of the light show and getting some ice cream and drinks before getting back on the bus. There was a lot to see but very little time. I wish we would have had more time to explore and wander deeper onto the boardwalk. One hour really isn't enough time! I went straight to the beach after the bus pulled back into Ein Gev. There is nothing comparable to studying your scriptures on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Plus, I love being able to put my feet in the water and splash around with friends! Haha it will be hard to go back to studying my scriptures at my desk when I get back to Provo. Israel definitely pampers me way too much with its views of the Old City in Jerusalem and Sea of Galilee in Galilee! I got to bed at a semi-decent hour, which turned out to be a good thing. The next day was busy and required a lot of movement!
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