16 July 2011

And I thought Sabbaths in Jerusalem were cool...

It was a relief to sleep in later than seven o'clock this morning. After getting ready for the day and stopping by the dining hall for breakfast, I boarded the bus for Tiberias to attend church there. I can honestly tell you it was nothing like I expected. The Tiberias Branch was not very large, but it carried it's own spirit. The building it is housed in is three levels and has a beautiful view of the Sea of Galilee. It was fun to be able to walk around taking pictures prior to Sacrament Meeting. The meeting began promptly at ten o'clock in the morning. President Graham, the branch president, directed the meeting; the students controlled the meeting. All of the talks and musical numbers were given by a student from the Jerusalem Center. I found this interesting at first, especially since I wanted to listen to a native speak. However, I quickly realized that in a branch of less than twenty people, you probably hear the same person speak multiple times per year. The students provide them with a break and with change.

It would probably be good to mention that I was a part of the program. A week prior to coming to Galilee, Brother Judd needed a special musical number. Kymberly turned to me so I raised my hand, offering to prepare and 'perform' something. After some thought, I decided to sing Michael Hicks' arrangement of I Know That My Redeemer Lives - with Kymberly accompanying on the piano. Although I had no voice (I had lost it a few nights prior) and was nervous behind compare, the Spirit was felt; and that was what mattered. I chose to sing one of the verses in Spanish because many of the branch members speak Spanish; they were delighted to be included in that way. It was fun to be a part of the program and to share my testimony through song.

On our way back to Ein Gev after church, we stopped at a baptismal site in the Jordan River - Yardenit. The baptismal site we visited in Jordan had murky, muddy water; the water at Yardenit was clear and blue. It was beautiful. We were given time to take a few pictures and explore the site. Most of us spent our time down by the water's edge. It was fun to take pictures...and then the R.O.U.S.s appeared. I have never been a big fan of rodents. Chipmunks are where I draw the line. As these giant rats swam towards me, I screamed and ran for land. Why anyone would ever want a pet rat is beyond me... There is a reason why the Black Plague was attributed to them.

Back at Ein Gev, I wandered out to a banana hammock with my school books and scriptures with the intent of studying; I ended up taking a three hour nap instead! When I woke up, I read some from my scriptures and then reported to the dining hall for dinner. It wasn't anything special; the desserts, as always, were the highlights! When dinner ended, I spent a few more minutes studying my scriptures until shuffling into a conference room for a group devotional. Different individuals shared their thoughts on the Savior and what they had learned since coming to Galilee, since coming to Jerusalem. There were a couple of musical numbers, and we sang many Hymns together as a group. It was amazing to meet together to share our testimonies, to testify of Jesus Christ and of His redeeming power.

I chose to spend the rest of the night reading scriptures by the Sea of Galilee and swapping stories with a group of girls. Many of the stories we told were silly, but it was a simple way to get to know one another a little bit better. Another day in Galilee has passed by, completely surpassing my expectations. I love Galilee.