Today I went to Tel Aviv, and it was so much fun! We spent most of the morning and early afternoon playing in the water. The water was so blue, and it was just the perfect temperature! We had chicken-fights, made pyramids of people in the ocean, did flips, and just had a great time! My shininng moment was when we played toe out of water (basic idea: you try to pull someones leg above the water. The moment their toe is above the surface, they're out). There was one guy getting most people out, and I was able to sneak up and pull his leg up. It was really funny! After we played in the water for a while, we played in the sand. A big group of us made a sand-castle of Herod's temple. Well, once that was finished, we kept going and made our version of all of Jerusalem! We even made a model of the Jerusalem Center! It was a spectatular sand castle! I can't wait to show you picture when I get back!
Around 1: 30, we changed and split up into groups to see Tel Aviv. The city was extremely different than Jerusalem! While modesty in dress is important where the center is located, the opposite seemed true for Tel Aviv, also, the stores along the streets seemed very much like the clothing shops in the states. Minus the Hebrew signs that I couldn't read, I felt like I was back in the States!
So, we spent the day walking around and exploring. After dinner (Falaffles! I liked it a lot more this time!) we went back to the beach. Sarah, Jessica (one of my roommates) and I just strolled up and down the coast, walking through the surf. It was so relaxing, and the conversation was amazing! We talked about our dreams, our fears, and... guys (girls can be so shallow sometimes!) But it was really insightful conversation, and it was relaxing to talk as we heard the waves crashing into the sand!
Downside of the trip: about an hour before we left, four people's bags were stolen! They had come back down to the beach for a late night swim, and they didn't know anyone else was on the beach. They tried to hide their bags, but all four were stolen! They all lost cameras and things. It was really sad! It really taught me to be a little more vigilant in keeping up with my stuff!
The bus ride back was fun. I got to talk and get to know two guys in our group a little more. Everyone here has a little different background, and its interesting what sort of insight they can add to any conversation! I really love the people here! Our trip to Egypt next week will really help us get to know each other more!
Oh, kind of backtracking... last night we had a really cool forum. It was given by the Director of the Americna Jewish Council. He talked about the Palestinian-Arab conflict, and the conflicts in the Muslim world in general. He also presented an idea I hadn't heard before. He suggested to realign regions in this area of the world creating a Medittereanean region and than an Islamic region (as opposed to just a "middle eastern" region.) The idea was interesting, and it gave me a lot to contemplate. His comments also helped deepen my persepective on the conflict over here. I realize I've had a very simplisitic perspective on the conflict. I've seen it as side A vs. Side B, when in reality , it is a serious of seperate groups with different objectives. It's more of a continuum than two polar opposite groups. This perspective helped me see why this conflict is so difficult to solve! It was a lot of food for thought, and I would love to disucss it with anyone. I'm still in the stage where I'm trying to bounce my ideas off people as I try to clearly understand everything that's going on here!"
Friday, September 19, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Every Moment a Memory
This weekend has been so full of memories! It started on Shabbat (Saturday) with an amazing church service. Afterwards, we had a linger-longer with the local members of the branch. Most of them work at the American Consulate, and it was cool to hear some of their experiences over here. Plus they have some great tips for p0laces to go and see!
After the linger-longer I had the opportunity to go to the Garden of Gethsemane to read my scriptures, pray, and reflect. It was a really cool experience. The little garden was beautiful, and it was cool afterwords to sing hymns with the group I came with. As I was sitting there, it was really one of those experiences that reiterates I really am in Jerusalem, walking the roads the Savior walked!
Sunday was our first free day. We had an opportunity to go to the Shrine of the Book. It is a beautiful museum that houses the Isaiah scroll! The Isaiah scroll is one of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and it's deteriorating rather quickly, so they are about to move it to a climate-controlled area. Even most of the translators will then only be able to work with digital copies of it and not the actual document. It was really cool to see, and a little weird to think I'll be on of the last people to see it on display! After we saw the scroll, we got to wonder around and see artifacts. It was amazing some of the stuff the collected. Most of the artifacts were from Qumram (civilization who created and maintained the dead sea scrolls) and they were over 2,000 years old! They had sandals, nails, pottery, beads, and so much more! I loved seeing the artifacts and learning about an ancient group of people! Further in the museum, they had more religious documents, like the Aleppo Codex (it is one of the oldest manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible, and people will use it to judge the accuracy of other discovered copies). IT was cool to see it and read the story about it. You see, a lot of it was lost during the conflict over here in Israel, and most of the first five books of it (the Pentateuch) have gone missing. It was really interesting!
OK, so we went to the museum, learned a ton, and it was barely lunch time. So i got with a group and went to the Biblical zoo! It is mostly a regular zoo with an ark in the middle of it! I had a really funny group, and we have so funny pictures of us imitating the animals on exhibit. After we spent several hours there, we went to West Jerusalem. We went to the King David hotel (I think this is where President Bush usually stays when he visits the area), then walked around West Jerusalem, got a Falaffle (its a local dish) for dinner, and walked back to the center for laundry, studying, and a fun game of soccer!
I'm really trying to push my comfort zone while I'm hear, and I've learned a lot. I've never been much of a soccer player, and now I can occasionally actually kick the ball! I joined the student choir here (for any of you who have heard me sing, you know I really am pushing my comfort zone!). And I'm trying all sorts of new foods here. The big joke at all the meals is that all the food we eat tastes Delicious, we just have no idea what half of it is!
Well, I have Hebrew in a little bit, so I need to go review the letters we've learned and our expressions! I just have to say really quickly that the class is amazing! I can already recognize some things when I walk out in the city! Every time I hear someone use a word I know, I get really excited! Yesterday in the zoo, a group of us were riding a train that circles the zoo. We were just getting off, when over the intercom it said something in Hebrew. One of the words was todah (Hebrew for thank you). Every person in the group who is taking Hebrew all of a sudden looked ant each other and with shocked expressions started giggling! We had all understood something in Hebrew! It was really funny! I really hope I can learn more of the language! It's really pretty, and I don't feel as illiterate when I walk through the city now!
It's amazing that all of this has happened in two days! Every day here seems to include 2-3 days worth of funny experiences. Every moment really is a memory! I hope I can truly make the most my time here in the Holy Land! Well, till next time... Shalom!
After the linger-longer I had the opportunity to go to the Garden of Gethsemane to read my scriptures, pray, and reflect. It was a really cool experience. The little garden was beautiful, and it was cool afterwords to sing hymns with the group I came with. As I was sitting there, it was really one of those experiences that reiterates I really am in Jerusalem, walking the roads the Savior walked!
Sunday was our first free day. We had an opportunity to go to the Shrine of the Book. It is a beautiful museum that houses the Isaiah scroll! The Isaiah scroll is one of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and it's deteriorating rather quickly, so they are about to move it to a climate-controlled area. Even most of the translators will then only be able to work with digital copies of it and not the actual document. It was really cool to see, and a little weird to think I'll be on of the last people to see it on display! After we saw the scroll, we got to wonder around and see artifacts. It was amazing some of the stuff the collected. Most of the artifacts were from Qumram (civilization who created and maintained the dead sea scrolls) and they were over 2,000 years old! They had sandals, nails, pottery, beads, and so much more! I loved seeing the artifacts and learning about an ancient group of people! Further in the museum, they had more religious documents, like the Aleppo Codex (it is one of the oldest manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible, and people will use it to judge the accuracy of other discovered copies). IT was cool to see it and read the story about it. You see, a lot of it was lost during the conflict over here in Israel, and most of the first five books of it (the Pentateuch) have gone missing. It was really interesting!
OK, so we went to the museum, learned a ton, and it was barely lunch time. So i got with a group and went to the Biblical zoo! It is mostly a regular zoo with an ark in the middle of it! I had a really funny group, and we have so funny pictures of us imitating the animals on exhibit. After we spent several hours there, we went to West Jerusalem. We went to the King David hotel (I think this is where President Bush usually stays when he visits the area), then walked around West Jerusalem, got a Falaffle (its a local dish) for dinner, and walked back to the center for laundry, studying, and a fun game of soccer!
I'm really trying to push my comfort zone while I'm hear, and I've learned a lot. I've never been much of a soccer player, and now I can occasionally actually kick the ball! I joined the student choir here (for any of you who have heard me sing, you know I really am pushing my comfort zone!). And I'm trying all sorts of new foods here. The big joke at all the meals is that all the food we eat tastes Delicious, we just have no idea what half of it is!
Well, I have Hebrew in a little bit, so I need to go review the letters we've learned and our expressions! I just have to say really quickly that the class is amazing! I can already recognize some things when I walk out in the city! Every time I hear someone use a word I know, I get really excited! Yesterday in the zoo, a group of us were riding a train that circles the zoo. We were just getting off, when over the intercom it said something in Hebrew. One of the words was todah (Hebrew for thank you). Every person in the group who is taking Hebrew all of a sudden looked ant each other and with shocked expressions started giggling! We had all understood something in Hebrew! It was really funny! I really hope I can learn more of the language! It's really pretty, and I don't feel as illiterate when I walk through the city now!
It's amazing that all of this has happened in two days! Every day here seems to include 2-3 days worth of funny experiences. Every moment really is a memory! I hope I can truly make the most my time here in the Holy Land! Well, till next time... Shalom!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
A Pilgrim's Life in the Jerusalem Center
I’m sorry I haven’t been keeping my blog up to date, as you cans see by so many posts today, I’m trying to catch up, and hopefully I can make it part of my routine! So much happens here every day, it seems like 2 or 3 days, not just one! I’ll try to share my favorite experiences with you, and just know for every story I post here, I’ll have ten more to share when I’m back in the states!
Life is full of classes, explorations around the city, dance parties, studying and movies in the evening. Squeeze in an occasional game of volleyball, are deep discussion of historical basis of the conflict over here, and a couple hours for sleep and meals, and you have the Jerusalem Center! Everyone here has an interesting background and can add some new detail whenever you go to a historical site in the city. For example, I have a friend here who has a Jewish parent and a Muslim parent. During high school, she converted and joined the church. Her background gives her so much insight into both groups of people, it makes it fun to talk with her!
Today we had our first field trip! We went to several overlooks to try to see and learn the geography of this area. I learned a lot, and I have a lot more to learn. In our chapel here, we have a big window behind the pulpit. It is really cool to look through it during the sacrament and think of the miraculous events that have happened in the city in front of me! I think it will be even more meaningful this Sunday now that I know more about what I'm looking at!
It was fun to leave the center, and I got to know some people in my field trip class a little better. We laughed and joked, learned, and took a lot of pictures. I've already taken over 500 pictures, and I've only been out into the old city a couple times! I'm hoping to be able to capture a lot of the magic to bring it back with me!
Oh, I almost forgot, yesterday, I went with a group and toured the Via Dolorosa (the supposed route the Savior carried the cross for his Crucifixion.). We didn't get to tour all the sites for as long as we would have wanted, but it was cool to glance in at most of the churches we passed by. Some were very simple and others much more elaborate, but it was cool seeing the respect and devotion each had. One of my favorite places I went was inside an Orthodox church. It was one of the stops along the Via Dolorosa, and inside we went down this tiny stairway into what looked like a cave. At the very bottom it opened up to a small pond of water. It was a cistern! The acoustics inside were exquisite, and as a group we sang a hymn. It was one of my favorite moments so far! My group was the only one down there, and it was really nice breaking away from the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy a peaceful moment together!
So... I'm exhausted now! Life here is go go go, and I need to head to bed for more energy so I can explore the city more! Feel free to post comments and ask questions, and I'll answer whatever I can! Every time I pass a window in the center and see the center, a chill runs down my back. This place is amazing, and I hope to be able to share some of its beauty with you! Shalom!
Life is full of classes, explorations around the city, dance parties, studying and movies in the evening. Squeeze in an occasional game of volleyball, are deep discussion of historical basis of the conflict over here, and a couple hours for sleep and meals, and you have the Jerusalem Center! Everyone here has an interesting background and can add some new detail whenever you go to a historical site in the city. For example, I have a friend here who has a Jewish parent and a Muslim parent. During high school, she converted and joined the church. Her background gives her so much insight into both groups of people, it makes it fun to talk with her!
Today we had our first field trip! We went to several overlooks to try to see and learn the geography of this area. I learned a lot, and I have a lot more to learn. In our chapel here, we have a big window behind the pulpit. It is really cool to look through it during the sacrament and think of the miraculous events that have happened in the city in front of me! I think it will be even more meaningful this Sunday now that I know more about what I'm looking at!
It was fun to leave the center, and I got to know some people in my field trip class a little better. We laughed and joked, learned, and took a lot of pictures. I've already taken over 500 pictures, and I've only been out into the old city a couple times! I'm hoping to be able to capture a lot of the magic to bring it back with me!
Oh, I almost forgot, yesterday, I went with a group and toured the Via Dolorosa (the supposed route the Savior carried the cross for his Crucifixion.). We didn't get to tour all the sites for as long as we would have wanted, but it was cool to glance in at most of the churches we passed by. Some were very simple and others much more elaborate, but it was cool seeing the respect and devotion each had. One of my favorite places I went was inside an Orthodox church. It was one of the stops along the Via Dolorosa, and inside we went down this tiny stairway into what looked like a cave. At the very bottom it opened up to a small pond of water. It was a cistern! The acoustics inside were exquisite, and as a group we sang a hymn. It was one of my favorite moments so far! My group was the only one down there, and it was really nice breaking away from the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy a peaceful moment together!
So... I'm exhausted now! Life here is go go go, and I need to head to bed for more energy so I can explore the city more! Feel free to post comments and ask questions, and I'll answer whatever I can! Every time I pass a window in the center and see the center, a chill runs down my back. This place is amazing, and I hope to be able to share some of its beauty with you! Shalom!
Shabbat and Shopping on Sunday
One of my favorite experiences so far was Church! It was amazing! A common theme in all the testimonies was the atonement, and the spirit in the room was magnified by being able to see where it happened! Add in the sacrament, and wow! It was so powerful!
We have churhc here on Saturday because it is the Isaraeli Holy Day. We hold it than out of respect for their culture. It took some getting use to, especially when the nest day, Sunday, we went shopping like it was a regular day!
So, I've left the center 3 times in a group already! The first was mostly girls (about 6-8) with around 3 guys. Later we just walked out to the city to explore. We got to about where we wanted, realized the sun was setting really fast, and quickly turned around and rushed back to the center. In that group there were like 6 guys and 6 girls! (Pretty good considering there are 2 girls for every guy in the center!) I was really impressed with the group. They really were paying attention and when crunch time came to get us quickly back to the center, the guys made a decisive plan and got us back. It was really cool watching them. Today I went out in a group of 5 girls and 1 guy. We went looking through the stores in the old city. Most everyone in my group got something, me, I compared approximate prices, labeled which sites were tourists traps (and thus the overpriced stores) and found several gifts that I will get later for the family! I'm so excited!
It was really cool today because I got to start talking to people in the city. The first I talked to was a Christian store-owner (Seemed like a safe choice for the first time talking to a stranger about living in the Holy Land) I found out he was Greek-Orthodox and has a brother from South Carolina. He mentioned some cool sites to see. It was interesting, and in many ways more valuable than the tidbits i could have bought today. I can't wait to meet more people! We also went to a man named Shibbon (sp?)'s store. We've heard great things about him from others who have gone to the center, about how honest he is, and how he has the best deals. In fact, he so loved by the center, that the administration has told us if we are ever separated from the group, he's shop is a safe place to wait! Anyways, we were looking for his place, when we saw a man standing near a beautiful fountain. We asked for directions to Jaffa gate (because we knew Shibbon's store was nearby, and we didn't want to ask a rival store owner for directions to someone else shop). So we asked him where Jaffa gate was and he told us it was by his store. Turns out it was the very person we were looking for! He gave us an insider's tour of the area near his store, showed us cheap places for good quality stuff, and places that will rip you off. He taught us how to tell the quality of something (like what is olive wood and what is an imitation). His prices were also the best I've seen so far! I'm definitely planning on getting several souvenirs there.
A guy in my group was asking what traditional garb a man would wear in Jerusalem. Shibbon took stuff off his shelf and helped this guy get dressed to see what they wore. There was no pressure to buy like at other shops (so of course we all ultimately wanted to shop there!) But he really kept an eye out for quality for us. Like he wouldn't sell some traditional dresses to us, because they were tourist items, and not of the quality that a student of the center would want. He really stood out among other shop keepers.
Other cool experiences that happed while shopped, mainly we got asked if we were the ones who believed in Joseph Smith. Another offered to sell us some Liahonas! It was hilarious! Everyone asked are you Mormon? It was so cool! So, tonight was my productive night. I finished most all of my reading for the week, (it was a ton!!! really rigorous! I'm serious! don't laugh!) So I can enjoy most of the week, and play more! I had my Israeli, Palestinian, and Hebrew classes today! the teachers are amazing! I can't even describe how cool they were! I can even read my first word in Hebrew, and recognize the first two letters of the alphabet! I'm so excited about it! And it really is spoken here! It was cool leaving the center after hebrew, I began to recognize some of the symbols. I didn't feel completely illiterate anymore! So, what you should have gotten from this paragraph: Hebrew is not a dead language. and its amazing. period. (NOTE: I studied Latin in High School and now Hebrew. My parents tease me that I can only learn the dead languages and none that I can communicate with. However, my experiences in the city have shown that Hebrew is very much an alive language, and I look forward to being able to use it to communicate with the locals!)
Let's see... I can't think of anything else to say, but I love it here! I love ya'll a ton, and hope you had a great shabbat today!
Shabbot Shalom!
P.S. They have Hebrew scrabble here! Can you believe it? It was basically amazing!
We have churhc here on Saturday because it is the Isaraeli Holy Day. We hold it than out of respect for their culture. It took some getting use to, especially when the nest day, Sunday, we went shopping like it was a regular day!
So, I've left the center 3 times in a group already! The first was mostly girls (about 6-8) with around 3 guys. Later we just walked out to the city to explore. We got to about where we wanted, realized the sun was setting really fast, and quickly turned around and rushed back to the center. In that group there were like 6 guys and 6 girls! (Pretty good considering there are 2 girls for every guy in the center!) I was really impressed with the group. They really were paying attention and when crunch time came to get us quickly back to the center, the guys made a decisive plan and got us back. It was really cool watching them. Today I went out in a group of 5 girls and 1 guy. We went looking through the stores in the old city. Most everyone in my group got something, me, I compared approximate prices, labeled which sites were tourists traps (and thus the overpriced stores) and found several gifts that I will get later for the family! I'm so excited!
It was really cool today because I got to start talking to people in the city. The first I talked to was a Christian store-owner (Seemed like a safe choice for the first time talking to a stranger about living in the Holy Land) I found out he was Greek-Orthodox and has a brother from South Carolina. He mentioned some cool sites to see. It was interesting, and in many ways more valuable than the tidbits i could have bought today. I can't wait to meet more people! We also went to a man named Shibbon (sp?)'s store. We've heard great things about him from others who have gone to the center, about how honest he is, and how he has the best deals. In fact, he so loved by the center, that the administration has told us if we are ever separated from the group, he's shop is a safe place to wait! Anyways, we were looking for his place, when we saw a man standing near a beautiful fountain. We asked for directions to Jaffa gate (because we knew Shibbon's store was nearby, and we didn't want to ask a rival store owner for directions to someone else shop). So we asked him where Jaffa gate was and he told us it was by his store. Turns out it was the very person we were looking for! He gave us an insider's tour of the area near his store, showed us cheap places for good quality stuff, and places that will rip you off. He taught us how to tell the quality of something (like what is olive wood and what is an imitation). His prices were also the best I've seen so far! I'm definitely planning on getting several souvenirs there.
A guy in my group was asking what traditional garb a man would wear in Jerusalem. Shibbon took stuff off his shelf and helped this guy get dressed to see what they wore. There was no pressure to buy like at other shops (so of course we all ultimately wanted to shop there!) But he really kept an eye out for quality for us. Like he wouldn't sell some traditional dresses to us, because they were tourist items, and not of the quality that a student of the center would want. He really stood out among other shop keepers.
Other cool experiences that happed while shopped, mainly we got asked if we were the ones who believed in Joseph Smith. Another offered to sell us some Liahonas! It was hilarious! Everyone asked are you Mormon? It was so cool! So, tonight was my productive night. I finished most all of my reading for the week, (it was a ton!!! really rigorous! I'm serious! don't laugh!) So I can enjoy most of the week, and play more! I had my Israeli, Palestinian, and Hebrew classes today! the teachers are amazing! I can't even describe how cool they were! I can even read my first word in Hebrew, and recognize the first two letters of the alphabet! I'm so excited about it! And it really is spoken here! It was cool leaving the center after hebrew, I began to recognize some of the symbols. I didn't feel completely illiterate anymore! So, what you should have gotten from this paragraph: Hebrew is not a dead language. and its amazing. period. (NOTE: I studied Latin in High School and now Hebrew. My parents tease me that I can only learn the dead languages and none that I can communicate with. However, my experiences in the city have shown that Hebrew is very much an alive language, and I look forward to being able to use it to communicate with the locals!)
Let's see... I can't think of anything else to say, but I love it here! I love ya'll a ton, and hope you had a great shabbat today!
Shabbot Shalom!
P.S. They have Hebrew scrabble here! Can you believe it? It was basically amazing!
Journey to the City
So, I've started exploring the old city (I went out twice today, once to the Orson Hyde gardens and later just near the city gates) It is a ton of fun getting out and seeing a new culture! Tomorrow we have new classes (our Israeli and Palestinian classes, and Hebrew) and then I'm planning on exploring some tomorrow! It's really cool here. The guys are really good at helping watch the girls while we are out in the city. It is so cool that chivalry and manners are still a key part of our culture! But I have to say, this city is beautiful! Each stone and pebble contains a piece of history and I love trying to learn their stories! This place is so beautiful! I can’t wait to show you all my pictures when I get back!
Lock Down
We're in lockdown today because its Friday (which is the big Muslim prayer day, and a common day for terrorist attacks because of that) and to add to that, it is also the first big prayer day of Ramadan, so the streets will be full of Muslims who come to celebrate the holiday in Jerusalem tonight. It will be fun to watch from our balconies, but I can't wait to go out into the city again! Maybe I can go to the Garden of Gethsemane tomorrow after church, but who knows!
Today we had our first classes. The teachers are the perfect combination of spiritual and entertaining! I’m so excited for everything I’ll learn while I’m here! After class I had the chance to play some soccer in the gym. It was a really cool chance to meet a bunch of people here! Every day the group gets a little closer. We’re seriously going to be one big family by the end of the semester!
P.S. There is nothing cooler than hearing the call to prayer from a minaret while looking at the dome of the rock. It was even cooler tonight because of Ramadan. The sun was just setting, and after the prayer all the Muslims come out to party and celebrate. It's really cool watching the festivities from the Jerusalem Center porches!
Today we had our first classes. The teachers are the perfect combination of spiritual and entertaining! I’m so excited for everything I’ll learn while I’m here! After class I had the chance to play some soccer in the gym. It was a really cool chance to meet a bunch of people here! Every day the group gets a little closer. We’re seriously going to be one big family by the end of the semester!
P.S. There is nothing cooler than hearing the call to prayer from a minaret while looking at the dome of the rock. It was even cooler tonight because of Ramadan. The sun was just setting, and after the prayer all the Muslims come out to party and celebrate. It's really cool watching the festivities from the Jerusalem Center porches!
Big Bang Theory
So, we had several orientation meetings to go through, and we were all quite exhausted from our long flight. We were in our Old Testament Orientation when we heard long bangs coming from the streets outside the center, followed by what sounded like screaming. All over the class we glanced at each other. Every one had the worried expression (myself included!) that we were hearing gunfire or explosions. What had we gotten ourselves into? Our professor kept going as if nothing had happened. Did that mean gunfire in the streets was common place? FInally, someone asked the teacher what we were hearing. It turns out, it wasn't gunfire, it was fireworks! It is currently the month or Ramadaan, and everyone was celebrating! We got to go out on one of the porches and see all the celebrations, complete with Christmas Lights! It was really funny, and it helped me see some of the misconceptions I have about the city. I can't wait for everything this program has instore!
In the Beginning…
I'm here, and let me tell you, it is AMAZING! The Jerusalem Center is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to! The only thing that can beat it is the view of the city from all the porches! The teacher's seem really cool, they really know their stuff, and they have a sense of humor! It will be really cool to attend all their lectures!
Today we got to go on our tour of the city! It was sensory overload! The walls are so beautiful, and each layer has an interesting history! At one point we climbed to the top of an Austrian Hospice, and from the roof we had an amazing view of the old city. We saw many churches and mosques from there! Plus, it really helped show what a melting pot this place is. It is a mixture of old and new, western and eastern!!! For example, we saw old little huts with satellite dishes on them! And as you walk down the streets you encounter just about every nationality of people in every type of dress! I'm falling in love with this place, and I can't wait to go exploring on my own!
It was really interesting though, after seeing the old city and what some people are living in, I realized that I'm staying in a mansion! The Jerusalem center really is a center set on a hill! It really is one of the most beautiful building in the area. From what I've seen, it is only surpassed by the dome of the rock! (which is beautiful!) I love sitting on the Patio at meals and looking at it! You really can't beat the views we have!
All the people here are so nice and approachable; it's really fun meeting them, and I'm adjusting pretty quickly to this time zone, but I still have some adjustment to go! You can totally tell that this land has been set aside, and I know I really am suppose to be here!
(Bro. Skinner) made the comment that while we are here we should strive not to be tourists, but pilgrims! I can't wait to really start my own Pilgrimage, and to go to these holy sites and sit and contemplate how amazing this experience is!
Just a heads up, I can't access Facebook. Thanks for all your support, I love y'all tons and look forward to your email! (remember, no facebook, so email is the best way to go!)
P.S. If you read any bibical scriptures that mention the Kidran valley, I can see that from the center! And Mt. Scopus is part of the Mount of Olives, so you can read about that one 2! Plus, I've seen (at least from a distance) the garden of gethsemane (which I will one day learn how to spell!) Just a couple places in the scriptures I've seen! One teacher said that when we leave we will no longer just read the scriptures, we'll see them! Hopefully I can share some of that with y'all!
Today we got to go on our tour of the city! It was sensory overload! The walls are so beautiful, and each layer has an interesting history! At one point we climbed to the top of an Austrian Hospice, and from the roof we had an amazing view of the old city. We saw many churches and mosques from there! Plus, it really helped show what a melting pot this place is. It is a mixture of old and new, western and eastern!!! For example, we saw old little huts with satellite dishes on them! And as you walk down the streets you encounter just about every nationality of people in every type of dress! I'm falling in love with this place, and I can't wait to go exploring on my own!
It was really interesting though, after seeing the old city and what some people are living in, I realized that I'm staying in a mansion! The Jerusalem center really is a center set on a hill! It really is one of the most beautiful building in the area. From what I've seen, it is only surpassed by the dome of the rock! (which is beautiful!) I love sitting on the Patio at meals and looking at it! You really can't beat the views we have!
All the people here are so nice and approachable; it's really fun meeting them, and I'm adjusting pretty quickly to this time zone, but I still have some adjustment to go! You can totally tell that this land has been set aside, and I know I really am suppose to be here!
(Bro. Skinner) made the comment that while we are here we should strive not to be tourists, but pilgrims! I can't wait to really start my own Pilgrimage, and to go to these holy sites and sit and contemplate how amazing this experience is!
Just a heads up, I can't access Facebook. Thanks for all your support, I love y'all tons and look forward to your email! (remember, no facebook, so email is the best way to go!)
P.S. If you read any bibical scriptures that mention the Kidran valley, I can see that from the center! And Mt. Scopus is part of the Mount of Olives, so you can read about that one 2! Plus, I've seen (at least from a distance) the garden of gethsemane (which I will one day learn how to spell!) Just a couple places in the scriptures I've seen! One teacher said that when we leave we will no longer just read the scriptures, we'll see them! Hopefully I can share some of that with y'all!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Prologue
I waited anxiously for weeks for my letter to arrive. Everyday I rushed home from work, yanked open the mailbox, and hoped to discover my invitation to experience a whole new world! Finally it came. There was a power in the envelope: it could contain welcoming words or an apologetic rejection. My family gathered around. I opened the envelope, and I was accepted! I was going to have the opportunity to travel halfway around the world to walk where Jesus walked!
A couple weeks later, my itinerary arrived the mail. I couldn't pronounce half the places on the list. I was exuberant with joy! This was going to be an amazing semester. Later, when my mom looked at it, she remarked that I wasn't going to school, I was going on a 4-month vacation. It became a family joke, and it evolved into calling my study abroad my vacation bible school.
So, anyways, I'm now seating in my friend's kitchen in Utah. Tomorrow we have a big orientation meeting, and the next day we leave America and head out on the adventure of a lifetime! I'm so excited for this amazing opportunity! I'm really grateful for all the support I've had from my parents, siblings, teachers, church leaders, and everyone else, and I hope that through my blog I can share a piece of my adventure in the Holy Land with all my loved ones! Thanks again for all your support! Shalom!
A couple weeks later, my itinerary arrived the mail. I couldn't pronounce half the places on the list. I was exuberant with joy! This was going to be an amazing semester. Later, when my mom looked at it, she remarked that I wasn't going to school, I was going on a 4-month vacation. It became a family joke, and it evolved into calling my study abroad my vacation bible school.
So, anyways, I'm now seating in my friend's kitchen in Utah. Tomorrow we have a big orientation meeting, and the next day we leave America and head out on the adventure of a lifetime! I'm so excited for this amazing opportunity! I'm really grateful for all the support I've had from my parents, siblings, teachers, church leaders, and everyone else, and I hope that through my blog I can share a piece of my adventure in the Holy Land with all my loved ones! Thanks again for all your support! Shalom!
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