June 10, 2007

Class again all morning. After class, I started doing some homework, then ended up taking a nap. I woke up just in time for Rebecca to come knocking on my door. We had decided to use our free afternoon down at the Garden of Gethsemane—reading the New Testament for class. Benyamin joined us and we went down, again through Orson Hyde Park. We got into the special garden (where they had never been) and we sang a few hymns, then read until it was time to go back so we'd have time to make it for dinner. Apparently I said something profound that I'm supposed to cross-stitch into a pillow for Benjamin: "Dinner may start at six, but it doesn't end until seven." Umm... not positive on the significance... but I'm sure he had something amazing in mind.

We finally decided to leave. In order for them to unlock the gate to let us into the garden, they have to also unlock the gate to let us out. Problem is, the people with the keys are across the street. Luckily, it's just a narrow little alley and typically a shout of Hello! will get us out. In the back of everyone's minds, however, is the fear that they'll get locked in. We got the pleasure of experiencing this today. We yelled, we shook the gate, we hollered some more. Nothing. No one walking down the street; no one touring the Garden. Nothing. Hmmm... It was probably only 3-5 minutes, but 3-5 minutes in that type of situation is a long time. Then, a Palestinian man started walking up the street. I'm pretty sure he didn't speak a word of English, but it wasn't too difficult to make him understand our predicament. He went into the other garden... and disappeared. Next came a woman. We asked if she could speak English, she informed us in a brilliant accent that she was from London. We explained what had happened just as two nuns came down the hill. (Where were all these people earlier?!) "Sister Victoria. These young people are locked in. Do you know who could let them out?" Apparently Gayle (the lady from London) was staying with the sisters. The sisters went into the Garden... and disappeared. So we sat and talked to Gayle for a bit. Apparently she received a grant from J.K. Rowling to come down to Jerusalem to come install air conditioning in poor apartment complexes. ... or something to that effect. Point is, it was good will, and the money came from J.K. Rowling. Another reason to love the Harry Potter books. ;) The nuns came back and informed us that there was no one around. The room the men were usually in was locked and the one priest they found didn't have a key. They had to leave, but they promised to wave at us if we were still there when they came back. They even offered to bring us dinner. They also consoled us by informing us that if worst came to worst, we would be able to relate to Jesus by staying the night in Gethsemane. Then they left. Of course, that started scripture jokes where Gayle told us we needed to be sure to stay awake and watch. :D It made it all that much more applicable that I had just read one account of Gethsemane. Haha. They had suggested that we climb a wall, so they started looking for a good place. But Rebecca was in a skirt, and I didn't think that would be very respectful. So then I was inspired with a brilliant idea—let's call the Center! Gayle, convinced that we would be ok, left. I called the Center (my first use of my cell phone!) and explained our situation. The security guard got my number and told me he'd call Gethsemane, then he'd call me back. While we waited, Rebecca sat down in front of the gate, pulled out her harmonica and started playing Behold the Great Redeemer Die. Now that was an experience—a sacrament hymn sounding like the blues while locked in the Garden of Gethsemane. My phone rang. I answered. Security informed me that he had called Gethsemane and the priest had assured him that no one was in the garden. "But we're sitting right in front of the gate!" But just then, I looked up and a priest was walking across the street with a key. Turns out that the men who had let us in had gone home, not telling the priest that there were people in the garden. So, when the Center called, the priest (named Raphael) looked around the traditional garden across the street, and didn't see anyone and told the guard as much. After he hung up, he thought about our garden and came to the rescue. Needless to say, I have lessons like crazy for future teaching moments. :D

We got back in time for dinner, finishing eating just in time to go watch the movie, Masada. It's a good movie. Some people complained about it being a slow movie, but I think that's just because we're so used to fast-paced action movies nowadays. However, I recommend you get it edited. Bro. Merrill watched it every semester over here, then one time, back in the States, rented it to show some friends, not realizing that the Center copy is edited. Oopsies! I can see how they could definitely carry parts too far. It's a hard movie to watch as is. There are parts that will turn your stomach if you have any humanity in you. But it's a true story (well, a fictionalized true story) and one that is hard. Think Hotel Rawanda or Power of One though not nearly to that extreme. There is much more humor involved (though not always intended as such). It's an old movie. But good.