Thursday, June 14, 2007
Pictures
PS - I got all my text up for the past several days that I've been behind, but not the pictures. Right now I'm tired and want to go to bed. And tomorrow I go to Jordan. I don't get back to the Center until Monday. So... not sure when I'll get around to putting on pictures or adding new posts. Just so y'all know!
June 13, 2007
This was an amazing and full day. Really, probably one of my favorites! We started bright and early with breakfast at 6 and leaving the Center at 6:30. First stop: Kotel Tunnel. Don't know what that is? Don't worry—I didn't either. So, basically, it's a tunnel that starts at the Western Wall, goes down underground, and follows the rest of the western wall of the temple mount. You can see the actual wall that Herod built. Our guide taught us how you could tell a Herodian stone from some other time period. He gave us all sorts of trivia and was impressed at how much we already knew. Multiple times he turned to Bro. Merrill and told him that he should be proud of how much we had learned. :) That's gotta bring warm fuzzies to your heart. At the end of the tunnel, we walked through the Old City, back to the Western Wall via the Via Delorosa. (Sorry, but how often can you use via twice in three words?)
Once there, we went to the Ophel. What's the Ophel you ask? Another good question. This is the excavation on the south and west of the temple mount. Here you can see the rocks (probably from the temple) that had been cast off the wall. You can see the damage done when Robinson's arch collapsed. You can see the old road and where the shops that probably changed money were located. There are mikvahs for ritual bathing. Around the south you can climb up a tower to see a view of the city, then go around to the southern wall and see the arches of where the gates used to be. You can walk up the stairs that used to lead to the temple in Jesus' day. Apparently Neil Armstrong, the astronaut, came to the Holy Land once. He asked his guide, "Did Jesus walk on these stairs?" His guide answered, "Well, Jesus was a Jew. So yes, he mostly likely did walk up these stairs." Armstrong then answered and said, "I feel more excitement to walk on these stairs than I did to walk on the moon."
We left from the Ophel and a few of us joined Bro. Whitchurch at the Israeli Museum. First, let me lament. The entire archaeological section of the museum is closed for renovation. For two years!!! How!? Why?! ~sigh. I am deeply sorrowful for this fact. All in all, I still got to see the Model City, which is pretty much amazing. It's a model, built to scale, to the best of our knowledge, from 2nd temple period. Around 66 AD. The scale? 1/4" = 1 foot. (If I remember correctly.) This thing is massive! It was fun to walk around and have Bro. Whitchurch explain to us what everything was. He then showed us where the Dead Sea Scrolls were kept—The Shrine of the Book. So I got to go in and see actual Dead Sea Scrolls! (Sorry, no pictures allowed) He didn't give us enough time in there. Or maybe I'm just slow at something like that.
We got home and I went straight to work on my site journals. They were due at 8, but I had to finish by 4:30. Theresa works at the BYU Bookstore, where Jimmy, one of the Olive Wood merchants, comes every year during Education Week to sell his goods. He told her that when she came to come find him, and he'd have her over for dinner. We've been so busy that we haven't had a chance to explore past Omar's. I kind of feel bad now. But Theresa finally went over to Jimmy's the other day and he offered her and her roommates dinner. I won the luck of the draw in being her roommate, that's for sure. He picked us up at the Center at 4:30 and drove us over to his house. His 7-year old son rode in the car with us and spoke fairly decent English, though he was a little shy, especially with his dad there. (Jimmy speaks 7 languages!) They live in an apartment complex, but moved in when it was brand new and got to design and decorate their flat. Wow. His wife is an amazing decorator. I want her to come design my house! There we met his wife and 9-year old daughter who apparently speaks Arabic, Hebrew (I think), French, English, and is learning Spanish on her own. Honestly, why are we so lazy in the States and don't do things like that? I want my kids to learn other languages. I just have no idea how... Theresa told me that there are schools in Utah that teach in half Spanish, half English. That would be a good idea. Perfect way to expose my children to another language. We'll see.
Dinner was divine. She made sure to make a traditional Arabic dish for us. It is translated in English as "Upside-down." Or, at least so says Jimmy. :) I don't think it would be hard to make at all, and was very delicious. Cook and spice some chicken, fry some cauliflower and carrots. Take a large pot. Put the chicken on the bottom, put the vegetables on top. Now, cover with uncooked rice and water. Cook until the water is gone. Now, get a large platter and flip the pot upside down over it, so the rice is on bottom and the chicken on top. Stir and enjoy. For even more eating pleasure, get some plain yogurt and mix it in with your rice. Yes, I know that sounds disgusting. Personally, I hate plain yogurt. I must admit, it was good mixed with rice. They also had a salad that I think was simply lettuce, mint, and diced tomatoes. It also had some sort of dressing, like an olive oil or something. I don't know what. To drink? Mango juice. Mmm... I'm going to miss all the juices. After dinner we talked for awhile. Some of their old neighbors showed up which was really fun. Then they brought us out this chocolate cake/mousse stuff. And then a platter of fruit. (Including ripe, organic apricots that were delicious.) And then amazingly juicy watermelon. Seriously, I thought I was going to burst. It was amazing.
Once there, we went to the Ophel. What's the Ophel you ask? Another good question. This is the excavation on the south and west of the temple mount. Here you can see the rocks (probably from the temple) that had been cast off the wall. You can see the damage done when Robinson's arch collapsed. You can see the old road and where the shops that probably changed money were located. There are mikvahs for ritual bathing. Around the south you can climb up a tower to see a view of the city, then go around to the southern wall and see the arches of where the gates used to be. You can walk up the stairs that used to lead to the temple in Jesus' day. Apparently Neil Armstrong, the astronaut, came to the Holy Land once. He asked his guide, "Did Jesus walk on these stairs?" His guide answered, "Well, Jesus was a Jew. So yes, he mostly likely did walk up these stairs." Armstrong then answered and said, "I feel more excitement to walk on these stairs than I did to walk on the moon."
We left from the Ophel and a few of us joined Bro. Whitchurch at the Israeli Museum. First, let me lament. The entire archaeological section of the museum is closed for renovation. For two years!!! How!? Why?! ~sigh. I am deeply sorrowful for this fact. All in all, I still got to see the Model City, which is pretty much amazing. It's a model, built to scale, to the best of our knowledge, from 2nd temple period. Around 66 AD. The scale? 1/4" = 1 foot. (If I remember correctly.) This thing is massive! It was fun to walk around and have Bro. Whitchurch explain to us what everything was. He then showed us where the Dead Sea Scrolls were kept—The Shrine of the Book. So I got to go in and see actual Dead Sea Scrolls! (Sorry, no pictures allowed) He didn't give us enough time in there. Or maybe I'm just slow at something like that.
We got home and I went straight to work on my site journals. They were due at 8, but I had to finish by 4:30. Theresa works at the BYU Bookstore, where Jimmy, one of the Olive Wood merchants, comes every year during Education Week to sell his goods. He told her that when she came to come find him, and he'd have her over for dinner. We've been so busy that we haven't had a chance to explore past Omar's. I kind of feel bad now. But Theresa finally went over to Jimmy's the other day and he offered her and her roommates dinner. I won the luck of the draw in being her roommate, that's for sure. He picked us up at the Center at 4:30 and drove us over to his house. His 7-year old son rode in the car with us and spoke fairly decent English, though he was a little shy, especially with his dad there. (Jimmy speaks 7 languages!) They live in an apartment complex, but moved in when it was brand new and got to design and decorate their flat. Wow. His wife is an amazing decorator. I want her to come design my house! There we met his wife and 9-year old daughter who apparently speaks Arabic, Hebrew (I think), French, English, and is learning Spanish on her own. Honestly, why are we so lazy in the States and don't do things like that? I want my kids to learn other languages. I just have no idea how... Theresa told me that there are schools in Utah that teach in half Spanish, half English. That would be a good idea. Perfect way to expose my children to another language. We'll see.
Dinner was divine. She made sure to make a traditional Arabic dish for us. It is translated in English as "Upside-down." Or, at least so says Jimmy. :) I don't think it would be hard to make at all, and was very delicious. Cook and spice some chicken, fry some cauliflower and carrots. Take a large pot. Put the chicken on the bottom, put the vegetables on top. Now, cover with uncooked rice and water. Cook until the water is gone. Now, get a large platter and flip the pot upside down over it, so the rice is on bottom and the chicken on top. Stir and enjoy. For even more eating pleasure, get some plain yogurt and mix it in with your rice. Yes, I know that sounds disgusting. Personally, I hate plain yogurt. I must admit, it was good mixed with rice. They also had a salad that I think was simply lettuce, mint, and diced tomatoes. It also had some sort of dressing, like an olive oil or something. I don't know what. To drink? Mango juice. Mmm... I'm going to miss all the juices. After dinner we talked for awhile. Some of their old neighbors showed up which was really fun. Then they brought us out this chocolate cake/mousse stuff. And then a platter of fruit. (Including ripe, organic apricots that were delicious.) And then amazingly juicy watermelon. Seriously, I thought I was going to burst. It was amazing.
June 12, 2007
Today was our last classes. It was kind of sad, I'll be honest. Bro. Merrill humored me and let us sing Come Unto Him. After lunch, we all met together and went on our Separation Wall tour. He went into a lot of politics for the first bit, and I can honestly say that I didn't understand most of it. So, I'll just tell you what I now understand. So, the Israelis have decided to build a wall around Jerusalem and surrounding Israeli cities. It separates the Israelis from the Palestinians, and you can only cross through checkpoints. Good news is, it has basically stopped all suicide bombings. The only one they've had since the wall went up was someone who swam in the Red Sea and entered down by Eliat. Bad news. It's a pain. Children who used to have a five-minute walk to school now have an hour and a half drive (which also inconveniences the parents) or have to switch schools. It has destroyed the economy of the outside Palestinian communities. Just look at Bethlehem. It is so sad! The graffiti on the wall showed us that the people hated it as well. I didn't really get the full grasp on it (ok, I still don't) until someone called it the Berlin Wall of the Holy Land. That hit home and hurt. I have such conflicting feelings. I feel for those people who have had their lives torn apart because of the wall. However, it's due to the wall that Jerusalem has experienced enough peace to allow the Center to reopen. And it's not just for my sake, but for the peace in the land. Honestly, why can't we all just get along?! I really don't get how people can get so angry that they would turn to violence, to murder! I've never understood war. I don't think I ever will.
June 11, 2007
Yay! This is one day that I've been looking forward to all semester! Masada, Dead Sea, Qumran!
Masada
History: Fortified by Herod the Great, in case the people revolted against him. Last hold out of the Jewish rebels (Zealots or Sicarii). Built on top of cliffs (300-1300 feet high) with only 3 narrow paths to get up or down. Romans built a siege ramp using Jewish slaves. They captured it in 72 AD, only to find all the rebels had committed suicide. (Or rather, 10 had committed murder, then suicide.) Only 2 women and 5 children survived by hiding in cisterns. At least… if you believe Josephus. Read the Wikipedia article at the least.
Each of us has to do one site report, to tell the class what we're getting into. This was my site. I think it’s remarkable that the sites were chosen randomly, and I got this one. It made me so happy! I knew the majority of the story right off. Throughout the semester I kept thinking of how I wanted to present it. But it was really easy to decide that I wanted to do it in story form. I’m kind of glad I got to do it in the classroom, though. I didn’t have to try to work up everyone’s emotions while fighting to stand upright on a bus. (I presented on Sunday morning, so that I could do it before the movie—when people were still interested.) It shocked me as I told the story that I actually got choked up. There were a few times that I thought I would have to stop because of it. That was greatly unexpected.
The site itself was wonderful. All I could have hoped for. I am eternally grateful for the cable car. It would be fun, some cool, breezy day, to hike up the siege ramp… but not today. Luckily, following tradition, “the weather [was] very unusual. You’ll never see weather like this again.” I’m really hoping I’m the lucky one in the group so that we can keep the nice weather for when Travis comes. This place was much larger than I expected it to be. I guess it makes sense to house 900 people with food and to spare. We went to a few of Herod’s palaces and still could see the paint on the walls. The cistern we went into was huge! Climbing those steep stairs, however, I can’t fathom doing while carrying full buckets of water. You’d have to be skilled and trained to accomplish such a feat! But it’s easy to see how they could easily store plenty of water for a long period of time. I’ve decided that if we could keep the cable car, the weather, and install escalators, I really wouldn’t mind living there. But I think that’s too much to ask. :)
Dead Sea
Ahhh!!! This is my favorite water spot of all. Have I mentioned yet that I am scared to death of drowning? :) I can’t keep my face underwater; I can’t be where I can’t touch the ground or be close to a wall or rock to hang onto. I simply can’t tread water or float or swim well enough for me to feel comfortable further out. But the Dead Sea?! Amazing! I can be as deep as I want and stay floating without any fear at all! Minus the pain caused when it gets in my eye, I could stay out there forever! Travis, we're going. Period end of story. Everyone needs to experience it at least once. I want to do it at least twice. :) Now, there are those of you who will say, "How much different could it be than the Great Salt Lake?" Well, I have to honestly admit that I can't say from experience. I've never been in the Great Salt Lake. (Though, I definitely want to now!) But, according to the site report, the Salt Lake has between 9-23% salt density at a given moment. The Dead Sea is 30%. It evaporates six million tons of water off the surface every day. Plus, how many times can you go swimming and say that you're below sea level? Or even, "I'm in the lowest place on earth. Right now." haha! I loved it!
Qumran
We should have done this before the Dead Sea. This is one site I had been looking forward to the entire time, but the Dead Sea had sapped me of all energy, and all I wanted to do was sleep. I know I wasn’t alone in that, either. This was a lot smaller than I had expected. I don’t think we went into the entire thing. And we got a lot closer than I had imagined to the caves. Well, at least to one. (Cave 4?) Just as I was waking up and really getting into it, it was time to go. I really hadn’t expected such a short stop. Hmm... We'll go back there. I'm sure Trav can get a much better picture of the caves than I could have. Oh, but this was probably the hottest site yet for Israel.
Masada
History: Fortified by Herod the Great, in case the people revolted against him. Last hold out of the Jewish rebels (Zealots or Sicarii). Built on top of cliffs (300-1300 feet high) with only 3 narrow paths to get up or down. Romans built a siege ramp using Jewish slaves. They captured it in 72 AD, only to find all the rebels had committed suicide. (Or rather, 10 had committed murder, then suicide.) Only 2 women and 5 children survived by hiding in cisterns. At least… if you believe Josephus. Read the Wikipedia article at the least.
Each of us has to do one site report, to tell the class what we're getting into. This was my site. I think it’s remarkable that the sites were chosen randomly, and I got this one. It made me so happy! I knew the majority of the story right off. Throughout the semester I kept thinking of how I wanted to present it. But it was really easy to decide that I wanted to do it in story form. I’m kind of glad I got to do it in the classroom, though. I didn’t have to try to work up everyone’s emotions while fighting to stand upright on a bus. (I presented on Sunday morning, so that I could do it before the movie—when people were still interested.) It shocked me as I told the story that I actually got choked up. There were a few times that I thought I would have to stop because of it. That was greatly unexpected.
The site itself was wonderful. All I could have hoped for. I am eternally grateful for the cable car. It would be fun, some cool, breezy day, to hike up the siege ramp… but not today. Luckily, following tradition, “the weather [was] very unusual. You’ll never see weather like this again.” I’m really hoping I’m the lucky one in the group so that we can keep the nice weather for when Travis comes. This place was much larger than I expected it to be. I guess it makes sense to house 900 people with food and to spare. We went to a few of Herod’s palaces and still could see the paint on the walls. The cistern we went into was huge! Climbing those steep stairs, however, I can’t fathom doing while carrying full buckets of water. You’d have to be skilled and trained to accomplish such a feat! But it’s easy to see how they could easily store plenty of water for a long period of time. I’ve decided that if we could keep the cable car, the weather, and install escalators, I really wouldn’t mind living there. But I think that’s too much to ask. :)
Dead Sea
Ahhh!!! This is my favorite water spot of all. Have I mentioned yet that I am scared to death of drowning? :) I can’t keep my face underwater; I can’t be where I can’t touch the ground or be close to a wall or rock to hang onto. I simply can’t tread water or float or swim well enough for me to feel comfortable further out. But the Dead Sea?! Amazing! I can be as deep as I want and stay floating without any fear at all! Minus the pain caused when it gets in my eye, I could stay out there forever! Travis, we're going. Period end of story. Everyone needs to experience it at least once. I want to do it at least twice. :) Now, there are those of you who will say, "How much different could it be than the Great Salt Lake?" Well, I have to honestly admit that I can't say from experience. I've never been in the Great Salt Lake. (Though, I definitely want to now!) But, according to the site report, the Salt Lake has between 9-23% salt density at a given moment. The Dead Sea is 30%. It evaporates six million tons of water off the surface every day. Plus, how many times can you go swimming and say that you're below sea level? Or even, "I'm in the lowest place on earth. Right now." haha! I loved it!
Qumran
We should have done this before the Dead Sea. This is one site I had been looking forward to the entire time, but the Dead Sea had sapped me of all energy, and all I wanted to do was sleep. I know I wasn’t alone in that, either. This was a lot smaller than I had expected. I don’t think we went into the entire thing. And we got a lot closer than I had imagined to the caves. Well, at least to one. (Cave 4?) Just as I was waking up and really getting into it, it was time to go. I really hadn’t expected such a short stop. Hmm... We'll go back there. I'm sure Trav can get a much better picture of the caves than I could have. Oh, but this was probably the hottest site yet for Israel.
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.
We finally decided to leave.
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.
June 9, 2007
So, I think I left my scriptures on the bus or in the computer lab, which is locked on the Sabbath. So, I had to go to church scriptureless. Here's what I wrote about it. "I lost my scriptures today. I feel like a part of me is missing. But I've lost them before, and they always turn up. I have this ache in my chest, fearing that they're gone—but part of me simply refuses to believe it. It reminds me, in a very, very small measure, of the mother who hears that her son is MIA at war and is probably dead, yet deep down, she knows he's still alive. She mourns, yet hopes and prays. That's what I'm doing—mourning, yet hoping and praying." You'll be happy to hear that wherever I left them, they got turned into security and I got them back later in the day. Yay! :)
I think the lack of sleep finally caught up to me. I never fell asleep in church today, but I really struggled with focusing and found myself nigh unto nodding off a couple of times. After Sunday School, I went off to Relief Society only to run into Adam—one of Clark's old roommates! Talk about random! He walked with me into RS and introduced me to his wife, Martha, and his new little baby girl, then told me that Spencer (another roommate) was here too! Craziness! Wanna make the world a little smaller? Spencer is engaged to Martha's sister, who just so happens to be the best friend of two of the girls here at the Center. That was enough of a jolt to keep me wide awake during RS. It was an amazing lesson (#10 for anyone who cares). Just a few thoughts:
- What are you trading? Health for junk food? Integrity for a good grade?
- Satan shocks us so that next time, it's not so shocking.
- What kind of a movie has a good moral when it has no moral?
- How we spend our free time is a sign to both God and Satan of our priorities.
After church, I rounded up Adam, Martha, and Spencer, and we took a picture of us with the Dome of the Rock in the background. (Though, it's kind of small and partially blocked by a pillar. We were all in a hurry. Oops?) Then they left while our entire group got together for a group photo. After that, Theresa, Kathryn, Daniel and I went off to the Garden of Gethsemane via Orson Hyde Park. That was an interesting experience. Mix the sacredness of the places with the bickering of Theresa and Daniel with the humor of us all with the heat of the day, with hymns and journal writing, and you'll have a glimpse of those few hours. Oh, don't forget getting lost on the way there and back and fearing missing dinner. But it was really good. When you get to Gethsemane, there is the traditional garden that is surrounded by fence so you can see the really old olive trees, but not touch. And, of course, a church. However, there's another little garden that, for some unknown reason, they let the Mormon students into. It's a beautiful little place. It's bigger than the other garden, there are olive trees and little red flowers sporadically (they remind me of little drops of blood on the ground), and it's just a nice, meadow-like area. A place to leave the hustle and bustle of the touristy city. There's a giant fence all around it, but that's ok. It adds to the seclusionary feel.
One thought I had today that I'm not sure the answer to: Why is it that the people that we are closest to—those that we love the most—are the ones that we treat the most poorly? They're the ones we make sarcastic comments about then say, "It's ok, I can say that. They're my ______"
After dinner we had a fireside by Bro. David Galbraith, the man that probably had the most knowledge and history with the Jerusalem Center. He basically told us about the history of building the Center, all the trials and opposition they faced. He was amazingly funny and the story is phenomenal. We asked him afterwards if he'd consider writing a book. He said that there is 500 pages sitting on the 1st Presidency's desks and that it would probably never be published. Really. Someone needs to tap into his memory more often.
I think the lack of sleep finally caught up to me. I never fell asleep in church today, but I really struggled with focusing and found myself nigh unto nodding off a couple of times. After Sunday School, I went off to Relief Society only to run into Adam—one of Clark's old roommates! Talk about random! He walked with me into RS and introduced me to his wife, Martha, and his new little baby girl, then told me that Spencer (another roommate) was here too! Craziness! Wanna make the world a little smaller? Spencer is engaged to Martha's sister, who just so happens to be the best friend of two of the girls here at the Center. That was enough of a jolt to keep me wide awake during RS. It was an amazing lesson (#10 for anyone who cares). Just a few thoughts:
- What are you trading? Health for junk food? Integrity for a good grade?
- Satan shocks us so that next time, it's not so shocking.
- What kind of a movie has a good moral when it has no moral?
- How we spend our free time is a sign to both God and Satan of our priorities.
After church, I rounded up Adam, Martha, and Spencer, and we took a picture of us with the Dome of the Rock in the background. (Though, it's kind of small and partially blocked by a pillar. We were all in a hurry. Oops?) Then they left while our entire group got together for a group photo. After that, Theresa, Kathryn, Daniel and I went off to the Garden of Gethsemane via Orson Hyde Park. That was an interesting experience. Mix the sacredness of the places with the bickering of Theresa and Daniel with the humor of us all with the heat of the day, with hymns and journal writing, and you'll have a glimpse of those few hours. Oh, don't forget getting lost on the way there and back and fearing missing dinner. But it was really good. When you get to Gethsemane, there is the traditional garden that is surrounded by fence so you can see the really old olive trees, but not touch. And, of course, a church. However, there's another little garden that, for some unknown reason, they let the Mormon students into. It's a beautiful little place. It's bigger than the other garden, there are olive trees and little red flowers sporadically (they remind me of little drops of blood on the ground), and it's just a nice, meadow-like area. A place to leave the hustle and bustle of the touristy city. There's a giant fence all around it, but that's ok. It adds to the seclusionary feel.
One thought I had today that I'm not sure the answer to: Why is it that the people that we are closest to—those that we love the most—are the ones that we treat the most poorly? They're the ones we make sarcastic comments about then say, "It's ok, I can say that. They're my ______"
After dinner we had a fireside by Bro. David Galbraith, the man that probably had the most knowledge and history with the Jerusalem Center. He basically told us about the history of building the Center, all the trials and opposition they faced. He was amazingly funny and the story is phenomenal. We asked him afterwards if he'd consider writing a book. He said that there is 500 pages sitting on the 1st Presidency's desks and that it would probably never be published. Really. Someone needs to tap into his memory more often.
June 8, 2007
Happy 23 year 11 month birthday, Tianna! :D hahaha.
Class all morning. ~sigh. Then was lunch, then on a bus for Bethlehem. Since Bethlehem is in the West Bank, we have to take security with us. I ended up sitting next to Toreq, one of the Center security guards. Now, I'm not nearly as outgoing as Benyamin or Rebecca, so I'll admit that conversation was a little awkward for awhile. But I got him to teach me Hebrew numbers (yes, I should know these) and got chastised, "You really need to learn to write in cursive." You know your handwriting is bad when a boy criticizes it. ~sigh. :D
Bethlehem is, you guessed it, a church. It was a fun enough church. It's run by several different Christian sects and each section is decorated differently. The upstairs was all gaudy and "churchy" but downstairs was pretty cool. That's where the 14 pointed silver star (for the 14 generations of Christ found in Matthew's genealogy) and the manger was. Plus, we sang. A lot. Yay for Christmas hymns! What we didn't sing downstairs, we went outside and sang in a courtyard. Finally, we decided it was time to go shopping. We headed over to Nativity Square and started around the shops. Apparently, this is the place to buy Bethlehem blankets. But after the first group got out of the one shop we found that sold them, they were sold out. Oh well. I can still get them in Jerusalem. :) It was really sad, though. It's obvious that there were dozens of shops that had been closed down. The separation wall has destroyed the economy in Bethlehem. Tourism is down dramatically. Richie was talking to some young men there who said that they hated living there and wished they could move somewhere free like Canada or the US. It made me very sad.
We left Bethlehem and went over to Shepherd's Field. We ate lunch, where I got a video of people throwing cherry tomatoes from our sack dinners at Anthony while he tried to catch them in his mouth. It was rather entertaining. Bro. Merrill has finally be united with his wife and daughter, Brittany. They arrived in Jerusalem while we were in Galilee, so they've only been here a couple of days. So, to begin our Bethlehem program, we had them come up and introduce themselves. Sis. Merrill is so dramatic in a wonderful way. We've all decided we love her immediately. The best part was the story of how Bro. and Sis. Merrill met. Let's just say they were office supplies in a ward roadshow, knew each other for about a year (even had a date or two... I heard an alternate version that said they dated for a bit, then drifted apart), then 10 months after their last date, he spent a couple of evenings with her, prayed about it, took her for a drive and told her he was in love with her. At the doorstep he said, "I don't want to rush you, but I graduate in 9 days." 9 days later, they were engaged. Ha! After introductions, we had a program where we had violinists and singers giving us musical numbers. As one group was sining, this boy walked up the hill with a baby sheep or goat. (I was never quite certain.) I’m sure he wanted money, but still, it was pretty cool. Toreq kept his eyes on him the entire time—even picking up a stick! Just in case. But we had no problems.
On the way home, I again sat next to Toreq and had much more enjoyable conversation. We talked about traffic and how cops are required to have their lights on at all times in the city, but they have "plain clothes" police cars on the highway. I asked him if there was a rhyme or reason to all the honking, short answer? No. I'm going to do something, hello, or road rage. Take your pick. He hates it. We moved on to yawning and the causes behind it, as well as funny stories, then we were back to the Center. I liked the guy. He's got a good sense of humor and is just ... real. It made him less intimidating as security and more of a real person. Oh, he also offered to help Travis and I as much as we need. Yay!
Class all morning. ~sigh. Then was lunch, then on a bus for Bethlehem. Since Bethlehem is in the West Bank, we have to take security with us. I ended up sitting next to Toreq, one of the Center security guards. Now, I'm not nearly as outgoing as Benyamin or Rebecca, so I'll admit that conversation was a little awkward for awhile. But I got him to teach me Hebrew numbers (yes, I should know these) and got chastised, "You really need to learn to write in cursive." You know your handwriting is bad when a boy criticizes it. ~sigh. :D
Bethlehem is, you guessed it, a church. It was a fun enough church. It's run by several different Christian sects and each section is decorated differently. The upstairs was all gaudy and "churchy" but downstairs was pretty cool. That's where the 14 pointed silver star (for the 14 generations of Christ found in Matthew's genealogy) and the manger was. Plus, we sang. A lot. Yay for Christmas hymns! What we didn't sing downstairs, we went outside and sang in a courtyard. Finally, we decided it was time to go shopping. We headed over to Nativity Square and started around the shops. Apparently, this is the place to buy Bethlehem blankets. But after the first group got out of the one shop we found that sold them, they were sold out. Oh well. I can still get them in Jerusalem. :) It was really sad, though. It's obvious that there were dozens of shops that had been closed down. The separation wall has destroyed the economy in Bethlehem. Tourism is down dramatically. Richie was talking to some young men there who said that they hated living there and wished they could move somewhere free like Canada or the US. It made me very sad.
We left Bethlehem and went over to Shepherd's Field. We ate lunch, where I got a video of people throwing cherry tomatoes from our sack dinners at Anthony while he tried to catch them in his mouth. It was rather entertaining. Bro. Merrill has finally be united with his wife and daughter, Brittany. They arrived in Jerusalem while we were in Galilee, so they've only been here a couple of days. So, to begin our Bethlehem program, we had them come up and introduce themselves. Sis. Merrill is so dramatic in a wonderful way. We've all decided we love her immediately. The best part was the story of how Bro. and Sis. Merrill met. Let's just say they were office supplies in a ward roadshow, knew each other for about a year (even had a date or two... I heard an alternate version that said they dated for a bit, then drifted apart), then 10 months after their last date, he spent a couple of evenings with her, prayed about it, took her for a drive and told her he was in love with her. At the doorstep he said, "I don't want to rush you, but I graduate in 9 days." 9 days later, they were engaged. Ha! After introductions, we had a program where we had violinists and singers giving us musical numbers. As one group was sining, this boy walked up the hill with a baby sheep or goat. (I was never quite certain.) I’m sure he wanted money, but still, it was pretty cool. Toreq kept his eyes on him the entire time—even picking up a stick! Just in case. But we had no problems.
On the way home, I again sat next to Toreq and had much more enjoyable conversation. We talked about traffic and how cops are required to have their lights on at all times in the city, but they have "plain clothes" police cars on the highway. I asked him if there was a rhyme or reason to all the honking, short answer? No. I'm going to do something, hello, or road rage. Take your pick. He hates it. We moved on to yawning and the causes behind it, as well as funny stories, then we were back to the Center. I liked the guy. He's got a good sense of humor and is just ... real. It made him less intimidating as security and more of a real person. Oh, he also offered to help Travis and I as much as we need. Yay!
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