Jerusalem vs. Utah

With less than one day left until we leave this Holy Land and return back to the land of 'Holy Cow', it is easy for one to reminisce on times past. There are things that will be deeply missed, but there are also things that one looks forward to upon embarking. The following list encompasses a smattering of such thoughts.

Things to Miss:

1) 1 shekel popsicles after walking up the Kidron valley in uber hot weather
2) "Hello, Mormons! Buy one get me free!"
3) Magnum bars
4) Periodic whiffs of unique smells including (but not limited to) exhaust, burning garbage, urine, and olives
5) Buying filafels and shwarma's
6) Visiting power religion spots of Christians/Muslims/Jews
7) Fireworks going off every day, day or night
8) Spending time with friends walking/shopping in the Old City
9) Walking to Gethsemane and the Garden Tomb after church on Sabbath
10) Sabbath on Saturday
11) Hours of fun and games on the bus, visiting every site mentioned in the Bible
12) Having spiritual experiences as a group and individually
13) Jumping pictures!
14) Sweating profusely---all of the time
15) Being best buds with the professors
16) 80 best friends
17) Walking up 3000+ stairs each day, uphill, in the snow, sweating.


Things to look forward to:

1) Super-size me food (hamburgers, cheap meals, shakes, desserts, fry-sauce)
2) Driving in a car
3) Being able to go anywhere without two other people
4) Not spending money
5) Cereal and cold milk
6) Bacon/French Toast, BLT's, ham sandwhiches
7) Seeing my family!
8) Sleeping in my own bed
9) Sitting on a couch
10) Surround sound movies
11) Starting the Advertising program
12) Sleeping in
13) Bacon

That's just a few of them, but you get idea. What an amazing priviledge to live in that great city of Jerusalem for 3.5 months. No doubt, I will remember the experiences that I've had, the feelings that I've felt, and the friends that I've gained far into the future. I would venture to say that everyone, from every walk of life should visit Jerusalem at least once in their life. The land enriches one's spirit in a way that cannot be duplicated anywhere in the world. This is because it was forever changed when one Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem, preached in Galilee, and died and rose again on Calvary.

Praise be to the one that makes this land holy, the very Holy One of Israel, Jesus Christ---our Savior and Redeemer.

...In a Large Upper Room Furnished



Pic of the Post: Old City Street


With only a few days left, the field-trips have been been centered on the latter end of the Saviors life and the important events that occurred around that time. It's usually a rare occurance when we are able to physically sit/stand where Christ undoubtedly had walked because of the controversy on specific sites. But, the steps of the south end of the Temple Mount are one of the few where scholars agree that in order to enter Herod's Temple, one would have to have walked up the steps and into the three-arched walkway. After having a spiritual devotional while sitting on the steps, we were given the rest of the time to walk around and think about the many times Jesus would visit the temple and teach within the outer courtyard. It's humbling to know that we literally walked where He walked.




The southern wallof the Old City, Al-Aqsa Mosque

 We visited the Western Wall one more time to welcome in the Shabbat with our Jewish brothers and sisters. What a privelege to see their devotion and comittment to worshipping God. For them, the temple truly was the focus of their lives, but even though it has been absent for 2000 years, they still continue to draw close to it, albeit the only remaining wall of the past Temple Mount. I hope that I can have that same desire to visit the temple.

Then we had the treat to walk back to the JC (we usually take vans) which meant a unique opportunity to snap some nightime pictures of the architectural lighting of the JC. Years ago, in 2000, the city asked the Jerusalem center to incorporate the lighting for an important celebration and it's been the same since. Doesn't look too bad!

One of the priviledges of being in Jerusalem involves special firesides that have a little more spiritual meaning, due to the backdrop of the city. A wonderful Upper Room program was put together for the students and faculty that involved a few brief remarks, the reading of John 13-17, and a few musical numbers. What a profound experience to sit and listen to the Savior's words to his disciples while gazing on a triclinium table style that would have been used at the Last Supper. Never before have His adjurations and teachings had more meaning and impact. Despite His knowledge of the events that were to occur just a few hours in the future, He took time to teach his beloved apostles. It was from this time that He implored them to "Love one another, as I have loved you," and "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Surely there is a lesson to be learned from this sacred time He spent with his disciples. He will take time to teach us if we accept to dine with Him. But, the decision is left unto us, but undoubtedly He waits for us to come and find him---where He sits in a large upper room furnished.



Dead to the World



Pic of the Post: Western Wall

Now, if I really wanted to throw out an excuse for not blogging the past two weeks, I would say that it was because of one particular reason. My dear MacBook Pro, which probably holds more information of my life in it than my brain does, had a heart attack of sorts and is at the moment---dead to me. Yes, I know, Mac lovers of the world unite, the pain that comes when the blinking folder of doom pops up when you press the power button must cause all of you to feel for me. But, after a little troobleshooting that involved swapping hard drives etc... we concluded that my hard drive cable had shorted out. I am now consigned to use a less capable yet still moderately effective alternative---the PC's in the computer lab. There are worse things in life. Well...maybe.

Anyway, I have tried to salvage some past photo's from my camera but the work required is too time consuming. So, I will have to just continue on as best I can with the lot that has been handed me.

Our last out of Jerusalem fieldtrip involved some gem places. For the first time this semester, the students were allowed to wear shorts, which turned out to be a literal lifesaver due to the 107+ degrees of scorching hot air that blasted us most of the day. But, what else is the Jordan Rift Valley known for? Not snow, that's for sure! But, we visited Qumran, home of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. I mean--- if that's not cool, I don't know what is... Apparently they were happened upon by two boys throwing stones into nearby caves, and hearing a breaking sound, went to investigate. Who would have thought that it would be one of the most influencial archeological finds for hundreds of years?



Cave #4, on the left

Onward to Masada, one of the last cities to withstand the Roman invasion of 73AD. The city held 960 Jewish zealots who, upon realizing that the Romans were going to break through their defenses, chose death rather than slavery. The Romans broke through the gates and were greeted with the bodies of the citizens, each in their own house. Silva, the Roman commander was congratulated on his victory and he responds, "A victory? What have we won? We've won a rock in the middle of a wasteland, on the shores of a poisoned sea." Well, that's the way the movie portrays it. We all tried to stay concious amid the sweat and sun while still appreciating the site.

View of the siege ramp ascending to the mountain of Masada

Our next stop was a delightful little place called Ein Gedi. Here we found a series of five waterfalls along the dirt trail up a canyon. What a nice little refreshing thing that was. And with a beautiful view that just makes you want to tear up---and then you don't care because everyone will just think that you're sweating.



The fifth and most grand waterfall.

Ending the day, we drove to lowest place on earth---the Dead Sea. Ironically, because of the altitude and atmosphere, the danger of getting sunburned decreases despite the cruel heat. We had heard that due to the salt content of the Sea, one can float upon the surface of the water without much effort at all. This was soon found to be a reality as you wade into the water and slowly sit down, but oddly enough--- you don't sink. This made for some great photo ops with class textbooks etc...

Last but not least, we were able to go visit the Temple of Herod. And boy was it neat! Ok, maybe it was just a model at the Israel Museum, but it was a really cute model nonetheless...

Walking the Walks and Talking about the Talks

Pic of the Post — Mt. Arbel

I had a wonderful experience with the class in visiting the Mt. of Beatitudes. It really is a unique and special place where the Lord taught many great truths. I walked out refreshed from the spirit and was greeted by one of these plaques in remembrance of the words Jesus spoke. Of all the letters to have fallen off, it had to be that one.

In Capernaum, Jesus' own city, there is a 4th century synagogue built upon the foundations of the 1st century synagogue where Jesus would have spent a large majority of His time teaching the people. It was humbling to know that Christ had been within ten yards of where I was standing, thousands of years ago.

When given the opportunity to eat a little bit of the Galilean tradition: fish. I was sure to not forgo the experience, regardless of how alive the fish looked or felt.

Did I mention that the Sea of Galilee is pretty? Pretty awesome?

On the boardwalk in Tiberius, I was on a journey to find a modest T-shirt that really embodied my countless character traits—this was the one that spoke to me the most.

This has been my home for the past five-six days. And will be for five more days. Enjoy and live vicariously through me. Did I mention the beach is maybe 100 meters from our little cabins?

After a spiritual Sacrament Meeting where the talks were centered on forgiveness and the Atonement, we men posed for a manly picture on the roof of the branch house.

Who says traveling gets boring? They need to get out more.

Sea-ing Galilee

 

What is said to be the highlight of the Jerusalem Study Abroad, eleven days spent by the Sea of Galilee. One visits numerous sites where Jesus Himself walked 2000 years ago and tries to imagine what life would have been like for those early inhabitants.

Nazareth, Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes... it's a blessing to be able to be hear and learn of the life of Christ while in the areas where he frequently taught the people. 

1) Going on a boat-ride across the Galilee and having a quiet devotional in remembering Jesus calming the storm. Never has the song Master the Tempest is Raging felt so real and personal to me. I'm grateful that the Savior is willing to still the storms of my life and bring me safely back to shore.

 2) The Sea of Galilee from the perspective of Mt. Arbel. From left to right is Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes, and Gamla, among others. It's amazing to think that Christ spent the majority of His ministry teaching those that lived along the coast and in the general area.

 3) Sunsets must have been as beautiful back then as they were there. A wonderful testimony of the Creator and His forming this earth so that we can enjoy it.

4) When the sun passes the horizon, one can think to the story of Christ walking on water and meeting the disciples out in the middle of the Sea. Peter, thrilled to see the Christ, jumped overboard and began to walk to Him. But, his fear overcame his faith and the Lord, just as He does with each of us, reached down and lifted him from doubt and despair.

5) No doubt, Christ must have spent hours contemplating about His mission and how to fulfill it. Wouldn't it help us to pause, and take time to do the same?

What better way to spend your time at the Sea of Galilee than with some of your best friends?

Ashlyn, me, and Kristal—trying to enjoy the view despite the beating sun.

Live in the present and enjoy life—that's what it's there for.

Cheers!

Joy — Feel Free to Wet Your Pants

We Named the Dog Indiana

Pic of the Post—Tel Gath

To start off our trip to the wonderful land of Jordan, we made a windy ascent up to Mt. Nebo, the place where Elijah left on chariots of fire and dropped his mantle to Elisha, the next prophet. Here we paid tribute to that great prophet by singing the Spirit of God Like A Fire is Burning. 

We moved on to Herod's fortress built at Machaerus, where John the Baptist was likely imprisoned and later beheaded at the request of Herodias' daughter. Shame on her.

Despite the hated man that Herod was, he made some pretty impressive places of residences.

And what you've all been waiting for—Petra, the place of Wonder. The image that made Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade the epic movie that it is.

A tribute to those great men of renown who took one Harrison Ford and transformed him from a crusty Han Solo to a sophisticated yet rugged legend—Indiana Jones.

Ah the camels. What an odd yet huggable creature. 

A splendid monastery can be seen after a somewhat grueling 600-ish stairs up a mountain. Completely worth the blood, sweat, and tears. And sweat.

I'm not going to spell this one out... but this might just perhaps contain a somewhat hilarious visual pun.

The high place at Petra—it's no wonder people would make the hike all the way to the top in order to get closer to God (but which one?!?) —the view is breathtaking of the surrounding land.

If you can think of anywhere else in the world that can beat Petra on the super-mega-bueno factor, I want to go there. But in all honesty, I doubt anywhere like that exists.