A Few of my Favorites about Jerusalem

I have been back from Jerusalem for about 2 weeks now. It feels like I just woke up from a really good dream. Did I really live there for 4 months? I have so many wonderful memories to share...so be warned...many blogs to follow of me reminiscing!

In Israel, our sabbath day was on Saturday instead of Sunday and we called it "Shabbat." Almost every Shabbat, a common question I asked people was, "Where are you going today? Gethsemane or The Garden Tomb?" It was wonderful to go to either of these places and write in my journal, read the scriptures, or just sit and ponder. I learned that my favorite places in Jerusalem were those that were simple and not over run my tourists---the places where I could ponder the Savior's mission and think about how I can be more like Him.



If I didn't have a chance to go to Gethsemane or The Garden Tomb my second choice was my balcony. This picture does not do justice but I had a perfect view of the Dome of the Rock and the whole city of Jerusalem.



Sitting in a field close to the traditional site of Gethsemane.



I can say confidently that The Garden Tomb was my favorite place in Jerusalem. I experienced so many feelings of peace and comfort here. In January, I heard that my Grandma Pearson had a brain aneurism. It was predicted that she would pass away soon. I came to the Garden Tomb a lot and thought about the truth of the doctrine of the Resurrection. When I found out that my Grandma had passed away, I felt so much comfort in knowing that because our Savior overcame death so can we! I know that my Grandma will be resurrected one day as all of us will.



The empty tomb.

A Joy to be in Jordan

Last week I had the opportunity to go to the wonderful country of Jordan. I spent 4 days touring the cities of Petra, Amman, and Jerash.



PETRA



Petra just became the second wonder of the world. Growing up, I never thought I would see any wonders of the world, let alone 2 in the time span of two months! It was incredible to think that this was built by people in 100 BCE and the places they lived were carved out of the mountain.





Me and Brianna





Rachel, me, Chris





Being sacrificed on an ancient alter at "The High Place of Sacrifice" on top of a mountain. This could have been an alter that animal sacrifice was made on in Biblical times.





Ever seen Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade? Here is the temple that is in the movie.  It is called "The Treasury."  And here I am standing with Indiana Jones himself.





 There were donkeys trotting around everywhere at Petra. I have never heard a donkey "hee-haw" and it is SO loud!



                                                  

Falling off a cliff. Don't worry, due to my incredible strength, I was able to pull myself up. With one hand.



                                                                    

Me and Brianna, my roommate.



                                        

Shopping in Jordan. Wearing sweet Jordanian durags.

Some highlights.

        

The Flower Girls of Jerusalem

Heidi, Jess, Me   





Arabic grafitti is the best. Hands Down.







In front of Dome of the Rock, one of my favorite sites in Jerusalem.





Don't we look just like a menorah?



A common site. When kids graduate from high school, they have to serve the government for 2 years. Lots of them serve in the army, so there are soldiers walking around everywhere holding huge guns.                                          



                    

Rachel, Elyse, Me, and Tamara in front of the Dome of the Rock.





     I wish I could capture this better, but this is the view that I have during sacrament meeting.

Last week it was especially cool when there was a thunder storm. The rain was pelting the ground and the biggest bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. Incredible. 

                                              

Playing with 2 children with cerebral palsy

                                   

We get the opportunity to go volunteer at two institutions in Jerusalem: Princess Basma's for Disabled Children and the Domari Gypsy society.  It is such a wonderful opportunity to serve the people here and one of the best ways to get to know the people.

 

                                                        

I never get sick of the sunsets here                                        





PLAYING THE CARRILON BELLS



 

Brother and Sister Squires, the senior music missionaries, took us to the YMCA in West Jerusalem and gave us the opportunity to play the carrilon bells.  How do you envision what playing the bells looks like?  Quasimodo from the Hunchback of Notre Dame swinging on a rope?  Well that is what I thought and I was completely wrong.  Instead it is like playing on a keyboard.  My friend Briana and I played "Frere Jacques" in front of 60,000 people in the city of Jerusalem. Unfortunately I messed up and played some of the wrong notes, but hey! Hopefully only 20,000 people picked up on it.  It was a really fun and unique experience.  



                                                  

Emilie Foss and I acting like the bells



                          

  Brother and Sister Squires, two of my favorite people at the JC.

I <3 Jerusalem!

I can't believe that my journey in Jerusalem is basically half way over! Now that I call Jerusalem "home," it's sad to think that I'll be leaving in 2 months. I have had so many incredible experiences! Not only am I having a blast, but I'm having so many experiences that are strengthening my testimony in our Savior Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful for him and his sacrifice.


JC DINERS CLUB
This is a club that my friend Jess Veater and I started last week. We go out to eat once a week at a different restaurant to get the cultural experience. So far we have gone to lunch and gotten falafels (a favorite....fried chick pea balls in a pita) and pasta.

"I'm in Heaven" look...eating a falafel






FRIDAY THE 13th
So we had a dance party and the plan was to dress up crazy. We all went a little emo. So fun.

Me, Janay(my roomie), and Emilie



FIELD TRIP
I love field trips. It's best kind of learning! We learn about the places and events and then are able to go visit the places.


Miriam, Steph, and Me at Bet-Shemesh. Many of the stories of the bible happened here like the story of Samson and Delilah and David and Goliath.

The Goliath that some students in my Old Testament Class made.



I played the role of David and got to use a sling and fling rocks at Goliath!  It was pretty fun and the people around me were lucky that they did not get hit. I was pretty reckless.

We went splunking in some caves. The cave we went through was called "The Birth Canal." For a good reason. It was a very tight squeeze getting through it. It felt good to be "reborn." :)