From Jericho to Tel Aviv

On Monday we went to Jericho for our field trip. This is where Christ fasted for 40 days and was tempted by the adversary. This really put things into perspective for me because it is so hot and dry in Jericho, and I can’t imagine fasting under these circumstances. However, Jericho is also very quiet and secluded and would have great place of sanctification and preparation for His ministry.

 

 

Jericho is also where the story of the Good Samaritan happened. Again, being in this hot and dry desert changed my perspective of this story. Each of us ought to ask ourselves what we would do if we were in that situation. President Monson declared, "There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save. The blessings of eternity await you... Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only." May each of us emmulate the example of the Good Samaritan and the prophet. 

  

Kaitlyn and Me

 

Shelby and Me at King Herod's winter palace



Isn't he a cute little donkey?

Carissa and Me in Jericho

I learned today that the desert can be a beautiful place :)

After traveling to Jericho, a group of us went to Tel Aviv (it's about 45 minutes away from Jerusalem). The Tel Aviv airport is where we arrived when we first got here.

 

I never thought I would swim in the Mediterranean Sea. The water was so warm and beautiful!

 

Carissa, Jules, and I made this sand castle... It's actually the Jerusalem Center :)

 

Kaitlyn and Me

 

Tel Aviv was definitely a highlight of the trip. I forgot how much I love the ocean! I've always been more of a mountain girl, but I was as happy as can be body surfing and walking along the beach.

Life is a Gift!

Today I did clinicals in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) of the hospital. I was shadowing with my friend Cali, another nursing student. At the beginning of our shift, Cali and I both had the mindset that there was a solution to the problems these babies were facing. However, after asking questions and gaining a greater understanding of their illnesses, I realized that there wasn’t a “fix-all” solution for a couple of the babies. In fact, it was likely that a couple of them would not make it. When this realization came to me and Cali, we both looked at these beautiful babies and started to tear up.

I can’t imagine what their families are going through. It breaks my heart to think of all the life these sweet children will miss out on. However, it also strengthens my testimony of the power of the Atonement and the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. How I long to share that truth with these families! How I long to testify of the Resurrection, of the Plan of Salvation, and of the reality that the Atonement makes all things right and fair.

Today changed my perspective on the gift of life. Thank you all for making my life so beautiful and wonderful! I hope you will take time to ponder the great gift of life.

Zedekiah's Cave

 

This is baklava: A pastry filled with mashed pistachios and covered in honey or syrup. It was pretty good… Not sure if I’ll get it again haha, but happy to try it!

Zedekiah's Cave (under the Old City)

Sabbath Day Walk

The Sabbath was such a wonderful day! In Sacrament meeting we sang, "There is a green hill far away." What a touching moment it was to sing that song and realize that it really isn't that far away. I am so grateful to be in the Holy Land, walking in His footsteps. 

Today was also great because I had the chance to go back to Primary! We have 11 kids in our Primary. They are adorable! I am so excited to work with these sweet kids this semester.

Below are pictures from a walk a group of us took this evening in Jerusalem.

Orson Hyde Garden

Look at that sky! The weather is changing quickly and we had our first rain shower! 

Oh how I love Jerusalem!

Roommate Pic... Oh wait, plus Kolby :)

Field Trip Adventures!

On Monday we went on a field trip in the Negev (which is a desert south of Jerusalem). We went to a Bedouin store (the Bedouin's were traditionally nomads, but not live in Israel in settlements that are unrecognized by the government). They spin their own yarn and dye it with beautiful colors.

A rug in the process of being made

Below are pictures of Tel Beersheba, where Abraham lived and made covenants (see Genesis 21).  

We sang a couple hymns in this cistern. It sounded awesome!

Me, Shelby and Jamison

Clinicals!

There are eight BYU-Idaho nursing students on the tour (not all of them are pictured below). We are doing clinicals in 4 different Palestinian hospitals. This past Sunday, we went to two different hospitals (we celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday and do clinicals on our free day, Sunday). Six of the students went to a hospital. Kaitlyn (to the left of me) and I went to Princess Basma, a developmental center. We shadowed speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and recreational therapists. It was such a positive environment.  All the workers were so welcoming. The workers were so optimistic about their jobs and sacrificed a lot to get there. The nurse I shadowed traveled 2 hours to get to work!  It was so wonderful to interact with the people, especially the kids. One of the little boys smiled all day long! And another girl gave me high-five after high-five after high-five! So cute. They are spiritual giants in little bodies.

Old City Fun!

Today was an amazing day in the Old City! We explored lots of new places and tasted new foods. I had a delicious Falafel and yummy pomegranate/orange/carrot juice! We spent time in the Jewish quarter, which I really enjoyed. We also spent time in western Jerusalem and saw people preparing for Sukkot, the feast of the tabernacle. We walked through a fleet market, which was quite the experience. Lot’s of smells, food, treats, and people.

The highlight of my day happened in the Old City. I was shopping around art shops with two of my friends. We went into one of them and started talking with the store owner. He asked where we were from and we told him we are from the United States, studying at the “Mormon University” (which is what everyone calls the Jerusalem Center here). He talked with us for a few more minutes, then we went into another section of his store. Soon after, he came into that section of the store and asked if he could share a story with us. He told us that another customer had come up to him and said, “Hey, there are three girls in your store. Aren’t you worried they might steal something? Shouldn’t you be watching them?” He replied, “Oh no, I’m not worried. They’re Mormons. They wouldn’t steal.” Words cannot express how good it felt to hear him say that. It is experiences like these that make it all worth it!

Me and Jane eating our falafels

Caralee and me in front of the Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock

Jewish Quarter

Jewish Quarter

Don't be deceived, these "pillows" are rock hard and are randomly spread throughout this park.

These bikes make the things on top move (the flowers come out of the pot, the drumsticks hit the drums, etc). Pretty cool! These are in west Jerusalem.

Cool looking onions at the fleet market

Stephanie, me and Amanda at the fleet market

Cam, Michaela, Stephanie, and me at the Sukkot market

Sukkot market

The Lamb of God

We went to the Garden Tomb again today and once again it was a beautiful experience. The tour guide mentioned that the Garden Tomb and Golgotha are on Mt. Moriah. This is the same place Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him. Isaac saw the wood and fire for a burnt offering and started to wonder where the lamb was for sacrifice. Abraham replied, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8). God truly did provide a Lamb for the ultimate sacrifice, which saved Isaac and saves all of us. I find it so touching that it was on (or near) the same mount that God allowed His own Son to be sacrificed, for each of us.

After our tour of the Garden Tomb, all 80 of us sang hymns that testify of God’s love and power. Many people of other faiths gathered around to listen. As I conducted the hymn, “I know that my Redeemer lives,” and looked out on the people gathered around, I realized that this was one of the few opportunities I would get to bear my witness of the living Christ (through song) while in the Holy Land. I stand as a witness of His love and power. He calms my troubled heart, takes away my fears, and gives me newness of life. I am so humbled by His love and sacrifice for me and for each of us. Christ is a risen, living Lord who lives to raise us up daily.

Golgotha, which means "skull" and a "place of burial" (Bible Dictionary)

The Garden Tomb

A replica of the stone that was in front of  the tomb

The place where they believe Jesus' body lied

Shelby, me, Devyn, and Amanda (my roomies)

A Walk Around the Old City

Yesterday a group of us went on the Rampart's walk (which is a walk along the walls of the Old City!). It was so fun!! We have been really busy with our studies this week, so it was nice to get out. (Please excuse my sweaty, red face ha ha. It is really hot here!)

I Dream of Genie?

Here I am in my first pair of genie pants! I bought them yesterday in the Old City. I really wish we wore things like this back at home! They are so comfortable!

Lessons from Nephi

Today we were walking on a steep, rocky hill to an outlook of Bethlehem. The hill was covered in thorny bushes that were hard to avoid. It was also very hot and we were carrying heavy backpacks. A group of us complained about the thorns and the heat, and this and that, etc. 

Shortly after our arrival, Sister Woods (the wife of my religion professor) shared Moses 6:63 with us. It states, "And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me." She talked about the power of applying all things to the Gospel. If we have the right attitude and perspective, we will see how all things testify of Christ. During her journey, Sister Woods took the time to look at the individual thorns in the bushes and was lead to think of Jesus Christ and the suffering that He bore in our behalf. It is interesting that I on the other hand, was quick to complain about the very thorns that brought her closer to Christ.

This lead me to think about the similarities and differences between Nephi and Laman and Lemuel. They were all on the same journey, but their reaction to the circumstances on the journey was very different. Nephi reacted to the thorns of life with faith, obedience, humility and hope in Christ. While Laman and Lemuel reacted to the thorns with murmuring, pride, fear, and anger. 

We are all on the same journey called mortality. It is vital for us to look inward and evaluate who we are choosing to live like on a daily basis. I learned a powerful lesson today. To be honest, after being in the hot and dry wilderness that Lehi and his family lived in, I can understand why Laman and Lemuel complained. But on the other hand, knowing how Nephi reacted after living in this hot and dry place, makes me love Nephi's example that much more.

It is really, really easy to find something to complain about, but we don't need more complainers in the world. May each of us try to be more like Nephi and Sister Woods and remember that all things testify of the reality of God and His love.

Over looking Jerusalem

Today we went on a field trip where we overlooked Jerusalem from several different overlooks, including the August Victoria tower, the Seven Arches Hotel overlook, Gibeah, the mosque/synagogue of the Prophet Samuel, Tayelet, Bethlehem overlook, and the Hebrew University. I enjoyed learning from the bible while looking out at the place we were reading about! It was a very warm day :)

Overlook of the Old City from the Seven Arches Hotel

Bethlehem (behind Carissa and Me)

The Dead Sea (It's the dark blue right above the sandy hills- this is a "clear" day and probably the best view we'll get from far away)

ممرضة (I am a nurse.. in Jerusalem)

We had clinical orientation today. It was definitely the best nursing orientation I've ever had. We walked around the city to find the four Palestinian hospitals we will be shadowing at. I'm really excited for the opportunity to experience nursing in another country and culture!