Life in Jerusalem



This post is filled with lots of random adventures I have taken over the past couple of weeks. Our class schedule is not as heavy and we have been doing several field trips a week (as compared to one before), so I have spent a lot time exploring.

 

Davidson Archaelogical Park. This is the southern wall of the temple mount. The Savior would have stepped on the stones behind us (the left corner of the picture).

We went to the Kotel Tunnel, which is underneath the western wall of the temple mount. We are standing in front of a Herodian Stone, which would have been there during Christ's time.

Here we are in front of the Western Wall of the temple mount. The Kotel tunnel is underneath this wall.

After our clinicals at a Palestinian hospital we visited Hadassa, an Israeli hospital. It was huge! It was connected to a shopping center.

Here we are on the roofs of the Old City

Oscar Schindler's Gravesite

We ate humus, falafel, pita and french fries on the roof of this restaurant. We had a great view of the Dome of the Rock (behind us) and other buildings in the Old City.

Dome of the Rock

Terra Santa, one of the many Christian churches we visited on our fieldtrip. There is a guest house connected to this church that Orson Hyde stayed at when he came to Jerusalem.

Orson Hyde engraved his name in this door that other guests engraved their name in.

We went to the Israel museum. This is a model of what Jerusalem would have looked like during Christ's time. The temple mount is on the right side.

Art at the Israel Museum

 

We celebrated Thanksgiving a week early because we will be in Galilee on  Thanksgiving Day. I sure miss being home with my wonderful family for the holidays (and really miss Dad's mashed potatoes and Mom's rolls and sweet potato casserole. Oh and I miss pumpkin cookies, pie, bread, etc. But I am SO grateful to be here!)

 

 

Our Home :)

This is the place we sing at the Garden Tomb. We have met a lot of amazing people from doing this. A highlight of being in Jerusalem has been testifying of Christ through song.

Garden Tomb

The view from my backyard

My last day at clinicals! This is inside Augusta Victoria (the castle/hospital we did clinicals in)

A Delightful Day in the City

We started our day off at a Jewish bakery! Our doughnut and hot chocolate cake filled with cream were delicious! 

Church of Mary Magdalene (Russian Orthodox Church)

This church is surrounded by beautiful gardens. It is so peaceful.

A view of the Old City (note the white tower in the middle of picture. This is the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer that we visited today)

A view of the Old City from the King David Museum

Kind David's Museum

Inside the tower of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

The tower of the church is behind us

The view from my backyard! Isn't it amazing?!

A musician we saw in the Old City

O Little Town of Bethlehem

We went to Bethlehem today. We started our day off at the Herodium, a palace of Herod the Great. Herod built this palace to glorify himself. Pride and selfishness ruled his daily life. He was power hungry and delighted in being called the King of the Jews. Ironically, the true King of Kings, Jesus Christ, would be born during his time, not very far away from his palace.

The Herodium (The palace is on top of this tel (man made archaeological mound))

Herod's Palace

Bathhouse (It's hard to see the dimension from this picture, but it was huge)

Then we went to the Church of the Nativity, which was built over the cave that is believed to be the place Christ was born.

The manger

Then we went to the fields of Bethlehem, overlooking the town of Bethlehem. I think it is beautiful that Bethlehem means "House of Bread," for the Bread of Life was born here.

We had the opportunity to reflect on the birth of Christ and sing Christmas hymns. As the sun started to go down, I noticed a single star shining brightly, right above the modern town of Bethlehem. That star was the only star visible in the sky for a while. Christmas night became so much more real and personal. I felt as if I was one of the shepherds, being told the good tidings of great joy. The night was so peaceful and still.

Words will never fully express the peace and hope that filled my heart as I reflected on the wondrous Gift given by our loving Father in Heaven. Why would He, a God, condescend and come into this world in the humblest of all circumstances? Because He loves us and desired to submit to His Father's will. He came for me and He came for you. He came to save all mankind. He came to give each of us abundant life. He lived, suffered, and died for each of us. I testify with all my heart that the precious Christ child who was born 2,000 years ago lives on as a glorified, resurrected Lord. He lives to comfort, lift, strengthen, and heal us! His grace and redeeming love are sufficient to change and save us. May you feel His deep and matchless love for you this day and always! Look for manifestations of His love in your daily life and I promise you will find it.

The shepherds fields of Bethlehem

If you look very closely, you can see a brightly shining star above the tree. Pictures don't even come close to doing it justice, but in real life this scene made the Christmas story come to life!

A quote from Elder Maxwell perfectly describes the feelings I had this night and have had throughout this semester. He declared, "The same God that placed a star in a precise orbit millennia before it appeared over Bethlehem in celebration of the birth of the babe has equal, if not more, attention to the placement of each of us in human orbits, so we may, if we will, illuminate the landscape of our individual lives, so that our light may not only lead others, but warm them as well" (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, That My Family Should Partake, 1974, p. 86). I hope that you can feel the truth of these words. God is actively involved in your life. He is aware of the details. His plan for you is individual and complete. He has placed you here on the earth at this time for reason. May you discover and embrace His plan for you. May you bless and reach out to your fellow traveler's along the way, for every person comes into your life for and reason. You have remarkable potential to influence and lead others for good, as well as bring them hope and comfort! I am grateful for that babe in Bethlehem, even our Savior, Jesus Christ, that made it possible for you and I to reach our full potential.

Jordan

This past week we traveled to Jordan. It was a great trip! Here are some of the highlights of the trip:

Carissa and me in the Jordan River

Going to the Jordan River renewed my gratitude for the covenants I have made with my Father in Heaven. I am so grateful for the power found in covenant making and keeping. There is peace and safety that comes as we follow Christ into the waters of baptism and renew our commitment to Him each week as we partake of the Sacrament.

Brother Belnap shared a great insight with us while we were at the Jordan River. Christ was baptized, not to be cleansed of sins, for He was perfect, but to personally participate in that sacred ordinance and to make a personal covenant with His Father. This moment was sacred and significant to Christ Himself. Christ taught us through His perfect example that our covenants are sacred and empowering.

Another significant insight about the Jordan River is that Joshua led the children of Israel through the waters of Jordan on dry ground (see Joshua 3), to get to the promised land. At these same waters, Christ was baptized which allows us to get to the promised land. Christ literally opened the way for us to make it to the promised land.

Jabbok River

At the Jabbok river, we talked about Jacob's wrestle with the Lord (see Genesis 32: 22-28) and also discussed Enos' wrestle with the Lord (see Enos 1:2). In both circumstances, Jacob and Enos were pleading to the Lord for help and neither was going to leave until they received an answer to their prayers. They showed great faith and confidence in the Lord. Both were given a great reward in the end. Jacob's name was changed to Israel, which means "One who prevails with God" or "Let God prevail." It wasn't until after Jacob's struggle that his name was changed. And his name change is significant to all of us, because it teaches each of us that every time we wrestle before the Lord, the answer is the same: God prevails! And Enos was promised rest and residence in Heaven (see Enos 1:27).

Citadel

Citadel- Temple of Hercules

Jerash (this city has a thousand pillars still standing)

Jerash

Jerash

King Hussein Mosque

Philadelphia- Roman Theater and Odeon

Royal Automobile Museum

The pictures below are from Petra. Hiking around in Petra was definitely a highlight of this whole semester. There are a lot of amazing man-made things in Petra, but my favorite part was the breath-taking rock formations. I am so grateful for the beautiful earth that God created for our enjoyment! One of the reasons I loved Petra was because it led my thoughts to my earthly father and heavenly Father. My earthly dad has helped me from a young age to appreciate the beauties of God's creations. I am so grateful for both of them. 

This is my camel friend Mickey (yes, like Mickey Mouse!). I loved every minute of the ride I took through Petra on Mickey's back!

The Monastery is behind us

Petra Colonnaded

Petra Colonnaded