Poem of Jerusalem

I wrote this poem during a musical fireside.

Lord, I am living in the land where you once lived.
—I am standing where you stood;
I am wandering the paths you walked,
Though I cannot hear your voice teaching on the temple mount,
I can hear the testimonies of your pupils.
I cannot feel you in these erected holy places,
But I feel you in sweet hymns that lullaby my heart.
I cannot see you in the icons of lavish churches,
But I see you in the faces that surround me.
I cannot touch your pierced hands and feet now,
But your mercy touches and pierces my soul.
I will not taste the slightest of thy burdens
But you have tasted the bitterness of mine.
I cannot comprehend your tender mercies,
But I know you comprehend the paths I’ll walk.
I cannot forget you, not here, or anywhere.

Galilee

Hello! I am now back in Jerusalem to stay until I leave in 3 weeks. Which is very sad. Our two week stay in the Galilee area was wonderful. I do not know where to start. It already seems like forever ago.












First, there are so many Biblical events which took place near and around the Galilee, so I am afraid I will not be able to recount them all on my blog. I'm just going to attempt to share the most memorable ones. On our drive up to the Galilee, which is in the north eastern most part of Israel bordering Syria and Lebanon, we stopped by Caesarea on the coast. It is a very beautiful place. There are mostly Crusader ruins there, but we sat on the ruins from one of Herod's palaces and read about Peter and Paul and some of their ministry. Caesarea was a huge port in Christ's time which was built up by Herod for trade and also to win the affection of the Romans. I love the Mediterranean. I was sad to think that I would not see it again until I fly out from Tel Aviv on December 17th.

I was also able to spend a brief hour or two in Nazareth. It is a decent sized little city. I wish we had been able to spend more time there to wander and explore. I went to several churches there; there are two churches which claim the Annunciation. One of the churches had artwort depicting Mary holding the Christ-child from countries all over the world. The architecture of the church was...unusual. It was basically all cement...and seemed very cold to me compared to so many of the gaudy over-ornamented churches and shrines made on Holy sites. I would have to look in my journal to remember what exactly this church was for, if it was the site of where Joseph lived, or where they believed the annunciation actually happened. I believe it is the latter. We also visited St. Gabriel's church which was the Greek Orthodox version of the Annunciation and had a spring/well within it, which was a main source of water in the 1st century for Nazareth.

We stayed in the Ein Gev Kibbutz Holiday Resort for our entire trip. They did a fairly good job accomodating our large group, though I do not know if I would stay there again. Only 9 students in my class did not get a stomach sickness while we were there...which many believe was due to food poisoning or something related. But the change of food was refreshing from the Oasis at the center. I shared a bungalow on the beach with three other girls.

Some of my favorite spots include Tel Dan, Banyas Waterfalls, Capernaum, Nain, and the boat ride on the Galilee.
Tel Dan is possibly the most Northern you can get in Israel. While we were there we looked across the valley to a city in Syria. It is lush, green, and almost tropical there. Sometimes I felt like I was in Kauai again. There were streams, springs, and waterfalls everywhere. If I had a choice of which tribe to be in in ancient Israel, I would most definitely pick Dan, though they were always battling to keep their land. It is there that many of tributaries to the Jordan River begin. It was also incredible to see the ancient site where the temple area was in Dan, which is referenced in the Old Testament frequently. For example when Jereboam set up a golden calf there after Israel had split from Judah. When I think of Dan I think of the phrase "From Dan to BeerSheba" which is the expanse of the Kingdom of Isreal. The Banyas Waterfalls were just a short way from Dan and was just a small little hike to some beautiful water.

Capernaum is on the northern edge of the Galilee. It is simply ruins now, which is not at all surprising because it was one of three cities that Christ cursed, though it was as his second home. Peter was also a resident there, and archaeological projects have uncovered one they think is Peter's home. There is a synagogue there (The picture is the back of our Bibles) where Christ most definitely would have visited. I watched one of the most beautiful sunsets of my life just down the road from Capernaum.

We had a boat ride from Ein Gev across to the Northern shore of Galilee. We were able to read the parts of the New Testament which took place on the Sea of Galilee. Like when the tempest was raging and Christ calmed the seas, showing his power over the elements. And also how Peter, Andrew, and John were fishing, and Christ came and asked them to be fishers of men. Or when Peter walked on water then sank, and Christ pulled him up.

Mt. Tabor and Mt. Carmel were in the area too. Mt. Tabor is where Peter, James, and John were transfigured and received the keys from Elijah and Noah. (i think that's right?) Mt. Carmel is the site where Elijah showed up the priests of Baal in 1 Kings 18.

Friday (yesterday) we met with Danny Seidemann, who was an amazing speaker and informant. He knows everything about Jerusalem. Politically, I suppose. We visited part of the separation barrier this morning. I feel like his two or so hours of lecturing and answering our questions was almost more informing than my two "modern near east" classes. The barrier serves as a beneficial tool according to Seidemann,though the Israelis find ways to abuse tools such as these. The news of Israel freezing settlements in the West Bank was good news he said, though I just read online they were building 20+ news schools there.

Pictures
top to bottom:
1.Me at part of the separation wall in East Jerusalem.
2. Turkey with sparklers in it for our Israeli version of Thanksgiving.
3.Fish head at the fish restaurant in Galilee. This was not my fish. It was my friends. I ordered pizza. Don't judge me.
4. View from Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus taught the 12 apostles and some of the 70.
5. Me at Banyas waterfalls near Tel Dan
6. My class picture at Tel Dan at the "Winnie the Pooh Tree". Really, that is what the park called it.
7. Me on a boat out on the Sea of Galilee.
8. Thailand depection of Mary and baby Jesus at the church in Nazareth.
9. Inside the church in Nazareth, the supposed spot of the Annunciation.
10. Entrance to Capernaum, Jesus 2nd home, home of Peter and location of the synagogue he taught at and the Centurion funded.
11. View at Caesarea of the Mediterranean.

Sedar Dinner, Gethsemane and En Gedi

Within the last week, I have been extremely busy. More so than usual. Is that possible? I'm not sure. I am almost finished with horrid finals. We take our Palestinian final in 30 minutes. And since I am updating my blog...I think it is indicative of what I think about this Palestinian class/test. So I'm taking the no-stress route.

I visited Gethsemane several days ago for the first time. Many students have already visited several times, but this seemed to be the perfect time to go. It is only a 5-10 minute walk from the center through the Kidron valley. Because Mormons frequent the Garden of Gethsemane so often, we were able to get access to a private part which is not accessible to the busloads of tourists in their yellow hats. This was wonderful, because I was able to sit under the trees and spread out my scriptures and hymn book and read. It was much more peaceful than the small plot of a garden which is kept up. I am grateful that the denomination over the garden did not build a church ontop of it. This is the case so often in Jerusalem. I think it takes so much away from the original place and event.

We also had a Sedar dinner within the last week. It was such a different experience. Very different from the Ramadan dinner we had. This was very organized and specific. We had to wash our hands over a basin. Then we read from the Hagganah. I was one of 10 narrators for the night, so I sat right by our professor, Ophir, in the middle of the head table. We ate matzah, bitter herbs = horseradish. The horseraddish was absolutely disgusting and I had to force my mouth to swallow. We also dipped celery leaves in salt water and ate those, which symbolize the tears of the children of Israel. By the time we go through the story of the Exodus and rabbinic commentary, we ate our dinner around 7:30. Our cooks served so many courses. Fish. Soup. Salad. Stuffed chicken with broccoli. Fruit bowls. Chocolate desserts. We didnt leave until after 9pm and it started at 5pm. The festivity and longevity could be compared to Thanksgiving dinner. Though I am glad that at Thanksgiving, we only eat delicious food.

Yesterday I took advantage of the opportunity of going to En Gedi instead of sitting in the center and stuyding hopelessly for this Palestinian test. En Gedi park and beach are right on the Dead Sea. Which is quite fragrant. In a distasteful way. There were 16 students that went and we all split up into smaller groups and hiked to waterfalls, springs, and pools located in different wadis all day. There were several hundred Jewish school girls clogging the pathways...and screaming and yelling while splashing in the waterfalls in their full uniforms of black skirts, stockings, closed-toe shoes and blouses. Because of this, I opted to hike to the very top of Wadi David, where it was more secluded. It was a very nice day. We left and walked down the highway to En Gedi Beach which is on the Dead Sea. There were a surprising amount of people there. And there isn't sand one can lay out on on the beach. Just rocks. The sensation was crazy. You couldnt stand up in the water. I was either on my back or stomach, floating. It looked like there was a layer of oil ontop of the water. It also burned. Like unquenchable fire. On cuts and other areas. There was a mudpit and we all covered our faces and bodies with it. Onced it dried we washed it off in the sea. It actually works. Our skin was very smooth afterwards. It was so odd. The rocks and fences along the beach were covered in layers and chunks of salt. Showering in regular water afterwards was glorious. Though we had to pay 2NIS to use the bathroom/showers. I will not miss that in the states. Paying for bathroom usage.

Kingdom of Jordan!

Hello! It's been a while since I've posted.
We arrived back from Jordan several days ago. I was able to spend nearly an entire day exploring Petra, which was stunning. Petra is about 4-5 hours away from Jerusalem, not counting the hours spent going through the border. We stopped in Madaba on the way to Petra. This city has the oldest map of Jerusalem in the form of a mosaic on the floor in a church there. It was pretty cool.

The Petra Palace Hotel we stayed at...was not a palace. And if you ever plan or dream about going to Petra...I would say go with the Marriott or Crown Plaza. It was the craziest place ever. To get to my room I had to take the lobby elevator to the third floor. Then I would walk through the third floor out to the pool/outside area and on the opposite side I would walk into another building and take an elevator..4x4 dimensions with only three sides (if it was even working) up another three floors. Where the hall proceeded to smell like a barn and our bathroom even worse. Thankfully we stayed only one night.

We began early and arrived at the beginning of the walking path around 8:15am. You have to walk a little ways (maybe more than 1/4 mile) before actually seeing parts of Petra. They had a water system that ran from the entrance up to the Treasury. At one point our guide made us form five lines and look down at the ground and walk a little ways. When we looked up, the Treasury was infront of us. It was almost breathtaking, because I was not anticipating seeing it already. The ability of acient peoples to make such detailed and perfect monuments never ceases to amaze me. They made this tomb out of stone, with its perfect dimensions and smoothness. The Treasury, like many of the remains at Petra is first and foremost a tomb, but it was said that the King/Pharaoh kept his money in the urn on the second story. You can tell that it is the spot, from random holes in the rock resembling shots.

From the Treasury, we walked through more of the mountains until it opened up to hundreds of tombs. There was also a Roman/Nabateeaen Theater, which was not used for plays, but religious ceremonies.
Bedouins are the natives of the area and some even live in the old tombs at Petra. They reinacted a Nabateeaen market and sell many of the touristy souvineers as you walk through Petra. (The typical stuff = jewelry, books, pictures, sodas, chips, and little carvings or statues.) Some very little children were selling rocks on the sides of the monuments.

I hiked up the mountain to the Monastary, which was worth the wonderful view of the country. (It was around 800+ medieval-like steps to the top...and also dodging donkeys coming up and down so they dont run you off the path) It was hazy that day, but supposedly on a clear day you can see into Israel. Petra is in Southern Jordan and is near the border which we visited when we stayed at that Kibbutz Yatvata on the way to Egypt. Sometimes Israelis would sneak into Jordan in that area to get a quick peak at the ruins in Petra. After lunch at the "Basin" restaurant in Petra I wandered around with my friend Kellie, who also goes to Provo and is from Oregon. We bought some earrings and a nice cold drink while exploring more tombs on our own, mainly the Tomb of the Kings, Urn? (i cannot remember the name).
There was this book that I wanted so badly, but it was so pricey at Petra. It is called "Married to a Boudin" and was written by a woman who married a Bedouin man and they lived in a cave near Petra I believe. She was not Bedouin, T think she was from New Zealand. Anyways, she sells copies at Petra. But this book is famous in the area. Maybe I will purchase it later online.

After visiting Petra, we drove to Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Amman is a beautiful, relatively clean city compared to Egypt, or even Jerusalem. Jordan was overall cleaner, which was very nice.
Down the road from our hotel in Amman, The Ambassador Hotel, was a little mall with a actual grocery store. Many of the students and faculty visited a movie store that sold pirated movies for 1 Jordanian Dinar. ($1.50) I may have bought a couple.
We ate dinner there one night at "Texas Chicken" but really the logo and everything was the same as Church's Chicken. I couldnt bring myself to eat at McDonalds, even here. From Amman we drove to Jerash which has very well preserved Roman ruins, nearly an entire city, which was the ancient city of Jerash. At the South Auditorium there, we had some girls sing opera and hymns. It had wonderful acoustics. There as a reinactment which we had to pay $10 to see, but it was hilarious. There were "Roman" soliders dressed in supposedly authenic garb as well as gladiators and chariot races. Pretty cheesey, but hilarious and fun to see. I think Chad would have loved it. There were little French kids who were yelling at the gladiators the whole time and giggling like mad.

In Amman we also visited their second largest mosque, King Abdullah mosque. It was there that us women had to put on a black robe with a hood and wear a scarf around our face so we did not show any of our body while in the mosque. It was so strange to see, because the boys were in their blue jeans, t-shirts and ball caps.
After that we went to the ruins in downtown Amman, where the ancient Roman city of Philadelphia was.

We were also able to visit the Church's "Educational Center" aka the branch meeting house for members in Amman. It was so neat to actually see the church in the Middle East and its leaders. The Branch President in Amman was Pres. Hoffmire, from Norman, OK. He works for the government. I think there are service couples in every Middle Eastern country. One of the service couples that came to district conference in Jeruslame this weekend was serving in Afghanistan, but his wife was not allowed to go there.

This was pretty much our trip to Jordan. It was very short. We only stayed a total of three nights. On our way back to the Israel border, we stopped at Bethany and I stepped in the Jordan River in the area where Jesus and John the Baptist were baptized. The state of the river is so sad. I wish that we had more time to spend there but I do not think we were at the actual site for more than 30 or so minutes. I did happen to save some of the purified water from the Jordan River in an old water bottle.

As we arrived to the border crossing near Jericho, we were detained for two hours, because the officers...police...Israeli soldiers..whatever you want to call them didn't understand that we had tourist visas and not student visas. Anyways, they refused to let us through, and wouldn't call our main director in Israel. So our teachers called our director of the Jerusalem Center, Mr. Hiyat, who called Israel's Minster of Internal Affairs..or something like that...who then had to call the border to let us back in. It was crazy. They are so protective...and I personally think many of the soldiers/workers in the borders are just on power trips. Looking back, I realize I shouldn't have been as frustrated as I was, but whatever.

The center celebrated Halloween a day early, since Saturday is our Sabbath. We had the most awesome Hallowen party and dance. I've never seen people be so creative with their costumes. With such limited resources, I think it was pretty fantastic. The little kids of our professor went around trick-or-treating at our student apartments. They're 11, 9, and 4 years old. I dressed up with my friend Lauren as ninjas.

District conference this weekend was amazing. We had several area general authorities speak and the distict presidency, which happens to consist of some of our teachers and the "Dr" in the center. We had the most amazing impromptu fireside last night, that was spontaneously organized by some of the students. It was a random program of piano pieces and singing solos, along with testimonies in between. The spirit was so strong, I do not know if I have felt it stronger in my life. I hope I never forget that night.