Orientation Walk

My first time exploring the city was on the orientation walk.  Jerusalem is SOOO cool, and has so many adventures awaiting around every corner.  Since pictures are worth a thousand words, I decided to share some of them with you! 

Austrian Hospice

 

This is my orientation group on the roof of the hospice. 

It is all so beautiful!!!

 

Some of the speakers of what I presume are used for the call to prayer.  These go off all the time.  It is a constant reminder that I am in Jerusalem. I love it!

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher 

                         

This is the outside.  Note, the ladder on the edge of the building below the window.  That ladder has been there for decades because no one wants to over step their bounds, and no one knows exactly whose authority it is to move the ladder.  Thus it remains unmoved.  The concept of respecting other people and their bounds so precisely I find so fascinating. There are some incredible people in this world.  

Aside from the Garden Tomb, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is another location where many believe Christ could have been crucified and buried. This is where they think He was buried. 

This is where people believe Christ's body was prepared for burial. 

Inside the Old City Market

The merchants insisted that we dress up. I loved it!!

West Jerusalem 

West Jerusalem is one of the places the students are allowed to go at night, a.k.a after four thirty.  We have many rules in order to keep us safe.  The security guards are gems. Every single one of them. 

I think this is funny.  This was in west Jerusalem.  It depicts Jerusalem as the heart/center of the world! Everybody has to have pride in their home land. 

 My FIRST time having falafal. It is very common over here.  I think falafals in Jerusalem are equivalent to hamburgers in America. Everywhere people are selling them and eating them.   

Do not be fooled.  Believe it or not, these guys were cement! This is a rude awaking to anyone who anticipated sitting on a soft pillow!

The Garden Tomb

The first Sunday here in Jerusalem, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Garden Tomb.  This is a place I have heard about ever since I was little. Although we do not know for sure where the exact location of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection took place, this is one of the places that many people believe it could have happened.

 Honestly, it was not what I had expected at all.  You see these beautiful paintings and depictions of this sacred place, and you would imagine it to be in a place that is somewhat secluded, surrounded with olive trees, and nature.  The Garden Tomb did have olive trees, nature, and it was beautiful.  However it is embedded within civilization. There are roads, homes, and street vendors all around the walls surrounding the garden.  Right under Golgotha there is a bus station. It is so crazy. You are surrounded by people and the world.  However, when you enter the walls you are kind of taken out of the city as you hear and see people coming to visit a place they find sacred.

We had a tour guide, and he talked to us about the history.  He showed us what they think is Golgotha. Their reasoning behind it was interesting.  Golgotha and Calvary both mean skull.  The cliff that they showed us where they believe Christ was crucified looks like a skull.  Another reason was the area was really close to the main roads.  Romans really liked to crucify people near main roads so many people would see it.  It sounds gross, but they wanted these poor individuals to stand as examples of what happens to people who did not do what they liked. Christ’s cross also had a plaque on it that said “King of the Jews.”  It would only make sense to have it close enough to the roads so that people could read the plaque.

The tomb, itself was humble and small.  You had to bend down to get in, and there were two chambers you could go into. On the left is where you would prepare the body, and on the right is where you would lie the body down. 

The garden was filled with people who led different lives, had different religions, and belonged to different races. Yet we all had one thing in common- the fact that we love and believe in Jesus Christ. I do not know where the exact location of the place of Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection are.  However, I do know the truth and the reality that he did indeed die for us so that we can live again. I am so grateful for this. He lives! And because he lives, I can live again too!

Finally In Jerusalem

The airport.

FINALLY!!! Yesterday was the day I finally stepped foot in Israel! I am actually sitting in East Jerusalem this very minute! Can you believe it? The day that I would step into the Holy Land has been anticipated for years now, and just yesterday my feet were able to meet the precious ground as I walked into the Jerusalem Center for the first time.

Breath-taking. That was my first thought as I saw, and entered the Jerusalem Center.  The center is truly incredible.  If you have never had the opportunity to see what the center looks like, inside and out, there is a wonderful thing called google.  The Jerusalem Center is immaculate in every sense of the word. 

An outside look at the Jerusalem Center!

                                                  

I have also had the unique opportunity to be here when it snows.  Apparently Jerusalem has not seen as much snow as it has seen for the past two days for around 10 years according to Eran Hyat, President of the Center.  It is beautiful!

 This is one of my favorite snow pictures of the Dome of the Rock.  This was taken from one of the Jerusalem Center balconies. 

Some of the people who are here with me!

Our first Jerusalem snowman. 

 In order to get to this wonderful place, if you are from Layton, Utah, requires around a 27 hour traveling period. I arrived at the Salt Lake City airport at about 9 a.m on Tuesday the 8th.  We left to fly to JFK at about 11:30 where we would land and have a three hour layover. After the layover we boarded the plane that would take us to the much anticipated location of Tel Aviv.   This was an adventure all in its self.

We boarded the BIGGEST plane I have ever seen…there were two stories!!!!!!  Since when do planes have two stories??For all of those frequent flyers, this may seem ordinary. However, this seemed extraordinary to me. The Wright brothers have got to be proud.

I was on the first floor with the majority of the people.  I sat in row 57, seat K, and I wasn’t even close to the back. This is just a small example of how big the plane was.  It was a downright trek trying to get my seat.  However I was greeted by new friend, Jacque, who was my accomplice in both plane rides.  She is also attending the BYU Jerusalem Center. The ride was long; there is no doubt about that.  However it was so fascinating.

My favorite part was observing the Orthodox Jews on our plane.  These are people that I have not had much encounter with, especially being from Layton, Utah.  They truly are devoted to their religion.  In between me trying to get some sleep, I saw that a lot of them had gathered to the rear of the plane where they were praying, and wearing symbolic items( in which I am incredibly excited to learn more about.)  They were back there for what seemed like hours.  That is one of the many blessings I get while studying in Israel. I get to learn about other religions that populate Israel. I truly respect these individuals who devote their lives to what they believe in and I can’t wait to learn more!

The plane ride to Tel Aviv. Me, Jacque, and India. 

This is the full fledged flight meal provided. 

My first look at my new home for the next four months.  Israel here I come!!!!

The Start of Something New

I am at the age of life, 19, where many people are beginning to dip their paintbrushes in paint, to create their own masterpieces.  Big decisions and events are being made that contribute to their own Mona Lisa or Starry Night. Missions, marriage, and education are some of these big decisions.  

I will touch briefly on one big change that has, and will continue, to affect the lives of millions. This is the change in mission ages. For all of those in Provo, it seemed as if it was a mad dash to the bishop’s office to get interviews. There were lists and lists of people waiting to get an interview. This is truly amazing!

Many of my friends have been leaving on missions for the past few years, and they are still continuing to leave. However, because I am now at the age girls can leave, I have been bombarded with the news of more of my friends and peers being called to serve the Lord in various missions across the whole world. President Gordon B. Hinckley described temples as “dot[ting] the earth.” However, I feel like I now can say that about my friends and peers.  They are literally dotting the earth with a variety of locations for missions, but also with other opportunities as well.

Well now at the beginning of 2013, I am adding my own “dot” to the map.  I have received the truly incredible opportunity to go and study for a semester at the BYU Jerusalem Center!!  I am leaving my friends, family, and life for 4 months to go and study the life of the Savior.  I could not be more excited, and I am so grateful.  I will get the opportunity to study the Bible in depth, and visit places the Savior has walked.  How incredible this opportunity is! One does not need to go to Jerusalem to study the Savior’s life; however I am honored to be able to do so.

 I leave for Jerusalem on January 8, 2013!  As I am gone I will write some of my experiences and thoughts on this blog.  I invite anyone and everyone to follow me along as I embark on this truly amazing journey.  This experience is a magnificent silver lining in my life that will contribute to me and the woman I will become in ways I am sure I don’t fully understand at this time!