Mirror Image

Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror? Sometimes depending on the trials I have the face in the mirror will change. Today it was wishing I looked prettier, skinnier, with perfect skin and a smaller nose, maybe a pair of symmetrical eyebrows. So much happens that can seek to destroy the image placed in front of the mirror. Yesterday night at a ward party we had a talent portion where the Bishops 19 year old mentally challenged daughter stood to sing a song. It took me a few seconds to realize where her gaze constantly was drifting every time she got shaky, it was to her father sitting on the front row. He sat there in front of me filming his imperfect daughter singing a far from perfect song. It didn't matter how many notes she missed or how many actions to the words she fumbled she kept a constant eye on her father. It was in his eyes she saw the unconditional love of a father so proud she was even up there; the nods of encouragement kept a slight smile upon her face. She could do this, the high notes, the low notes, and all the ones jumbled in between rang perfect to her father, sitting there so still with admiration and pride filling his heart. It then dawned on me, it doesn't matter the notes I sing all my father cares about is that I'm up there. As long as every time I shake I look up, there and there only will I see his eyes looking so intently into mine; reminding me of my divine potential. As if somehow saying to me "I have created you, the notes you are singing though sometimes seem wrong to those around you sound perfect to me. Keep going"
Then I must come to realize the face in the mirror will change maybe not the way I want it to or when I want it to, but, God will never take his eyes off of me for one moment. It is only I who will lose the sight if I allow it to. May I forever remain shaky so that I have the sincere humble urge to look up and meet his eyes.

empty streets

It's been a month since I've been home and all I can say is time flies! I miss the street of uneven stone slinking their way through the city of Jerusalem. It's been a hard adjustment coming back; when on a constant spiritual high all the time it was a rude awakening to think I wouldn't need to put any work into that same high when I got home. I have to work harder. Things back home have been hard, decisions have not been easy. I was reading in 2 Nephi today,and it says choice is essential to existance and progression. These choices have two ways to go, happiness or sadness (maybe not so drastic on either side but in an essence it can only go those two ways.) I realized today if we didn't have that opposition or growth factor we would be dead, lifeless. Think of someone who looks lifeless someone who has lost the spark in their eyes. To that I can only conclude I hurt because I feel because I AM ALIVE. Knowing I am alive should be enough shouldn't it? I like to say it should but sometimes I become selfish and think no I want to be alive and be happy all the time in all my decisions. Where is the growth in that?
So to those empty streets, I hope to walk down each one with full courage knowing that regardless the outcome I will know achieve one realization I AM ALIVE, with that in mind I can press through.

Chloe Ence...The greatest artist there ever was

So it's the last week, I'm in full denial; well I wouldn't say full cause I am so excited to go home and mom just told me all my sisters would be here when I got home which I had no clue until last night. So now I'm OVERLY excited to get home and be with my family. Alas let me tell you the adventures of what happened today. So today was a free day and a great free day it was. We started out at 9:00 -ish (it's impossible to get people out on time) and we went over to the Temple Mount. Story number 1... A little back ground it's Ramadan here (where the Muslims fast ALL day and don't eat until like 8 every night; so they ask us not to eat around them cause you know how grumpy you all get when your hungry?? yes it's the same here) So we are at the temple mount walking around and Lauren and I pop a seat on the dome of the rock and she goes "I'm hungry" naturally we pull out a peta we had made and begin eating as I'm almost done with my peta a woman walks past me and gives me the STINGIEST look ever. So I look at T.C. and I say "Is it disrespectful that I am sitting on the dome?" he replys "I don't think so and I think food is okay too cause they break there fast....." OOPS I shoved that peta in my mouth so fast I felt soo dumb.. so did Lauren it was quite the sight.
After the dome we decided to go to Shabon's to change some mulla at Ali Baba's then make our way over to Sam Booki (officially the GREATEST bakery in the Jewish quarter-we go there at least 3 times a week the pastries are only like 7 shekels which is like 3 bucks) LOVE IT!!!
Okay after the Jewish Quarter we went around to the City of David to go through Hezikiah's tunnel, which is a water tunnel that is pitch black (we have flash lights) but that was a nice blast of cold water it was super super fun. Then after that we started through the old city to get to West Jerusalem as walking up the steps in the Jewish Quarter past the Cardo we saw this man painting and he stopped us and was like I will give you free lessons, and you will paint a Menorah... You bet your booty that in the Jewish quarter I painted a Menorah Chloe Ence painted the BEST Menorah out of the 4 of us.... She did a yellow back ground and half way through realized that the Menorah is yellow.... So her painting was called "Where's the Menorah" it's like where's waldo but with a Jewish Menorah:) The pictures will come I have to get them from Angela but we took pictures with our Menorahs in front of everything and with EVERYONE. So story #2 There was this kid that literally looked like Mario glasses, stick mexi stash, curly black hair and the sweetest outfit so I saw him at dinner we ate on Ben Yhuda street and wanted to get a picture with him but he was speaking Hebrew and I didn't think he spoke English so I by passed the opportunity. We walked to Independence park for Ashlynn's birthday and we were sitting on the grass waiting for people to come and I looked across the park and saw him my MARIO walking so I took it for fate stood up grabbed my Menorah painting and Angela... We took off running to get his picture (with the rest of everyone cheering us on from afar) As we were running he took a detour up this path and we were about to book it up the path when I realized something... He was... reliving himself so Ang and I spun around and waited patiently until he was done then when he began walking again we hurried after him. I got the picture no worries it looks awesome yet again I need to take it from ang. Well I will post some random pictures for ya just to enjoy. Like me at the zoo (best zoo ever) or the formal talent show or just what ever I feel like I want to post.:) ENJOY

Pit-chas

No worded post, just pictures of life here in Jerusalem

A week of "Lasts"

Well it's a week of "lasts" here at the JC, we went on our last out of Jerusalem field trip on Sunday, where we got to go float in the dead sea, coolest feeling ever. It felt a lot like space, your body is weightless. But it comes with a consequence, it's super salty. I figured this out not only by feeling the sting in places that aren't supposed to sting, but I was a dummy and wanted to see how salty it tasted and stuck my tongue in; I'm pretty sure I've lost some brain cells while I've been here. Either that or the blistering 110 Degree weather could have killed some brain cells. All in all it was a fantastic field trip probably my fav, I can say to the JC administration way to go out with a BANG.
Its our last week of classes, and tests, and everything it's super crazy. I remember three months ago sitting at home counting down the days.... 10 days, 7 days, 5 days, etc... Now we are down to the single digits here and I don't want to count down, everyone plays it off as if we aren't leaving. What a sad thought. Well I must go to linen exchange so farewell until later

A gift

Today was the big day where I was to sing I heard him come, I was nervous and from last night still a tad I guess the word is unwilling to allow the spirit to guide; even though I wanted him there so bad. When the sacrament came around all I asked was for the spirit to be with me, I didn't care if I messed everything up, I didn't care if my pitch was even on I just wanted to let the emotion guide me. Then I became a tad selfish, this song was for me and my father. My greatest tangible gift he has given me is my ability to express myself through music whether through piano or voice or just music in general I realized that it is a gift. A blessing that I have been given that has the ability to change lives. So in my selfish state I told God this song was just for me and him, I didn't want to sing it for anyone else it was my gratitude to him for this gift. I stood up, took a deep breath turned around and looked at the magnificent view of the whole city behind me nodded to Morgan to start, closed my eyes, and said Lord this one is between you and me, this is for you. Then I began. The peace out weighed my long time friend "my nerves" :) As I began I looked around to each face, one woman on the back row had her face buried within her hankie silent sobs rocked her body, next I looked to the woman in the middle of the chairs tears streaming down her face, then to my fellow students different faces sticking out some looking intently out the window to the city and some looking directly at me. Some wet with tears, others fixated with out a blink. It was then I realized what God actually gave me, the gift he so lovingly bestowed upon me. I was fixed on the two women and a select few of my class mates. Emotion sat deep in my heart but there was nothing that was going to get in the way of what I had to say in that song. I never looked down, the words stayed within my heart and my mind. My mind was clear and nerves working for me and not against. I spoke the words with passion. It was when I finished and had sat down my emotions were let loose, tears streamed down my cheeks and I was for the first time in a very long time content I was at peace with myself and knew I had so much to offer. After sacrament I hate to admit that I ran out the back, I don't sing or play piano or anything like that for words of affirmation from other people, I don't like it very much because I do it for my father and myself. But I had many people who came to me old and young who said that song stirred emotions that had not been touched for years. One woman said she hadn't heard that song since her mission when she would sing it in Spanish, she told me it was a beautiful song in spanish the evoked certain feelings and that she never thought she could feel those feelings come back to her; until I sang. Another one (who had her face covered the whole time) came to me and told me the spirit was so strong, she was Asian so I couldn't understand her very well but my heart knew what her heart wanted to say. Friends came to me and told me it reminded them of home, or of girls camp, times that are cherished in their hearts. I have been given a very special gift; it is the gift of music, it is the gift of passion and emotion it is God's own gift to me something he knew would suit me very well and help not only other people but myself more than anything.

Beware of the Dog

So we are on the final count down, 13 days and I will be back in the states... a horrible yet welcoming thought. So I've got a couple of stories that are just prime. Last Sabbath T.C., Angela and I decided after church to go to the Garden of Gethsemane for an hour or two. Well getting there the long way requires hills and it was hot and I didn't want to sweat (which is impossible) in my nice sunday dress so we decided to take a short cut. This short cut leads you down a small dirt "mountain" to a rock wall then to the downward slopped road to Gethsemane (cuts like at least 10 minutes off the walk) So we go have a wonderful time and decided to head back around 3, being the adventures or (impatient both work) Americans we are we decided this time instead of walking back up the hill we'd just climb the wall and walk up, so climbing the wall no big deal other then the honks from the cars we got which is normal. We just over and begin our climb, passing through a mans front yard to the mountain side we needed to be on we see a sign that says BEWARE OF THE DOG and we kept walking, two dogs start barking and we look over seeing they are chained to the tree I mean when you have a sign that says beware dog you think there is one maybe two so we thought we were clear... we keep walking then I feel angela on my side stiffen, she turns and just starts booking it down the hill back to the wall to the road, I look up and see this huge police dog trotting our way barking a bark that well was cause for a choice word then T.C. and I turned around and I had the Iron grip on his wrist as he kept saying "keep walking keep walking keep walking" well I wasn't walking I was hopping/walking/running. We get out to the road and turn around to see the man had come out of his house and he was just laughing and waved.
That was adventure #1 the next day was adventure #2
A group of us went to the dome of the rock and for some reason it was super busy (one thing about things being busy is there is always language barriers... I hate language barriers. so as we are walking in I walk through a crowd of tourists and notice a 100 shekel note on the ground (thats like 35ish dollars) so I pick it up and ask the man next to me if it is his... Greedy little greed man takes it asks his friends then just sepaks to me in a different language trying to get the note in his pocket all the while he is shaking his head like it's not his... so Sharla took the note and said we'd go turn it in... I walk it over to the security guards and tell them I found it and would like to turn it in. Their response?? laughing.... I got laughed at by every security guard that came and saw, I swear they were calling each other over on the radio because it happened a lot. They told me I was a good girl and couldn't beleive I didn't keep it. They took my information and said if no one had claimed it in 3 months it was mine (I fully expect that 100 shek piece to come to me in the mail in Idaho or Utah; highly doubt it though)
More adventures have come and gone since then but those two really stood out in my mind as something to share with you all.. Again I'm too lazy to sit here and wait for pictures to load so you'll get em later!!!

You are looking at my adventures in galilee, from sunsets, to eating whole fish, to hand washing clothes in the sink using shampoo and hand soap.... it was the greatest 11 days EVER

That Time

It's been a while but i can explain, I've been in Galilee.. Yes Christ's city, where all the miracles and parables came to pass. This place was beautiful I can understand why Christ liked it there so much. We stayed at a Kibbutz called Ein Giev there were 4 of us to a small bungalow about 50 yards away from the sea of galilee (the life guard station) we swam everyday, the water was bath tub warm just wonderful. What can I say about where we went? Where didn't we go is the real question; we went to Mount Carmel where Elijah "battled" against the priest of Ba'al calling fire from the heavens to light his completely drenched sacrifice. We went to Capernum which held a 1st century synagogue... What does that mean? Well it means that the stones are from the actual time of Christ, not having to been restored in anyway. Tobgah where the miracle of the water to wine was preformed aka Christ's "first Miracle" we went to mount Tabor (a mountain argued to be the spot of Transfiguration) we also went to the Mount of Beatitudes that was soo beautiful, I could try to explain everywhere we went but other than saying to yourself "that was cool" you'd not even know what I learned...
So let me enlighten you
1. Only applying sunscreen once can prove to give you a fatal sunburn
2. There is no point in showering when it's 85 percent humid outside every day (it just don't work)
3. God has created the most beautiful landscapes I could ever ask for
4. When you start with dessert at dinner technically you can have two (or 5) helpings because you can get it after dinner as well
5. Couples on the beach disgust me (okay not really... but serious)
6. Christ preformed a lot of miracles a lot; he devoted his life to it and I never understood the impact that had on my life
7. It's not about where the miracle happened it's about What actually happened I say that because we were all talking one night and it amazed us all to realize we were all in the same boat, that when we came on this trip we expected to have this huge change within our hearts that we would come back spiritual giants. That at every site we went to we were sure that we'd feel the spirit and have "revelation" every time.. Wrongo if we needed spiritual reassuring every time it wouldn't mean as much. signs and wonders don't build a testimony.
8. When we get to know people who are different from us (try living with 79 different people from yourself) we understand more about Christ because each person has a different light of Christ, so I can honestly say if you want to get closer to christ get to know the children he saved because he knows them so much so why shouldn't we come to know them as well.
9. Time can throw you curve balls that really throw off everything you had tried achieving but it's your choice to react positively or negatively. (You can only have control if you are prepared to lose control)
10. late nights on the beach sitting talking with the people that are so close to you in so many ways is the best way to spend a night.
11.When you live with the same 25 men for 3 months you will find almost anything attractive....
12. At dinner when you have a cute water boy you better prepare your bladder for the ride of it's life (yes I may have single handedly put back 4 Jugs of water. He was cute all the girls did it-for further clarification please refer to number 11
13. When hand washing your disgusting laundry if you don't have detergent, shampoo and hand soap works great :)
14. Sweat comes out of everywhere.... everywhere
15. If you constantly kick your legs in the water the dead skin eating fish won't get ya (yes if we kept out feet still in the water fish would come eat our dead skin off; I couldn't do it it tickled WAY to bad)
Well I'm sure there is more but that's all I can think of now... As for pictures they are coming I have to pull them off of others peoples computers because my camera broke like a month and a half ago.. but be Prepared they are super cool!!!!!!!

A Day in the Life

The "sunset Crew"

The Center on the 8th floor, my favorite spot.. It's beautiful

Field trips on different buses allow for great interaction

Playing the Bells at the YMCA tower.. Yup all Jarusalem heard me (I totally messed up it was great)
As I walked through the city, I can't help but to think of how familar these things have become. When things become familiar I have a way of taking them for granted. Let me tell you my day...
6:00 am- Wake up to go read scriptures in the peace and quiet; while over looking the city beginning to wake up
6:45- run down to my room to get ready for the day
7:25- Breakfast, my favorite meal ever; usually go with some watermelon, bolied eggs, cereal, or pancakes (the options are endless here)
7:55- 8:50(ish) New Testament starts 5 minutes early so we can cover everything we usually don't finish so we go over class
depending on the day the next few hours could be filled with more class or anouncements... or homework...
1:00 pm-6:00pm: city time
Let me tell you about the city, I walk out of the center doors down a couple flights of stairs through two check point gates out into the road. We begin our decent down the hill walking on red and charcole colored bricks, yellow sand and garbage strewn across the side walk. There are huge dumpsters everywhere as well as sewers the occational wift of pure stench burns the nose. Cross the road and make the assent UP the hill to the old city, if you don't hear a car horn honk every 5 seconds something isn't right. (In america honking is an offense, here it is a way of every day communication)Walking past shop after shop all beginning to look identical. Nothing is more mouth watering than the sent of a fresh shwarma, or falafel with the meat spinning on a spick. Oh my goodness just heaven. The open candy just sitting calling my name at every corner, open slaughter... animals hang and it smells so bad. The people yelling ashada ashada (meaning 10 shekles in Arabic) People are lazy well not lazy they just know how to enjoy the day... Occasionally you walk past some huka which I think smells like cotton candy, but I don't stay long enough to get a good wiff for fear of getting high. :) Walking from quarter to quarter where the language changes so you've got to remember where you are so when you say thank you in their language you don't screw up a Jew (todah) with an Arabic(shukran) thank you.
6:00- Grub in my tummy- food we go crazy at dinner mmm it's good (although 3 months of it I can say I'm ready for some american food)
7:00-10(ish) a night o' fun talking to people, playing in a basketball torney (thats right I rock) wathcing movies, laughing, making up dances, doing P90X with Angela laughing at how out of shape we are.
I am so blessed.... How could I not, I am literally living a dream, I don't know how I could take any of this for granted... Look at the pictures above and see for yourself how lucky I am. It's incredible here. I thank God everyday for putting me here. And in my heart I thank my parents and all those who helped me get here. So here it is to everyone... Thank you, this is life changing.

Little Wonders

I know I am a child of God, who loves me


Today was the first set of finals; We completed our Old Testament. Fully expecting to do well on a test then not is sometimes a let down. But not today. Even though my "written/tangible" test was not up to par what I learned far out weighs anything that can be scored out of 100. I will tell you what I've learned
1. That God punishes for a Purpose- He wants us to return unto him so when we stray he has to keep us in line. His mission is to bring us all back to him.
2. In Daniel when Shadrach, mishach, and Abednego are cast into the furnace they say: I know that God can deliver us; BUT IF NOT... the three most important word ever spoken. We all know God can relieve us of our trials, he gave them to us so he can take them away just as fast. But IF NOT we must understand he is giving us this trial for reasons we sometimes won't understand at the moment. Just trust in God and he will provide.
3. I know almost every king when they reigned, they main influences within the kingdoms, and with what prophet they lived; for each Judah, Israel, Assyria, Syria, and Babylon.
4. I can tell you that the Book of Isaiah is more for us than it was for the people of his time
5. Jeremiah talks about broken cisterns- anything you put before the living waters (christ) you will die of lack of water. Always put the living waters first.
6. I know that every prophet that is called of God goes through what we call a "sod" which includes the steps being visited by a diving being, their reaction is they can't complete the task, they are then purged, and finally do and see marvelous things.
7. I can tell you that when Nehamiah comes back from Persia to build the temple he won't let the Samaritans in because they are not pure breed... this causes problems
8. I can list you almost every symbolic action of Jeramiah and Ezekiel- Just remember Ezekiel does the really weird ones like cutting his hair all off and splitting it into thirds..... But each symbolic action is easy to understand and draws a lot of peoples attention. (God knows what he's doing)
9 I can list you reasons to the commonalities of Elijah, Elisah, and Christ how they preformed some of the same type of Miracles.
10. I can tell you I have a testimony of the Bible and that it is vital to understanding the book of Mormon, that in the last days the sticks of Judah and Ephrium will come together (aka bible and book of mormon) I urge all to read the amazing stories of the Old Testament you won't regret it, feast upon the words they will open doors that you never though you could open. I am so blessed regardless the grade I got.

Four days in Jordan

(pictures for Jordan will come soon)

It's been a while; all in good reason. It's been super busy around here my body doesn't feel like it's caught up to my fast moving days... We got home yesterday afternoon. Jordan is a very exciting place it was so much fun. Here are something I learned while in Jordan

1. Always wear a hat; because when it's 95 degrees and your bang cover half your forehead the next day only half your forehead will be sunburned... oh the opportunities bangs give us

2. Hiking through petra to the high place and the monastery in a skirt is a must.... A little breeze once in while makes a HUGE difference.

3. Boys over the age of 20 with bedouin made musical instraments are more loud and obnoxious than kids (granted we were on a bus for hours at a time... we couldn't send them into a different room)

4. When sleeping on the bus you must come to grips that someone will snap a picture of you with your mouth hanging WIDE open

5. Just like the children of Israel and Moses on mt Nebo (the story of the serpents) if we look to that which is lifted up (on a staff or on a cross) we will live.

6. Pack extra socks

7. Don't ride the horses or camels... the have flees

8. The river Jordan is a very spiritual place.. Making me realize the significance of Baptism and hose important those first covenants we make with God are. I learned that having my dad baptize me was a huge blessing; thank you dad I love you!!!

9. Make up... Straightened hair.... cute cloths.... and merely glistening are a thing of America (It's too hot to look cute; and if you are you sweat it all off anyway)

10. I am so blessed to be a part of this Gospel It's changed my life in so many ways. I know I don't know anything of what this gospel is truly about.... But I'm learning it EVERY DAY!!!!

These are the "moms" of the JC The BEST women I have ever met. I get mom hugs from them all the time. We make cookies with them.. have friday night raids of Chips and Salsa with them. Couldn't ask for better woman to comfort me in the absence of my own WONDERFUL mummy.
Morgan Crockett: He is Gary; Rindercella's god.... Drag Queen? This kid (he is actually standing with me now) we talk in sound effects with face distortion more than we do actual words. We could sit and laugh all day long. He is sooo great; and obviously VERY confident with himself :)
Becca Winters- Just look at her.... need I say more? I should say all these pictures are coming from our informal talent show... a night of serious laughter and inside jokes. This girl is one of the most musically gifted people I know... There are a lot of them here

Jarom... I don't remember his last name but he was my prancing hince... He stole the whole production we did for the talent show. He was so funny.. I had to work my hardest to match his energy on that stage.. Right after this picture was taken we started to laugh (this was all done in pantomime so we had to be so over expressive and Jarom defiantly was)

Just another Entry

This is uh... hyssop. It's super good. I will bring some home to eat
This is how pomegranates are made, that is a pomegranate flower and you can see the bulb of the pomegranate right below it
This is me making my hyssop... Can you see my beautiful Red neck tan lines? a tad depressing but in a swim suit it's mostly funny

I can say this past week has just been a riot, I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute I have had. On Sunday we went on a field trip to Neot Kedumim, it is in the Shvalah or the lower hills. What did we do, do you ask? Well lets just say I can totally be a bedouin woman (but only for like a couple of hours) We got there and had a small lesson on Jacob and Rachel at the well. Then we went over and got to smash up our own Hyssop (which is a symbolism of purification.) So we took the leaves and smashed them all up and made our own spice. Hyssop has a faint mint taste and is delicious, I would know this because each of us were asked to give “tithe” of a small portion of the hyssop we smashed so that we could eat it later. After hyssop we went and herd sheep. Thanks to the practice I had as a young child helping the Jones and Hirchi’s with their cows I was the stinking best herder EVER, that was said by everyone so I’m not just boasting about myself.. But I kinda am. After the sheep we went to a camp site and made shepherds bread (aka Pita bread) by hand, yes there were like 20 dirty hands kneading that dough, then we cooked it on an open fire, and had that with tea and hyssop and a wheat dessert. IT was wheat seeds cooked with oil and honey, it was delicious. So thats Sunday

Monday we went to Tel Aviv to the beach, oh gosh the most beautiful beach ever, the sand was like silk, the water was crystal clear, and my face and shoulders like a red lobster. It was fantastic.

Classes this week have been great, in OT we are learning about Elijah and Elisah.

In Judaism we are learning about the First, Second and Third...etc Aliya

In Palestinian we are talking about the PLO the Fatah and the Intifadas

In Ancient Middle East Studies we are learning about the ages like middle bronze age I, II...53 can I just say there are a lot of ages and not enough space in my noggin to remember them all.

Tonight is... ba da da da TALENT SHOW (the informal one) all I know is there is a lot of boy band dancing from the boys in our class, and lots of... funny. Everyone is super excited to see it tonight.

Well we are off to get a shwarma for Lunch for which I have been salivating for since yesterday.. mmm mmm delish!!!

eyes

As webster Dictionary describes Eyes
Used to describe the power of someones vision, and in descriptions of the manner of the direction of someones gaze.

As I was laying on the grass atop the 8th floor of the Jerusalem Center (JC) I had my face burried in my arms with my eyes closed, my nose brushing against the warm damp grass smelling the all to familiar smells of home. Not only were the smells familiar but the sounds, the birds chirping, the occasional crow letting out an ugly....crow, and the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the neighborhood directly below me. Now if I had just been placed on that hill of grass not knowing my ware abouts I would feel safe; almost as if I was laying on my own grass on Roueche Lane. It's when my eyes flick open restoring my vision and the direction of my gaze catches the gloden glimmer of the Dome of the Rock that I come to realize I'm somewhere else. I realized today at the moment my eyes flicked open that I have had my eyes closed for the past month. They've been closed by "The Man," the outside world and it's forces that place nothing but stress and frenzy in my short life. Here I am in the most traveled to country in the world, studying the bible, archaeology, and the histories of Judaism and Palestinians and all I can think about is

• Classes I need to take when I get back to school
• Where to live next fall
• Do I need to get a Job next fall?
• What's going on back home?
• Do I need to stay in and do homework in order to get good grades, in order to have a good GPA in order to possibly transfer to BYU provo?
  

Do you see what I mean? My priorities are so skewed. This month has had it's moments of enlightenment, it's moments of deep desire to "open my eyes" but I haven't done a thing about it. Even though there are times where my eyes have been opened the man just sticks the blinders back on. It's a cycle that literally will eat you alive. It's bad when I decide to stay in the center to study when I could be out doing far better "studying" on the streets with real life people who can actually give me apart of themselves that I don't have the desire to get from books. So here is what I say to that
STICK IT TO THE MAN!!!
I write this for the public to see so, that I have an obligation to myself to "do what I want" I know I don't want to stay in and study when I could be out meeting a family of Israelies who invite me to dinner. For if my eyes are closed, my choices are altered, and my blessing from God are also Altered. Not in a bad way but it's the idea of Good, better, best....
STICK IT TO THE MAN!!

Arab Night

So one day we went looking for Arab outfits for our Arab dinner and we went to Shabon's and he dressed us up and it was so great. This is Me, Adam, Ashley, and Andrew
This is Me and Sniffer at Arab night, in the Oasis we had REAL Arab food and there was a little picture section where it was set up to take pictures... needless to say we had a hay day taking pictures.
These are my three BEAUTIFUL roommates Ashley Wilkinson, Julie Rencher, and Erica Clark, three of the most beautiful girls here. oh my gosh they are fantastic, our room is clean, none of us our high maintanance and we all go to bed at like 1030 it's FANTASTIC!!! Erica and Ashley are soon to be engaged and Julie... Beautiful Julie all the men love her.
This is Me and Matt Holbrook, we found out that we have a mutual friend... Daniel Willey and we've been bff's ever sense. He is such a cutie so nice to everyone and all the girls just love him to death.

So Arab night was soo much fun, we had it last Wednesday. The night started out with us all dressing up looking so cute. Then we all went into the fourm and a father and his son came and read some of the Qur'an for us and recited the call to prayer. These men have had the privlage to do the call to prayer over the loud speakers (which we hear 5 times a day) for over 500 years. Listening to them do this was incredible so beautiful.
Next we filed into the Oasis which was set up all "Arab like" and we ate a delish meal, we piled food on our plates it was a tad bit rediculous. We ate and enjoyed each others company.
Lastly we went into the Gym where 4 girls taught us an Arab dance, all I can say is that it was hard and most of us were dying of laughter trying to imitate the steps these girls were doing. It was just so fun.

J-Rew

So this is at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Me, Sniffer, and Jacey. Two incredible girls Sniffer (Jennifer; we have 3 Jennifers so I have made names for them all) she is so incredible, so determined to do whats right and to learn all she can. Jacey is Gorgeous so small and pettite, with BEAUTIFUL blue eyes she is wonderful!!!
So I don't really take my camera around when we're just out walking in the city because Adam always has his really nice camera and snaps shots like this.... This is my favorite shot he has taken, we were walking in West J-Rew I think to get some gilato or something and we saw these guys playing "I wanna be like you" oh my I just fell in love with them and thier retro clothing and am so glad Adam got this picture.

I had more pictures but it takes so bleeping long to upload so I will do more pictures tomorrow!!!

Mucho love

T T T T TURKEY!!!

Me and Angela in Ephasus
Me at the hot pots in Ledocia (spelling way wrong just sound it out)
We took a river cruise from one side of Istanbul to the other BEUTIFUL
Chris, Adam, Me and Canton at Ephasus again

So one time I went to Turkey... It was amazing. Here I am thinking that Turkey is this ugly 3rd world country.. Guess who didn't pay attention in Geography. This place is BEAUTIFUL like take the most beautiful place and times that by... 6 (only a few of you will get that) We started in Istanbul which was by far the most incredible then went to Miletus, Pergamum, Ephasus, (I don't think I'm spelling these right) and we did this by spending on the upper hand 8 hours (usually minimum) on a bus a day needless to say we got to know each other REAL good. There is so much I could say about this place the beauty it portrayed, the ancient ruins we walked around, the mosques we went in but the one thing that stood out to me on this trip that was the most in a cliche way of putting it "life changing" so first off let me set the scene, we are basically living out of our suit cases at a new hotel every night, I don't believe these people believe in AC so we slept in basically nothing every night with no sheets on our bodies, the food.... lets say I ate a LOT of bread like at least a loaf each meal, we weren't really supposed to drink the water so we couldn't brush our teeth with tap water we had to use bottles of water... But it was all right. so day three of the trip my body started telling me that if i didn't take better care of it it was going to basically kill over, which it almost did I just felt up set to my tummy every day but not bad enough to stop me from walking and enjoying every minute of everything. Not only that but when ya don't feel good all ya want is your mom, so yes I was super home sick this trip. Friday night we pulled in to our hotel and were told to throw our suit cases in our rooms and come down for sacrament. We get down to the hotel lobby and are filled into this small bar (I know :)) we all sit down some at tables but the majority of us were on the floor, it was super hot in there. We decided that while waiting for Bro Muelstine to start church we'd sing some hymns. As soon as we began with nearer my god to thee the spirit hit me like a bag of bricks, I openly began to cry while watching these people that I have grown to love sing praises to God... In a bar.... In a hotel.... In Turkey (do you see where I'm going with this?) I was homesick for something familiar, my family, my friends, my home, a familiar street to walk down, a familiar language, anything to set me at peace...... and I found it... the spirit of God and the Truth of this Gospel is the same everywhere, it is the only familiar thing that I can carry with me where ever I go. Where ever any of us go. The love God feels for me is familiar, his spirit is familiar, and the truth it speaks is also familiar. It was a testimony to me then and there the truth of this gospel and how it is "home" I am so privileged to have that knowledge, sadly it took me going to Turkey to realize it but now that I have it I won't let it go.

Through the Valley Of the Shadow of Death

(This is call Saint Georges Monestary: This is the place where Joseph and Ana concieved Mary after all this time that they didn't think they'd have a child. It's built into the Mountain side of Wadi Quid)
This is Wadi Quid aka The Valley of the Shadow of death ANND the where we were standing is thought to be the back side of the mount of temptation (where Christ was tempted) BEAUTIFUL!!
(Harod's Winter Palace: Don't worry those weren't the official columns but you get the idea.)

A long description but highly appropriate for the view and the biblical lessons learned today. Today was our Jericho field trip, we started off at the Winter Palace of Herod, this is the Palace that the Hesmoneans built and were taken over by the Romans and Harod gained control. Now Harod I don't like him very much he is what we'd call paranoid. He had such a fear of the Jews revolting against him that he took GREAT measures to ensure that wouldn't happen. This included, Marrying Marianne (A Hesmonean) later killing her little brother who had just been ordained a high priest and after that killing everyone of his Son's so that he would maintain power. In the midst of doing this he built temples or "holy places" to try and gain Jewish Favor. Although he was kind of a scum bucket he did construct some of the most BEAUTIFUL palaces and fortresses. Harod also died in this same "winter palace" and was taken to be burried 24 miles to Herrodian.
Next stop was at Tell Jericho, we looked at THE OLDEST archeological discovery in the world. The wall of Jericho. We not only saw the wall but we saw where the wall had fallen and our ancestors had climbed through the over take the city. Interestingly enough there was Grain found imbedded within the walls of Jericho... WHY? well because the Lord told Joshua not to take anything from the city so he was true to what the lord had asked.
Lastly we stopped at Wadi Qelt, this is where Christ did his last physical walk from Jericho to Jerusalem before he was crucified. Just thinking of that alone, was a testimony builder, of Christ's love for me, as he wandered through the "wilderness" contemplating the trials and pain he was going to face, thinking of me individually and knowing when he thought of me that it was all worth it.... As he did the same for each of us. I have come to realize that the atonement is such a thing of hope, it is what is missing in every religion. It makes me feel like I have reason to live when I think of it. These different religions I have been studying only see the death and destruction. We see the life and the light of Christ; it's something I yearn everyday for people to understand. I want them to be as happy as I am and it only comes through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It is also where the parable of the good Samaritan comes from. If you look in I think it's songs of solomon chapter 3:4 it is the shepherds song, from David. He talks about crossing the valley of the shadow of death, this was that valley. It was given that name because it was a long stretch with no people, this is often where robbers would come to take people rob them and leave them for dead. Just as the man who was helped by the good Samaritan. Think for a moment about the story, A levite and a Priest walk by him..... A great point was brought up about this, the Levite and Priest did not stop because they were on their way to the temple to do holy things, so they were essentially going to do good. It was believed back then that if you saw someone with an open wound and oozing from that wound was any type of fluid, if you stopped to help them you were considered unholy/unclean. So if that priest had stopped to help that man he wouldn't have been able to preform his "good Duty." How often do we think that we are off to go do something good, such as a church calling, or delivering a meal; something of that nature, but we do not stop to help the "man along the road" although we are doing something good, we aren't doing the best. Remember that God said, if you do it unto the least of these my brotheren ye do it unto me. it also is reversed if ye do it NOT unto the least of these my bretheren ye do it NOT unto me. We then stood atop that beautiful mountain contemplating and Sang "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" never have words penetrated to deeply into my soul.

Shabbat Shalom

Navi samwell: A beautiful fortress built by the crusaders within the 3rd crusade where Richard the lion heart tried to over take Jerusalem. (this is as far as he got) on this sacred site there is a building that in the basement it's a synagogue, on the top floor it is a mosque, and it was also a chapel for Christians, it was amazing. Beautiful!!
This is the actual stone at Gibeah of Saul, the palace where David came to play his harp. The building was excavated and these stones were just thrown down the hill and there they have stayed since the 1940's. BEAUTIFUL!!!
Funny Story. We were in West Jerusalem, which is the safe part of town where we're allowed to stay out at night and everything. It's very westernized. But we were sitting down eating a chocolate filled crepe (delish) and the store owner came out to me and said get out of here.. I just looked at him then he started yelling and said get your friends out and go, go go go.. So I just got up and ran. The reason he got us out was there was a bomb scare in the center right next to us.... It turned out a lady had just left her bag of groceries out in the street and the bomb squad came as did the police... Goes to show how much people care for our safety.
here is that palace I was talking about at the Gibeah of Saul. From this hill we could see so much, we looked at the land of our ancestors. And we could see Beth-el which means house of God. This was the place Jacob saw God in his dream which we call Jacob's ladder dream. And this would also be the spot where Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac. INCREDIBLE!!!
This is Erica Clark she is one of my roommates, we met in the air port on the way here and became FAST friends. This is our First Sabbath and we were so jet lagged.

NOW FOR THE MEAT OF THE POST!!!
Last Night we celebrated by welcoming the Sabbath day with the Jews at the Western Wall. You would think that at such a holy site the welcoming of the Sabbath would be reverent with a lot of praying? Well wrong, the Jews usually arrive at the wall at sunset so around 7 then until the sun sets and it is dark there is just straight celebration. Dancing and singing in Hebrew. So when we got to the wall the girls split from the boys and went to their separate sides of the wall. 4 of my good friends went down to the wall and we each submitted a prayer for each other (if you put someone elses prayer in that isn't yours it's believed to be good luck) so we did that then walked out never letting our backs face the wall. It was so packed so that proved to be a tad difficult. As we stood there I we saw a bunch of girls our age singing, then it just turned into a song and dance. the girls held hands and got in to three circles all encompassing each other and started singing and jumping while spinning in circles. I was standing there watching and 3 Jewish Girls the only one I can spell is Barbra came and grabbed my hand and pulled me in and just told me to sing along as best I could. We did that for about 45 minutes. And then the girls asked where we were from. They were so wonderful they explained that they were on a "gap Year" for their religion where they are sent away for the year after high school till college where they come here to spend a year learning about the torah and their religion. It was a testimony of how the spirit can be felt anywhere. One Jew (Mandi) talked with me and asked if I was mormon and said she respected my religion so much and that she love me, that no matter what religion people were if we all just loved each other as being children of God that we would never have strife within the world.

This is Joy

Jenny and I at the Wailing wall!!

It's day four in this Beautiful city and I am already deeply in love with the culture and the people. I've been out in the city everyday, every minute I can. The people around the old city know the mormons, we will walk by the shops and they will say "MORMONS???" and we will smile and say yes then they will invite us in the store and show us their merchandise, telling us they give good price to the mormons' because they are honest good people.

Today we went on our "Geography" field trip. We went all over the place always pointing out the things on the North, South, East, and West as it states in Genesis 13 where it's promised to Abraham that he will be given the lands round about from everywhere. We have been learning so much about the Abrahamic Covenant. We've already learned so much and I don't feel my brain is large enough to contain it all. Our professors, INCREDIBLE and so renown archeologists that just are so brilliant. Oh and let me tell you about the food, only one word, AMAZING. I will be gaining so much weight. It's a joke around here that we came with baggy clothes but may go home with tight ones.DELICIOUS

I feel like there is so much to say but I can't even express everything I have learned. Like today we looked over the hill to Bethlahem and saw where Christ was born, We've seen the desert where he wandered for 40 days and the tower of his ascension. We went to the palace of Samuel where David came to play his hard, we stood on the ACTUAL stone of the palace. Oh just so much and in one day, this is such a rich cultured city. I don't think I will be able to leave. Every night I go out side to sit and look over the whole city, sometimes I try to make it out there to listen to the call to prayer. (which comes on 5 times a day including 4:00 am.) It's wonderful, it is such a beautiful thing to listen to.

OH and we went to the wailing wall the other day, so reverent, so peaceful, these Jewish people are so devote and my heart yearns for them to come unto the truth but I know that it won't happen. We also went to Gethsemane on our Sabbath (Sunday) which is on Saturday, I was just filled with the spirit I can't even describe it.

This is what REAL joy is

Just Laugh...

So these last two days has been crazy and I thought I'd let you know what was going on. So after last night we all got moved to the "basement" section of the air port and were given ample supply of water and juice (and Coke) along with about 15 small (pointless) pillows and 20 (hold no warmth in) blankets. Bless Flo's heart (she was the delta attendant who stayed 2 hours after her shift was over to help us out. She got 10 of us confirmed tickets for tonight's flight out at 7:00 pm. and the rest of us on standby cross your fingers. She also gave us 12$ in vouchers each for food so that we didn't have to pay for our meals we ate in the air port. They have come in handy. So we are in this basement and we all lay down on the Granite floor. it didn't take long to realize that the floor was FREEEZING and all the lights were on so it was nice and bright. I wrapped my body in a cocoon with two very thin blankets and wrapped my head in a cocoon with my hoodie. I think I fell asleep for about an hour before I woke up and went to the bath room came back and laid on the bench. I know I fell asleep on that because I woke up with drool running down my mouth. but everytime the tracks went over the bench shook and woke me up so finally around 5 I just woke up, went and got ready for the day (aka washed my face, and did some makeup) came out started to read my assignment of Genesis 1-20 and realized my brain was mush so I shut the book and just stared until people started to come to life. We got up left and went through security, I GOT FRISKED... never have I felt so violated and to make things better everyone was watching. all I could do was sit and laugh I think my face was more red then a tomato. I've had horrible luck with luggage, like my carry on never fit in the over head bin I always had to get it out and take stuff out of it... I was a basket case by the time I got to JFK but I've got it down to an art now. So as if that carry on stuff isn't enough last night Flo calls me over and tells me to get my checked baggage claim ticket.... Oh she can't find my suit case and it's the only one missing from the groups... Everyone pray that my luggage is there when I get to Jerusalem or.... mom and dad stock my bank account cause I'll be going shopping.
I already feel so close to these 15 kids, like we saw each other in the worst circumstances yet everyone remained so calm and in very high spirits for the trials we faced. I am glad I got stuck with these people cause I do really like them all. Well I will keep you updated on what happens but for now I must read my scriptures. LOTS of love home, miss you all and I'm almost to the point where a flight to SLC is looking sooo tempting but I know once I' there it'll be great.

Hopefully I will SOON be posting pictures of the spewed students on the JFK airport floor and some of our adventures through times square.

In The Beginning

In 10 days I will be on an air plane getting ready for the adventure of a life time. I am going to Jerusalem; The City of Peace. A place where culture and history are so rich. I decided to keep up a blog as really the only way to let my family and friends know what I was doing. I've been told by people who have attended this program before to not waste time on computers. So I sure hope I can keep up on this blog. If not I apologize in advance.
I want to tell the story of why I chose Jerusalem and the path I took that got me here.
It started July of 2010 I filled out my first application to attend the winter semester in Jerusalem. With the economy so low I was almost positive that I would have no problem getting in. I was rather depressed when I got the letter stating I was number 18 on the waiting list. Needless to say I only got to number 9 when the winter semester group left. I was then placed for the program in the Spring/ Summer semester 2011. Time passed and I was super nervous to leave. I kept trying to rationalize a reason of why I shouldn't go; family, work, money, school, friends, etc... In March of this year (like 4 weeks before departure) I called Debbie up and canceled my application and collected all the money back. Satisfied with my decision I started looking for jobs, tried out for the city's summer musical, decided I was going to run for Miss Kaysville had my talent already memorized. All in all I was ready to stay here.
About a week later on a Sunday night I was on facebook and decided to look up Rachel Jackson (we knew each other in high school but that's about it, I thought it strange that I should look her up but I did it anyway) on her wall my best friend had posted a message saying that Rachel's blog had changed her life. Immediatly I found the web site link to Rachel's blog. It was called Rachel's Rosetta Stone. She was in Jerusalem, my stomach dropped and I began to sob as I looked through her pictures reading her comments of the city that changed her life. I had made a mistake and I knew it. I knelt down and prayed to my Father in Heaven, asking him that if this was the place I needed to be that it would all work out. The next morning as I was walking up to campus I called my mother and told her of my findings the previous night. She said to me "Joan call Debbie and see if you can get back in the program." I was so doubtful but said I would call after class, while sitting in class I decided that if there was anyway on earth I had a chance of going when I called Debbie that I would take it, it would be my answer. I called Debbie up and told her I was sorry for being bipolar and wanted back into the program. She laughed and told me it was funny but there was one spot open even after all those on the waiting list were added into the program. She said getting back into the program was easy but getting me a plane ticket, almost impossible. She told me to hold tight and if she could get it figured out she'd call, she left me with only little hope. A few hours later Debbie called and the first thing she said... "Joan there must be a reason you're supposed to go because everything has fallen into place for you. Welcome back!"
So...HERE WE GO!!!!