Reflections on the Holy Land

Since I got back from Jerusalem in June, my mind has been constantly taken back to the Holy Land. I have revisited sights in my mind over and over again and it has been wonderful. I, like many of my classmates, wrote the dates we visited different sites in my scriptures and hymnbook. It has been wonderful to be taken back at the sight of a simple notation.

I have also been reading Gerald N. Lund's series Kingdom and the Crown. I love his style of writing and his dedication to historical accuracy. Where story telling is required for the flow of the novel, he explains history in the chapter notes. It has been amazing to revisit the scripture stories through these novels.

Anyway, I begin reading them in Provo, checking them out from the BYU library. I finished the second book when I was visiting family in CA and died of anticipation waiting to get back to the library to check out the 3rd book. Finally, I checked it out and was only 50 or so pages into the book when I moved up to Logan and had to leave the book behind with instructions for my sister to return it to the library. The Friday after I got to Logan I found myself at the Institute Building once again seeking the book! Checking in with the Librarian I became eligible for check outs and eagerly took the book home. I spent the next week of late nights working through the book.

I finished a week and a half ago late at night. I just want to say that again I know my Savior lives. I didn't need to visit Bethlehem, Galilee, the Garden tomb or read these books to know it, but the Spirit I have felt all over the Holy Land and then again in my own room in Logan witnesses to me that He lives and did what He says He did. I am so grateful for that knowledge. My life will never be the same because of what I experienced in Jerusalem. I read the scriptures differently and I long to know my Savior more. 

It has been over three months since we have returned from Holy Land. Sometimes it seems a dream that we were there. But every time my mind is taken back into that wonderful dream I will thank God for what I learned when I lived in the Holy Land. 

Father, How do I express the songs of my heart?

I hear the prayer calls and again my heart is drawn out in gratitude towards Thee.

Why have I found favor in thy sight?

I am daily surrounded by the tokens of Thy Son's sacrifice.

Churches erected, song and stories etched in stone.

The roads where He walked, the stories He lived, the pilgrims who come.

My song is unchanged. The testimony that must be shared is there as it ever has been.

Only now the harmonies are richer, the melody more pure.

Father there is a song in my heart. Be with me yet, lest I ever forget this great symphony.

-Written 5/23/08 at Shepherd's Fields Bethlehem

Home and reflection

I have now been home for almost 2 months and it feels like a dream that i was actually studying in the Holy Land. I feel so grateful for the opportunity to study in such a sacred environment, it was truly a blessing. I walked where the Savior walked and went to so many sacred sites. My life has been truly blessed. As I reflect on my experience I realize that I really had an incredible time and felt like I came closer to my Savior and gained a understanding better the love the our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. I have been asked many times what was my most favorite part of Jerusalem? This question is very difficult to answer, there were so many incredible things that I saw and experienced, I saw the Pyramids in Egypt, Petra in Jordan, I welcomed in the shabbat with the Jews, I went to many mosques, I rode a camel in Egypt, I floated down the Nile, I went to Gethsemane, the Garden Tomb, the Church of the Nativity, The Dome of the Rock, many Tell's and other historic sites. Originally I would tell people that my most favorite thing was living there, in the holy land. I think though a more accurate answer would be my most favorite things while I was in the holy land were the times when I had time to reflect on all of the incredible things I was seeing and feeling. It all hit me once when I was in Gethsemane during the last week walk our class went on. We were all instructed to sit in quite reflection, I began thinking and pondering about the incredible mercy the Heavenly Father has shown me personally in my life, the trust that Heavenly Father has in each one of us, as well as the love that he has shown personally to me and has for each one of his children. I already had a testimony of the atonement and life of the Savior before I went to the Holy Land, but while there I was able to understand more of the gospel and have visual images for the scripture stories. My testimony was strengthened through the things I learned and experienced and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity I had to go to the Holy Land.

Last week walk

Today was our last field trip. We loaded up the buses and went to our first site. We went to the site dedicated to the last week our the Saviors life. The first stop was a church at Bethpage where Christ began his Triumpful entry into the old city. We then went to a church dedicated the "Our Father" prayer. The prayer was on mosaics in every language imaginable. After that we walked to Dominus Flevit. This area was where the Savior said "O Jerusalem" We then went to the church of Mary Magdeline-a Russian Orthodox church. I had been there before but to go with the class was a special experience as well. We walked down to the Garden of Gethsemane. When I had gone there before I went to the area of the Church of all nations. This time we had scheduled a special garden and were able to reflect on the great sacrifice that our Savior did for us and the miracle of the Atonement. I am so very grateful for the miracle of the atonement and especially for the love that Our Heavenly Father has shown for us in the great plan that He prepared. We then had lunch in the Orson Hyde Park and went to our next site at the St. Peter Engallo Cantu (rooster sing), a church dedicated to Peter denying that he knew Christ 3 times. Shaunelle and I taught here and shared part of a talk President Hinckley gave about how even though Peter denied that he knew Christ, Peter knew when he had messed us and after he wept bitterly became once again a strong advocate for truth and righteousness. We walked to the upper room where Christ and his Apostles partook of the last supper and also where the resurrected Lord visited the apostles again. We then went to the Church of Flagellation which is dedicated to the pain that the Roman soldiers put Christ through.
We ended our field trip in the Garden tomb- there is a debate of where exactly the actual place was where Christ was buried. The Garden tomb is one of those places and is decorated with a beautiful garden. We walked in to an empty tomb. It was peaceful and the spirit was strong. He is risen. He lives and loves us. I have felt his love in so many places here in the Holy land. We will be returning home soon and upon reflecting on all of the experiences I have had here I stand all amazed at the love Jesus has for me, oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me.
We ended our day with each person sharing their testimony, we were separated in our classes so the 40 of us reflected on the miracles that we experienced and learned from. We have become a close group and have learned so much from each other. I will miss walking the streets in the Holy Land and the amazing spirit that can be felt here.

(pictures will be uploaded soon)

Third time is almost the charm

After our last classes I went to the Rockefeller Museum and then to the Dome of the Rock (temple mount) for the third time. It is a really cool area and very peaceful. I was going with some people who had never been before. First you have to wait in line and then pass through security to get on the grounds. As we were walking around I noticed that one of the doors was open. The Mosque is very beautiful and is a house of prayer, very few people who are not of the Muslim faith get in. People were going inside and I told my friends- "it is open and people are getting in!" We ran to the door and looked inside. A man stopped us and asked us if we were Muslim. I said we were not and then we talked to him for a little while. He eventually told us that we could not get in because it is for Muslims only. It was the closest I have ever been to getting inside. It was an exciting day. Now we have to study for the two finals we have tomorrow. CRAZY!!!

Sandals!

Just wanted to show off the awesome sandals that are here. :D

Deb

Jordan and beyond

We just got back from Jordan. We saw some amazing things including Petra, many ancient ruins and today we saw the place where it is believed Jesus was baptized. In Petra there was an optional donkey ride up to the top of a mountain that had 900 steps. I walked up and down the mountain. Most people took donkeys. I had kind of a funny experience with the donkeys. I will explain later. I just wanted
to quickly say we are back from Jordan we had a wonderful time and here are some pictures to enjoy! The picture on the top is what is shown in the Indiana Jones movie and the one on the bottom is the monastery that I walked the 900 steps to see.

Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up!

So here's the update on the last few days home in Jerusalem. We arrived home Tuesday and it felt so good to come home! Amazing the feeling in this city. I love Jerusalem! It will forever hold a tender part of my heart. This is a home for me and I pray for peace in this homeland.
Wednesday we had class in the morning and then a full afternoon. We hit the town and got money, then shopped a little, and got a pair off shoes repaired before heading to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It was not very busy which made the experience all the better. (Picture is of me right outside of the Sepulchre) After the Sepulchre we headed to Dung Gate and the Temple Institute. This is a group that are preparing for the building of the temple that will welcome the Savior when he comes. It was amazing. They are actually quite a fanatical group and considered terrorists by some. Lets hope we didn't support any terrorist actions by going there! :) I took tons of pictures because I know mom would especially be interested in all the stuff they have prepared.
Afterward we headed back into the Old City for some more shopping and then out to dinner for a birthday celebration (Ashley Andersen). went out to West Jerusalem and had aWe great time. At one point Deb and I tried our hand at being street musicians. We sang with a hat out in front but all we got were some smiles and a few people took pictures. We could remember all the songs we know how to sing together so we've decided to make a list and next time we will be prepared! It was just fun to be out with friends. We tried to make it back to Jaffa Gate for a concert that was going on but we were too late and sorely disappointed. It looked like it was a great concert. Maybe we'll catch another one before we leave!
Thursday was a full field trip day. I'll give you the run down but I'll have Deb or Mitchell write up the specifics. We started the day early at Masada in an attempt to beat the heat but it was still crazy hot. That was an amazing fortress! We then went to Ein Gedi where we swam in the Dead Sea. That was crazy. You really do just float! We also hiked up to some waterfalls before heading to our last stop at Qumran where they discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls. That place was cool because our very own Dr. Seely was the editor of six of the scrolls! He really is an amazing man and we love it when he is on our bus because we get to ask him all kinds of questions. We got back in time for dinner at the JC.
That night we had a lecture by Ophir to prepare us to attend his synagogue on Friday. Pretty cool stuff on the Jewish traditions associated with Shabbat. I'll I've got to say is that the Jews know how to anticipate and celebrate a holy day.
Friday we went to Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum) in the morning and it was incredible! One of the most amazing museums I have ever been to. We came back after that and I got some reading done and took a nap before going back into the old city to get some money for Mitchell and go to Omar's (the olive wood shop). I found a beautiful, simple nativity that I really love so I was excited about that.
But the best part of Friday was going to Synagogue to welcome in Shabbat. It was so great! We great everyone "Shabbat Shalom!" singing the songs was incredible. Music is the way to my heart and I have never felt so prepared for the Sabbath to come. The sun set and I was ready for Shabbat. It made it even more wonderful when it was Fast Sunday for us. I hope I can get some of the music for the Shabbat evening service. I really was one of the most amazing experiences I have had. We danced and we sang and I was really moved by the words of the psalms we sung. These people have a relationship with God that I really admire but in the end I have this amazing desire to help them know the Savior they are waiting for.
Anyway, today has been a wonderful Sabbath and tomorrow we head for Jordan! The sun has just set and I have some preparation to do before going to bed. We have an early start in the morning. We want to be the first buses at the boarder! We'll see what happens. Once again, you won't hear from us for a few days but just think of us in Bethany, Mt. Nebo (the real one), Petra, Amman, and several other cool sights. Maybe watch the older Indiana Jones with Petra in it and think of us! We love you! We'll be back on Wednesday night!

Going home!

okay, so after 10 days in egypt and not able to eat fresh fruit and vegetables, we were pretty ready to come home. We left super early in the morning from cairo and went straight to the border. I slept pretty good. I can never sleep on busses but I was so exhausted and so even at the stops I could barely get up! it was ridiculous!  But it felt amazing to sleep well. At one place we stopped for lunch and there were camels that people were feeding and taking pictures with. We finally got to the border and it took us about two and a half hours to get through. Once on the other side we went to Eilat and went snorkeling. It was SO much fun. I drank enough salt water to last I don't know how long. It was so cool, because we went out to this rock and we would dive down and  look at all these beautiful bright fish and cool color corals. It was pretty much the coolest thing I've ever done in water. After Eilat we headed straight for the Jerusalem Center and arrived that night around 10pm. they had dinner ready for us, but who wanted to eat chikin and rice when we were only hungry for fruit. I think I ate a pound of watermelon. It was DELICIOSO! anyway. We slept and then got up and  had class and life continued as we know it. Homework, tests and more homework. Its been great.  So, there's a belated update about our last day in Egypt. 

Galilee-Tuesday 6/3

Galilee has been an incredible journey. We have seen so many things and have had so many unforgettable experiences. Today we drove back to the Jerusalem center making stops along the way. We left at 7:30 and our first stop was Akko, a beautiful port city on the Mediterranean Coast. We walked through renovated ruins and onto a wall on the coast. We walked and explored until we got a lighthouse-at that moment we had a while of free time were we could shop and look around. Then we drove to Haifa- another port city and a city that hold particular significance for the LDS church. We stopped at a cemetery called the Haifa Templar Cemetery, where Elise and I were asked to present about the significance of this site. Adolf Haag and John Clark were missionaries called to serve in the Turkish Mission. They were called to labor in Haifa for a season, while there Adolf contracted Typhoid and John was sick with small pox. They both passed away by 1895 and their bodies are buried in this cemetery. Also, Jacob Spori who had been given a Book of Mormon by Karl Maeser had a dream were he saw in a vision a family who he found later in Haifa. Spori was also called to serve a mission where he taught the Grau family and they joined the church in 1886. Later two other people joined named Fred and Christine Kegel. Spori later returned to the United States and founded Rick's College. The Grau and Kegel families remained active in the church and eventually died and were also buried in the same cemetery as Haag and Clark. There are multiple reasons these people are important to the LDS faith. They represent tremendous faith and devotion to God and are examples of giving your all for the work of the Lord. Also when the church was looking to acquire land to build the BYU Jerusalem Center and buy land for the church building in Tiberias one of the requirements that Israel put was that the church had to have a presence before 1948. Because of these early pioneers the Church is able to have a presence here in Jerusalem and in the Holy Land. Because of these people who where faithful and sacrificed everything they had I am able to study in the Holy Land. I am so very grateful for all of the many sacrifices so many people have made including Adolf Haag, John Clark, Jacob Spori, The Grau Family, and The Kegel family. These people lived simple lives and unknowingly left a huge impact in the future of the Church. It is incredible to see the hand of the Lord and how He provides a way for his work to be done. Although this site was a simple gravesite it was one of my most favorite things we were able to see.
Then we returned to the Jerusalem center. We were able to sleep well and in a couple of days we will go to Jordan!

Saturday 5/31 Sunday 6/1 Monday 6/2

okay! So Shabat was so cool! we went over to Tiberias to go to church with the Tiberias branch. It was so cool! It was just a home, didn't have a sign or anything, just a house. I was almost left that morning, me with 7 other people. Luckily we made it on the bus just as it was pulling out. It was pretty scary. Anyway. I did my hair different. Lexie, this awesome girl here, has curly hair really similar to mine and so she showed me a new styling technique. it was pretty fun, big hair. Christine would be proud of me, and I'll show it to christine, it will look SO good on you. THe branch has this family that's from the US but has been living in Israel for 40 years. We don't quite know why they're there. But some "volunteers" not missionary couples are the District and branch presidents. Jenn, Me and two others sang an old hymn called "Each Cooing Dove" it was so beautiful. We blended so well. The church looks down over the sea of Galilee, just from the other side of where we live. We could only stay for Sacrament meeting because the other bus had to come over and we only had one bus. This pic is of Jenn and I with three of the branches members. The branch is so diverse that they have people singing songs in English, russian, Spanish and one other language. It reminded me so much of my mission. 

Sunday, we just had class, and then went swimming. BUT! I had something AWEFUL happen to me. I lost my awesome silver ring! NOOOOOO!!! it was horrible. I was playing keep away and it was flung off my hand. I saw it fall down, but the waves were pretty big and the sand was twisting around and I couldn't find it. It was SO sad! I loved that ring so much! I almost 

cried. the next day after our field trip I looked for it again with the Seely kids, but we couldn't find it. So sad! My first order of business once being back in Jerusalem was to find another cool ring. I did find one, but its not pure silver. I dunno, every since loosing my ring, it was a downward spiral. I lost around $35, dropped my camera 15 feet onto a mosaic floor in a synagogue in Sephoris (it still works, amazingly enough), and one of my earrings fell into a dig we were walking over. And then yesterday at the Dead sea, 

I lost my sunglasses AND left my conditioner. what's next? who knows? I'm just leaving a treasure hunt all over Israel when I come back in 10 years. So sunday we just played on the beach all day. 

Monday we had a half day field trip and we went to Sephoris and saw the mosaics and the synagogue where the Talmud was completed in 200AD. They also have a mosaic of 

Mona Lisa (that was where dropped my camera). We went also to Qazrin, which is a talmudic village. 

It showed what kinds of homes these people lived in just before the Byzantine

 Era. This picture is of me and Steven (Walter) being Gothic Farmers. 

I really liked Gamla. Its this crazy hill/precipice thing where there was a Jewish village. During the first jewish revolt (Vespasian, aka same time as Masada), it was the similar kind of story as Masada. They couldn't get into the city because it was on this precipice, and finally when they did, the jews were winning at first and then the Romans began to gain the upper hand and push them back to the precipice, in the end, the men threw their wives and children off, and jumped themselves. 4000 were killed by the Romans and 5000 jumped to their deaths.

 We had to hike down and around and then come back up. ow! my bum/thighs hurt for a day or so. We got some cool pics.  Okay! so there you go!

Galilee-Wednesday, 5/28-Water and Music

In between field trip days we have whole days back at the Kibbutz. We spend the morning in three hours of New Testament and then the afternoon is free for swimming and anything else. The last few days we have been trying to study hard for our Near Eastern Studies (NES) 136 midterm. We worked hard and took it Tuesday night (5/27). It was a good test but as to how well we did on it that is another question. We were all glad to have that over with though. So, on to this field trip. I have to be honest, just because you are in the holy land, doesn't mean the rules change. I still need to make sure and get my personal study time in or I'm tired. Well this morning was one of those mornings. I just felt tired and drained by the people around me. So I had a quiet morning but things got better don't you worry. We started on the boat ride across the Sea of Galilee and it was beautiful to be out on the water. I have always loved water and I'm not quite sure why but it brings such peace. However, with the Sea 600 ft. below sea level you have lots of warm low pressure with the high pressure in the mountains that rise out of the sea and it is easy to see how this body of water could easily become a torrent. The story of Mary Ann Baker and the hymn "Master the tempest is raging" was new to me but wonderful to relate there on the Sea. Just like Mary today I felt a little "tossed" by life and discouraged as to the future. But a wonderful peace entered my heart as we sang that song and remembered the Master of Creation. Bro. Ostler had given me a copy of an older hymn that isn't in the hymn book anymore called "Each Cooing Dove" or "O Galilee" and asked us to sing it. I grabbed a few girls I knew could sight read and we sang through it. It was in the music when my heart finally begin to feel light. Just as a side note, we performed that song again on Shabbat in the Tiberias branch only this time I arranged the music and that was a highlight for me. Something about water and music.
Next stop was the mount of beatitudes. We had a wonderful lesson and then just time to think and study up there on our own. There is a beautiful church up there with an order of Catholic sisters that keep the whole area very nicely. It was a great self-evaluation time to just think about the things I can repent of and do better.
We then went to the Tabgha Church and St. Peter's Primacy church. Tabgha is where they attribute the miracle of the loaves and fishes and Peter's Primacy is where he is sent out with the commission to feed the sheep after the Savior has already risen and returned to visit His disciples. I had a little miracle happen in Peter's church. There were so many people there and sometimes at these shrines it can get loud and boisterous with all the pilgrims and tourists trying to get their kiss or picture in. Sometimes that can be so frustrating as it really makes it hard to feel the spirit. Well, at the suggestion of a friend, I begin singing a hymn after most of our group had left and only these tourist remained. A hush fell in the chapel and the mood completely changed as the talking ceased and a spirit of worship returned. I am so grateful for the gift of music in my life and for those moment when I am blessed to use it to invite the spirit in to mine and others' lives.
Our last stop was Capernaum and my favorite for the day. Lexie and I were to prepare a lesson on three miracles performed in Capernaum. First, when the Savior healed the Centurion's servant, the woman healed by touching the Saviors hem, and Jairus' daughter raised from the dead. The preparation is what really made this site wonderful for me. I should take more time to prepare for each site like that. I was reminded about God the great Gift Giver when we taught about the Centurion who was too humble to receive the Lord into his house but had faith that even though he did not deserve the blessing, the Lord was willing to bless his house just because He loved him. I told the story of Christmas in our house and how Dad taught us about the Great Gift Giver. There are examples of God's willingness to bless us all over the scriptures and I am grateful for the merciful gift-giving God that I know and worship.
I learned so much from Lexie as she taught about the woman afflicted with the issue of blood who had been suffering for 12 years before finding healing in the crowded streets of Capernaum. We may never know the struggles others are going through, some things are not easily recognized. But even when others do not see the healing that goes on through the power of the Atonement, the Savior knows us each individually and wants to make each healing a personal one-on-one experience. This miracle occurred when Jesus had been summoned to the house of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue at Capernaum. We were sitting right there and I wrote some thought in my journal that express things perfectly:
Jairus was bring the Savior back here! To the synagogue where he was the ruler. I would assume his house was near by and he had requested this miracle of the Savior with faith in His power to heal. What anxiety he must have felt when they were held up by the woman and then what disappointment and hopelessness when we receives the message that is daughter has already passed away and it is too late! Yet in that dark moment the Savior brings light, "Be not afraid, only believe!" And then in that darkest situation, when all is gone and dead, the Savior brings life and light. That is Capernaum to me. (This is a picture of the synagogue built on top of the foundations of the one at the time of Christ where He would have come and read the scriptures, just blocks from the house of Peter in Capernaum)
The last thing that really completed this day was a quick lesson by Brother Seely on the Bread of Life Sermon. Brother Seely talked about so much that got my mind really working but it really hit home days later when again, on the hills overlooking the Sea of Galilee I partook of the Sacrament in the Tiberias Branch. Bread is a sacred thing in this land, it represents life and is a staple to the people's diet. In Christ's sermon on the Bread we are to 1) Seek and follow the bread, 2) Believe and then 3) Eat the bread by continuing to do all the basics (sacrament, scriptures, prayer, church, temple, sharing). Bread is becoming a sacred thing to me as well here and I hope that I will never stop partaking of the Bread of Life. I know that while I have been partaking here it has been a holy experience and I feel full, even brimming over with the Bread and Water of Life that is filling me daily.

Galilee-Friday 5/30

The day before we had gone to a fish restaurant. Deb and a select few joined a group called "we ate fish eyes". I did not, i tasted some of the whole fish fried but I also ordered a pizza so that I would be full. We started early in the morning after a wonderful kosher breakfast and began our day. We went to a place called Beth Shean it is also called Scythpolis by the Greeks. This place contained tons of city ruins. We toured through the old main street and through the ancient bath house. It was a lot of fun. Here is a picture of our class in the ancient toilets. It was amazing! There was so much to see and walk through, it started to get very very hot and we went to the next area. We went to a Synagogue called Beth Alpha. This synagogue we began to see incredible mosaics that were made on the ground. We watched a movie about the history of this particular mosaic, it was very interesting and you can tell that this mosaic was a beginners attempt. We then went to a spring. We all got in our swimming suits and cooled off a little bit. We were there for about 2 hours eating and swimming and it was very refreshing.
We all dried off and loaded on the bus. I was the last one on the bus and our bus the last person on the bus has to entertain the bus for a little bit. It was fun. I sang Destiny's Child with hand motions.
We then went to a small church in Nain. This particular church was in tribute the miracle of when Christ raised the Widows son from the dead. (Luke 7:11-18) Jenn and Camille sang a sanctus. It was absolutely beautiful.
We then went to Mt. Tabor. Our bus could only get us to a certain point on the mountain and then we all loaded into smaller sherutes (little buses) and went up the switchbacks until we got to the top of the mountain.On the top of Mt. Tabor there was a gorgeous church that is in tribute to the Mt of Transfiguration. The view was beautiful. We went into the church and went to where the altar was, we sang 2 hymns with a group of catholics who were preparing for a mass.
It was an awesome day we saw and learned about so much. We returned to the Kibbutz and had a Kosher dinner. The end of a very eventful day.

(pictures are not uploading for some reason, i will try again tomorrow.... have a great day!)

Monday 5/26

Okay! long time no blog! sorry. Life is amazingly crazy! but i'm going to try to bust out at least two blogs at the moment, text AND picture...ooooo, cool!

okay, so there's TONS to blog about on this day, I just looked through my pics and wow! we'll how far I get. 

We started the day by going to Tel Hazor. So, if you didn't know, in archeaology a "tel or tell" is a huge mound that has layers of civilizations piled on top

 of each other, the oldest on the bottom. What happens is that one group of people say, "hey! this hill is surrounded by water, it has caravan's passing by, lots of rich land is around it where we could farm, and the hill is a place of protection. So let's build a city on top  of the hill, okay?" so they do, and then after awhile, another civilization comes by and destroys them 

and then says, "oooh! this really IS a good place to live, we'll build on top of this 

city and live here our selves!" so they cover 

the old city with dirt and build on top of it their own houses with their own style, so there are these tels all over and you go and dig in 

them and can find evidence of several different civilizations in just one tel. Tel Hazor has  21 strata (layers) beginning from the early bronze age, which means that they found some old stuff there. The thing that interests us the most is that there was a huge Canaanite city there with tons of "High Places" or meeting houses for their god Ba'al. 

In this huge field they excavated in 8 places an i

n 5 of those places, they found Canaanite temples. Crazy! The cool thing about this place was that when the israelites took over,

 they built

 their city on top and in the digging they found below the israelite city a burn layer and then the

 canaanite city. So they moved this israelite palace, stone by stone, to the side so they could keep digging around the canaanite palace below. 

Pretty amazing. Brother Seely made sure that we took a picture of the different strata. In this pic you can see the canaanite layer and the burn/destruction layer and then you imagine the israelite palace that they moved to the side of the site. 

We then went to Dan. Dan is so beautiful there is a spring that comes through it and on our walk through the nature reserve we were pretty much just walking on rocks through 

the creeks that run through the land. Dan was the border city of the north part of the Northern Kingdom during the time of Jeroboam. When you hear "from Dan to Beer-Sheva" in the Bible, they're talking about the bordering cities of the land during the United Monarchy (Saul, David, Solomon) But his was where he placed the golden calf at and had a huge altar. 

There is also a dig they are working at where they are uncovering a whole Canaanite Gate.

 The amazing thing about the structure behind Me, Jenn and Mitchell in this picture is that it is made out of Mud bricks and so its been preserve until now and they have discovered a mud brick gateway that is till intact. Its really, really cool! (as Brother Seely would say)

After Dan we went to Caesarea Philippi. This was  a really cool place to go to because it was where Matthew 16:16-19 happened. When Christ asked his apostles "whom say men that I am?" and Peter responds, "Though art the Christ, the

 son of the Living God!" The Lord responds and says "thou art PETER, 

and upon this ROCK will I build my church" If you look in the footnotes it says that Peter the name comes from the word rock, but that it means small rock, like a pebble and that the word used to say ROCK in the scripture refers to a foundation stone. 

So in essence the Lord is saying, thou peter art a little rock, but upon this foundation rock the church will be built. In Caeserea Philippi there are small stones all over and there is also a wall of stone (Mt. Hermon's base) where Herod built temples to the greek gods. But its so amazing to see the contrast when he's talking about the two kinds of stone. We should be built up on the foundation stone of revelation. It was way cool.  

It was a super tiring day, and the very last stop was this HUMONGOUS castle that they call Nimrod's Castle, after the great hunter, it really is huge and its on top of the mountain and the stones they used to build it are immense! We're not really sure how they got to be up there. A few funny stories are involved with this stop. When we got there I was so tired that I though tthat the hour and 15 minutes they gave us to explore was too 

much and that I'd wait in the bus before going, but I also knew that I should go anyway because it always takes longer than I expect. well I get off the bus and snap a quick picture before realizing that my battery is dying so I get back on the bus to grab my extra battery (which was SUCH a great idea! so many people have borrowed it.) and there are Mitch and Micah. Two punks that I adore! They are SO awesome. They're sitting on the back seat of the bus and they moan to me,

 "deb! we're tired! come scratch our backs for a half hour and then lets go to the castle." and me, little sucker, did just that, got sucked in. I told them that I'd only do it for 10 minutes and then we'd have to go in, well, of course Micah begins asking questions getting me to stay longer, I knew what he was doing, the 

little trickster and it was so fun to talk to him, that we really did stay in the bus a half hour longer than expected. :) Mitch had fallen asleep and was really out of it as we began up the hill to the castle. So began our 45 min of adventure. we first went down this secret passage way. From below where it lead us out, you could see all the castle. it was HUGE! We saw people up on the ramparts and so we had to go there too, so we hurried as fast as we could to get up there and explore. It was really windy and so the skirt that day wasn't the best idea, but we found this broken down tower and climbed through little tunnels and had a blast! We were behind the main group and so we were leaving to go to the bus and then we wanted to go down this cistern really quick so we did. We usually have to travel in threes, but I should have just left them at that point and went to the bus, 

because we were really cutting it close. In the end, they went down this other water system and I was left on top waiting for them, and finally I ditched them to run back to the bus before it left, but as I got to the bus, Sandy told the bus driver to shut the door! agh! I was late! so then I had to wait outside until Mitch and Micah also come running out behind me and they then let us into the bus, but we were punished and had to entertain the whole bus. I told some really amazingly stupid jokes. it was all pretty funny. Mitch and Micah are pretty close to being my favorites here, even though they get me in trouble. 

okay! so I had a bunch of cool pics, but this silly blog thing, kept deleting them. so sorry! THis last picture is of the sunset that night. Galilee has definitely been my favorite out of JC experience. it was so relaxing and a great time to get to know the others on the trip. 

Galilee-Sunday, 5/25

Wow! We just finished the most amazing 10 days in the Galilee and there is so much to write about. I am going to have to do a short post because it is already 11:15pm and we leave for a field trip tomorrow AM at 6:30. The day we left for the Galilee we also left early in the morning. We slept a little on the bus before we had our first stop. I just have to say one thing about our bus/class. It is so amazing how well we have all mixed together. We all love each other and everyday on the bus people sit with different people. We have no "clicks" and love abounds. I really feel so blessed to be among this group.
Okay, our first stop was Caesarea Maritima. Herod the Great built up this city and it was the center of Roman society at the time of Christ. Pilate traveled from his home here to oversee the Passover the week Christ was crucified. It was here Paul defended himself before King Agrippa and almost persuaded Agrippa to "be a Christian." We were in the very building the trial took place and he stood bravely before the king. What bravery and faith to bear testimony before kings and judges! And I've been there!
Next stop was Megiddo or Har Megiddo (Armegedon). This overlooks the Jezreel Valley and the bread basket of Israel. It is a beautiful, far reaching valley where more battles have been fought than any other battlefield. It was interesting to be where it has been prophesied that so much would happen. From the old city tel we could see across the valley and Mr. Tabor, Nazareth and Nain.
We then crossed the valley and went to Nazareth and the Church of the Annunciation. The beautiful feeling in the church was wonderful. It celebrates the humility of the young girl Mary and her willingness to be the handmaid of the Lord. I've been thinking a lot about this since Bethlehem. Upto this point in history, the announcement made by Gabriel to Mary was teh most important every made on earth. She had been chosen and a child would be born of her that would save all mankind. I think of Mary's willingness to be a mother and I am so grateful to be a woman. I hope I will always answer as Mary did when I am called to be an instrument in God's hands.
After Nazareth it was the last leg of our journey. I loved when we dropped down into the basin that is the Sea of Galilee. At the Southern end of the Sea is the head of the river Jordan. Here, although it is not the location John was baptizing, they have established a memorial and a place for people to come in pilgrimage and be baptized. It was pretty amazing to see their fervor as they were baptized several times over and then would spend the next few minutes swimming around in their baptism whites. Always an interesting thing to see the pilgrims.
At the end of the day it was so wonderful to arrive at the holiday kibbutz Ein Gev and our home for the next 10 days. Our little housing cabins were only yards from the beach. We spent our first evening looking over the Sea of Galilee and enjoying the sunset. It was the beginning of ten amazing days!

Egyptian Transportation-Egypt Day #4

Okay, I'm repenting. I'm sorry I has taken so long to finish our report of Egypt. So here is day #4 which was one of the most amazing days. I feel lucky I get to talk to you about it. We woke up this morning in Luxor. I walked out onto my balcony and our hotel is right on the Nile River! It got better when after breakfast we met to head to our first site and we were being picked up by carriages! Yup, these sad little horses that pull carriages all over Luxor. I sat up front and the driver let me drive! It was really fun. Our horses name was Cindrella and I don't remember the drivers name...typical to remember the horse! It was the first of the day and so the driver let me canter the horse. I was impressed, despite the sad look of the horse, he kept a very nice gait. They train them a little different... Oh, but aside from Elana, none of you care about the horse so I will move on.
We started at the Karnak Temple with our amazing tour guide Refaat. He is AMAZING. He was educated in archeology and holds the official title of Inspector of Antiquities. That's right, when there's a dig going on, he's the one they take the stuff to and he tells them all about it! He said he did that for a while but prefers to be a tour guide! Brother Seely said he is the best in Egypt and we loved him.
The Karnak Temple is one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world and took 1700 years to build! I can't tell you all about it because I have pages of notes from this place but here are some of the highlights. I learned that the Pharaoh's had a birth name, given by their parents and then they had a coronation name, given by the priest when they were anointed to be king. We see the cartouche all over the place with both names. I learned how they put up the huge Oblisks. I'll have to take a picture of my notes to explain. Stay tuned... The coolest thing by far was seeing what they call the Gate 6 or the Holy of Holies. Here you see carvings and hieroglyphs explaining that the king is first being washed, then anointed, giving him the onyx or life and finally being presented at a barrier or veil to the gods. My favorite carving is called the sacred embrace where you see the god taking the king by a shoulder and the words carved below say, "I give you protection, eternal life, stability, power, health, inside your heart like the god Ra, forever." Pretty amazing stuff for those with eyes to see. We could understand all of this because of our amazing tour guide Refaat! We love him! (See picture below)
Next we visited the Luxor Temple 3 miles away. There was an avenue of Sphinxes that connected the two temples and there are several of the Sphinxes that have been uncovered but the rest are under the city of modern day houses so who knows if they will ever be excavated.
So much! Hopefully the pictures do it justice.
We went back to the hotel for lunch and then after lunch we had a Faluka Ride across the Nile! A Faluka is the name of the sail boats here. They are beautiful! We got to the other side and literally (for Miranda) only took a few steps before mounting a camel! Now that was an adventure! They ride very different than a horse but I got the hang of it pretty fast. Our ride back was on a simple passenger ferry of sorts. We had free time the rest of the evening so we decided to go to the Luxor Museum before dinner. It was really cool and just the right amount of stuff. Not like the Cairo Museum where you might have to spend several days in there to see it all. Here we begin the task of understanding all the different crowns you see on the kings and gods. You can identify who it is by the crown and their head sometimes (i.e. if it is a hawk) We are beginning to understand what we are looking at and that is pretty exciting! We swam a little after dinner if I remember right or maybe we swam before dinner and did the museum afterward...its all beginning to get fuzzy to me! But the long and short of it, was that we had an amazing day in Luxor, Egypt!
Oh wait! I remember what we did after dinner! The Ostlers had to be up until 11pm anyway, because that is when we all have to be back at the hotel and so they decided to go out shopping and Deb and I joined them. Really fun on one hand because we like spending time with the Ostlers. Not so fun on the other hand because when you are with adults, the vendors think you have money and won't go as low in the bartering. We went to a bazaar and just looked at things but then we went searching for another bazaar we had heard about. I think we found part of the bazaar and we bought some scarves but then these two men who were helping us out told us about this local bazaar they wanted to take us to. Craig was convinced we were going to see a local Egyptian bazaar and we followed them through the neighborhood only to find ourselves at the door of a local shop, no doubt a friend of a friend. Well we had been deceived! It was particularly funny because just that morning Brother Ostler had warned us about not falling into these traps because you may quickly find yourself miles away from the city and in a dangerous situation. Well we all gave Craig a hard time for it but it was worth the experience! We came home dead tired and the hotel beds were hard but it didn't even matter, I slept well!