Last Day in Jerusalem

What do you do on your last day in the most magical city in the world? Wake up early (to go running of course), play hard, go to all your favorite sites, walk slowly through the streets of the Old City, eat a lot of food, and stay out of the JC until the very last minute.

Roof of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

12-12-12 12:12:12!

Garden of Gethsemane 

Hanukkah donuts 

Western Wall

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Garden Tomb: my favorite place.

I was so glad that I got to visit the Garden Tomb one last time. It still amazes me that all the sounds from the surrounding streets and markets go away when you're in that lovely garden. Once again I had a hard time tearing my eyes away from the open tomb. It's an amazing place!

We had to be back in the Center at 3:00 pm to finish packing. After dinner and saying farewell to the families, we got on the buses ("We're the lucky Judd bus!")  one last time and drove to the airport. After 27 hours of traveling, not enough sleep, and saying too many goodbyes, I arrived safely in Salt Lake City. I am so grateful for the time I was able to spend in Jerusalem! Let's just say that I am going back there someday. :)

Last Week of Christ’s Life Field Trip

Over the past few days I have had the blessed opportunity to walk and talk through the last week of Christ’s life (slightly out of order though). We started in Bethany where Christ raised Lazarus from the dead. Christ truly is the resurrection and the life!

Bethphage: Christ’s triumphal entry started here. He was recognized, for one of the few times in his life, as the king and prophet that he truly is. They cried Hosanna, which means “save us now,” as he rode the donkey. I have cried hosanna to him many times in my life.

Dominus Flevit: Christ wept over Jerusalem. He foresaw the destruction of the city and wept because of the wickedness of the House of Israel. Christ truly weeps with and for us.

St. Peter in Gallicantu: Peter denied Christ three times and Christ was imprisoned here.

Cenacle/Upper Room: the sacrament was administered to the disciples here. The sacrament means so much more to me now than it did before I came here.

Gethsemane: Christ suffered and bled for the sins of the world. Brother Judd taught us that four holinesses came together in Gethsemane: 1. The place: it overlooked the temple and the name literally means “olive press.” 2. The time: Passover. Jesus was truly the sacrificial lamb. 3. The name: Christ and Messiah mean “the anointed one.” During Christ’s time, prophets, priests, and kings were anointed—He was all of these. 4. The person: Jesus of Nazareth, who voluntarily gave up his life. Mary Bennion shared her testimony about what she calls “The Great Exchange” that occurred in Gethsemane: Christ drank the bitter that we may drink the sweet. He wore a crown of thorns that we may inherit the kingdom. He went as a lamb to the slaughter that we might have a shepherd. He thirsted that we may drink the living water.

Rachel and me at Gethsemane

My Nigerian friend :)

Garden Tomb: we had a powerful testimony meeting here that confirmed my witness of the resurrection. I know that Christ lives! Just as the sign on the door states, “He is not here for He is risen,” I proclaim that Christ broke the chains of death and redeemed the fallen world. How grateful I am for Jesus Christ!

Today it was wet, rainy, cold, and windy, but it helped me better visualize the events we discussed. It created a more somber atmosphere but it also reminded me that rain brings renewal and growth. 

Adventures, No Regrets, and Jerusalem sunsets

On Sunday I went to the Dome of the Rock one last time and walked all around the Temple Mount. It’s such a beautiful building! Whenever I’m looking at the Jerusalem horizon from the JC, my eyes always seem to go to the golden dome. Something just draws my eyes to it! I think it’s because of the holiness of that site. Someday there will be a temple built in Jerusalem!

I did the Carillon (again) at the YMCA, shopped, and explored Zedekiah’s cave which is located under the Old City. It’s a quarry where they got some of the stones for Herod’s Temple. The sunset was incredible—the sky looked like it was on fire!

Last Sabbath in the Holy City

I’m sure going to miss that view out of the Auditorium where we have sacrament meeting. It’s been so amazing to look over the Holy City while taking the sacrament—it means so much more to me now than it ever did before. For the sacrament hymn we sang “There is a Green Hill Far Away” but changed the words to “There is a Green Hill Near at Hand.” It was really special to sing that beautiful hymn with the other Jerusalem Branch members. That hymn has always been special to me because my dad used to sing me and my sisters to sleep with that song.

Our cute Valiant Girls Primary class: Elisabeth, Lisa, and Mary

I went to the Garden Tomb. What an incredible place! I’m not sure if it’s the actual place where Christ was buried and resurrected, but it sure has a unique spirit about it. I talked to two Nigerian ladies names Felisha and Olydie. They were so sweet. Even though I only talked to them for a few minutes, I know that I made friends that I will see in heaven. We really had a connection and I can’t wait to see them again!

We had our last mission prep class tonight—how grateful I am for the chance I had to be taught by Bethany and Will! They are both returned missionaries who teach at the MTC in Provo. They are powerful teachers and they taught me so much that will help me on my mission! We had the Upper Room program tonight where we read John 13-17 in the Auditorium looking over the city and they had even put together a triclinium dining set up so we could visualize the Last Supper.

Mission prep!

Finals Week.

I survived another finals week! I spent hours and hours in the library but we found some ways to spice it up:

I can’t believe that was my last finals weeks for almost two years!

After we finished our last finals I went with a group of friends to En Kerem, a lovely little Jewish area in West Jerusalem. It was so fun because I didn’t have any homework that I should’ve been doing!

Dead Sea Field Trip

Masada was one of Herod the Great’s fortresses. It has the prime location! I was so impressed by the palace that was literally on the side of the plateau. Masada was the site of a massive group suicide of hundreds of Jews who retreated here during the First Revolt against Rome.

We got to float in the Dead Sea! It was such a weird sensation. I got a little bit of the salt water on my face and it BURNED. A few people got it in their eyes on accident and I’m sure that was not a fun experience. Some people, on the other hand, purposely stuck their heads under to prove how tough they are. Crazy!

We also went to En Gedi, an oasis where David fled from Saul (1 Sam 23-24).  We were able to play in the waterfalls and rinse off the gross salt water. At Qumran we saw the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. Fun fun!

Awkward Family Photos

This was our Family Home Evening this week, Awkward-Christmas card style:

Mediterranean Field Trip (11/29)

Our first stop was Mount Carmel where Elijah faced the priests of Baal. Our awesome re-enactment committee put together a skit that had a "Princess Bride" twist. Mary Bennion and Michael Stallings surprised us all by kissing at the end! We had all suspected a little Galilee magic between them but it was quite a shocker for them to announce it to our whole class this way! Brother Judd said that was the best Mt. Carmel skit he's ever seen.

My favorite part of the day was the Haifa Templer Cemetary where we learned about a few different men who have played a part in missionary work in the Middle East. Adolf Haag, from Payson, Utah, was a 27-year-old who accepted his mission call in 1892 and left behind his wife and children to serve the Lord. He had to work while he preached so he could support himself. Within a month of arriving in Haifa, he contracted typhus fever and died shortly thereafter. The broken pillar symbolizes a life cut short, and his definitely was. Another incredible example is John Clark (1894) whose number one dream was to go to BYU and obtain an education. While studying at BYU he received a mission call to Haifa and within one year of serving there, he contracted smallpox and died before is 24th birthday. He gave up his dream because he knew that the will of the Lord was more important than his desires. We sang "I'll go where you want me to go" and I got the chills as I thought about going to Chile where I have been called. I'm grateful for the incredible examples of these men!

Cemeteries are great places for pondering. While I was walking around I learned that death often comes in an unseen moment. I loved some of the epitaphs:
"Gone but not forgotten"
"Perfect peace"
"Their name liveth forevermore"
"In the hour of my death call me and big me come to thee"
"A good soldier of Jesus Christ"

Life truly has moments hard to describe, and this was one of them. I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to live on this earth. "Live with a smile and make it worthwhile" :)

Western Galilee Field Trip (11/28)

In a nutshell:

Chorazin: The Lord said, “Wo unto Chorazin.” The famous seat of Moses, where the hypocritical Jewish leaders would preach, is located in its synagogue.

A mote (in my hand) and a beam (what I'm sitting on)

Neil being a goofball as always

Sepphrois: one of the ancient Roman capitals that later hosted members of the Sanhedrin who compiled the Mishnah (the Oral Torah). It has beautiful mosaics!

Akko: a port that was especially significant during the Crusader time period.

The Mediterranean Sea!

We had our last bonfire and had s’mores! I also roasted a chestnut on an open fire and it was delicious. I spent a while just looking across the Sea of Galilee—that view has become on of my favorites in the whole world! Here’s what I wrote in my journal after my little ponder-session: “I said goodbye to my sweet Galilee tonight. The view across the sea with the twinkling lights has brought me peace and comfort these past 10 days. It broke my heart to tear my gaze away. I tried to so hard to sink in that moment and I think I got it. I want to come back to Galilee. I can tell why Jesus loved to be here! My life and relationship with God has been changed forever for the better.” I love Galilee!

Upper Galilee Field Trip (11/27)

Today we went to Hazor, Tel Dan, Caesarea Philippi, Nimrod Fortress, Har Bental.

The Pooh Tree at Tel Dan

 Caesarea Philippi was one of my favorite sites. Here Christ asked his disciples, “Whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:16-19) Peter powerfully answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Peter knew this by his faith and willingness to “try the word.” Brother Judd taught us that “the things of God cannot be learned solely by study and reason…the things of God must be learned through faith and revelation from the Holy Ghost.” Who do I say that Christ is? I know that he is my best friend, my Brother, my salvation, my life, my light, my hope, and my joy.

Caesarea Philippi

At Har Bental we overlooked the Road to Damascus and talked about Saul/Paul. He was a zealous man who thought honestly thought he was saving souls when he tried to turn people away from Christianity. But when the Lord appeared to him and told him the truth, Paul channeled his zealousness to proclaiming Christianity. The Lord told him that it is hard to kick against the pricks—a prick is a sharp stick that is used to move cattle along; if they don’t want to go, they kick back. Sometimes we feel the Spirit but fight against it—in Paul’s case, he couldn’t fight it any longer when the Lord appeared to him on the Road to Damascus. We all travel on the figurative Road to Damascus and at many points along the way we will feel the Spirit helping us get back on track.

Tonight we had a bonfire/testimony meeting on the beach of the Sea of Galilee. Here are some one-liners that really hit me:

           -Out of all the worlds without number, I’ve been able to live in the place where He walked, healed, preached, loved, taught, suffered, atoned, died, and lived again.

            -When people seek God, they find Him

            -Ask God to hold your hand. He’s willing to take it.

            -This week in Galilee (and semester in Jerusalem) has been a chance for us to breath, step back, and be still. We are about to go home and face the storms. The lessons we’ve learned in the past 3 months have prepared us for the rest of our lives.

            -Christ loved us enough to come down so He could pull us up to His level.

            -If you feel content with your life, pray that the Lord will show you your weaknesses.

Bucket List

Today I checked two things off my bucket list: swim in the Sea of Galilee and milk a cow!

 For Family Home Evening we went to the Ein Gev kibbutz (that owns the resort we’re staying at) and they let us help them milk the hundreds of cows they have! It’s quite a messy job. The baby cows were adorable!

Jezreel Valley Field Trip (11/25)

Mount Tabor: the traditional site of the Transfiguration, although it most likely was Mt. Hermon. In Matthew 17, Jesus, Peter, James, and John went “up into an high mountain apart,” and “there appeared unto them Moses and Elias (Elijah)”. I learned that Moses and Elijah were translated so they could restore the priesthood keys by the laying on of hands to the First Presidency of Christ’s dispensation. Brother Judd gave a devotional in which he emphasized making it our #1 goal to get married in the temple. But once we make it there, there’s so much more to do. We make sacred covenants in the temple, but we go home to keep those covenants. All these discussions about the temple are becoming so much more meaningful to me as I prepare to make covenants with the Lord in His holy house.

These cute Indonesian ladies grabbed me and Lauren for a picture!

The nativity scene 

Megiddo

We also went to Gan Hoshlosha, an ancient spring that has been turned into a beautiful little oasis!

After we got back from the field trip I went on a stellar sunset run with Erin Wankier, Caitie McBride, and Kate Lewis. What a great way to combine three of my favorite things: sunsets, good friends, and running!