Living at the JC.walking the streets that Christ walked. learning to love the people of Jerusalem. living my dream!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Hezekiah's tunnel and Miracles in the Holy Land
Hey Family and Friends!
This week has been one of blessings and learning!
On Sabbath the area 70 Brother Catcher came for Branch Conference from Abu Dabi. He brought such a special spirit with him as he invited some random people from the audience to share their testimony as well as asked for an impromptu Choir number Nearer My God to Thee. I was able to sing in it and what a neat spirit as there in the chapel as he got up to speak. He spoke of his own conversion in his early twenties when he came to the Y as a nonmember. After he was baptized he said he would invite his friends to come over to his home and bear their testimonies to him almost weekly so he could build his own. What a neat idea huh? He then spoke of the miracles of the countries around the middle east and how the church although small in many places is growing and miracles are happening.
The Branch presidency here was reorganized because President Player and his family are moving to China for his job. A man who lives in Bethlehem and is Palestinian was called to be in the presidency and knows Arabic which is kinda a big deal- he was baptized last year after he had a friend who was Mormon and said he could see the light in his eyes and asked him about it but wasn't able to find out about the church until he went to the States on a trip a little while after. He then looked it up and talked to the missionaries and gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon. He then came back to Jerusalem and was baptized in the Red Sea with his close family. He spoke of how hard it is for him as a publicity manager as his occupation to keep quiet about he church and how much it has blessed his life, but how it is a commandment here and important. Brother Ludlow (our ANE teacher) said the next day in class that we are living in a very important historical time here in the Middle East. This is the first time the church was had a member who knows Arabic well in church leadership and who's family and friends will be able to realized the example of his family even if he cant directly share what he knows- the work is moving forth here!
After church we went out and watched the sunset on the grass after going to the church of Dominica Levet- where Christ was traditionally thought to have wept over Jerusalem. We met a cool priest while there at the church named Father Sebatsian who wanted us to come help him with the garden so we got his number and called him back so a group of us are going to go over tomorrow morning and see if we can help out somehow- his english isn't very good so we will see how it goes:)
Ok we went on an amazing field trip to the City of David on Monday- we went over outside the Old City to an excavation site where they are digging out what they think is David's Palace. Also under there is the tunnel of Hezekiah that was built when the Assyrian's were trying to conquer Jerusalem in 722 BC and laid a siege around the city. However Isaiah prophesied that they wouldn't even shoot an arrow through the walls that Hezekiah had built which proved to be prophetic. The Israelites needed water but didn't want to have to go outside the city to get it so they tunneled underground and made a path for the Gihon Spring to end up in the Pool of Salome. The Pool of Salome is where Jesus told the Blind man in John ch9 to wash the mud off his eyes and healed him so he could see. We sat at the pool and read in John Chapter 9 about this story and how even after the miracle the Pharisee's tried to fault Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. They really missed the mark, something we need to be careful not to do. Also next to the pool are the steps leading up to the temple where Christ would have walked for sure, it was neat to sit there as Brother Harper testified out the importance to keep trying each day to become more like Christ and to never give up because he will never give up on us.
We were able to walk through the tunnel which was pitch black and filled with refreshingly chilly water that was about thigh deep. It was soooo cool, we had flashlights and head lamps- mine is actually out of batteries to it was cool to have to just rely off the light of others and made it kinda exciting! It kinda reminded me of going through the crack because if one person stopped in front of you, you were kinda stuck. It went about a mile long so we walked through it in about 45 minutes- we decided (Dwight, Kenzi, Devry and I) that we want to come back and go through completely in the dark for an adventure! (it was kinda funny at the beginning Kenzi and I were towards the front of our 40 students in our class and we stopped to take a picture and then went to follow and thought that it was a dead end- there was a gate you went through- so we turned around and had everyone go back and tried 2 different ways hat really were dead ends so everyone was starting to get a little worried when we went back and realized the gate opened. we told everyone that we were just trying to make it more exciting!)
Sunday we went to the Biblical Zoo and got waffles for Kenzi's 20th birthday- it was fun to see signs of animals with Scriptures next to them (like next to the snake something about Satan being the serpent) and then a huge Ark that was something like the size of Noah.
Kol Tuv!
Melinda
The Ultimate road trip... Jordan!
I just got back from Jordan- by far Petra was the coolest thing I have ever seen in my life! Here are some pictures and descriptions that show some of the trip but honestly the memories cant be described and some of them like singing the baptism primary songs at the river Jordan, acting out in an old Roman Theatre with Dev, Kenz and Dwight and eating ice cream out of a tub with spoons on the top of the hotel are things I will always remember but cant show:)
PETRA!- The Nabateans were a people in the 4th century AD who cut out over 800 rock cut tombs and built these temples right into the red rock. We hiked around the site for a couple hours and still didn't see even close to as much as was there. So far only 1/20th of the city has been excavated. There are native Jordanians all over offering necklaces, camel, horse and donkey rides and all sorts of trinkets. Although it was pretty steamy hot, there was a nice mountain breeze and you were so amazed it was worth the heat!
Going to the Jordan River was such a neat experience, we were able to sing primary baptism songs and feel the spirit so strong witnessing to us that Christ really was baptized near there and were reminded of our own baptismal covenants we had made.
Finally going to the Jabbock River where Jacob "wrestled" with the Lord reminded us of the importance of having personal prayers that are meaningful and coming to the Lord often.
PETRA!- The Nabateans were a people in the 4th century AD who cut out over 800 rock cut tombs and built these temples right into the red rock. We hiked around the site for a couple hours and still didn't see even close to as much as was there. So far only 1/20th of the city has been excavated. There are native Jordanians all over offering necklaces, camel, horse and donkey rides and all sorts of trinkets. Although it was pretty steamy hot, there was a nice mountain breeze and you were so amazed it was worth the heat!
Yep here is my camel- he was pretty great |
epic jumping picture in front of the monestary- Amy, Geoff, Dana, Pricilla, me and Rachel |
Hailey and I Jerash- who knew there were cool Roman ruins in Jordan? |
Kenzi Me and Alecia |
Finally going to the Jabbock River where Jacob "wrestled" with the Lord reminded us of the importance of having personal prayers that are meaningful and coming to the Lord often.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
The Picture Game
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Living the BIble
Wow things are picking up so fast here, days seem to fly by packed with amazing experiences!
Neot Kedumim:
A Bible historical reserve where plants, animals, and the landscape are kept to help people understand the scriptures better. We got to herd sheep/goats which was a little harder than I thought! We ended up linking hands and herding them along into the areas we had to- we then talked about the importance of a good sheppard to lead them along because once one sheep started to follow someone all the rest came along much easier. We are blessed to have a good Shepard who knows each of us and will not lead us astray!
We then learned about the Hyssop plant which was used for healing lepers in the scriptures as well as dipped in the blood to paint on the door for the passover in the Isrealites time. The plant is small and doesn't take much water representing the humility we should have. When dried out the plant can be crushed up to make a spice called Tzar which is delicious to put on pitas. Heather and I crushed ours up.
After we went up into a campsite thing and made pitas and lentil soup over an open fire. It as such a simple meal but so delicious! I am a big fan of red lentils and the pitas dipped in...mmm....
FInally we went to a well and talked about how important the water is in this area of the world where it is so scarce. We made the parallel of how Christ is our living water and we gain our spiritual "life" through him. By seeking him we can be spiritually filled and not thirst. We also sa a threshing floor (like the one talked about in the story of Ruth) and a willowing fork that seperates the wheat from the chaff- as talked about in the parable in Matthew.
At the very end we say a Torah scribe who wrote for us and showed us a huge Torah scroll that was from Tunisia- it was neat to see how special it is to them!
This was one of my favorite things we did here because of the insights it provided for reading the Old and New Testament and being able to picture the things that are often used in the scriptures to describe everyday things for those who lived then.
well finals are looming and papers stacking up but I am reminded of the scripture that I love that is in Psalms 3:5-6
Shalom!
Neot Kedumim:
A Bible historical reserve where plants, animals, and the landscape are kept to help people understand the scriptures better. We got to herd sheep/goats which was a little harder than I thought! We ended up linking hands and herding them along into the areas we had to- we then talked about the importance of a good sheppard to lead them along because once one sheep started to follow someone all the rest came along much easier. We are blessed to have a good Shepard who knows each of us and will not lead us astray!
Yep I cant get this to turn the other way... |
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life
for the sheep.
John 10:11
We then learned about the Hyssop plant which was used for healing lepers in the scriptures as well as dipped in the blood to paint on the door for the passover in the Isrealites time. The plant is small and doesn't take much water representing the humility we should have. When dried out the plant can be crushed up to make a spice called Tzar which is delicious to put on pitas. Heather and I crushed ours up.
After we went up into a campsite thing and made pitas and lentil soup over an open fire. It as such a simple meal but so delicious! I am a big fan of red lentils and the pitas dipped in...mmm....
FInally we went to a well and talked about how important the water is in this area of the world where it is so scarce. We made the parallel of how Christ is our living water and we gain our spiritual "life" through him. By seeking him we can be spiritually filled and not thirst. We also sa a threshing floor (like the one talked about in the story of Ruth) and a willowing fork that seperates the wheat from the chaff- as talked about in the parable in Matthew.
At the very end we say a Torah scribe who wrote for us and showed us a huge Torah scroll that was from Tunisia- it was neat to see how special it is to them!
This was one of my favorite things we did here because of the insights it provided for reading the Old and New Testament and being able to picture the things that are often used in the scriptures to describe everyday things for those who lived then.
Later that night we went to the Festival of Lights in the Old City! It was unique and fun to go with my FHE family:)
well finals are looming and papers stacking up but I am reminded of the scripture that I love that is in Psalms 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Shalom!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Pictures:) they say a thousand words
Here are some pictures not necessarily in order:
On a Ferry ride over the Bosporus Straight (Brooke, Me, Kenz, Dwight, Hailey, Heather, Priscilla) |
Topeka Palace |
TROY! honestly the horse was probably most exciting part of this site, not much is left of the ruins |
Out on the Dock at our hotel in Turkey- beautiful overlook |
Yep jumping off the antiquities Brother Jackson would maybe have a heart attack... ha ha just kidding he is the greatest but that is his battle cry "stay off the antiquities"! (Me, Kenz, AJ, Dev) |
Coast of the Bosporus (Nate, Me, Annalise, Meg) |
Inside the Cistern- our group of girls who sang Where Can I Turn For Peace (Whitney, Robin, Me, Amy, Anna Marie) |
Nicaea |
Camilla and I This is Camilla my Colombian friend, she is pretty much the greatest and keeps us all laughing and happy:) |
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