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!

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

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.

 

The Picture Game

Here are some pictures- I dont have time to write the captions yet so enjoy trying to guess what/where they are until I do:)

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!


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!

Pictures:) they say a thousand words

Here are some pictures not necessarily in order:

Fati our Turkish Guide- he had to wear a scarf over the microphone so we could hear with all the wind so Langelle kindly offered hers:) we told him it was a fashion statement so he took her glasses too to make the look complete. He was a nice funny guy, once up a hill he said he would race a couple of us and if we beat him hew would buy us goats milk ice cream.. needless to say I got free ice cream which was thick, creamy, and worth the uphill run!

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

Arab Night- Me and Nathan
Nathan is great, when I asked him what he
did in high school he said he was a nerd
so he is my favorite nerd friend I have found here so far:)

Arab Night was great- it was amazing ethnic food,
and after some local kids came and taught us to dance
like them, it was a kind of line dance feel holding hands
in a circle and a series of foot taps.

Camilla and I

This is Camilla my Colombian friend, she is
pretty much the greatest and keeps
us all laughing and happy:)

TURKEY... the hidden gem of the middle east!

WOW! Turkey was wonderful, here are some highlights from the trip:

• Ephesus- This was one of my favorite places that had the most ruins still intact- there was a large extensive 2 story library façade with statues that were in it as well as some temples to Diana and a large public bath house. The theatre was huge! It was so cool, we acted out Acts chapter 19 where Paul is preaching with hiscompanions to the people who are worshiping Diana instead of their HeavenlyFather. These people get mad and drag some of Pauls companions into the theaterin a mob yelling great is the Goddess Diana. Kenzie and I were the companions of Paul who got dragged into the theatre so Blake threw me over his shoulder and bounded up the steps! Itwas pretty surprising and funny to see a group of Americans booking it up tothe theatre yelling and shouting Great is Diana or don’t kill them ha ha the Orientaltour group there also were pretty shocked. Once in the theatre we acted out the rest quietly because there was a film thatwas being shot there. Afterward we all sang Ill go where you want me to go because Paul was such a great missionary and stood up for the right things evenwhen it definitely was not a popular thing to do in the city at the time he lived. It made me want to be like him and remember the covenants I have made to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places no matter who we are with or where we are.

·        Assos was one of the cities that Paul went to while on his 3rd mission (yeah this guy was pretty amazing with all the different missions he went on) – in Acts 20 it talks about how his companions went before him in the ship but he chose to walk there and then meetup with them. Our professor Brother Ludlow talked about how it is important to take time to be alone and ponder and pray ourselves especially in nature as Paul did walking back. We rode on this rickety road down to the theatre in the city and our teacher said it was the road that Paul would have walked on to get down to meet his companions at the port. The day was looming with rain cloudsand the wind whipped through our skirts and hair it was great! I loved the feeling of adventure that came as we looked out over the cliffs that were over the aquaocean. We were blessed the whole time to avoid the rain (the only time it rained we were inside a fish place and on the bus and it poured! But we didn’t get wetat all it was such a blessing especially considering I didn’t bring my coolrain jacket from Ike… oops).One thing I loved about Turkey was all the open area that was lush green hillymountains and rugged cliffs over the sea ah it was amazing
·        Funny story real quick- the first night we went to a restaurant and Kenzie, Dev, and I didn’t really realize that every meal wehad was 4-5 courses so we ate a ton of bread ah it was soooooo good and soupand salad and thought that was it but then they brought out a pastry thing anda whole plate of meat and potatoes and stuff ad then dessert afterwards so wealmost cried when they brought out the main mail thing because we were alreadyso full of lentil soup and delicious fluffy bread.  We also tried Turkish delight that I didn’treally like (its like jelly bean squares with powdered sugar), goat milk ice cream which was so good, and a ton of weird meats- they love to mix stuff in their meats and makemeatballs or little sausage things I was not a fan but some people were. Also baklavawe were served like every night- I had one that was actually pretty good butthey are just sooooo sweet it was a little to much for me.  At some hotels they would have about 30 loaves of different types of breads uncut freshly baked with aknife and a cutting board and you could go cut however much you wanted and eatit with a bunch of different jellies and stuff. (they are famous for roses sothey had rose jelly- it tasted like you were eating a flower to me…weird!) 
·        Finally we went to some amazing Mosques especially the Hagia Sophia or "holy wisdom" built in the Byzantine time period by Emporer Justian the dome in the church is HUGE and it had original mosaics all over that are back from the Byzantine Period. We were required to cover our heads with a scarf at some and take off our shoes to show respect. I reminded me that these people do have some truths (like covering their heads and taking off their shoes) andshow devotion to something they really believe in and take time to pray oftenbut just don’t have the full truth. It is amazing we are blessed with the truthand I know we need to share it with others because we do have the authority assell of the doctrine of Christ and his church
·        Also we got to ride 3 ferries – 2 our bus drove on and was carried over and one just us it was so fun to feel the wind on ourfaces and climb up on the bars on top!

All together Turkey is one of my favorite places, but I have to admit it was wonderful to come home to Jerusalem- it is quickly becoming more like a home to me than I ever thought possible! I am so blessed to be here I am trying to soak up every minute of it! Thanks to everyone who helped me have the oppertunity to be here- I love and miss you all

Shalom!

Amy and I in front of the Library at Ephesus- one of the cities Paul preached at

On the shore of Gallipoli, battle site during WWI

Camilla, Kenz, Devry and I outside the Grand Mosque at Bursa

Blue Mosque- the pillars are HUGE! Kenzie, Devry and I

On a bridge overlooking the Bosphorus Strait- Megan and Stephany and I

Just another average thursday...

Here are some fun things we have done lately- I have a sweet video of the Jewish Festival with bonfires I will hopefully put up eventually but for now trust me it was amazing!

At the Jewish festival- the men danced below around the fire while the women watch- we were in the middle of an extremely Orthodox Jewish neighborhood and were the only ones who spoke any English everyone else spoke Yiddish- amazing cultural experience!

Dormition Abbey- where Mary is traditionally thought to be buried- amazing mosaics!

Outside the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu  where they believe Christ was questioned by Caiaphas and where Peter denied him 3 times. Although a sad place it was beautiful outside with gardens and an amazing view. This is my lovely friend Amy

also same church- I love this huge purple bush with flowers so I had to get a picture here!

Jeff and I in the Upper Room- place where the apostles and Christ had the Last Supper Traditionally. Basically an empty room now but has gorgeous stained glass windows

Brooke, Kenzie, and I at a local Mosque- we learned more about Muslim worship and had a demonstration of a prayer they preform 5x a day when the Call to Prayer is heard- I hear it now in my dreams but fortunately have started to sleep through it:)

Annamarie and I on top of the roof of the tomb of David

Erev Tov! (good night) and Shalom from the Holy Land