"If we are to become like him, we must freely forgive others as he has forgiven us…." Spencer J Condie

 This past Monday we went on a Field Trip to Neot Kedumim. It is a biblical reserve place where we learned about all sorts of stuff about life in biblical times. We got to herd sheep, crush zatar (below) for our pita's.....

 ....meet a torah scribe and learn about the logistics and tremendous time it takes to write, and also the great honor it is to be a torah scribe. (btw these scrolls above are 200yrs old).....

 ....we were also able to crush and press olives....

It was incredible to match the symbolism with the process of making olive oil. We will get to pick olives and make olive oil at the center in the next couple weeks!!!(also that's Kathryn Lindsey pushing with me in this pic)






For those of you who know about the shekel shack here at the JC....this is our portable shekel shack. These guys are pretty incredible and have taken the shekel shack to the next level for sure. Not only are they portable on field trips and group adventures outside the center, they also deliver your order if you just give them a call, they have created a "gold membership" system, and so many more things you can not even believe. Gotta love these guys.

Sorry this one is again for those who have been here. This is Ayman, the Arabic teacher. I have never met someone so funny, or with such a big heart. He is so great! (and that's an understatement)

- "...men should be anxiously engages in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves." (D&C 58:26-29)

Just making some hummus!

On our way to Eilat where we went snorkeling.

And btw these hills along this road are where Lehi and his family wandered for 11 days. You can see now why the boys murmured when they were sent back to Jerusalem.

Just getting ready to scare the fish.

Beautiful beach of Eilat. A mile south of this spot is Egypt. We were almost in EGYPT!

Yad Vashem: Holocaust Museum. 

Coolest Part...every single of these trees represents a family or a group of people who helped save Holocaust victims in various ways. These trees are located on the path where you enter and exit the museum. As you enter and exit you are reminded of those who were great during such a harsh war and sad times. You are reminded of the good in the world, and the blessings we are all given no matter the circumstances at the time.

The night of the Holocaust museum we were lucky enough to have a Holocaust survivor come and speak with us. It was shocking, sad yet so interesting to hear his different stories. He mentioned that when he is telling these stories he doesn't even believe himself, let alone having others believe him. (He spoke Spanish so Neil is translating for him.)

This is at Shabaan's for those of you who have been here. His son Omar wanted us to dress up as Bedouin women for their Facebook pages.

The Running Club! This sunrise is one of the main reasons I get up early to run in the morning.

Dad, this one is for you. You should be proud, this hill (if you can see it) is the hill we conquer in the morning. There is another just before this that is part of the route as well. I'll be honest though, day 1 I walked half way up it, but after that I was not a wuss anymore.

Arab Night! Party in the Oasis.

"Take Advantage of the Opportunity"

Today Brother Judd shared with us an amazing video and I would like to pass along the joy to all of you.

If you happen to get on a YouTube train, make sure this video is in their. I can't upload the video, however here is the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_Vt4MlbM0c

It's a music video of Matishyahu performing "Sunshine." If you are not familiar with Matishyahu, he is the Jewish artist who sings "Jerusalem, If I Forget You." (Wonderful song as well.)

There is lots of symbolism in this song as well. A big theme it seems to me, is soothing the soul of the land. See if you can notice a few different things here where he is trying to sooth the soul of the land. (PS almost all the places where he stands, I have stood there with my own two feet! So sweet!)

"Fear distracts us from faith in the Savior" Elder Marcus B. Nash

Last Sunday it was the last day of the Jewish holiday, Sukkot. So before our field trip that day we went to the Western Wall for the "wacking of the willows." On the last day they take these plants  in their hands that they have prayed with every morning for the past 7 days and wack it on the ground after their last prayer.

It was packed (about the same as sitting in the student section of a BYU basketball game) with tons of Jews wearing white as you can see. 

We were starving so we stopped by a bakery before we headed to the City of David for our field trip. Pictured is a chocolate crescent type deal. Delish. Along with their passion fruit slushy.

 

 This is Emily Judd (Brother Judd's little girl). It has brought such a sweet spirit here to have children who make you smile no matter the day. This is at the City of David. We were also able to go to Hezekiah's tunnel that day. However my camera was not working too well, so pix are soon to come from other peeps here.

True INTEGRITY is acting after the feeling is gone.

Alright we are going to change things up a bit. No picture for this post, but I have something even better. Just wanted to make sure you are all aware that the scriptures are amazing. Not just the Old and New Testament but every book of scripture. Incredible. There is this sensation, this glory, this feeling of awwwww whenever you read. And I mean not just read the words "And it came to pass....." No, that's just old ancient language that's hard to understand. But when you actually read and search for meaning, and stories and principles from those stories, that is when the feeling truly comes. Just like the feeling of the spirit though, words will never do, you can only know the feeling by having it pass through your mind and your body. It's like eating a Chocolate Pita, you don't know the taste until it actually passes through your body.

"...The Lord came into my mind…" Enos 1:10

Last night (Friday) we were able to go to a synagogue service. It was incredible. We followed along with the service in these prayer books we have in our hands. A synagogue service is symbolized on welcoming in the Sabbath (aka Queen or Bride). At one point during the ceremony everyone stands up and faces the entrance door to 'welcome her in.' This is about 5 min into the ceremony so if you are just a little bit late everyone knows.

This past week it has been the Jewish holiday Sukkot.This the 7 day holiday after Yom Kimppur (Day of Atonement). It celebrates the Pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Ashley and I in this picture are standing in a Sukah. This is the hut that Jews build for a week and they say a blessing and eat every meal in these for a week. They have lots of other rituals and practices that you will find out about later!

Boyd K Packer "...if you will not be loyal in the small things, you will not be loyal in the large things…."

 

This is the Seder (passover) dinner we had. So different and unique than us Americans think of it. You read through a book that tells the story of the Exodus before you get to eat the meal and EVERYTHING has a certain symbol along with it. The dinner is also centered around the children asking questions, so things are made particularly different so the children ask questions and are curious throughout the evening.

 

These beautiful girls are my roomies (just the 3 of us). This is inside the MASSIVE bell caves. 

As you can see when I say massive, I mean MASSIVE!  They drill a small hole in the ground and gradually as they dig into the earth they make the hole wider so it becomes the shape of a Bell.

Just being intense David in the Wadi where he killed Goliath.

Just a reminder...

 

  This is where I currently live...The Holy Land.

 

 

What an Opportunity?

Recently I was able to play on the largest Organ in the Middle East, that's in the JC auditorium. So fantastic. Brother Squires, the fabulous organist here, was able to critique my playing as well as give me some new tricks.