I'm Living in Jerusalem!

I am in Jerusalem!  It is still so surreal to me to know that I am here in the Holy Land.  I feel like I will just keep saying this the whole time I am here but honestly it is so incredible being here.  It is hard for me to express in words all that I have felt and seen and witnessed already.  I already see those spiritual changes happening in me from simply just being here.  

Okay so here’s the scoop on what’s happened in the last 120 hours of my life.  Tuesday morning to Wednesday evening I traveled half way across the world with a stop in Detroit and Paris to my final destination of Tel Aviv.  It was a lot of traveling but I survived!  When we arrived at the Tel Aviv airport our professors were there waiting for us after we went through security and passed our passport test.  We all loaded up onto two busses and made our way to Jerusalem.  It was amazing to come around one corner of a large hill and have the professors say “Well here is your home for the next 4 months!” as they pointed out the window to Jerusalem.  So beautiful!  It is literally like stepping back in time when it comes to the landscape and architecture plus a lot of modern things added in now too.  

We arrived at the Jerusalem Center and they took us into the chapel.  There we sang “I Stand All Amazed” with the awesome organ accompanying us.  Then the organist played “How Firm a Foundation” as the curtains opened and revealed the Old City of Jerusalem in front of us with the sun setting in the background.  What an incredible view!  I couldn’t help but tear up as it finally hit me that I am actually here in the Holy Land.  I am literally living where the Savior lived during His mortal ministry.  What an amazing place with such incredible history!  

Thursday we split up into smaller groups for a walking tour of the Old City.  Along the way different street vendors who apparently are really good to BYU students got our attention by calling out “LDS” and “BYU” to give us their business card and to tell us to come check out their shop.  We also got to try our first fresh bread from the city with hyssop (spice) to put on it.  So yummy!  I also learned that I am very directionally challenged.  The whole time we were walking up and down little market streets and through different gates I found myself not having any idea where we were.  Haha good thing we had a guide!  I never considered myself directionally challenged until now but hey sometimes you just have to get yourself lost before you can find your way.  I think that is going to be my philosophy of the summer when it comes to navigation.  Thank goodness we aren’t allowed to drive though…they are a little honk crazy over here and I would definitely get honked at the whole time I was driving.  

Friday night we went to the Western Wall.  This is the last remaining part of the wall that surrounded Herod’s temple in his day.  The Jews believe that the wall is the closest to God that they can get.  They go to the wall every Friday night to welcome in the Sabbath (which is Saturday here!).  So we were all able to go to the wall and worship with them which was incredible!  The men worship on one side and the women are on the other.  As part of their worship they write down prayers and stick them in the wall.  Even though I didn’t write down my prayer I was able to go and touch the wall and say a little personal prayer which was actually a really neat experience.  It helped open my eyes to their culture.  That was definitely the more spiritual side of welcoming in the Sabbath but there was also a group of younger girls who were doing dances and chants and singing.  We joined in with them too which was fun.  It made me reflect on the way that I welcome in the Sabbath.  These people were so excited and happy to welcome in the Sabbath and sometimes that is just not the way I feel about the Sabbath especially on Fast Sundays.  It was a blessing to be able to have my eyes open to welcoming in the Sabbath joyfully right before Fast Sunday today.  

Today after church we walked down to the Garden of Gethsemane. I was kind of taken back that such a sacred place would be right in the middle of a busy city with tons of traffic but as soon as I walked into the gated area I felt a spirit of peace even with all the horns honking around me.  It was amazing to think that some of the trees in the garden stood as witnesses of Christ’s atonement.  As I sat there the song “Gethsemane” came to mind with the words: “Gethsemane.
Jesus loves me so he gives His gift to me from Gethsemane"

I am so grateful for my Savior.  It is hard for me to wrap my mind around His infinite love for not only His brothers and sisters but for me personally.  How amazing is it to know that we are truly never alone!

Well there’s the quick update on everything that has happened so far!  Here’s a fun random list of things that I have learned about since living here:

-You can hear the call to prayer no matter where you are in the city especially at 4:20 in the morning, during dinner and at night around 9:00.

-It is said that cars honk so much here to communicate with other drivers.  If you ask me I would lean more towards the frustration end of it but hey bottom line is honking is accepted around here.

-The toilets have a #1 or #2 option for flushing.  Plus it is also a good idea to carry toilet paper around with you outside of the center because it isn’t always supplied. BTW I haven’t learned that from experience…yet…but my Old Testament professor strongly encouraged the carrying of toilet paper always.

-It is common for cars driving by and locals to honk, whistle, cat call, yell, etc at white girls like me ;)  Don’t worry I just ignore it! Plus since I’m a girl I always have to have at least 2 guys with me so I pretty much have my own personal body guards at all times.

-Speaking of body guards…the Center’s security is awesome!  They literally are watching out after us like always.  For example last night when all 84 of us were walking to the Western Wall they kept popping up in cars as they drove past us or on foot to make sure we all stayed safe.  They are wonderful men!

-Stray cats set off the security sensors at the Center and then make their home at the cafeteria since we all eat outside.

I’ll keep you updated on more fun facts about living here.  It truly is just so amazing to be here.  I love it and I love you all lots!    

View from my room patio of the Old City at sunset

Gethsemane

Old City from my room patio