Hand prints, artifacts, and 20 shekels

Stations of the Cross was an interesting experience. There are fourteen different places where St. Helena said that Christ carried his cross along his walk to Golgotha. It is interesting because there isn't any historical evidence or references in the Bible to confirm that it's true, but it is still a possibility. Different things supposedly happened at each place such as him falling down, the place where he was condemned, a lady gave him a cloth to wipe his face, and the gate that he walked through.

This is where Jesus saw his mother Mary

It's said that Christ put his hand here at this spot

This was place where they believe Christ's cross was placed, and where his blood dripped down into the ground

I don't know if those events actually happened, but what I do know is that it is a long walk to carry a heavy cross after just being whipped. I gained even more appreciation for Christ and all that he has done for me.

Tel Arad was my favorite spot on our field trip excursion this week.  It is the ruins of an old Jewish temple.  We are one of the first groups that has been able to visit this sight. The most amazing part was the Holy of Hollies.  It was their sacred place where men could commune with God. I loved being able to see the structure of the temple from so long ago.   

Holy of Hollies

I learned that I should probably appreciate archaeology a little more because one of my favorite parts was the view... but the temple was honestly incredible too.

It's hard to see, but the landscape was amazing and stretched out for forever

We also went to a Bedouin weaving center that's for the empowerment of women.  All of the money received from the purchases of the things made there go to the education of the girls in their community.  It was so cool!  This young teenage girl gave us a tour of the center.  She showed us the process of making the wool and how to weave it.  She talked about their culture and her daily life in the community.  I was so impressed with her love of learning and her desire to do whatever it took to obtain a good education. It made me appreciate my own education even more.

 This is a tent outside where they gave make the wool and weave

Free day!  We went to the Israel museum.  We are taking an Ancient and Near Eastern class and it was so cool to see so many of the artifacts we had studied in the museum. There was a huge model of what the city of Jerusalem would have looked like during the 2nd Temple Period.  

Scale model

Cool sculpture that made us look... beautiful...

I am not sure what the significance is, but it was bright... So I liked it!

Then we went to a park.  For 20 shekels.  To see a few flowers and a pond.  And catfish.  We're not going back.  But it was cool.  I guess. :)

Shabbat Shalom!

Here in the holy land, the Sabbath is observed on Saturday.  That is definitely an adjustment.  What I have learned though is that it doesn’t matter what day you choose to worship God, the point is that you set aside one day a week that is completely dedicated to Him. 

Me and my roommates after church!

Shabbat Shalom, as we learned in Hebrew class, means peaceful Sabbath.  We had the opportunity to go to the Western Wall on Friday night to see the Jews welcome in the Sabbath through their prayers and their music.  At the wall you are separated into two different sides according to your gender.  We stood next to the wall waiting for our turn to go up and put our own folded prayers into the cracks.  I was amazed at how strongly I felt the spirit as I watched these women who were so devoted to their faith pour out their hearts to God.  Many rocked back and forth reading their prayers while others leaned their heads against the wall and just prayed silently.  Even the little girls came to pray.  This is a sacred ritual for all of them and many came away crying.  Even though they do not pray in the exact same way that I do, I could relate to them.  I know that the Lord hears all of their prayers.  I know that He loves them for their devotion and dedication to Him.  I loved seeing all of the notes crammed into every crack in the wall.  It was fun to be able to add my own prayer.  

Now for the fun part!  After we put our notes in the wall, we went further back to see what else was happening.  There was a group of teenage girls dancing and singing happy songs to celebrate the Sabbath that would start at sunset.  Some of them noticed that we were watching and came and talked to us.  We told them that we had just learned in our Hebrew class a song called “Hayveynu Shalom Aleichem.”  They got so excited and told us that they would sing that song if we joined them.  So there we were… six American girls… dancing and singing at the top of our lungs “Haybeynu Shalom Aleichem,” with about 30 teenage Jewish girls.  It was SO FUN!  Honestly, it was one of the highlights of the trip so far.  They were all so sweet and welcoming.  We felt like we were a part of them.  It is an experience that I will never forget!  

The next day, after church, we went to the Garden Tomb.  This is one of the spots that I had most looked forward to seeing.  You leave the busy crowds of people and enter this quiet lane that leads you to the entrance of the Garden. We had already been to a lot of incredible ancient sites, mosques, synagogues, and many other amazing things, but there is just a different feeling at the Garden Tomb.  I walked in and I felt a peace and a spirit that was unlike most of the other places I had been.  As chliche as it may sound, I felt at home.   

  

It is beautiful there.  I just felt happy!  There is a lot of green, which is unusual in Israel.  The whole garden is filled with flowers, big trees, and stone pathways.  We had a British, Catholic tour guide who told the history of the how the tomb was found and identified as the possible tomb of Jesus Christ.  He ended by sharing his own testimony about the Savior and how although he personally believed that Christ was buried there, what was more important was that he believed that Christ rose from the grave on the third day.  I loved that he put the emphasis on that.  Yes, it is true that Christ died for us, but he was resurrected so that we could one day be resurrected too.  I know that is true.  He lives!  I am so grateful for my Savior and for all that has done for me. I know that he loves me and I love him.  He is my Redeemer, my rock, my older brother, and my friend.  

"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

-Matthew 28:6  

12 Days

I have now officially been the city of Jerusalem for 12 days!  I can't believe it.  Time has been flying.  I already love the smells, foods, street vendors,incredible views, and all the people I am surrounded with here in the center and the city. We got to the Center at 8 p.m. after traveling for 24 hours.  Needless to say, we were all exhausted.  But we walked into the Jerusalem center and one of the sisters was playing church hymns on the organ.  You could immediately feel the spirit so strongly.  We sat down in this huge auditorium.  The Center director welcomed us and then pulled back these curtains that revealed the whole city of Jerusalem lit up in the darkness.  Honestly, it was the most incredible feeling.  We all sat there in awe as we stared at this beautiful city.  

The first few days are kind of a blur. I have never experienced jet lag before... and let me tell you... it is a real thing.  We had A LOT of orientation meetings and classes the first couple days.  In all of these, everyone fell asleep multiple times. BUT... after two weeks, we are finally starting to get over it. 

Our first adventure in the city was the Dome of the Rock! 

It is the most incredible place. It is part of the Temple Mount, right by the Western Wall.  It is so interesting to walk from the wall and enter these security gates where soldiers are patrolling.  You walk in and Muslim people are gathering and praying at the Al'Aqsa Mosque, just south of the Dome of the Rock.  The Temple Mount is a very coveted spot.  The Jews believe that they will one day own that land and rebuild their temple. It seems like an impossible dream, but they are sure that it will one day happen.  The Temple Mount is a very sacred spot to the Muslims.  Those of us who had short sleeves wore scarves to show respect and were careful to not to stand out as the stereo-typical loud Americans.  I loved being there and seeing the respect and love that the people had for their temple.

  

Enjoying the scarf/shawl look

I LOVED this place!

We also went to a synagogue!

Our first field trip we went to five different places all around the edges of Jerusalem.  But I will just highlight my two favorites.  We heard stories of how they were created, who owned them and what time period they were built in. We became more oriented with the city because all of them involved some type of overlook. 

We climbed to the very top of the Augusta Victoria Lutheran church which was built Kaiser Wilhem in 1907, and named after his wife.  It overlooks the whole city.  222 stairs. But whose counting.

View from the top

This is from the lower level of the church where they come to worship.

My very favorite spot though was the Bethlehem overlook. Bethlehem is in the West Bank which is owned by Palestine. People have to get special permission to cross over the border into that area.  We get to go later in the semester but we hiked up this hill to overlook the city.  As I stood on top of this hill with Jerusalem behind me and Bethlehem in front, it hit me that I am HERE.  I was looking at the place where Christ was born.  I looked back at Jerusalem, the place where Christ lived his life and suffered and died for us.  It was such a cool experience for me.  It's one of those moments that I will never forget.

I loved that there was a herd of sheep and their shepherd on top of the hill with us.  It seemed so symbolic.

I am excited to go back!