Jericho

Two weeks ago we took a trip into the West Bank to visit... Jericho! The oldest (dating back to 8,000 B.C.) and lowest (1300 feet below sea level) city on earth. This city is 4,000 years older than the pyramids. The pyramids people! It was quite the experience and it was really hot down there below sea level. ;) I'm sure many of you know the old Biblical story where Isreal, under Joshua, surrounded the walls of Jericho and for 6 days and 7 times on the 7th day, 7 priests blew rams' horns and the walls fell down. Then Joshua took the city (go to Joshua 6 for a good read). According to archeological findings, not all of the wall fell, but enough to get through.

Prophets such as Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha all frequented this city. The most important person to pass through, however, was the Savior.
Great multitudes followed Jesus in Jericho (Matthew 20:29) and it was here that Zaccheus climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus who later dined with him and converted him (Luke 19). Jesus also cured a blind man named Bartimaeus as well as another man here (Matthew 4; Mark 10; Luke 18). Although seemingly desolate, there was a lot to learn there.


We also visited a few other sites in the area. Including King Herod's winter palace as well as the Mount of Temptation. Shortly after He was baptized, the Savior went into the wilderness and was there tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). We hiked up the mountain to the Greek Orthodox Quruntul Monastery where, according to Christian tradition, the alleged stone that Satan used when he tempted Jesus to turn the stone into bread is located.
Once inside the monastery we gathered in a cave (with bats flying around) while one of the professors talked to us about the temptation experience. The women in our group needed to be completely covered, including our heads, before entering in. I'm glad we took this trip in May and not July considering the heat and the shawls. ;)

Inside the Old City

So I've had a chance to get into the Old City of Jerusalem a few times in this first couple weeks that I've been here. I've been able to get a feel for the Old City and see some important sites. As they say, a picture is worth 1,000 words so I'm just going to include here a snapshot of some images that I've really liked inside the Old City Walls. For your viewing pleasure! ;)

*Chicks anyone? This is just outside of Damascus Gate

*A shot taken just inside of Lion's Gate

*Inside the largest and most crowded market place just inside Damascus Gate. This road leads up to the Temple Mount.

*Common door shot. This was on our way to the pools of Bethesda. Located on the Via Dolarosa

*Mmmm, spices!

*This is how they move carts around. This young boy is pushing it up ward, but notice the small tire attached. The steps in the streets are intermingled with tiny ramps and the tire is placed on the ground on which you ride while moving downward. All I can say is you better move out of the way quickly when it's coming!

*I love the textiles here!

*And I just had to add a shot of Genie Man.... ;)

*I love this picture. This is right around the corner from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. (We ran into this Australian guy who was traveling around - random detail). This spot was actually used as a hospital during the Crusades.

I heard the Bells...

The first Sunday that I was here a bunch of us bolted into the city and raced to see anything and everything we could. We climbed all over the Mount of Olives, walked along the Garden of Gethsemene and the Kidron Valley, walked on the walls surrounding the Old City and many other things. This place has such a unique feeling about it and there is so much to see! One thing that we did that first Sunday was to meet one of the faculty, Brother Whipple, at the YMCA tower to participate in ringing the bells for the noon hour. It was so much fun! Little did I know that I was surrounded by music majors and the like (which, if I had known, I would've shied away from attempting to play) when I decided to give playing the bells a try. I had never played bells before (there are these wooden handles that you strike which are laid out similar to a piano keyboard) but managed to pull out a duet of the hymn, "Did You Think to Pray?" A few of the other students played some hymns as well, including "Come, Come, Ye Saints" and "Redeemer of Israel" before the chimes for the noon hour needed to be rung. It was pretty fun to have our music played, ringing out for all to hear over the Old City. There are a lot of Church members who work in the U.S. Embassy just near to the tower and they always smile when they hear the students playing. How incredible to have the hymns of the Restoration sounded out in the Old City of Jerusalem. Here are a few pictures of the bells and the tower...

View

So after my first week here, I have to admit: I LOVE DOME OF THE ROCK! I was really not expecting it, and to be completely honest, was not a huge fan of the Dome of the Rock before, but it has become the subject of most of my pictures here. I think it is the landmark that most helps remind me where I am. The gold leaf plating was only added recently, in the late '90's, but still, it catches the eye. Here's just a couple views from the center - including my balcony - that I enjoy.

Disclaimer

I MADE IT! For those of you who know me, I'm not very good at writing people or expressing myself for that matter. So in a desperate attempt to keep up with people and share what I'm up to, I've resorted to blogging. I normally would not do this but due to the adventure that I am in the middle of now I feel it important and almost a responsibility for me to share it with others. I am spending about four months in BYU's Center for Near Eastern Studies in Jerusalem. I'll be touring the Holy City and surrounding sites including Egypt and Jordan. So this blog will be a collection of: random thoughts (I'm the queen of random), things I find hilarious (I'm easily entertained), historical lessons (I'm taking a ton of classes), and some spiritual or personal insights (I mean I am in the Holy Land). If you're interested, feel free to follow along and leave comments! Enjoy! :)