TURKEY

So we are leaving for Turkey in approximately one hour. We will be there for a whole week...so exciting! That is all.

Babies

We were walking in the Old city the other day and came across these cute little guys! Boxes of baby dyed chicks....I wanted one so bad!

I want one!

Precious

A Day in the Desert

Our field trip this past week was basically through the deserts of Israel. It was way hot, and we got way sweaty, but it was so worth it. We went Beer-Sheba (a place where Abraham lived) and Avdat. We also visited a weaving place in Negev. The women in Negev are not allowed to work outside the home, so this weaving agency is a network that helps the ladies set up weaving in their own homes, and then sells their products for them. It is way cool because then these mothers who are earning money can help to support their daughters in their endeavors (such as going to university), whereas traditionally in the home the money went towards the boys. Here are some pictures from our trip.

Top of our hike

Cool stairway in the rock

First Falafel!

I had my first Falafel!! It is a favorite dish around here that consists of chickpeas made into a patty and deep fried, which is then put into a deliciously fresh pita and topped with various veggies and sauces. Yum!

Western Wall and SISTER BECK

Tonight we went to the Western Wall to watch  the people bring in the Sabbath. It was crazy how many people were there. The Western Wall is the last standing wall from the platform of Herod's Temple which was destroyed who knows how long ago. The people still use it as a synagogue, though, and is considered to be the only open air synagogue in the world. So on Friday nights everyone comes to the wall to bring in the Sabbath by writing prayers on a piece of paper and stuffing it into the cracks in the wall, reading scriptures, and singing Hebrew hymns. It was actually quite interesting to watch. The best part part was that there was a Mormon tour group from Utah there, who just happened to have Sister Julie B. Beck with them! So as everyone was waiting somewhat reverently to get their turn touching the wall, all of us girls were whispering and pointing at Sister Beck. Then we all went over got to meet/hug her . No big deal. Then we touched the Western Wall. It was a great night! We couldn't take pictures at the wall tonight because it was technically the start of their Sabbath, but here is a picture from when I went during the day a few days ago.

I am going to put a prayer in the wall before I leave. And by a prayer I mean I will probably put like three wishes or something and hope they come true through the magic of the wall. :)

We have only been here a week but I already feel like I have gotten to see so many cool things! We had our first "field trip" this past Monday and got to travel around to different lookout points to kind of orient us to the City of Jerusalem from a distance. Our religion professors are the ones that kind of lead the field trips, and it just amazes me how much they know about the bible. It's like they have dedicated their whole life to studying the gospel or something :p. In short, I have had amazing experiences so far and I am looking forward to more! I get to live here for the next three months! Here is just a sampling of the places that I seen thus far.

Group walking all the walls around the city

Me with the Old City in the background

Little door

The Augusta Victoria Tower and Church of the Ascensions. We sang "All Creatures of our God and King" in here and it was BEAUTIFUL! 

At the Cenotaph of Samuel. This place overlooked Gibeah...a city in the Bible that I didn't even know existed until now! 

So....this is really happening. I am in Jerusalem! I would love to expound on everything that has happened so far, but unfortunately I have reading I still need to do before class tomorrow. But seriously, the Jerusalem Center is unreal. Possibly the coolest building I have ever been in. Today we took a walking tour of the city. Also amazing. I am definitely going to love living here for the next three and a half months! Sadly, though, I don't know if I will be able to put any pictures on my blog. The internet here isn't quite as advanced as it is back home, so uploading pictures can clog the system, therefore it is forbidden to upload pictures. Oops. Maybe if I ever have time to go over to Heber University and use their internet I will post some pictures. But for now you will all just having to listen to me say how awesome this place is. More to come!