wind, wind go away

Sometimes I wonder why I chose BYU-Idaho, in the land of Rexburg, where the wind is always blowing. My hair is always in my face, my nose is always cold, and my ears begin to ache. Then I remember all the things I love about this place, the people, the things I learn each day, the small town feel, and after all this is where I met Steele! I doubt anyone reads this blog since I am so terrible at posting, but to answer the question why do I go to BYU-Idaho? My reasons out weight the wind!

Me and Lisa swimming in Herod the Great's Pool

Yay!!! We all made it through our final exams! No better way to celebrate than going out to West Jerusalem for ice cream and playing in the park :) Left to Right: Celeste, Me, Emily, Faith, and Lawrence.

These are rounded stones discovered at the site of the Herodian that were used for defense if attacked. This is Lisa and Keri trying to pick them up, pretty heavy boulders!

Me and two beautiful girls, my professors daughters Lisa and Emily, on the top of the Herodian.

One of my favorite Sabbath activities. Singing hymns at the Garden Tomb.  Left to Right: Donovan, Lawrence, Kiya, Me, Faith, Michael, Audrian, & Neal

Catch up time!

Woah! Sorry it has taken me so long to get on here and share some more about my experience here in Jerusalem. It has been so amazing and jam packed with goodness that I can't seem to find a moment to write about it!
Well, I haven't written about Egypt yet. We happened to be in Egypt during the start of political riots. We were well protected and avoided all danger. We missed out on the Cairo Museum which I am a little disappointed in but our professors worked out a trip to the Bent and Red Pyramids along with the Valley Temple. There usually isn't much time for these sites, but since it was in a safe area our semester had an opportunity to experience it. I crossed many things of my bucket list such as seeing the pyramids, going inside a pyramid, riding a camel (So pleasant by the way! We went on an hour ride around sunset! So beautiful! Plus my camel driver kept letting me know that I was beautiful. Self esteem boost + Sunset on the Nile = Lots of smiles!!) going down the Nile in a sailboat, walking through the Karnak Temple (the most incredible structure I have ever seen!) but the climax of the entire trip was  hiking Mount Sinai. So I am going to take to time to try to explain what I learned and what I felt then. To begin I have to go back to the night before we hiked. After dinner that night we gathered with professor Mulehstein under the stars, it was such an incredibly clear sky. As we did so we discussed Moses 1. He taught something that will always stick with me. He pointed out that when Moses asked God both how and why he created mankind, God showed him somethign before He answered the question. He showed him all His other creations. All the worlds without number. And then He said "My work and my glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." There are two things that can be learned from this. One is that God is so powerful, yet He spends His time and energy on trying to bring us eternal life. And another is that why we are striving to be worthy to live in the presence of God one day we will need God's help to remain clean. We will make mistakes and we have so many imperfections, but if God can create worlds without number He can take a silly girl like me and help me really become something. The children of Israel often provoked God and the reasons He was angry with His children were because they didn't have the faith that God could do it. Whether it was lack of food, or water. The most tremendous case is when God invited the children of Israel to come up to Mount Sinai and meet God. They refused the offer because they feared that God would not be able to protect them from the power of His presence. How many times do all of us refuse a chance to come closer to our Heavenly Father because we fear that God can not remove our sins, thinking we are too far gone? Our Father in Heaven can and will if we come to Him with a sincere desire to change.
The next morning at 2 am we all woke up and got on the bus to the foot of the mountain. Then we began the hike. I kept stumbling along the path because I couldn't help, but stare at the stars every once in awhile. They shown SO bright. And I thought about what we had been taught the night before. If God has the power to create all this He has the power to take someone as foolish as me and help me be like Him. He has given me the tools to do so if I follow His words and His prophets and listen to the Spirit with a trusting heart. At the top of the mountain the wind was blowing hard! And it was cold since the sun was just barely beginning to peak over the horizon. I looked around and saw all the people I love here. We crowded together to keep each other warm and sang hymn after hymn. Isn't that what we should do for each other each and every day. When the outside weather was rough we wrapped our arms around each other and reminded each other what life is all about through words we sang. When the outside world pounds on each one of us at one time or another I hope that we can all gather around that individual and share words and deeds that will uplift.
Once we watched the sun rise the two Old Testament classes separated and walked to areas that were somewhat protected by the wind and warmed by the sun. We sat together as our professors taught us. Professor Muhlestein taught many things but there is one thing he said that I will never forget. As he discussed all those who saw or heard God on this beautiful mountain he said, "God will 'show' Himself in your lives as well, take the time to recognize it." As I sat and pondered how God had shown Himself in my life I was overwhelmed with all the miracles and love I have in my life. God is truely there and He loves me. I do not doubt that. He has had His loving hand in my life time and time again.
Well I finally finished this entry and now there is so much more I want to share! Sadly, it is going to have to wait awhile.  Shalom!

"I'm trying to be like Jesus"

Okay I know I said that was my last entry for awhile...but I have had such a fantastic Sabbath! I just have to share. It all began with sacrament meeting. The talks were all superb! One talk was about repentance and there was a statement made that "repentance is for those who are not yet perfect." Which is all of us. It made me realize that I need to be more repentant. I need to get on my knees and ask my Father in Heaven for forgiveness each day. The talk was ended with the song "I am trying to be like Jesus." I have decided that it is my favorite song. If I put that as my motto each day I can become what I want to become. It's amazing how the most profound things you'll learn are often what you learned in primary. I am so grateful to be serving in the primary. I learn so much each week from those sweet girls.
After church I spent the afternoon at the Garden Tomb with a few friends. We spent a majority of our time singing Hymns. As we stood in our small little circle there was such a strong spirit there. I could tell that others around us felt it as well as they began to stop to listen or take pictures. A man and his wife actually asked to join us for a few songs. Though we were of different faiths, we shared our belief in Christ and I felt like they were truly my brothers and sisters. Though I can not share my faith with others in this beautiful land I can share the light of my testimony through my actions. I am surrounded by peers with good hearts and powerful influence and I can feel them lifting me to be something more than I am. I love this gospel, that it brings people together in the quest of returning to our Heavenly Father. That God places people in our paths to help us reach our eternal goal. I am sure by now I am not making sense...but these are my thoughts. I know my Savior lives I know He is the Son of God. I am ever grateful for Him in volunteering to be our Savior and partaking of that bitter cup.

Service Project Extravaganza!

Today we stayed inside for the most part. We had two class that were two hours long each. I love it when Old Testament is a little longer! I always feel like there is so much more to talk about when it is only an hour. After classes the Hosting/Humanitarian Committee set up for the Humanitarian activity which was such a hit! I think almost all the students showed up and we made so many hygiene kits we are such a good team!

After words I had a movie party with the kids in the Center. We watch The Princess and the Frog together. We had a great time! Pillow fights, dancing, and piggy back rides! I love the close friendships that with have with our professors and their families. I taught little Sabrina how to wave like a princess she was SO adorable and was blowing kisses to everyone! 

Tomorrow is Sabbath and I'm looking forward to teaching my primary class about the birth of our Savior. The girls I teach are so smart I know I will learn more from them than I could possibly teach them. The exciting part is that for part of our lesson I get to point them in the direction of Bethlehem! I can't wait to go there myself soon. On Sunday I will be on my way to Egypt!! So I wont be writing again for a couple weeks. I will have a lot to write about when I get back!!! :)

A day out on the town!

Today's schedule allowed us to explore Jerusalem a little more. I have visited the Old City many a time but I finally got to know West Jerusalem. West Jerusalem is much more modernized and easy to navigate. The best part of the whole venture was the open air market which we had to rush through in order to arrive back in time for out 4 o'clock class. I will definitely be going back. I had a chance to used the very little of Hebrew I have learned in saying Ma Nishma? and responding Be'Seder when ask in return. Though there are SO many incredible sites here I think the most enjoyable portions of my trip so far have been talking with the locals, store keepers, people in the streets the people here are so friendly and inviting! In order to avoid the cost of taxis and the inconvience of the bus we walk EVERYWHERE! I can honestly say that I walk up hill both ways anywhere I go. This country is made of hills. Today I walked for over 5 hours straight and really worked up an appetite! We had the most amazing ice cream on Ben Yehuda Street! I don't think I will ever be satisfied with American ice cream again...they had Ferro Rocher flavored ice cream! Another announcement: I FINALLY found envelopes!! It can be really hard to find stuff when you can't read a lot of signs...Anyways I was really excited about that find today! Well this will have to be a short entry. I will write much more tomorrow, I just need to get crackin' on the school work :) Til tomorrow.

I have new inspiration!

I started this blog awhile ago. Wrote a couple silly entries. Didn't really tell anyone I had made a blog and quickly my efforts and enthusiasm died. Well guess what!? I now have inspiration! I am living in Jerusalem right now. The center of three major world religions. I still can't believe I am here. There is so much I want to record and share with family and friends and I am having a hard time getting it all down and to the people I want to share it with. I decided I am going to reboot this blog idea and use it as a way to share my experiences with everyone!
I have been here two weeks now. It feels like SO much longer, I am just so used to being here. I feel like so much happens in a day I don't know how to recap the last 14! So I am sorry but I am just going to start from the past couple days and move forward.
The subject that is forefront on my mind is all that I have learned about God through His dealing with the children of Israel. The Old Testament has always felt so foreign to me. Now, due to a wonderful Old Testament professor and corresponding classes that help me understand the history and culture better I have come to see that the Old Testament is a foundation for all the rest. The New Testament, The Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants all are beginning to have even more meaning added to them.
Some of the especially illuminating things I have learned lately concern the nature of God. I always felt a sort of contradiction between the God described in the Old Testament and the God described in modern revelation and in my own experience. I always saw God as a god of love and mercy. The God of the Old Testament seems so angry and even revengeful. This has always bothered me. I have come to understand this better. Brother Muhlestein (my Old Testament professor) pointed out that though we often focus on the mercy of God, He is also a god of justice. When we bring things upon ourselves He is sorrowful that the punishment must come. Moses chapter 7 is a great example of God's fatherly sadness in His children's poor choices. I also had a problem with God pushing all the other people out of the promised land for the Israelites. It felt so cruel, but a couple verses in the Book of Mormon clarify God's purposes (I am so grateful for continued revelation! It is beautiful to see how all God's teachings tie together creating a whole and perfect understanding.)  See 1 Nephi 17:32-35. God would not punish a people if they hadn't brought the punishment on themselves. God is loving and merciful but He is guided by the laws of justice. What a comfort that is.