We're Fine

So I know that a lot has been circulating about stuff happening here, so I would just like to give the facts about what happened last night.
The group I was with had just arrived back at the JC from Ein Karem, a town West of Jeru.  It was probably around 4:30 p.m.  I was just sitting in my room talking to my roommate Alta when after a little while we suddenly heard a loud siren coming from outside.  Then next thing we knew, Bro. Judd called down the hall for us to get to the bomb shelters.  This was precautionary; if an air-raid siren sounds in the city, everyone is supposed to get to a shelter as soon as possible.  About half of the JC students were in the 2nd floor shelter that I went to - the rest went to the shelter on the 6th floor.  We all were just pretty surprised by what was going on, just confused.  After about 20 minutes of sitting and talking and taking a count of who was present, security told us we were free to leave but to meet in the forum to discuss what was going on.  Bro. Kearl informed us that a couple rockets (not bombs) had been fired from Gaza, aimed at the Knesset, but hit south of Bethlehem in some open fields - about 12 miles south of Jerusalem.  He also informed us that it was understood that those were the last rockets to be fired, and we should not expect anything else beyond that.  I never felt unsafe.  I mostly just knew we would be alright because I had prayed and fasted before I came that everything would be fine, but even so I really felt calm and understood that none of the students were ever in harms way.
It was a pretty exciting night!  After the bomb shelter ordeal, we all went to JC Prom!  We all dressed up and went to dinner together as "dates" and had a dance afterward, even with royalty announced.  (Dr. Bench and his wife, here as a service couple, won Prom King and Queen.  It was adorable.)
Anyway, it was a crazy night, but we all are perfectly fine.  Honestly, it wasn't even as exciting as some of the news articles we've read have been making it out to be.  I miss you all!

(I'll attach some pictures from PROM as soon as I get them on my computer!  Until then, enjoy this photo of the Jerusalem sunset :))

PETRAPETRAPETRA

So I haven’t blogged in approx. 37 years, Sorry!  But I finally have some time to catch up a little bit.  Last week we went to Jordan!  It was awesome.  We are pretty close so we just drove there on the buses.  We crossed the River Jordan and into the other side of the desert.  It was actually pretty beautiful – all tan sand on the bottom against the bright blue sky, with the setting sun and the rising moon all visible at the same time.   Pretty breathtaking.  Our tour guide, Yusuf (the chemist in Inception) explained how much the people of Jordan love their king, King Abdullah (that's him up there).  His pictures are everywhere!  Every shop and place has a photo of him or him and his family, its pretty interesting.  I was talking to my friend Annie about it, though, and it is actually pretty refreshing to be in a country where seemingly everyone loves their leadership, loves their country, and is happy with the way it is run. 

We first went to Mt. Nebo, with a view of Moab, Edom, the Jordan Valley.  I continue to find the Judean Wilderness beautiful!  Then to Madaba, where there is a really cool old mosaic of the city of Jerusalem.  Then we went to Machaerus!  Machaerus is a fortress where John the Baptist was beheaded.  It looked like a big hill/small mountain, all sand and desert around, with some great ruins on top.  I was so happy to hike up to the top, I miss hiking.  After taking plenty of really interesting pictures, we went to our hotel for the night.  The next morning, we went to my favorite place I’ve ever been: PETRA.  I’m really not exaggerating when I tell you that I fulfilled a childhood dream last week.  We walked right from the hotel, down the long stretch of desert and already could see Nabataean carvings and buildings in the red rock faces.  We reached the entrance to the canyon, and I literally felt my heart beat faster.  Walking through the canyon, it looked very similar to one in southern Utah.  Except for the ancient images and symbols carved into the sides.  Yusuf kept stopping us to show us this or tell us that, so I was going crazy and trying to just stay at the front of the group.  At our last stop in the canyon I was pacing back and forth in front when my friend Cal gestured to me to turn around.  I whipped my head back and saw the Treasury glowing through the slit in the canyon!  (The Treasury is the building from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the most recognizable structure at Petra.)  I think he got a picture of my expression immediately after this realization, I’ll post it later!  We all walked out and got our first glimpse of the Treasury.  

It is a tomb that holds the Nabataean King Aretas IV.  It is breathtaking in person.  I could not really fathom that I was there.  Amazing.  After one more stop with Yusuf, he set us free to explore.   Petra is HUGE!   The Treasury is just the beginning.  We walked to the right down another wider stretch of canyon and into a valley of red rock, with tombs and structures carved all along the walls.  We first went to the Monastery.  It is a hike up to it between a couple cliffs at the far side of Petra, opposite to the Treasury, which I loved.  We passed a few Bedouin women selling necklaces and drinks on the way up.  It was beautiful hike up, but I didn’t expect to be as blown away as I was by the Monastery.  Coming out of the crevice from the hike up, I immediately looked to my right and saw a lot of my peers struggling into a big hole in the rock to take pictures.  I obviously ran over to join them, but then realized what the hole was.  It was the entrance to another building carved out of stone, only even bigger and, in my opinion, more beautiful than the Treasury.  

Its magnificent size and detailed carvings just make up stand there, taking it in for a moment.  It was beautiful.  The best part about the Monastery is that it lies up the mountain, in a big open area near the tops of the desert mountains, with plenty of hiking and exploring and few Bedouin merchants around.  I could have spent days there.  We climbed up to the top of a small peak across from the Monastery, and it was one of the most beautiful views I had ever seen.  

We made a cairn at the top, and just took in the beautiful view for a while.  Then we moved back down from the Monastery, and saw the rest of the carved tombs throughout Petra.  

When we reached the Treasury once again before we left, I rode a camel.  It was AWESOME!

It was just amazing.  The highlight of Jordan, and probably my favorite field trip from the entire semester.  If you have the opportunity, GO!  

Shephelah Field Trip Photogs

Just some dead royalty in the tombs of Lachish

Slinging stones in the valley of Elah! 

This was the coolest thing; we were literally in the valley where David slayed Goliath! 

(I was very focused, I wanted to beat Adam - the kid next to me wearing the Perry the Platypus shirt.  He's Professor Schade's awesome son.)

We turned into Zombies.  (We got better.)

Cal in front of the valley of Elah!

Elisha, Kenz and I in the bell caves!  So beautiful

General Conference

I can't post anything else until I've reflected on General Conference.
(Even though I was positive I would not spot anyone in the audience, I still looked for everyone I knew in the Conference Center)

I love General Conference.  It is like a new personal oath every six months to be a little better.  I was talking with some friends here, and we were contemplating how we've grown in the past, both before and after we came to the JC.  Having learned much more about other religions, our faith in Christ and the gospel has only been strengthened.  What sets the church apart is modern-day revelation.  We have the gift of a prophet, and the apostles and leaders of the church are all inspired to lead us.

The first big thing at conference, obviously, was President Monson announcing that young men may now serve missions at age 18, young women at age 19.  We didn't hear the "audible gasp" in the Conference Center very well because we all gasped, too.  There are many girls here who were either thinking about missions before or knew they were going, just waiting another 2 years until they could.  But that statement literally changed a few lives, here.  I am so happy for the girls that have decided to go and serve.  My friend Mikele told me that she had been trying to make plans for this summer, but nothing felt right.  Then she got her answer!  The spirit was so strong when President Monson spoke.  Even though the new announcement didn't affect me very much personally, as I'm already 21, I knew that he was revealing inspired truth and instruction from the Lord.  I still can't tell you that I'm going to serve a mission, but I am so grateful that more have the option to go now.

I'm certain that announcement was hard to follow.  There were so many amazing talks and declarations from the brethren this weekend.  I know you all watched it and I don't need to summarize anything, but I received a lot of personal inspiration in hearing what they had to say.  The last few weeks, we have somehow been focusing a lot of personal growth.  Different speakers in church and our teachers have emphasized making changes and thinking of ways to improve.  Luckily, I listened.  Sometimes the inspiration I received in Conference had nothing to do with what the speaker was saying, but I felt prepared enough this time around to know that the Lord was telling me what I needed to hear.  I am grateful for the challenges my teachers and other students have given me, to make specific lists of what I need to improve upon and pray for spiritual gifts to become perfected.  I absolutely love the notion of progression, of change.  I have so much I need to change in myself, but I have hope that I can because of the Atonement.  We are not stagnant beings.  We have been given everything we need, sometimes all we need to do is use the tools we are given.  It's amazing what a simple but earnest prayer can accomplish.  The Lord is always willing to work with us.

One last thing: President Holland's talk was powerful.  That's the only way I can describe it.  I found myself literally leaning forward on the edge of my seat.  He is so close to Christ, he knows what he says is truth.  I am currently seeking to know and understand eternal truths, so this talk particularly moved me.  If you have not seen it yet, go watch it.  Then watch it again.  Then read it.

I love General Conference. (G. Con!)  It is a beautiful opportunity to sit and listen to prophets, seers, and revelators, and contemplate what Heavenly Father really wants us to hear now.  I personally heard an emphasis on service, missionary work, and families.  Funny how so many of the talks support one another, without the speakers planning to do so.

Lately

So since Turkey, despite my neglect of writing it down, I have had the opportunity to do some really amazing things.
On our field trip last week we visited Jericho!  The big stone fountain at the entrance reads "The Oldest City in the World."  Seeing these places that I have learned about my entire life still fascinate me.  They make the stories in the Old and New Testament seem so much more real and relatable.  We talk about gaining a testimony of the truthfulness of the scriptures, and I have gained one in the past necessarily without evidence, but seeing the places in person makes the stories seem so much more real.
My favorite part of the field trip was overlooking the Quruntul Monastery.  This location in the mountainous desert oversees the road to Jericho, the setting of the parable of The Good Samaritan.  Even though we know the parable was just that, a parable, Christ utilized stories that listeners at the time could understand and relate to.  Brother Schade had us each imagine the man traveling through the pass between the mountains, then left for dead.  It truly is the wilderness out there.  There is nothing but desert for miles, and the mountains flanking the road to Jericho block any sign of civilization.  I would have been hopeless.  That Monday mid-morning was hot and humid because of the recent rain, and I could only think how grateful I would have been to someone, anyone, who would show compassion on a fallen stranger.  We then, as a class, joined and sang "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief," appropriate for the setting.  I am so grateful for the service others have provided to me in the past, I have to pass it on.  Christ views it as not only service to others, but our way of showing our love and commitment to Him.
Even more amazing to me, the peak of one of those mountains on the road to Jericho is believed to be the Mount of Temptation (Matthew 4).  The desert, despite the heat and barrenness of it all, truly looked beautiful to me.  The contrasting golden sand and rock with the clear blue sky was just breathtaking, like it was meant to be a work of art just for us to enjoy.  Brother Schade let us sit, read, and ponder the words of Matthew, encompassing the temptation that Christ faced.  We considered the JST and how that clarifies the event, and then thought about the days leading up to the Atonement and Resurrection of Christ.  Everything happened for a wise purpose, all pointing to what needed to happen.  I am still in awe at being here, where so many of the stories I cherish come to life.  I know that Christ lived, and that He still lives.  I am so blessed to be having this experience.  I still don't think it has fully hit me that I am here in Jerusalem, and I have walked where Christ walked.

The latest field trip we went on, today, was to the City of David.  This city was anciently where King David (2 Samuel) built his kingdom (duh).  It is a smaller walled town built just south of the Old City of Jerusalem.  The ruins that remain there have been turned into a park where people can visit, like a museum.  There are old walls and structures all over the place that give archeologists a pretty good idea of where everything was and what it was used for.  We sure love to see ruins.  However, the best part of the whole city is Hezekiah's tunnel.  The tunnel was built under King Hezekiah (duh) to thwart the attacking Assyrians.  This tunnel, channeling water, is carved completely out of stone from the interior of the city to the ancient outer wall.  It only takes about a half an hour (tops) to walk/wade through the whole thing.  It is small and the water gets pretty high in some areas, but it is so fun!  The water is cold and everyone is ducking and following one another, and we got to wear our headlights!  (I'll be sure to attach a picture of myself, wearing all the nerdiest, touristy things I have.)  I think I loved it most because it feels like cave-exploring, even though there is only one path the whole way through.  But I also loved it because I really feel like I'm exploring with close friends.  I'm loving the people I am with, they are such examples.  And they are just really cool people, much cooler than me.  Living in the Jerusalem Center is the best.  Ever.  If you have the opportunity, PLEASE take it.

Last few Turkey pics

More ruins!

Kenzie :)

It was an ancient gymnasium, so we obviously had to work out there

After the call to prayer

Last boat ride!

Dallin and Kassie, first engaged couple!!!

Hagia Sophia, beautiful

Last meal in Turkey!  Good thing I like fish

Me and Allison in the most touristy Turkey pic we could get

I loved Turkey; the pictures can never convey the amazing things we saw.  One thing I wish I could have captured to share: the spirit of the people!  Seriously, if you can go, GO!

Assos!  My favorite place in Turkey

The view was beautiful at the top

Me and Amy :)

We love ruins!

Some handmade rugs in the village up to Assos

Old pillar at Pergamon

Ancient archways

Just like Hercules

Mary :)