Time to Spare

We only have two classes now and it leaves us all a lot more room so be able to go and see Jerusalem during the day. Our time here is running short, suddenly we have so much we need to see. Thankfully classes are lighter now so we have the time to go.

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4th of July in Israel!

I never knew that celebrating Independence Day in a foreign country could be so much fun. We had a barbecue with hamburgers which was a fun reminder of home and we also blasted american music all throughout the center which was enjoyable. We played all kinds of ridiculous games and even had a dance party. Its been a really enjoyable fourth of July, the people here make it all worth it. I have yet to meet someone who is not just an excellent human being. It makes for a really enjoyable time and a good, comfortable environment to learn and live in.
   Also a group of friends and I went back to visit the Sbitany family. They are such a pleasure to be around and its really fun to spend some time with the locals. They have the cutest little grandchildren and I love just spending time in a home with families again. All the history and politics to be learned here are incredible, but I think my relationships with the people are what is most valuable to me. (even being a history major ;)

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Whew, I can breath

Classes have slowed down so much, I'm so grateful for it too cause for a little while there I was worried I wouldn't make it through alive. But I'm so much stronger for all the work I put it, now the struggle is just to retain it as much as possible while I continue to learn. This place is like trying to get a drink from a firehose as they say. I don't mind, I'll soak it all in :)

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Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

I spent the day walking in the city where Christ my Savior was born. What an experience, there's nothing quite like it. 

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Bashir Paper DONE!!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAHHOOOOOOOOOO! This is a glorious day! At last my paper is done. Now I just pray that its everything I need it to be. Bashir's Palestine class was jolly, its just such a relief to have the work load finished. I am looking forward to this second half of the JC experience. I suspect it will involve the inside of a classroom a little less and the artifacts of history a little more. :D

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Simply A Good Day

I woke up this morning and my first thoughts were, "wow I'm so glad to be alive!" and "I'm content just to simply exist" :) Today has been such a simple Sabbath, I read books and went to the Garden Tomb, I enjoyed church tremendously and we had a lovely fireside. I am so grateful for a day of rest, I need them and love them so very much. Even though I don't have an action filled story to tell today I am as happy as ever. I'm pleased with where I've been, I'm loving where I am, and am really looking forward to where I'm headed.
  Here in Jerusalem I hear or see fireworks going off every day. I'm not entirely sure why they set them off so frequently, and initially I thought it was kind of anti-climatic. My perspective has changed recently however, because of the sweet and loving example of my kind roommate.
                     I want to be the kind of person that grins happily at every individual firework.

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Back from Jordan

     So its hard that some of the most exciting parts of my experience here aren't easily recorded on this blog. I had no idea how much of a luxury wifi is in other countries. I will never take internet for granted again. Well I will post pictures and stories from my field trips eventually, in the mean time I think it best that I don't fall behind in my promise to post every day. Today was the second day of my New Testament class and let me tell you I am SO excited for this class! I've been loving the Old Testament and I feel like I have a more solid foundation for other scriptures now, however to learn about the life of Christ is what drew me here in the first place and now I get to study it intensively. These next two weeks we're spending in the center and I'm excited to work really hard to learn every thing I possibly can in that time. After that we go to Galilee for about two weeks and then just a little over a week back in the center for finals and then I'm headed home. Wow, I can't decide if that's a forever long time or if its a terribly short time from now. Its good to be loving life where you are and yet looking forward to whats up next even more.
        Life is good.

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