Cyrus the Great

            I have a new historical hero. Cyrus the Great by all appearances seems to be a pretty good guy. He was the king of the humongous Persian Empire and tons of power at his fingertips and yet he allowed the scattered religions to regroup after the terror of Babylonian rule and worship in “the place that makes them happy.” (hehe I like that translation J )In the Old Testament he is praised up and down for not only allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem but also funding the rebuilding of the temple. I’ve been doing some reading about a Persian cylinder found with a decree from Cyrus allowing peoples to return from their exile and also legitimizes his own rule. It’s likely that it was used for propaganda purposes and yet it seems to also have some measure of truth to it because the Jews were able to return to build their temple. I wish I could read a journal written by Cyrus the King of Persia, I wonder if I would find one of the first examples of benevolence alongside extreme wealth and corruption absent from ultimate power. 

LOOK! LOOK! I GOT A LETTER! Plus a picture of my Dustin! :D This has got to be the best letter I've ever read in my entire life.

Whoever that studly man is on my desktop could you please stop distracting me, I'm trying to do my homework ;)

The Upper Room

We're running out of days here in the actual city of Jerusalem, and we have been out every day this week trying to see everything and soak it all in!
    So this is a good time to tell how awesome Brother Harper is. He is just so passionate about teaching and is constantly doing just that. Not because of some puffed up ego or that he likes to hear himself speak, but because students are following him around all the time, asking him questions! Trying to glean from his reservoirs of knowledge and wisdom! I myself got to ask him some questions today and I really learned a lot by what he had to say, and have taken to heart challenges that he has given us, things I can apply in my life, especially as a mother.
    We were in a room which could very possibly be the place where the Savior initiated the Sacrament, and Brother Harper bore such powerful testimony of that sacred event that takes place each week. He warns us not to take it for granted as just a mere tradition and not to be followers of the letter of the law only, but to also understand the why we do it. I really like that.
    So I've learned lots, and not just seeing historical and sacred places, but gaining new perspective to the scriptures I have always loved. The more I learn the more I learn how much there is to learn, and feel like i know so little! But that's okay because that means there isn't a finite amount of information! We can always add to our knowledge and understanding! There's a wealth of truth out there, and I want to know it all!

...Oh, and...I learned how to tune a guitar today! :D

A traditional location for the Last Supper

The eye of the needle 

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The Temple Mount

Now its been done, I have finally walked upon the holy ground of the Temple Mount. So many people of such a variety of beliefs and backgrounds have regarded this ground as sacred since before the time of Abraham. That is something that I just can't entirely wrap my mind around. I thought that by going and standing in the places where sacred events occurred that I might understand them better, but actually I am just all the more perplexed as I realize that I know absolutely nothing about them. I just can't possibly comprehend the awe that these places deserve. I want to increase my learning of these places so that perhaps along the way my understanding may increase if even just a little. There is so much history and depth to the stones upon which we walk here. 

...46

a day in Jerusalem

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Jimmy's Breakfast

Jimmy is the owner of a local olive wood carving shop and he invites the JC students every semester over for a brunch. It was a lovely time, but hardly as lovely as the carvings he has. I'm not going to lie when it comes to a fallafel or a carving I'd take the wood any day. Too bad they all cost a million dollars otherwise I just might buy the whole store ;) There is a lot of talent out there, I'd love to be able to carve as the artists for the shop does, its simply beautiful.

...48

Suheil Sbitany's

We spent most of our afternoon over at the Sbitany's home. They invited us over for lunch and it was a lovely meal, I'm getting used to Arabic food, 'tis pretty tasty. Suheil showed us his daughters wedding videos which I thoroughly enjoyed. Not gonna lie I can't stop thinking about the topic of weddings and marriages so this was a very pleasant way to spend our time. However, sweetie, how would you feel if I brought home a two year old little Palestinian girl? Lilas here is the cutest little girl ever! She and I did all kinds of playing and teasing today and it was such a pleasure, I'm sure you'd love her ;) Although I'm not sure how her mom or grandparents would feel about her being so far away so I suppose I'll have to let her stay ;( There has been a lack of little kids in my life, the JC is packed full of really awesome and super amazing...adults (young or otherwise), but not many two year olds running around unfortunately. Well anyhow, I'm glad to have made some good friends with our neighbors, it certainly makes for a good time.

...49

Via Delarosa

Today I got to walk the stations of the cross. This is the way that Christians have found to memorialize the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. With a large group of people from all over the world we walked the streets of Jerusalem, stopping at fourteen different places where events may have happened, symbolically teaching us the reality and difficulty of Christs steps down these streets and to what purpose he suffered that pain. It was a beautiful experience to unite with so many different nationalities and people all in an effort to come closer to Christ and to understand his sacrifice for us a little more. There is just not quite another place on earth like unto Jerusalem.

Tomb of Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The Center of the Universe

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