Jerusalem...if I forget you

How do I begin to describe all that happened? How do I look back and express my grateful heart? Jerusalem has changed everything about me. Its changed everything about my heart and life.  I will never forget all that this beautiful place did for me. It brought peace into my life. I found joy and love through this gospel and the Lord. Each day was a new adventure and an incredible experience. It was definitely never boring. I miss Jerusalem more than i could possibly ever say but I know I will never forget everything I learned.  Jerusalem I will never forget you. I am eternally indebted to you. 

The Fall Catalog

Throughout the past couple weeks....Neil Reed and I took on part time modeling. We just wanted to prove our overwhelmingly stylish Jerusalem styles could change lives. So we embarked on the quest to take the perfect shots and make the spectacular faces. The following pictures show our success. 

Rain=Jerusalem Mourning our Departure

Today was our last field trip day (second day of Jesus' life)...CRAZY! But of course....it was pouring! The wind was blowing and it was freezing! So everyone bundled up in as many layers as they could and some even made make shift rain jackets out of plastic bags...We all congregated at the bottom to leave when they announced...field trip was canceled. At first a lot of us were upset, but then we figured we could do everything at our own pace so we set out and did the field trip all by ourselves. 

Catie and I bundled up! :) 

Emily and I at Gethsemane 

We went to an Ethiopian Monastery where this man showed us this beautiful old book and took us up on the roof for an amazing view. Sometimes great things happen when you go in random doors

Alieseea and I on the roof! 

We also went on the roof on top of the Church of the Holy Sepluchre. It was amazing! Just a lot of roof tops today! 

The end of the day ended in the Garden Tomb where we had an incredible testimony meeting. I loved each moment and even though we were wet and cold the spirit was strong and over whelming. I am grateful again and again for the Lord giving me these people in my life. 

Kissin Camels

This week we have two field trips that lead us through the week of Jesus' life. 

We started off in Bethany where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. This was the catalyst that lead to Jesus' death. 

Raising the dead (zombie!)

I was kissed by a camel!!!!

Bethage. This is where the triumphal entry began

Pater Noster- Where Christ taught the Lord's prayer.

Lord's Prayer in spanish! In a few short months I will know what this is saying! 

Mikel and I with our beautiful Jerusalem! 

Caitie and I at Dominus Flevit-Where Christ wept over Jerusalem

It was freezing so my lovely friends kept me warm! 

Kenz and I in the room of the Last Supper

Finally our last stop was Dormition abbey! We sang Christmas songs.

Back at the JC...I went through the wonderful task...of THROWING AWAY MY TEXT BOOKS!!! WHOOOOOTTTTTT!!!!!!! I survived the hardest semester of my life :) 

Sunshine in Jeru :)

Last Free day in Jerusalem! :) Oh...wow...I still cant believe that within the week I will be back  in the USA. The day became at 6 in the morning and then I spent the day with Sara, Jacob, Liz and Elisha. We explored the city and did a couple things I haven't done yet. I love this beautiful city so much! :) 

In the morning I got to get up early to go to the Church of the Holy Sepluchre. We watched the Sunday mass. Above is the spot where they believe his cross was. Below is considered the spot where his tomb was and he was resurrected. 

Next we walked around on the roofs for awhile and I saw these cute kiddies on trikes. 

The rest of the day was random...of course we had to stop at HOLY BAGEL :) (the holiest bagel in the holy land) 

Next we went to the Ramparts walk! :) This is where we can walk around the old city on the outer wall. There is an amazing view in every direction..but there are a lot of stairs.

Liz and I at the Western Wall

We stopped at Aladdins the Money Changer for the last time and of course I had to post a note on the wall! 

Falafel! I finally had some...soooo yummy! 

Last Sabbath

I can't believe that time has flown so quickly...This is the last Sabbath on a Saturday. This whole experience has seemed to fly by. The Sabbath days have been my absolute favorites and I think this was one of my favorites. 

We had our last view of the old city during sacrament. It was amazing to see this incredible view each day. 

After Sacrament meeting we went to Gethsemane for some study time

This is what I get to see every day! 

My lovely home..

At night we had the Upper Room experience where we learned about the Last Supper and read scriptures from it. This table behind me and Ellen is the way the table most likely would have been set up. 

I am so grateful for Sabbaths. I love life and peace in my heart that I have found here. 

Via Dolorosa "Way of Sorrows"

In Jerusalem, the city where Christ walked there is a very famous pilgrimage walk. This is called the Via Dolorosa. People from all over the world can come to Jerusalem and walk the "way of sorrow" as they follow the path that Christ may have traveled on his way to the cross. On Friday I went with a couple friends to follow the monks through this walk. At each station they read what occurred there. Huge crowds followed the line of monks throughout the streets of the old city. There were 14 stations with the final four in the church of the Holy Sepulchre. It was a nice way to spend a friday afternoon. 

outside the first station 

 The line of monks 

 These are the monks reciting information about each stop. They had it in three different languages

 Final stop...where they believe the cross was. 

All the stops were numbered with little signs like this...