Happy Ramblings

“…[this] Holy City in all the Holy Land…you are under obligation to never, ever, ever be the same again after this experience. If you leave here and go back to be what you were before, you are a disappointment.”
[Jeffrey R Holland, 24 Oct 2009 at the Jerusalem Center]

(Just thought i'd add a quote to go along with my new Mt. of Olives themed blog...)

I think that it's easy to compare yourself to other people....but it's a lot harder to look quantitatively at what you were like two and a half months ago and how you are now. That's how I feel. Being here at Jerusalem has been life-changing and an incredible experience.


MISCELLANEOUS
I just thought i'd take some time to post some things.....while I got pictures for Galilee from other people, wrote a good blog post, and settled my thoughts....this will tide you over.

Home Sweet Home.....it took me forever to take a picture next to this sign.


a series of pictures documenting Mike and I's cultural experience eating a dessert called "knafeh" google it...i liked it.


eh? eh!? clever, right?


Some fish from Eilat, where I went snorkeling.


I stole them from someone with an underwater camera.


So earlier we had visited the church of St John the Baptist and met with the Priest in charge of it. He was a really cool old guy that looked like Dumbledore named Theophanes. We chatted for an hour as he told us about the church. As we left he invited us to come back after dark to see what the church looked like with nothing but the oil lamps lighting it. (its a Greek Orthodox church by the way) So we gathered 18 people (including our professors) and drove out there to spend a good hour wandering around the darkened yet enchanting church. Theophanes told all kinds of cool stories and explained a bunch of the traditions the paintings were based on. He even let us sing “Lead kindly light” It was awesome to be in the old city after dark. It was so different yet didn’t feel creepy.

although....this picture is awesome because everyone looks like a ghost.


Every Friday, the day before Sabbath, the Orthodox Jews get fresh flowers to celebrate. :) I want sabbath flowers....


Poor Palestine.....it just keeps getting smaller.


"O Little Town of Bethlehem"


This wall goes all the way around the city with only one entrance and exit, called the checkpoint.


the smallest cat i have ever seen.


Some IDF soldiers....guaranteed to be found on every street in the Old City.


I love hummus.....especially seven different kinds at once.


I CANT BELIEVE I ONLY HAVE TWENTY-FIVE DAYS LEFT!

NO TIME!