So, I realized I hadn't written anything in... a number of months? I decided before I go on my date today to try and catch things up.
First thing is first - school is going great. It's rather hectic with the various classes. I still think that my Music 301 class is pretty much pointless but am trying to ignore this fact. Although my Doctrine and Covenants class causes lack of sleep - I still love the class along with my teacher, Alonzo Gaskill. I finished one composition for my theory class and have only one remaining before the end of semester. I... have to pass out of my piano class because I relied too heavily on what little skill I have on the piano (bad idea!). Needless to say, my piano class is one of the most frustrating at the time. However, with all that said, classes are going well and I am sooooo happy that it hasn't snowed horribly yet because that means a few more days of great, enjoyable warmth.
Secondly, I have my reasons for not liking the snow at the moment because I don't get to enjoy it in any normal way. I broke my foot walking down stairs, no good fall, no good story, simply walking down the stairs, rolling my foot, and realizing after I heard a pop that I wasn't going to be able to walk this rolled foot pain off. Snow and ice are phobias currently, can only imagine what... amusement I could have trying to walk uphill with my booted foot and iffy balance with ice. Although I have nightmares for the day it snows and ices here in Utah, I have found great benefits to having a broken foot (yes, it actually broke - the 5th and possibly 4th metatarcel). The first is that I have a number of really cute boys thinking me a damsel in distress. Now, I have too much pride to concede to too many chivalrous acts but as for driving me to school, carrying my book bags when I was on crutches for the last two weeks (I am officially finally off crutches!), occassional piggy back rides up and down stairs where there are no elevators... quite the positive consequences to a broken foot! Oh, and I also received a temporary handicap parking pass on campus which is such a relief and dare I say, way to spoil myself?
Now that my health and school has been covered, the love life. Of course that's always something interesting. I found the key to excessively dating this past month. It takes a month in prepping the area but afterwards, two to three dates a weekend! Study in the library every night till midnight, work every other day, and of course be nice (as usual) to those you interact with daily in school. Now, the common man would think this would afford no social life. However, with this simple formula I was asked on FIVE dates! for this Friday (yesterday) and Saturday (today) night. Don't ask me how, I actually have no clue how I've been dating so much this semester. Truthfully, I've been avoiding trying to date and more focusing on things in school. Turns out I have a number of people who love me, think that I would get along great with another friend they love and so I've been set up on numerous first dates this semester. With all that said though, I commend my roommate (engaged) Jessi who definitely set me up with a keeper. He can be more shy and reserved in some social settings but is one of the funniest people that I can genuinely laugh WITH when he's in the zone. Of course he's tall, dark, and handsome. Well... he's not extremely tall and he's blonde... but he's handsome for sure, with a very dear smile (the smile is what gets me because it shows how much a person can laugh, how dear they can be, and how happy as an individual they really are). Bryce is pretty much amazing (texan!) and it's always fun to go out with him doing new things each time (but of course my favorite is the studying in the library j/k!). I do appreciate all the close friendships I've formed this semester though with my close family friend Nelson and a dear friend who happens to now be in my home stake, Jonathan.
With all that said, I am trying to no do too many stupid things (no worries, the triathlon I about signed up for, I decided to drop due to my sadly broken appendage). I'm eating my veggies (actually, spaghetti squash is really good and with a few other ingredients very tasty). I'm sleeping more than normal at least these past two weeks - I blame that one on my foot draining me of all energy but I don't think Dad or Mom really care what I blame getting more sleep on as long as I do. I'm saying my pleases and thank yous (especially to Heavenly Father for keeping me healthy, happy, and sane). I've been trying to think of ways to make this year of my life really memorable (not in a stupid sense) because of the example Tannon had become when he was 20 years old. After pondering and trying various things, I think I figured out that for me to make this year very impressionable on myself and others is by having a passion for people. I developed this while ini Jerusalem, I'm just learning how to slightly alter it to fit the area that I live in now and yet find so many rewarding benefits from it. I've had such great examples lately and from talking to some of them, they have been able to gain something from me as well. It's been stronglt iterated to me that no matter what we do, we affect those around us. If I sit on a bench and shake my foot, even if it is subconciously that I tap my foot, I affect those that sit next to me with my jitteriness. Even the smallest action has some form of reprecussive events on those around us. Life is really interesting and truly a puzzling wonder sometimes.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
beginning of school
it's been quite some time since I've written but I'm back now.
Fall Semester is looking as though it'll be rather interesting. I've gone from trying to add a beginning dance class as a nice blow-off class to not having any at all, in love to completely single and not finding feelings for anyone, being a very poor studier to working every night in the last week till midnight in the library on homework, and lastly I've gone from hardly ever singing in vocal practice to singing with pianists and on my own 6 hours a week.
It's been a wonderful, very fast first week of school. I decided to take 13.5 credits, 8 classes of music core as well as 2.0 credits of religion and what I was hoping would be a .5 credit of dance. Of course things never turn out the way we imagine them and with a little rearranging of my schedule after getting into my audition choir, I tried to get into DANCE 184 but unfortunately was turned away. However, this might be a wonderful idea because I would have been taking 16 credit hours, 10 classes (that's quite a large number of classes for me). I'm really excited for the classes that I am taking though because they are all looking to be very nice, invigorating, some rather simple and easy to get out of early, whereas others will be very difficult and time consuming.
My love life has been rather interesting in the past three weeks because I went to having a little bit of something with some people to nothing. I almost dated someone at the end of summer (Daniel) but found I should not hurt his feelings if I decided to date my best friend (Bryan) when he got off his mission at the beginning of fall semester. I found I did like the best friend missionary better, at one point was in love with him as well, but for one of the darndest reasons, don't love him anymore. With that said, we're still good friends and spend time together (I've told him that I don't like him like that and don't want to date - I am being honest with him). He currently plays the piano for me on a wonderful regular basis as well. I am going out on dates with another guy (Craig) that is very active (runs like a beast, hikes, road bikes, rock climbs - might type of outdoorsy) who just graduated and is looking into graduate school for next fall meanwhile preparing to take a group of interns to Uganda?. My last boy situation is the one that is the most wonderful. My friend Jonathon who I greatly respect and love to pieces is currently in the accounting junior core which equals habitation in Harold B. Lee. Both of us are fed up with our dating status/love lifes and don't want that type of stress anymore so we are "getting married" on a particular date in September. It makes me so happy to have such a great friend, no strings attached, that I'm able to care so much about (his health at least - getting 6.5 hours of sleep between 2 days isn't healthy!!!). He makes me laugh, he and his roommate Mike.
Jonathon helps me with this next part as well. Every night he lives in the library. So in order to be a very dedicated student versus the slacker that I normally am, I go and live there with him and his roommate as well in the fifth floor of the library (ie the Accounting floor). It makes me laugh and much much less stressed studying with such wonderful company, eventhouhg we're there til midnight most nights. Laughter is always a great cure to stress.
As for vocal practice - it's going wonderful. It's really a wonderful novel thought to practice. I've never really practiced and now that I'm averaging 6 hours a week, I'm memorizing and learning at such a rapid pace that my teacher was floored when I came to our second lesson having one song memorized and the second one (in German) with words learned but not yet memorized. I love being on top of everything - it makes the lack of sleep not nearly so bad in actuality.
This semester is going to be a great time to be here!
Fall Semester is looking as though it'll be rather interesting. I've gone from trying to add a beginning dance class as a nice blow-off class to not having any at all, in love to completely single and not finding feelings for anyone, being a very poor studier to working every night in the last week till midnight in the library on homework, and lastly I've gone from hardly ever singing in vocal practice to singing with pianists and on my own 6 hours a week.
It's been a wonderful, very fast first week of school. I decided to take 13.5 credits, 8 classes of music core as well as 2.0 credits of religion and what I was hoping would be a .5 credit of dance. Of course things never turn out the way we imagine them and with a little rearranging of my schedule after getting into my audition choir, I tried to get into DANCE 184 but unfortunately was turned away. However, this might be a wonderful idea because I would have been taking 16 credit hours, 10 classes (that's quite a large number of classes for me). I'm really excited for the classes that I am taking though because they are all looking to be very nice, invigorating, some rather simple and easy to get out of early, whereas others will be very difficult and time consuming.
My love life has been rather interesting in the past three weeks because I went to having a little bit of something with some people to nothing. I almost dated someone at the end of summer (Daniel) but found I should not hurt his feelings if I decided to date my best friend (Bryan) when he got off his mission at the beginning of fall semester. I found I did like the best friend missionary better, at one point was in love with him as well, but for one of the darndest reasons, don't love him anymore. With that said, we're still good friends and spend time together (I've told him that I don't like him like that and don't want to date - I am being honest with him). He currently plays the piano for me on a wonderful regular basis as well. I am going out on dates with another guy (Craig) that is very active (runs like a beast, hikes, road bikes, rock climbs - might type of outdoorsy) who just graduated and is looking into graduate school for next fall meanwhile preparing to take a group of interns to Uganda?. My last boy situation is the one that is the most wonderful. My friend Jonathon who I greatly respect and love to pieces is currently in the accounting junior core which equals habitation in Harold B. Lee. Both of us are fed up with our dating status/love lifes and don't want that type of stress anymore so we are "getting married" on a particular date in September. It makes me so happy to have such a great friend, no strings attached, that I'm able to care so much about (his health at least - getting 6.5 hours of sleep between 2 days isn't healthy!!!). He makes me laugh, he and his roommate Mike.
Jonathon helps me with this next part as well. Every night he lives in the library. So in order to be a very dedicated student versus the slacker that I normally am, I go and live there with him and his roommate as well in the fifth floor of the library (ie the Accounting floor). It makes me laugh and much much less stressed studying with such wonderful company, eventhouhg we're there til midnight most nights. Laughter is always a great cure to stress.
As for vocal practice - it's going wonderful. It's really a wonderful novel thought to practice. I've never really practiced and now that I'm averaging 6 hours a week, I'm memorizing and learning at such a rapid pace that my teacher was floored when I came to our second lesson having one song memorized and the second one (in German) with words learned but not yet memorized. I love being on top of everything - it makes the lack of sleep not nearly so bad in actuality.
This semester is going to be a great time to be here!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Love
Today, Tomorrow and time through each of our days, I believe we should each take a step closer into looking at what we have to offer this world in the ways of love. For scripture study tonight, we got into a very deep conversation about death, how to more fully, horizontally love and thoughts concerning this. Daniel Derricott left this page pulled up on my computer - http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-479-26,00.html - which I greatly appreciated. It's titled "The Women in Our Lives" and spoken by President Gordon B. Hinckley only about 6 months after his beloved wife passed away 'to eternity'. In bed reading this page, I am wondering why he might have put that on my computer, whether it were to give me more insight to how people have dealt with death and carried on or if it were to remind me that even though I may get down once in awhile, I am a precious gift from God. Either way, I appreciated reading this talk. It's been a while since I last read/listened to it.
Most of the thoughts for the night are rather personal but I will share a few that we discussed. We evolved the evening from discussion into a chapter reading/discussion base. Reading from
Moroni 7, we each took three versus in which any body with thoughts could at anytime interject. Thoughts that arose, that I'm willing to share are concerning charity. Charity never Faileth. a) you choose to have it, b) the atonement never faileth, c) it is treasure laid up in heaven, like a bank account that never decays and that we are continually being blessed from, and d) it's a lifestyle that will never end up wrong/bad/collapsing. In discussion we discussed concerning the Prophet George Albert Smith. He was asked by his great Grandfather in a vision what he had done with his name. How do we truly honor those people's names and lives that have moved on? I believe in what Jonathon Drysdale said that it's by doing those things that would make those people not here proud. We carry on their legacy, honor their name.
Scriptures that hit home in our discussion were in such order
Moroni 7:48
1 John 2:10
D&C 42: 45-46
Moroni 7:26
Moroni 7:39
Most of the thoughts for the night are rather personal but I will share a few that we discussed. We evolved the evening from discussion into a chapter reading/discussion base. Reading from
Moroni 7, we each took three versus in which any body with thoughts could at anytime interject. Thoughts that arose, that I'm willing to share are concerning charity. Charity never Faileth. a) you choose to have it, b) the atonement never faileth, c) it is treasure laid up in heaven, like a bank account that never decays and that we are continually being blessed from, and d) it's a lifestyle that will never end up wrong/bad/collapsing. In discussion we discussed concerning the Prophet George Albert Smith. He was asked by his great Grandfather in a vision what he had done with his name. How do we truly honor those people's names and lives that have moved on? I believe in what Jonathon Drysdale said that it's by doing those things that would make those people not here proud. We carry on their legacy, honor their name.Scriptures that hit home in our discussion were in such order
Moroni 7:48
1 John 2:10
D&C 42: 45-46
Moroni 7:26
Moroni 7:39
Saturday, July 12, 2008
So really, this week has been rather hectic and crazy with the many different things that have happened. Between work, dance, and my new ward, I've come to understand when some of my friends stare at me baffled and say [in awe] "She's got so much energy!". I've had two friends say that over the past month now - Mike Henderson, in Petra, while we were on some subject I was so very passionate about and Daniel Derricott one night this week in the apartment when I was just being me. Energy, I figure, is partially a mental thing. Trust me, I've tried the energy drinks and they really do squat for me except screw with my body's mellowing system (I can still fall asleep on them though). Energy is positive, mental energy one lives in. Really, it's so much easier when we don't complain about those spilled strawberry shakes of life. Now, for an explanation why energy and me shouldn't really be synonymous most of the time (regardless the fact that I'm resting my sore, weary feet on the coach arm as I type):
1) Work is awesome. Work is never steady hours both in duration nor in beginning of time. I applied for a new position in work and got it, started it, and have been working as the closer this past week for 3 of the 6 days out of the week. This means that I get to explore all the dark recesses I never knew catering had before. Also.... the pOwEr - muahhahahahaha... no, not really. I'm not all that power hungry but it's fun for effect. We get to eat awesome food which is a plus (and if the boys in my ward don't fatten me up this summer with all of our ice cream escapades then catering might do the job). I get to end with everything all neat and orderly clean which is a love love love of mine - all clean and orderly when I leave or go to bed (or at least preferably). But this means that on top of school (which I'm only going part-time right now but soon....), being a social butterfly, and regular shift hours, I know spend another 10 hours in closing (but don't get me wrong - this is great constant hours that I can have through fall as well. I love it because it means a small constant steady income). So, this affords no reprieve in life (but did I mention a pay raise?) to recoup energy but it's wonderful the same.
2) I love dance. Dance is a way to express yourself. It is a form of communication in which energy is given and taken between you, the dance, the floor, and your partner. It is a way to
constantly move and explore different muscles in the body not normally used. It's an art which can make a girl truly feel like a princess; an art that can look ultimately elegant, graceful, and fluid while simultaneously being rather fast-paced. I've begun dancing with a few people in my class late at night after my night class. With a little bit of music, a lot of medical tape, and a constantly running water fountain, we dance. Perfecting an art that is trying to be taught to us while thoroughly enjoying each other's company and the possibilities of friendships that can possibly arise. No, I am not ever resting due to dancing but I'm enjoying life to the brim, drinking to the lees!
3) Why do all summer wards just really seem to rock my socks off?! Truly my prayers have been answered. Not only am I living with wonderful roommates but with
people that I am beginning to love for their humor they're bringing into my life and their insights to how life can really be enjoyed. We watched My Fair Lady, Singing in the Rain, and the Sound of Music this past week along with playing games last Sunday night and a great scripture study. I respect those people so much and love them for their examples and friendships. Jonathon Drysdale, Dustin Briscoe, Daniel Derricott, Veronica Benavides, and Mary Linford (and today, Daniel's sister Sarah). There's more as well such as Ashley Burton, Kelly Steinbeigle, David Ross, and others. They really are a great social network. Really, if anybody were to ever know anybody amazing - it'd be these people right here.
1) Work is awesome. Work is never steady hours both in duration nor in beginning of time. I applied for a new position in work and got it, started it, and have been working as the closer this past week for 3 of the 6 days out of the week. This means that I get to explore all the dark recesses I never knew catering had before. Also.... the pOwEr - muahhahahahaha... no, not really. I'm not all that power hungry but it's fun for effect. We get to eat awesome food which is a plus (and if the boys in my ward don't fatten me up this summer with all of our ice cream escapades then catering might do the job). I get to end with everything all neat and orderly clean which is a love love love of mine - all clean and orderly when I leave or go to bed (or at least preferably). But this means that on top of school (which I'm only going part-time right now but soon....), being a social butterfly, and regular shift hours, I know spend another 10 hours in closing (but don't get me wrong - this is great constant hours that I can have through fall as well. I love it because it means a small constant steady income). So, this affords no reprieve in life (but did I mention a pay raise?) to recoup energy but it's wonderful the same.
2) I love dance. Dance is a way to express yourself. It is a form of communication in which energy is given and taken between you, the dance, the floor, and your partner. It is a way to
constantly move and explore different muscles in the body not normally used. It's an art which can make a girl truly feel like a princess; an art that can look ultimately elegant, graceful, and fluid while simultaneously being rather fast-paced. I've begun dancing with a few people in my class late at night after my night class. With a little bit of music, a lot of medical tape, and a constantly running water fountain, we dance. Perfecting an art that is trying to be taught to us while thoroughly enjoying each other's company and the possibilities of friendships that can possibly arise. No, I am not ever resting due to dancing but I'm enjoying life to the brim, drinking to the lees!3) Why do all summer wards just really seem to rock my socks off?! Truly my prayers have been answered. Not only am I living with wonderful roommates but with
people that I am beginning to love for their humor they're bringing into my life and their insights to how life can really be enjoyed. We watched My Fair Lady, Singing in the Rain, and the Sound of Music this past week along with playing games last Sunday night and a great scripture study. I respect those people so much and love them for their examples and friendships. Jonathon Drysdale, Dustin Briscoe, Daniel Derricott, Veronica Benavides, and Mary Linford (and today, Daniel's sister Sarah). There's more as well such as Ashley Burton, Kelly Steinbeigle, David Ross, and others. They really are a great social network. Really, if anybody were to ever know anybody amazing - it'd be these people right here.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
My Favorite Sites
Alright, so in my free time, which is becoming more and more limited with my lovely knack of scheduling and ordering things (I lOvE having full schedules!) I've found a few websites or videos that help me unwind after a long day of work/school. The first I found off of Google's "Reader" under photography.http://www.google.com/reader/view/?tab=cy#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A
%2F%2Fwww.durhamtownship.com%2Findex.rdf
The photographer in here has a wOnDeRfUl eye. In general it's very pleasant to view her photos (Greta would really enjoy looking at this site). Something about art has a relaxing and unwinding effect on me - which is the reason why I love looking at this photographer's photos.
A second website is on Google Video. This one is more for the memory factor from my Freshman summer but if you are bored and want to view something that will probably make you laugh at the hilarity of it, it's 8 mins long and exactly what the dorm-life experience should be for everyone. Go to:
video.google.com
and type in "BYU Budge 1100 Floor Summer '06" or any variation off of that (if you like Eiffel65's Blue song and interesting humor - you'll love this)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Bucket List
On a lighter note, this is my list of things to do before I die... some of which I've already done and some of which I don't know of yet and so I'll add them on as a continuous entry throughout this year (and they are in no particular order)
1. ride a camel
2. ride an elephant
3. sky dive
4. see the 'Wattoluempiade' Mudflat Olympic Games in Germany
5. become fluent in another language
6. ski the Alps
7. read 100 books from literary acclaimed authors (Faulkner, Austin, Dickens, Hemingway, Poe, Shaw, Kipling, Huxley, Woolf, Steinbeck)
8. Visit the major church history sites in Mormon Culture (Independence Missouri, Martin's Cove, Palmyra, the Holy Land, Adam-ondi-ahman, Armageddon)
9. Visit every temple in the US (along with as many outside the US as possible)
10. ride in a hot air balloon
11. ride in a 2-3 passenger airplane
12. compete in a duathalon
13. Swim in or travel over the "7 Seas" - Dead, Red, Galilee, Black, Caspian, Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, and Arabian and all the landlocked seas
14. Swim in the 6 landlocked seas - Aral Sea (Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan), Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan), Dead Sea (Israel/Jordan/West Bank), Sea of Galilee (Israel), Salton Sea (Cali), and Great Salt Lake (Utah)
15. swim with dolphins
16. Keep a journal for one complete year, in a consecutive fashion
17. Travel Europe with bare minimum for a month
18. rebuild a Peugeot 104 (1973 model?)
...
...
p.s. - this is a bit of a to-get-to-in-free-time list. Of course my marriage, hubby, chilluns' come first. Who you think I am? Some crazy bucket list hunter with no appreciation for the finer things in life (no not the caviar but those stinky diapers and as said on Alex and Emma - the laundry by myself)
1. ride a camel
2. ride an elephant
3. sky dive
4. see the 'Wattoluempiade' Mudflat Olympic Games in Germany
5. become fluent in another language
6. ski the Alps
7. read 100 books from literary acclaimed authors (Faulkner, Austin, Dickens, Hemingway, Poe, Shaw, Kipling, Huxley, Woolf, Steinbeck)
8. Visit the major church history sites in Mormon Culture (Independence Missouri, Martin's Cove, Palmyra, the Holy Land, Adam-ondi-ahman, Armageddon)
9. Visit every temple in the US (along with as many outside the US as possible)
10. ride in a hot air balloon
11. ride in a 2-3 passenger airplane
12. compete in a duathalon
13. Swim in or travel over the "7 Seas" - Dead, Red, Galilee, Black, Caspian, Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, and Arabian and all the landlocked seas
14. Swim in the 6 landlocked seas - Aral Sea (Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan), Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan), Dead Sea (Israel/Jordan/West Bank), Sea of Galilee (Israel), Salton Sea (Cali), and Great Salt Lake (Utah)
15. swim with dolphins
16. Keep a journal for one complete year, in a consecutive fashion
17. Travel Europe with bare minimum for a month
18. rebuild a Peugeot 104 (1973 model?)
...
...
p.s. - this is a bit of a to-get-to-in-free-time list. Of course my marriage, hubby, chilluns' come first. Who you think I am? Some crazy bucket list hunter with no appreciation for the finer things in life (no not the caviar but those stinky diapers and as said on Alex and Emma - the laundry by myself)
over time
I've been home for over a week now from Jerusalem. Some things are different and some things seem to always stay the same (such as the great taste of BlueBell Ice Cream and the underestimation of time, and muscle, to move into an apartment). I went rock climbing with
Chase Bowler and Veronica Benavides last night up Rock Canyon Park at
the Appendage on the 5.08, 5.09 there. It was there that we discovered
Veronica's rock woman instincts as she on her first real rock climb schooled both Chase aNd I, hands down. She was amazing... I think that I need to take more drill team classes/modern dance classes. I think that might be Veronica's secret... flexibility as well as a built up strength. Needless to say, I am once more excited to have friends that excel so quick at a passion of mine as well as share a portion of my passion- it means there's less time wasted on trying to convince them to join me in future escapades!
Chase said an interesting thing while we were climbing... Chase does that occasionally. He asked me a lot of similar questions as Dad - "how was it?" "How was Jerusalem?" and the final one "How was the spirit?". I thought for a while and responded with "well, for me it's hard for archaeological sites to hit home when they say 'this is so many years old, this is where Christ walked, Christ stepped on this stone most likely'. Being in Jerusalem wasn't a needed thing in order to build a testimony of Christ. However, it was neat because the spirit was present in a way to reaffirm what was already there for me. One doesn't need to travel to Holy Sites in order to know He lived". I really do believe this statement too. It was strongly emphasized in our religion class while there that just because we are visiting these sites, it d
oesn't mean that we should be growing in spirit. It should be through our study and our diligence to those things that can be done universally that makes our spirits sing at those sites. I don't know if Chase was simply humoring me or if it's similar to humility but he made a comment about a difference in me, more mature. Quite possibly he was humoring me to make me become puffed up, vain, and all those wonderful attributes I've been striving for for so long... or possibly it's similar to humility - you notice that there has been a change in your life and your actions over some extension of time but you aren't able to say "Oh that's where I became mature" "that's where I stepped from immature to mature - boy (girl) to man (woman)". It comes as a continuation of continued efforts that build layer upon layer until one day you can't believe you were once a water droplet and now a mountain of snow - possible to lose the state which you're in but with the correct actions on your part and conditions you put yourself in, only able to grow larger. A process over time
Chase Bowler and Veronica Benavides last night up Rock Canyon Park atthe Appendage on the 5.08, 5.09 there. It was there that we discovered
Veronica's rock woman instincts as she on her first real rock climb schooled both Chase aNd I, hands down. She was amazing... I think that I need to take more drill team classes/modern dance classes. I think that might be Veronica's secret... flexibility as well as a built up strength. Needless to say, I am once more excited to have friends that excel so quick at a passion of mine as well as share a portion of my passion- it means there's less time wasted on trying to convince them to join me in future escapades!
Chase said an interesting thing while we were climbing... Chase does that occasionally. He asked me a lot of similar questions as Dad - "how was it?" "How was Jerusalem?" and the final one "How was the spirit?". I thought for a while and responded with "well, for me it's hard for archaeological sites to hit home when they say 'this is so many years old, this is where Christ walked, Christ stepped on this stone most likely'. Being in Jerusalem wasn't a needed thing in order to build a testimony of Christ. However, it was neat because the spirit was present in a way to reaffirm what was already there for me. One doesn't need to travel to Holy Sites in order to know He lived". I really do believe this statement too. It was strongly emphasized in our religion class while there that just because we are visiting these sites, it d
oesn't mean that we should be growing in spirit. It should be through our study and our diligence to those things that can be done universally that makes our spirits sing at those sites. I don't know if Chase was simply humoring me or if it's similar to humility but he made a comment about a difference in me, more mature. Quite possibly he was humoring me to make me become puffed up, vain, and all those wonderful attributes I've been striving for for so long... or possibly it's similar to humility - you notice that there has been a change in your life and your actions over some extension of time but you aren't able to say "Oh that's where I became mature" "that's where I stepped from immature to mature - boy (girl) to man (woman)". It comes as a continuation of continued efforts that build layer upon layer until one day you can't believe you were once a water droplet and now a mountain of snow - possible to lose the state which you're in but with the correct actions on your part and conditions you put yourself in, only able to grow larger. A process over time
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Finales
Today was a day full of non-stop energy, action, sights, smells, and most of all - memories. I've been interested these last few days to see how the entire term is playing out. Interestingly enough, with the ending of finals (slightly very scary), the finalization of our stay here in the Holy Land, I'm learning (still!) more... and this time it's more about myself. We went to so many different places today that my head is still reeling with the action but there were good things in all of these places.
1) Bethphage - where Christ got on the donkey to enter the city in a triumphal peace.
We sang "Redeemer of Israel" here
2)Pater Noster (the sight where Helena believed the Lord's Prayer to be given). It was so neat to come in here and see the Lord's Prayer in so many different languages. I lOvE languages. It'd be wonderful to be given the opportunity
to go live some where over seas to study a language and culture for a year... and then go to another place and study there... and another and another. From this trip I've realized how much I really wish I knew the languages of the world. I've met a man Jonathan from Italy and then overheard multiple Italian tour groups. I've walked by multiple French tour groups as well... allowing me to woe over the two years lost in high school, in which I never truly learned French (Zut!).
I saw braille in English and Hebrew side-by-side, Italian Lord's Prayer, some curly-q language that I have no earthly idea what it was, Farsi, some more curly-squiggly language, Gaelic, Creole... and many many more! We sang "How Gentle God's Commands" and some tour groups came to watch the anomaly.
3) Dominus Flevit - Jesus wept for Jerusalem here in his
famous saying "O Jerusalem". Interesting, the church was in the shape of a tear drop. I didn't expect to see this so that was quite neat to see.
4) Church of Mary Magdalene - Russian Orthodox Church. This one was rather interesting... always seen, slightly out of place, never been inside. It happened to be open when we were in the area so we all decided it'd be awesome to go inside..
.. which it was. The story of Mary Magdalene going and telling the Roman emperor of the resurrection of Christ. He said that was highly unlikely - as unlikely as an egg turning red. He handed one to Mary Magdalene which just so happened to conveniently turn red... Tricky tricky - Heavenly Father witnessing of his son to one and all! Oh and the joke goes as follows: what did the Mormon say when he say the church? it's so onion-spired ("un-inspired") (well it's true - we're one of the one and onlys that believe in continuing revelation.
5)Garden of Gethsemane - this was a very interesting site for me because I had already been here before in my own time to have personal contemplation and thought here. Versus the last time I came here, I was well and able to really think about many things. The garden is small. From the pictures in Mormon culture, one is led to believe that the site might be commemorated by some park or something. However, in actuality, it is quite small 30'x30' fenced in garden that you are able to walk around and contemplate. I had already been inside the Church of All Nations (which is connected to the Garden) so instead I walked to a quiet area near wh
ere our group was about to meet and sat and thought. I love when songs will come to mind without any prerogative. Now, no misunderstanding, the songs are not intrusive but rather instructive for me. As I sat the song Be Still My Soul came into mind. I began humming a little to my self to figure out what song it was because the song came to me mid-verse "With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain..." from that point I continued onward with the song and although I didn't get the entire verse word-for-word most likely, I did get a good part of it and the overall theme of the song "...Leave to thy God to order and provide; In ev'ry change he faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end." This was significant to me because one it talks in a manner in correlation with the Garden and two because my personal most frequent way to receive revelation is through outside sources whether it be through other people's life stories or if it be implanted through a previously well known song. =======
6)Orson Hyde Park -
7)St. Peter's Church of Galicantu -
8)Cenicleum/Upper Room -
9)Church of the Condemnation and Flagellation -
10)Garden Tomb
after this wonderful day we had a quick dinner and then... our departure orientation meeting??? Yes, ironic in name but I'm happy to say the water is safe, tissue paper is not needed for the restrooms, and the watermelon is wonderfully, germ-free edible (but the need to travel in groups because of unsafe social situations should still be adhered to :) ). Afterwards testimony meeting/2 min memorable experience.
1) Bethphage - where Christ got on the donkey to enter the city in a triumphal peace.
We sang "Redeemer of Israel" here2)Pater Noster (the sight where Helena believed the Lord's Prayer to be given). It was so neat to come in here and see the Lord's Prayer in so many different languages. I lOvE languages. It'd be wonderful to be given the opportunity
to go live some where over seas to study a language and culture for a year... and then go to another place and study there... and another and another. From this trip I've realized how much I really wish I knew the languages of the world. I've met a man Jonathan from Italy and then overheard multiple Italian tour groups. I've walked by multiple French tour groups as well... allowing me to woe over the two years lost in high school, in which I never truly learned French (Zut!).I saw braille in English and Hebrew side-by-side, Italian Lord's Prayer, some curly-q language that I have no earthly idea what it was, Farsi, some more curly-squiggly language, Gaelic, Creole... and many many more! We sang "How Gentle God's Commands" and some tour groups came to watch the anomaly.
3) Dominus Flevit - Jesus wept for Jerusalem here in his
famous saying "O Jerusalem". Interesting, the church was in the shape of a tear drop. I didn't expect to see this so that was quite neat to see.4) Church of Mary Magdalene - Russian Orthodox Church. This one was rather interesting... always seen, slightly out of place, never been inside. It happened to be open when we were in the area so we all decided it'd be awesome to go inside..
.. which it was. The story of Mary Magdalene going and telling the Roman emperor of the resurrection of Christ. He said that was highly unlikely - as unlikely as an egg turning red. He handed one to Mary Magdalene which just so happened to conveniently turn red... Tricky tricky - Heavenly Father witnessing of his son to one and all! Oh and the joke goes as follows: what did the Mormon say when he say the church? it's so onion-spired ("un-inspired") (well it's true - we're one of the one and onlys that believe in continuing revelation.5)Garden of Gethsemane - this was a very interesting site for me because I had already been here before in my own time to have personal contemplation and thought here. Versus the last time I came here, I was well and able to really think about many things. The garden is small. From the pictures in Mormon culture, one is led to believe that the site might be commemorated by some park or something. However, in actuality, it is quite small 30'x30' fenced in garden that you are able to walk around and contemplate. I had already been inside the Church of All Nations (which is connected to the Garden) so instead I walked to a quiet area near wh
ere our group was about to meet and sat and thought. I love when songs will come to mind without any prerogative. Now, no misunderstanding, the songs are not intrusive but rather instructive for me. As I sat the song Be Still My Soul came into mind. I began humming a little to my self to figure out what song it was because the song came to me mid-verse "With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain..." from that point I continued onward with the song and although I didn't get the entire verse word-for-word most likely, I did get a good part of it and the overall theme of the song "...Leave to thy God to order and provide; In ev'ry change he faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end." This was significant to me because one it talks in a manner in correlation with the Garden and two because my personal most frequent way to receive revelation is through outside sources whether it be through other people's life stories or if it be implanted through a previously well known song. =======6)Orson Hyde Park -
7)St. Peter's Church of Galicantu -
8)Cenicleum/Upper Room -
9)Church of the Condemnation and Flagellation -
10)Garden Tomb
after this wonderful day we had a quick dinner and then... our departure orientation meeting??? Yes, ironic in name but I'm happy to say the water is safe, tissue paper is not needed for the restrooms, and the watermelon is wonderfully, germ-free edible (but the need to travel in groups because of unsafe social situations should still be adhered to :) ). Afterwards testimony meeting/2 min memorable experience.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
closed eye, open heart
Today was wonderful. We got back from Jordan (awesome time getting to learn what a real mosque is like dressed in head-garb and black dress, visiting the Jordan River where Christ was most likely baptized, crossing border crossing after taking quite some time to get from Jordan to Israel, and many wonderful hours sleeping on the bus) late today after doing a great day of traveling and I was able to grab a clean, water, fresh veggie meal before going to the Bible Land's Museum. IT WAS AWESOME! We were told that we'd be able to make it through the entire museum in a little less than an hour.... NOT SO! We went through a tour of Ancient Music for about an hour - it was phenomenal hearing and seeing so many artifacts from before I could ever think. Musical artifacts from Ancient Mythology, Ancient Cultures, Ancient Religions genres. We discussed the lyre, double flute, cymbals, drums (which were typically played by women because they represent the cycles of life and women are so intricately involved in the cycles of life, months, birth), harp, and such wonderful instruments as that... oh! and the shofar (reminds me of the didjeridoo)! We talked of Eros and Apollo and Pan and the Pan-flute. Emily Ward, Keola, and I were on fire afterwards with excitement. I'm going to go into the Old City and look for somewhere that I can get inexpensive bedouin, desert music/folk music. We walked by a beautiful Bat Mitzvah on our way up to the 2nd floor of the museum and it was so neat looking! I would love to have a Bat Mitzvah with the beautiful hot pink, dancing all night, beautiful dresses - wonderful way to come of age! The museum was wonderful with so many interesting things that I could have stayed an hour longer... except closing time was at 9:30 and at got out of there at 9:32pm. The sherut back ride back was a trip and a half needless to say. With 10 of us in it, the guy had black lights going, techno "holding out for a hero"... and I'm in Jerusalem? It was so so amazing! We were dancing and having quite some fun with the cab driver just smiling and enjoying our enjoyment. Needless to say it was quite the night. And needless to say I learned something tonight. If life is really going to be appreciated you have to just go for it. Enjoy every minute with an eye closed to all around that might scorn, judge, or impede you from feeling that joy. With an heart open be willing to experience everything. Why else do we humans willingly commit ourselves to such things as love, child rearing, or dreams if we don't realize that there's going to be pain that piggy-backs with those wonderful things. I realized I can't ever let someone else put me in the circumstances where I'm willing to sacrifice or pass by those dreams/ that love - the true vibrant experience can't be felt then.
Galilee
Galilee was wonderful... kind of behind though and will fill in the news from the 10 days here once I get the chance
Friday, May 23, 2008
Bethlehem, to me means memory of beauty
Tonight was Bethlehem. The Hebrew meaning to this word is House of Bread as we commonly learn through Sunday School. Interestinly enough when it is also referred to as City of David, this is not a singular reference. David had many cities, this was simply one of them (however, probably one of the primary ones seeing as how David came from here).
We began New Testament today in class and it is truly phenomenal. Brother Draper aids my understanding of the scriptures so much, I am amazed at how they come alive. We discussed the introduction (the Gospels are not in order, the key principles to each book, etc.) as well as the beginning of the Nativity. This was particularly interesting because simultaneously we've been learning about the living conditions of the time and how they would have been living. Nazareth - a burg, Joseph - 18/19 yrs old, poor, Mary - 13/14 yrs old, poor, harsh social conditions with an oppressive king. Mary being thought to have compromised her virtue and having her entire family probably thinking lowly of her. Joseph feeling utterly betrayed for this 'consequence' from his espoused. An angel of the Lord, Gabriel coming to fix everything. She never had to travel to Bethlehem - only the men needed to make an accounting for, the women usually stayed behind. Mary deciding, although great with child and hence slowing the journey down, to go with Joseph because he out of everyone understood her the best (Gabriel enlightening). Jesus' birth was simple and ordinary like anyone elses - close family and midwives. The Draper interpretation of 'rogue' angels probably desperately wanting to celebrate the birth and so scaring the shepherds 'spitless' (of their hot chocolate of course). These shepherds realizing that the Jehovah of the Old Testament has just been born not too far away and their 'political king' they've been waiting for is here. (Wise men of course don't come for a few more years even though we depict them as coming the night of the birth) All these thoughts really touched home to me while we were in Shepherd's Field tonight. We had a small program (Once in Royal David's City with Channing and Emily Ward, Guard Him Joseph Catherine and Kristen Anderson, and First Noel Mike Henderson, Luke, and Spencer Wilcox and more) and afterwards contemplative time. I recalled a "psalm" I made at the beginning of July in 2006 and really felt the spirit strong, had an open gift tonight for writing, and was able to write a page similar to that psalm for where I feel I am right now in life and my feelings for the night. It really meant a lot to me. One part that was neat is that like the Big Dipper which hangs pouring completely on all the inhabitants of the Earth - the Lord blesses and loves us so fully. Bethlehem was very interesting to see - more pleasing to the ears due to the more quiet nature of the area versus the hustle of Jerusalem and Cairo.
Yes, while in Bethlehem we did go to the Church of the Nativity which was very interesting indeed. So many things remind me of pharaohs (Herod killing the children). I bought a fair share of olive wood carvings here (best wood, it's where all the other merchants get their items from, the merchants here are kinder and more honest, and much cheaper prices) but no baby blankets (white, knit, simple but beautiful). I've never seen it but I want to watch: on Christmas Eve around the world, everyone watches the multiple nations singing different carols in Manger Square? That'd be neat.
I still have the spirit with me although I'm nearly going to fall over in this chair I'm so tired. It's been a wonderful night. The contemplative time was very helpful indeed (and the writing I believe will help in the future as well), I was able to help prepare most of the musical program which made it mean so much more to me, I've been trying to near my God more and so am trying to listen to those promptings better. On listening I've found that I've got two areas the Lord knows I can identify (I'm rather dense sometimes and so simple things are good): 1)serving others is the best way to be a person of good cheer and happy, truly trying to love them. I've been trying to do this by taking care of other people but there's still more to be done in order to grasp a connection which I think is better than the physical serving and 2) It's even more difficult to aSk for help when you need it. Contemplating tonight I realized that I miss Tannon. I for some reason I was struck and needed to talk to somebody (Kristen Anderson) in confidence or call Mom and talk to Mom in confidence. Basically I needed a good cry and a chance to communicate forward thinking, forward faith - it's not the event that I dwell on but at times things hit a particular way. I decided that going outside my box would be to talk to Kristen and would be a way for me to listen to that prompting of how to grow closer to people around me. I appreciate that wonderful, beautiful, faithfilled girl so much. We have circumstances and personalities that make us very free and open in conversation especially with each other. I think the conversation was a way to help both of us in particular ways. We talked and talked and talked - and it was wonderful. About our families, the power of faith, loving others in order to act as God's tools, drawing close to others, Bryan and her friend who draw some of the best out in us, our frustrations and then our reconciliations with our natural man inside ourselves - it was simple beautiful. The chance to have that meaningful of a conversation truly this night part of why I won't forget it.
I love the Jehovah of the Old Testament. I love Tannon. I love Drew. I love Kristen. I love tenderness and kindness... and I love inspiration.
We began New Testament today in class and it is truly phenomenal. Brother Draper aids my understanding of the scriptures so much, I am amazed at how they come alive. We discussed the introduction (the Gospels are not in order, the key principles to each book, etc.) as well as the beginning of the Nativity. This was particularly interesting because simultaneously we've been learning about the living conditions of the time and how they would have been living. Nazareth - a burg, Joseph - 18/19 yrs old, poor, Mary - 13/14 yrs old, poor, harsh social conditions with an oppressive king. Mary being thought to have compromised her virtue and having her entire family probably thinking lowly of her. Joseph feeling utterly betrayed for this 'consequence' from his espoused. An angel of the Lord, Gabriel coming to fix everything. She never had to travel to Bethlehem - only the men needed to make an accounting for, the women usually stayed behind. Mary deciding, although great with child and hence slowing the journey down, to go with Joseph because he out of everyone understood her the best (Gabriel enlightening). Jesus' birth was simple and ordinary like anyone elses - close family and midwives. The Draper interpretation of 'rogue' angels probably desperately wanting to celebrate the birth and so scaring the shepherds 'spitless' (of their hot chocolate of course). These shepherds realizing that the Jehovah of the Old Testament has just been born not too far away and their 'political king' they've been waiting for is here. (Wise men of course don't come for a few more years even though we depict them as coming the night of the birth) All these thoughts really touched home to me while we were in Shepherd's Field tonight. We had a small program (Once in Royal David's City with Channing and Emily Ward, Guard Him Joseph Catherine and Kristen Anderson, and First Noel Mike Henderson, Luke, and Spencer Wilcox and more) and afterwards contemplative time. I recalled a "psalm" I made at the beginning of July in 2006 and really felt the spirit strong, had an open gift tonight for writing, and was able to write a page similar to that psalm for where I feel I am right now in life and my feelings for the night. It really meant a lot to me. One part that was neat is that like the Big Dipper which hangs pouring completely on all the inhabitants of the Earth - the Lord blesses and loves us so fully. Bethlehem was very interesting to see - more pleasing to the ears due to the more quiet nature of the area versus the hustle of Jerusalem and Cairo.
Yes, while in Bethlehem we did go to the Church of the Nativity which was very interesting indeed. So many things remind me of pharaohs (Herod killing the children). I bought a fair share of olive wood carvings here (best wood, it's where all the other merchants get their items from, the merchants here are kinder and more honest, and much cheaper prices) but no baby blankets (white, knit, simple but beautiful). I've never seen it but I want to watch: on Christmas Eve around the world, everyone watches the multiple nations singing different carols in Manger Square? That'd be neat.
I still have the spirit with me although I'm nearly going to fall over in this chair I'm so tired. It's been a wonderful night. The contemplative time was very helpful indeed (and the writing I believe will help in the future as well), I was able to help prepare most of the musical program which made it mean so much more to me, I've been trying to near my God more and so am trying to listen to those promptings better. On listening I've found that I've got two areas the Lord knows I can identify (I'm rather dense sometimes and so simple things are good): 1)serving others is the best way to be a person of good cheer and happy, truly trying to love them. I've been trying to do this by taking care of other people but there's still more to be done in order to grasp a connection which I think is better than the physical serving and 2) It's even more difficult to aSk for help when you need it. Contemplating tonight I realized that I miss Tannon. I for some reason I was struck and needed to talk to somebody (Kristen Anderson) in confidence or call Mom and talk to Mom in confidence. Basically I needed a good cry and a chance to communicate forward thinking, forward faith - it's not the event that I dwell on but at times things hit a particular way. I decided that going outside my box would be to talk to Kristen and would be a way for me to listen to that prompting of how to grow closer to people around me. I appreciate that wonderful, beautiful, faithfilled girl so much. We have circumstances and personalities that make us very free and open in conversation especially with each other. I think the conversation was a way to help both of us in particular ways. We talked and talked and talked - and it was wonderful. About our families, the power of faith, loving others in order to act as God's tools, drawing close to others, Bryan and her friend who draw some of the best out in us, our frustrations and then our reconciliations with our natural man inside ourselves - it was simple beautiful. The chance to have that meaningful of a conversation truly this night part of why I won't forget it.
I love the Jehovah of the Old Testament. I love Tannon. I love Drew. I love Kristen. I love tenderness and kindness... and I love inspiration.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
back from Egypt - Habibi Nation
So it's 11:30 at night right now, I'll probably take an hour to finish this up, get my now-clean-once-rank-smelling laundry before bed, am working with repercussive "presents" from Egypt (if you've ever been you'd understand - and no, I didn't drink the water or eat the fruit), and feeling an overwhelming sense of duty to my classes which seem to be hitting all of us all at once (4 class periods and we're already having the final this week!), but I had a desire to get updated once more. It's been over a week since I've gotten on to update or anything but here it goes.
Friday May 9th
the memorable part of this day was going to the Western Wall or as we say in the States, the Wailing Wall. Phenomenal - it was a temple experience as Alyssa and I found out due to the mood we got in. I've been asking people for their life stories lately. Alyssa and I had gotten into a good discussion one night and so the walk to the western wall was a follow-up and a way for her to get to know me better. I told her about Tannon and that experience I have in my life continually. This made us focus on our pasts and what beauty lays behind us. The future was present when we got to the wall and found so much life and hope for the new. The present lay with us as we touched the original west wall to the Old City where so many prayers were rolled up and placed in corners. The reverence and faith that was there as prayers were being offered up to our Lord. There was a division between the men and women's side which aided in the feeling of family because there were cultural barriers between us women. A group from a jewish university began singing songs and dancing, slow reverencing once as well as lively ones that welcomed in Shabat. We were there to observe them welcoming in Shabat and in turn were able to join in the celebration. Shabat should not be a mundane day where sleep is the primary concern. Although I am at fault for this it was very... rejuvinating? eye-opening? invigorating?... to wElCoMe iN the sabbath. I got a recording from it and am so thankful for that - a field recording to remember the beauty of the night.
Saturday May 10th
I was able to see Sister Cochran this morning before church and nearly flew out of my seat to give her a big hug. It was beautiful to be able to see her, a wonderful woman that I look up to in so many ways and respect so greatly. Emily Ward, Jenn and Deb Weiss, and Camille Finlinson sang a beautiful arrangement of a peaceful hymn today (be still my soul? nearer my god to thee?). Nursery was wonderful and is always keeping me alert for new ways in which to communicate and interact with dear children (not just my own beautiful niece, Halbert). We also today went to Orson Hyde Park as well as the Garden of Gethsemane. It was neat to be able to walk peacefully down the walk at Orson Hyde (I'm still looking for the prayer to review and read. I hear it's amazing and quite profound) and while in the Garden enjoy the simple, rather small area. I wasn't feeling the hottest so the rest was very enjoyable. It's been great to see how we each are taking care of each other and the reciprocation of action, making sure all are at least alright. A man let us into another portion of en fenced olive trees which was nice because it was our close group, able to study as we pleased, contemplate as we felt, and enjoy the beauty in a more silent manner. This is a really special group that I'm here with.
Sunday May 11th
Today was devoted to making our way to the Egypt border. The bus ride for me was primarily with Will Armstrong. We talked about much and enjoyed the window scenery as well (sleeping). We discussed Will's girl for quite some time which was very enjoyable to hear (I love hearing people talk about people they care for or have strong connection to). On the way we stopped at Avdat where some exploring was done, a Kibbutz where we toured and learned of a way of life we will one day live but I don't think really comprehend today - law of consecration, communism in the ideal stage, where we ate dinner and then another kibbutz later down the road right near the Jordan/Saudi Arabia border where we learned a little more about Abraham from Bro. Draper and Ostler, after which Nauvoo legpull, arm wrestling, and hand pull games were played (as well as some yoga by Sarah Rowley, tumbling, and even a small group of swing dancers)
Monday May 12th
Another day devoted to travel, with Will and Adri (my roomie for the next week). From here we crossed the Egyptian border in very good time, discovered what squatter potties were and what the next week would really be like - interesting bathrooms to say the least, no clean water, constant hand sanitizer, no fresh fruit or veggies and only cooked items, beautiful heat (it actually did get rather hot but I figure I avoided sunstroke with lots and lots of water and we were all sweaty/smelly together that nobody noticed), and the need to definitely avert eyes as a blonde, blue eyed, American woman. The stigma American women have is quite sad. The idea that we like to be taken advantage of was the worst - making you feel dirty every time leaving the bazaars (nothing more than a kiss on the cheek happened... to me at least... but that's also why we traveled in groups and I traveled I think always with a guy at least, my "husband or boyfriend" I decided by the end of the week). Crossing the Suez Canal was neat because we never once saw it - we went underneath and only once did we see a ship - to us it was on land. Africa by Vocalpoint became the theme song for the way to Cairo - suiting I figured.
Tuesday May 13th
By this point I feel rather fat because we seem to always be bussing around and eating for meals - well, I guess now is as good as ever to gain the freshman 15 I avoided so easily the last 2 years. We went to the Cartoche factory last night where I bought a beautiful gold and diamond ring... scary for my track record but it was my own money so who knows. The Egyptians definitely barter differently than elsewhere that is for sure... similar to Mexico - they'll nearly chase you down to try and get you to agree to a price (best phrase "hello, want to give me your money?" that made us laugh the most while in the bazaar). We toured a little more, visited the papyrus place where I learned later on what commission really is and how the best price is not offered when they trying to offer you "student price". We visited a few places of which I don't remember the names right now... at least I do remember we visited the the Three Great Pyramids of Giza (Khufu, Khafre, Menakaure) and the sphinx. Cairo is very dirty and the driving... really, when people say it's a 3-laned road but 5 lanes were made - that's veritable (and to think we were in ginormous buses too!). Tonight was when we took a flight to Luxor... for being so tight on security everywhere else it was interesting at this airport - I don't remember who I was but I definitely had a random ticket from somebody in our group. This flight was very enjoyable indeed because I was able to get to know Lexi a little better (she's not only drop dead beautiful, she's also a very drop dead beautiful girl on the inside as well!). Our hotels in Luxor were not as nice as the ones in Cairo but the Mercur Hotel was clean, had a pool which felt heavenly, was right on the Nile (the clean part of it versus the filthy part in Cairo), and near the bazaar.
Wednesday May 14th
Luxor is much cleaner and more beautiful. We shopped in the small bazaar the first day... well I went a number of times to the bazaar for water, shopping, the large bazaar - you name it. I definitely found my homework good in prices - scarves should be bought for no more than 25 Egyptian Pounds (I should have been able to get the price down more), the linen scarves I found for 5-6, check real silver for the official stamp after which they shouldn't charge you more than 4 pounds for 1 gram (although everyone does), don't go down the people's market - kind of creepy as a girl even when you have a guy with you, tourist market is much better. We went to the Temple of Karnak which was beautiful and enormous beyond belief... really, I don't think I yet believe it, after which we went to the Luxor Temple... not as large but I guess that's all relative since to Ramses II and all those pharaohs building edifices, obelisks, statues 15-20 meters high was of no real importance hahaha. The camel and faluka ride were exceptional by the way (I really want to see what it's like to have a camel take off in a controlled run - comparable to a horse?)
Thursday May 15th
This was our earliest wakeup call which at first they said was going to be 3:15am... it was ironic the rejoicing that went on when the finally changed it to 4am. We went to the valley of the kings were we were able to go inside Ramses the II's tomb, 2 more and the ultimate favorite - King Tut's (he was small! about 5'-2" max height!). Out of here we stopped by an Alabaster Factory which was nice, informational, but I learned the best prices are definitely found on the market as long as you know what to look for. By this point in the trip we'd had a number of people not feeling too hot off and on but nothing serious to the point of hospitalization. We had quite the time for freetime and so mass shopping occurred before we had to meet and get on the train back to Cairo. The train ride wAs bumpy but I really enjoyed it (up until waking up - getting the "sea legs" back was difficult). Erin Ladle had the accident of the trip - getting her fingers smashed in the door of somebody's room because there was just such a large group at the dance party. Turns out two of the three fingers were broken - interesting Egyptian souvenir! It was nice tonight because not only were the train compartments reminding us of Hogwarts Express and Anastasia but Adri (I love her!) and Laurens Call and Thompson's room opened into ours. We played a rousing few rounds of Phase 10 with Will Armstrong after which we got ready for bed and Kevin Lang came by to talk and give us a "bed-time" story. I love getting to know people slightly better and understand what makes them tick. He told us of 3 of his 9 siblings after which the real story (at which point Adri fell dead asleep) came from a spiritual thought about a man giving a blessing to a black man before the blacks could hold the priesthood saying he would one day help ordain somebody to high authority - first presidency was contacted and replied to simply keep quiet until the day came, day came and later down the road that man did help in the ordination showing God has a time and way for everything to be fulfilled. It really isn't our time but the Lord's we've been given to use at this time!
Friday May 16th
We arrived in Cairo about 5 in the morning, ate breakfast in the hotel and had church in a meeting room there. It was different because it was in a setting more similar to a forum. I've enjoyed how church isn't according to the day or the setting in which we are in. I remember a time when we held church in someplace we vacationed at with Tannon on what looked to be a ranch, relaxation place. As long as proper authority has been given and the proper ways are carried out, church is anywhere we make it! Becky, Channing, and Mike Hansen spoke with a large musical group arranged by Jenn Weiss in which I participated in. It was a wonderful experience. However, like the rest of the trip - we weren't about to start resting now. From here we were given a few minutes to spruce up and hit the buses to go tour the Egyptian Museum in Cairo which was nice but now I was joining my fellow compatriots in feeling a little less than beautiful with Egypt Presents and such. The Museum was definitely memorable with the amazing artifacts. After this we went to the main bazaar... which for our group turned out to be less scary (although more protection was taken here because it's a high problem here) than Luxor. Bartering was much easier here for cheap jewelry and I found that traveling with Bruce Steed and Randy is always very nice because they are two of the largest guys in our group making the local men simply say hello to them and comment on their three wives or girlfriends (really, and I thought I needed to be Mormon in order to receive polygamist comments!). Sleep was welcome but not until after we had an amazing dance party with a native girl coming in and showing us what real dancing was (I've never seen anyone shake like that before - it was amazing, even more precise than Tahitian).
Saturday May 17th
A testimony is really found in the serving of others. We left early in order to get back by 10 in the evening and snorkel in the Red Sea. Kevin sat next to me and wasn't feeling so hot... as in really feeling sick I think. I found that by trying to make him feel better any way possible (similar to what I'd already done to Ashley Cooper and others) caused me to love him more (again, similar to the others I had already tried to help). Yes, I had unpleasant presents from Egypt but I was actually feeling quite alright which is a blessing for my body to have reacted so well as to not give me pain or extreme discomfort. Checkpoint took longer than we expected because we are supposed to be "tourists" (that's our visa anyways) but we had all similar bags and some had books in them giving the impression we were students... tricky tricky. We swam and snorkeled in the Red Sea just on the other side of the border which was nice for the experience, was beautiful (Cancun was better) but the physical activity was part of the best I think because we'd gotten so little and the swimming felt good on our bodies. Afterwards Kevin and I sat together again and I learned quite a deal about his family as well as he about Tannon. It was very nice because we were able to talk for a good 2 hours about our lives, spiritual matters, I was able to ask some questions, we talked a lot about blessings and the power of the priesthood (I asked him questions Dad would that are deep and definitely take internal thinking "what are you feelings on being able to be a barer of such a power?" and such - it shocked him but was very nice indeed). At this point I realized that I really appreciated being able to talk to him and have reciprocal communication (what happens every time someone opens up a small part of their life to you) from someone I respected. I really am with quite the amazing group. I've learned about so many of the girls and now I am learning about the guys - wow. This bus trip was exceptionally good not only from the amazing conversation we were able to have but also because we slept nearly the entire time else (if not then I was working on Old Testament reading which was nice too). Theme songs on the way back while Kevin was asleep were Africa by Vocalpoint and my piano mix from Jessi Cheney. It was interesting for the remaining 2 hours of the drive when we were winding down from talking and getting rather tired because as seatmates we fell asleep to reggae - I like a lot. ps - I'm glad I'm not too tall and have to deal with seats that don't have enough leg room because these seats weren't conducive to tall people very much as a number of people vocalized.
Sunday May 18th
We got home the night before (my bus at least) just before 10pm to go in for dinner at the Oasis and sleep. Sleep was very blessed. I found in the morning that there was an odd repugnant smell to our clothes I hadn't smelt before... more presents from Egypt. Classes were difficult this morning because we are simply so exhausted from the constant go go go but I made it through Old Testament with a breeze and learned about David's fall, NES was alright (hadn't done the reading but he gave today as a grace and so I have to do it before class on Tuesday), Muslim was slightly too long with out enough clear direction but from what I got out of it the French and British reorganized and realigned boundaries after WWI. Food is amazing but I'm still not hungry at all. I slept... for 3 hours today. I caught up on some Old Testament, still have a lot more though, and finished off my night loading all my pictures from Egypt (ps - check out picasa - there's some pretty good ones even though I didn't edit all in detail) while watching The Great Escape with Bryan, Jenna, Jonathon, Randy, Mike Hansen, and a number of others.
Alright, I believe I've finally caught up. With just one more though to go I am going to bed because my stomach is disagreeing having stayed up so late
from Channing's talk in church Friday "ask the Lord for those mountains that you may climb and conquer with his help... while we are kings and queens [in this life]. Those mountains are the paramountal changes in our lives sometimes"
Friday May 9th
the memorable part of this day was going to the Western Wall or as we say in the States, the Wailing Wall. Phenomenal - it was a temple experience as Alyssa and I found out due to the mood we got in. I've been asking people for their life stories lately. Alyssa and I had gotten into a good discussion one night and so the walk to the western wall was a follow-up and a way for her to get to know me better. I told her about Tannon and that experience I have in my life continually. This made us focus on our pasts and what beauty lays behind us. The future was present when we got to the wall and found so much life and hope for the new. The present lay with us as we touched the original west wall to the Old City where so many prayers were rolled up and placed in corners. The reverence and faith that was there as prayers were being offered up to our Lord. There was a division between the men and women's side which aided in the feeling of family because there were cultural barriers between us women. A group from a jewish university began singing songs and dancing, slow reverencing once as well as lively ones that welcomed in Shabat. We were there to observe them welcoming in Shabat and in turn were able to join in the celebration. Shabat should not be a mundane day where sleep is the primary concern. Although I am at fault for this it was very... rejuvinating? eye-opening? invigorating?... to wElCoMe iN the sabbath. I got a recording from it and am so thankful for that - a field recording to remember the beauty of the night.
Saturday May 10th
I was able to see Sister Cochran this morning before church and nearly flew out of my seat to give her a big hug. It was beautiful to be able to see her, a wonderful woman that I look up to in so many ways and respect so greatly. Emily Ward, Jenn and Deb Weiss, and Camille Finlinson sang a beautiful arrangement of a peaceful hymn today (be still my soul? nearer my god to thee?). Nursery was wonderful and is always keeping me alert for new ways in which to communicate and interact with dear children (not just my own beautiful niece, Halbert). We also today went to Orson Hyde Park as well as the Garden of Gethsemane. It was neat to be able to walk peacefully down the walk at Orson Hyde (I'm still looking for the prayer to review and read. I hear it's amazing and quite profound) and while in the Garden enjoy the simple, rather small area. I wasn't feeling the hottest so the rest was very enjoyable. It's been great to see how we each are taking care of each other and the reciprocation of action, making sure all are at least alright. A man let us into another portion of en fenced olive trees which was nice because it was our close group, able to study as we pleased, contemplate as we felt, and enjoy the beauty in a more silent manner. This is a really special group that I'm here with.
Sunday May 11th
Today was devoted to making our way to the Egypt border. The bus ride for me was primarily with Will Armstrong. We talked about much and enjoyed the window scenery as well (sleeping). We discussed Will's girl for quite some time which was very enjoyable to hear (I love hearing people talk about people they care for or have strong connection to). On the way we stopped at Avdat where some exploring was done, a Kibbutz where we toured and learned of a way of life we will one day live but I don't think really comprehend today - law of consecration, communism in the ideal stage, where we ate dinner and then another kibbutz later down the road right near the Jordan/Saudi Arabia border where we learned a little more about Abraham from Bro. Draper and Ostler, after which Nauvoo legpull, arm wrestling, and hand pull games were played (as well as some yoga by Sarah Rowley, tumbling, and even a small group of swing dancers)
Monday May 12th
Another day devoted to travel, with Will and Adri (my roomie for the next week). From here we crossed the Egyptian border in very good time, discovered what squatter potties were and what the next week would really be like - interesting bathrooms to say the least, no clean water, constant hand sanitizer, no fresh fruit or veggies and only cooked items, beautiful heat (it actually did get rather hot but I figure I avoided sunstroke with lots and lots of water and we were all sweaty/smelly together that nobody noticed), and the need to definitely avert eyes as a blonde, blue eyed, American woman. The stigma American women have is quite sad. The idea that we like to be taken advantage of was the worst - making you feel dirty every time leaving the bazaars (nothing more than a kiss on the cheek happened... to me at least... but that's also why we traveled in groups and I traveled I think always with a guy at least, my "husband or boyfriend" I decided by the end of the week). Crossing the Suez Canal was neat because we never once saw it - we went underneath and only once did we see a ship - to us it was on land. Africa by Vocalpoint became the theme song for the way to Cairo - suiting I figured.
Tuesday May 13th
By this point I feel rather fat because we seem to always be bussing around and eating for meals - well, I guess now is as good as ever to gain the freshman 15 I avoided so easily the last 2 years. We went to the Cartoche factory last night where I bought a beautiful gold and diamond ring... scary for my track record but it was my own money so who knows. The Egyptians definitely barter differently than elsewhere that is for sure... similar to Mexico - they'll nearly chase you down to try and get you to agree to a price (best phrase "hello, want to give me your money?" that made us laugh the most while in the bazaar). We toured a little more, visited the papyrus place where I learned later on what commission really is and how the best price is not offered when they trying to offer you "student price". We visited a few places of which I don't remember the names right now... at least I do remember we visited the the Three Great Pyramids of Giza (Khufu, Khafre, Menakaure) and the sphinx. Cairo is very dirty and the driving... really, when people say it's a 3-laned road but 5 lanes were made - that's veritable (and to think we were in ginormous buses too!). Tonight was when we took a flight to Luxor... for being so tight on security everywhere else it was interesting at this airport - I don't remember who I was but I definitely had a random ticket from somebody in our group. This flight was very enjoyable indeed because I was able to get to know Lexi a little better (she's not only drop dead beautiful, she's also a very drop dead beautiful girl on the inside as well!). Our hotels in Luxor were not as nice as the ones in Cairo but the Mercur Hotel was clean, had a pool which felt heavenly, was right on the Nile (the clean part of it versus the filthy part in Cairo), and near the bazaar.
Wednesday May 14th
Luxor is much cleaner and more beautiful. We shopped in the small bazaar the first day... well I went a number of times to the bazaar for water, shopping, the large bazaar - you name it. I definitely found my homework good in prices - scarves should be bought for no more than 25 Egyptian Pounds (I should have been able to get the price down more), the linen scarves I found for 5-6, check real silver for the official stamp after which they shouldn't charge you more than 4 pounds for 1 gram (although everyone does), don't go down the people's market - kind of creepy as a girl even when you have a guy with you, tourist market is much better. We went to the Temple of Karnak which was beautiful and enormous beyond belief... really, I don't think I yet believe it, after which we went to the Luxor Temple... not as large but I guess that's all relative since to Ramses II and all those pharaohs building edifices, obelisks, statues 15-20 meters high was of no real importance hahaha. The camel and faluka ride were exceptional by the way (I really want to see what it's like to have a camel take off in a controlled run - comparable to a horse?)
Thursday May 15th
This was our earliest wakeup call which at first they said was going to be 3:15am... it was ironic the rejoicing that went on when the finally changed it to 4am. We went to the valley of the kings were we were able to go inside Ramses the II's tomb, 2 more and the ultimate favorite - King Tut's (he was small! about 5'-2" max height!). Out of here we stopped by an Alabaster Factory which was nice, informational, but I learned the best prices are definitely found on the market as long as you know what to look for. By this point in the trip we'd had a number of people not feeling too hot off and on but nothing serious to the point of hospitalization. We had quite the time for freetime and so mass shopping occurred before we had to meet and get on the train back to Cairo. The train ride wAs bumpy but I really enjoyed it (up until waking up - getting the "sea legs" back was difficult). Erin Ladle had the accident of the trip - getting her fingers smashed in the door of somebody's room because there was just such a large group at the dance party. Turns out two of the three fingers were broken - interesting Egyptian souvenir! It was nice tonight because not only were the train compartments reminding us of Hogwarts Express and Anastasia but Adri (I love her!) and Laurens Call and Thompson's room opened into ours. We played a rousing few rounds of Phase 10 with Will Armstrong after which we got ready for bed and Kevin Lang came by to talk and give us a "bed-time" story. I love getting to know people slightly better and understand what makes them tick. He told us of 3 of his 9 siblings after which the real story (at which point Adri fell dead asleep) came from a spiritual thought about a man giving a blessing to a black man before the blacks could hold the priesthood saying he would one day help ordain somebody to high authority - first presidency was contacted and replied to simply keep quiet until the day came, day came and later down the road that man did help in the ordination showing God has a time and way for everything to be fulfilled. It really isn't our time but the Lord's we've been given to use at this time!
Friday May 16th
We arrived in Cairo about 5 in the morning, ate breakfast in the hotel and had church in a meeting room there. It was different because it was in a setting more similar to a forum. I've enjoyed how church isn't according to the day or the setting in which we are in. I remember a time when we held church in someplace we vacationed at with Tannon on what looked to be a ranch, relaxation place. As long as proper authority has been given and the proper ways are carried out, church is anywhere we make it! Becky, Channing, and Mike Hansen spoke with a large musical group arranged by Jenn Weiss in which I participated in. It was a wonderful experience. However, like the rest of the trip - we weren't about to start resting now. From here we were given a few minutes to spruce up and hit the buses to go tour the Egyptian Museum in Cairo which was nice but now I was joining my fellow compatriots in feeling a little less than beautiful with Egypt Presents and such. The Museum was definitely memorable with the amazing artifacts. After this we went to the main bazaar... which for our group turned out to be less scary (although more protection was taken here because it's a high problem here) than Luxor. Bartering was much easier here for cheap jewelry and I found that traveling with Bruce Steed and Randy is always very nice because they are two of the largest guys in our group making the local men simply say hello to them and comment on their three wives or girlfriends (really, and I thought I needed to be Mormon in order to receive polygamist comments!). Sleep was welcome but not until after we had an amazing dance party with a native girl coming in and showing us what real dancing was (I've never seen anyone shake like that before - it was amazing, even more precise than Tahitian).
Saturday May 17th
A testimony is really found in the serving of others. We left early in order to get back by 10 in the evening and snorkel in the Red Sea. Kevin sat next to me and wasn't feeling so hot... as in really feeling sick I think. I found that by trying to make him feel better any way possible (similar to what I'd already done to Ashley Cooper and others) caused me to love him more (again, similar to the others I had already tried to help). Yes, I had unpleasant presents from Egypt but I was actually feeling quite alright which is a blessing for my body to have reacted so well as to not give me pain or extreme discomfort. Checkpoint took longer than we expected because we are supposed to be "tourists" (that's our visa anyways) but we had all similar bags and some had books in them giving the impression we were students... tricky tricky. We swam and snorkeled in the Red Sea just on the other side of the border which was nice for the experience, was beautiful (Cancun was better) but the physical activity was part of the best I think because we'd gotten so little and the swimming felt good on our bodies. Afterwards Kevin and I sat together again and I learned quite a deal about his family as well as he about Tannon. It was very nice because we were able to talk for a good 2 hours about our lives, spiritual matters, I was able to ask some questions, we talked a lot about blessings and the power of the priesthood (I asked him questions Dad would that are deep and definitely take internal thinking "what are you feelings on being able to be a barer of such a power?" and such - it shocked him but was very nice indeed). At this point I realized that I really appreciated being able to talk to him and have reciprocal communication (what happens every time someone opens up a small part of their life to you) from someone I respected. I really am with quite the amazing group. I've learned about so many of the girls and now I am learning about the guys - wow. This bus trip was exceptionally good not only from the amazing conversation we were able to have but also because we slept nearly the entire time else (if not then I was working on Old Testament reading which was nice too). Theme songs on the way back while Kevin was asleep were Africa by Vocalpoint and my piano mix from Jessi Cheney. It was interesting for the remaining 2 hours of the drive when we were winding down from talking and getting rather tired because as seatmates we fell asleep to reggae - I like a lot. ps - I'm glad I'm not too tall and have to deal with seats that don't have enough leg room because these seats weren't conducive to tall people very much as a number of people vocalized.
Sunday May 18th
We got home the night before (my bus at least) just before 10pm to go in for dinner at the Oasis and sleep. Sleep was very blessed. I found in the morning that there was an odd repugnant smell to our clothes I hadn't smelt before... more presents from Egypt. Classes were difficult this morning because we are simply so exhausted from the constant go go go but I made it through Old Testament with a breeze and learned about David's fall, NES was alright (hadn't done the reading but he gave today as a grace and so I have to do it before class on Tuesday), Muslim was slightly too long with out enough clear direction but from what I got out of it the French and British reorganized and realigned boundaries after WWI. Food is amazing but I'm still not hungry at all. I slept... for 3 hours today. I caught up on some Old Testament, still have a lot more though, and finished off my night loading all my pictures from Egypt (ps - check out picasa - there's some pretty good ones even though I didn't edit all in detail) while watching The Great Escape with Bryan, Jenna, Jonathon, Randy, Mike Hansen, and a number of others.
Alright, I believe I've finally caught up. With just one more though to go I am going to bed because my stomach is disagreeing having stayed up so late
from Channing's talk in church Friday "ask the Lord for those mountains that you may climb and conquer with his help... while we are kings and queens [in this life]. Those mountains are the paramountal changes in our lives sometimes"
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Joshua, son of Nun
For today, although it is the Israeli 60th Independence Day, I had just too much work to catch up on (still do actually) and too much to do before Shabat and the Egypt so I decided to stay in Jerusalem while half the group decided to go to Tel Aviv and join in festivities there. I did get out to grab some Egyptian Pounds (not worth much - about 5.3 to $1 without commission), see my olive wood trader friend (I'm his "sister" now - I like him and I think that although he doesn't have extremely good quality, I'll be able to get a fair exchange when I do actually purchase) across the way from Shaban's Ali Baba shop in the bazaar (which was slightly -understatement - crowded today due to the holiday I suppose), grab a falafel with Bryan and Randy, and... oh, grab some bug repellent, travel size, so we don't end up get nasty bulbous, yellow pustules in Egypt. Before we braved the crowds, there was good study time going on, catching up on some of my Old Testament reading. Here's a thought that really hit me that I emailed to my friend Caleb Vandehueval
====================================================================
Man though, I've loved getting to study and learn so much about the Bible this... past week? I have only 7 more weeks left but no worries - my schedule is definitely jammed full between sporadic 2 hour classes, field trips in the "mobile classroom", and our excursions as students into the city to learn more about it with each other. Between learning about Mount Moriah (Jehovah's teachings?) to having an epiphanal moment this morning (it's five in the afternoon) about Joshua, son of Nun, this experience is one that'll catch in the archives of my sticky brain. Did you know that Joshua, son of Nun is the same Joshua that:
1. led the Israelites into battle while Moses held is rod in the sky?
2. was 1 of 2 spies out of the 12 sent to bring a report on people living in the promised land, that came back with a positive faithful answer.
3. went up to Mt. Sinai the first time with Moses (the first 40 day one)4. was present when Moses saw God face-to-face (Exodus 33:11)
4. "fit the battle of Jericho"
5. 5 kings, destroy-all-except-those-that-submit-themselves-as-slaves, Gibeonites, stopped sun, stopped moon, hale storm sound familiar?
ReAlLy! He's pretty amazing. And then to have the mantle passed to him and become a great commander/prophet is so... he seems like he really filled that potential that God had for him. It's funny, I've been studying the Bible for years but never very deep. Now however, being able to sudy and make these correlations - it made me so excited and energized because of the pieces that were fitting together that I never knew were puzzle pieces. I memorized the scripture Exodus 33:11 - face-to-face - back in seminary... sophmore year of high school? and I never knew why it stated "son of Nun" - it seemed superflous to me, unnecessary. NoW - wOw, it was there so we could make these correlations! The Bible is a book written by men inspired by God. ====================================================================
The experiences here are just getting better and better! I fear the "square wheels" on the overnight train ride in Egypt, but overall our safety is being watched and cared for by very attentive people. I think I might want to take up a career in spulunking after going through Micah's Caves yesterday on our geography field trip - so much like a big kid's playground "Mcdonald's Galore". The border closed yesterday? between the east and the west and the only problem that affected us was that we had class cancelled (Dr. Musallum teaches at Bethlehem University). I've got a few more hours to study hard, catch up, eat, and go to the celebrations in West Jerusalem so I'll adieu.
====================================================================
Man though, I've loved getting to study and learn so much about the Bible this... past week? I have only 7 more weeks left but no worries - my schedule is definitely jammed full between sporadic 2 hour classes, field trips in the "mobile classroom", and our excursions as students into the city to learn more about it with each other. Between learning about Mount Moriah (Jehovah's teachings?) to having an epiphanal moment this morning (it's five in the afternoon) about Joshua, son of Nun, this experience is one that'll catch in the archives of my sticky brain. Did you know that Joshua, son of Nun is the same Joshua that:
1. led the Israelites into battle while Moses held is rod in the sky?
2. was 1 of 2 spies out of the 12 sent to bring a report on people living in the promised land, that came back with a positive faithful answer.
3. went up to Mt. Sinai the first time with Moses (the first 40 day one)4. was present when Moses saw God face-to-face (Exodus 33:11)
4. "fit the battle of Jericho"
5. 5 kings, destroy-all-except-those-that-submit-themselves-as-slaves, Gibeonites, stopped sun, stopped moon, hale storm sound familiar?
ReAlLy! He's pretty amazing. And then to have the mantle passed to him and become a great commander/prophet is so... he seems like he really filled that potential that God had for him. It's funny, I've been studying the Bible for years but never very deep. Now however, being able to sudy and make these correlations - it made me so excited and energized because of the pieces that were fitting together that I never knew were puzzle pieces. I memorized the scripture Exodus 33:11 - face-to-face - back in seminary... sophmore year of high school? and I never knew why it stated "son of Nun" - it seemed superflous to me, unnecessary. NoW - wOw, it was there so we could make these correlations! The Bible is a book written by men inspired by God. ====================================================================
The experiences here are just getting better and better! I fear the "square wheels" on the overnight train ride in Egypt, but overall our safety is being watched and cared for by very attentive people. I think I might want to take up a career in spulunking after going through Micah's Caves yesterday on our geography field trip - so much like a big kid's playground "Mcdonald's Galore". The border closed yesterday? between the east and the west and the only problem that affected us was that we had class cancelled (Dr. Musallum teaches at Bethlehem University). I've got a few more hours to study hard, catch up, eat, and go to the celebrations in West Jerusalem so I'll adieu.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Photos
p.s. - for anyone that wants to look at more photos and the ones that have been touched and finished visit http://picasaweb.google.com and look for the public folder of user nickidi7
Jerusalem
Alright, so I've done very poorly on filling the blog out... not gonna lie though, it was difficult trying to sort through the Hebrew writing just now in order to find where to post this new blog.
Anyhow, Sam, I'm taking your advice and just going to go on a stream of consciousness so please no minding the structure at all.
It's truly beautiful here and I really love getting to spend time here. Here's a journal entry I typed up on May 1st:
It's been interesting being here in Jerusalem. For some strange reason I don't feel as though I am in a foreign land. This might be attributed to my traveling to other countries but I haven't grasped that the different architecture all made of limestone, the different languages being spoken all around me, the two warring factions living with each other and yet apart, that all this should be foreign to people from a land that is relatively free from strong political shifting turbulence, English is the predominant language spoken everywhere, and all the houses are made of different material, different looks - part of our culture is to choose what type of large spacious edifice you want to live in and what type of unique design caters to your taste. I think what has catered to me is that they are people just like me. They eat food that I am not completely foreign to; with the relations the Jerusalem Center has built up, the people are relatively friendly and greet us with smiles and hellos; they have their problems in theft and assault that even Pleasantville Provo has. I believe the most shocking to me is how much like home it will feel to me, faster than I will justifiably be able to identify that home-comfort-security feel in myself. I love this land. It is rich with life. As was stated in one of our classes - it is rich with culture. This is a beautiful day to be alive! 
As you can tell from the picture above, we have been trying to catch up on this thing called jet lag but I don't know if I've quite got it down yet. For some reason, the first time in my life, I had a difficult time going to bed the other night and spent 2 hours more than I wanted to up, mind racing with so many things all about me... my roommates have similar sleeping habits to mine (and if you know me well enough to understand this last comment... it's slightly frightening) but the last few nights have been bad between not being able to go to sleep and working on homework till the early hours. The picture just above is the first glimpse we had of the Israeli coast from the plane.
This is the view from my porch on the 4th floor, we live on the Mt. Olives... I believe, it's right next to Mt. Scopus (I know this because Hebrew U is right on the jogging path I set together - on top of Mt. Scopus). The view is phenomenal here... just about anywhere you go though so it's basically one of those medicinal treatments for urban sick eyes. To get an update here's what I've been up to for the past week that I've been here... wow... tomorrow morning makes a full week...hmmmm... and so much has already happened.
We've been on either tours provided by the "mobile classroom" (i.e. our teacher is our field guide, touring parts of the land... while we take avid notes... if you've ever seen the freshman with the headphones on walking around the HBLL at BYU Provo for their English class - that's what we look like: 40 students with headphones in mass groups around one figure point, looking where he says look, listening to everything over his headset due to our size), groups have gotten together to go see things (I'm part of the in-Jerusalem-committee... basically I'm utilizing my loud voice and love to plan things for seeing the city in all different aspects that it holds), as well as just a few of us going out to go see things (of course never less than the required 3 people.. and I usually prefer a guy in the group. Let's just say that it's similar to Mexico except slightly altered - different culture so no catcalls but definitely interesting individuals). On our last tour we were able to see where Bethlehem is (it's in the background valley)-
we've been to the Agusta Victoria Tower (/hospital/chapel), Judean Plain, Naabi Samwill (Prophet Samuel's grave), The Church of the Holy Sepulcher (one of the holiest places viewed in Christendom), 
I walked the Via Delorosa where it is thought Christ made his way with the cross until Calvary at night with some friends and then again in the day time in order to go into the different stopping sites such as the Church of Flagellation, the Old City bazaar (just about everyday too), Golgotha (where they think it is), the Garden Tomb (both these last two on our Shabat - church services which fall on Saturday)
Today we went to the Haredim District which was quite interesting. It's the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish sector where the men have banana curls, wear knit kippah or hat, black coats (in all seasons!), and have a very different society than what we are accustomed to. 
I felt the most safe in this district than I have around many of the areas where many men are because we received very few stares (it's not in their societal ways to stare or catcall) but the people were very distant.
The experiences here will last for some time I believe. The friendship I've built with the money changer Alladin (he's who the Jerusalem Center students usually go through - we were joking around for a good 10 minutes while he was able to do probably only 2 transactions!), the interesting nature some of the sellers have towards tourists (negatively - grossly inflated prices) or from the positive air given because they just want to build a good reputation (allowing a lower price settlement and giving us a few more trinkets as we're leaving as it is), and the amazing people I am on this study group with will last me quite some time. I was able to learn everyone's name within the first 48 hours (although I still have a few slips here and there) enabling me to be friends with so many wonderful people and get to know more people on an intimate basis. The ages are from 19 to 26, predominantly 23ish allowing for a good maturity to the group on average (hey, we still know how to be kids though). I love the friendships developed and the amazing qualities of people here.
I truly have felt the spirit when I realize that God loves EACH OF US. That means although we have our quirks that are not exactly easy to live with at times, if that ignorant attitude is done away with we're able to remember that God loves all equally and so we shouldn't be the ones to judge how much we should love one over another. Honestly. I love this place so much and I'm starting to feel the place speak to more as I try to learn more and more. We learned the other day that the only way to be humble is by loving yourself fully. Not in a prideful manner but in the way God loves you. If this inward ability is accomplished, an outward change is developed and all negative light dissaporates from your mind. I've never had a real problem with self-confidence but I'm really seeing by loving others, I'm loving myself more. By not worrying about things or letting things get to my head, I'm loving myself more. By trying to do everything I'm supposed to, I'm loving myself more. Everyone needs the opportunity to talk to someone in need of a good, intimate conversation each day... oh, and 3 hugs a minimum each day too. Even if some things are forgotten at the end of the day, at least you feel accomplished for having forgotten yourself for a moment and having used your personal abilities in someone else's benefit. I love.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Orem Nursing Home
For the past 7 months I've been trying to wrangle groups together in order to go singing at the Orem Nursing Home. My summer ward in Condo Row did this at a nursing home in Provo, off of State Street. It was such a neat experience that I decided to try and get my new ward to enjoy in the experience as well. Although with such busy schedules in those among my new ward, I found better success in grabbing friends from work, previous wards, and home instead. It's honestly such a good feeling getting to go sing to the elderly; they appreciate the time you take from your busy day to help break up their monotony. Such wonderful friends have been made there. Leroy Gibbins was one of my favorite residents who sung in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for many years and sang with us up until he passed away. Anna Mae loves her books and requests upbeat hymns only; Jay always request hymn number 193 with a bright smile; Irene Tovansen is from Sweden, 93, and loves to conduct us; Jean is hard of hearing but greatly appreciates that we would spend such time with her, bringing in a beautiful spirit with us; John has the most beautiful, welcoming, cheery hello for everyone; Lavee loves "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" and is wonderful to patiently listen to our struggling with this song; Her roommate Bonnie requested "Somewhere, My Love" - which we also struggled through but sang beautifully this last time; Norma Naylor has a such a cheery complexion and manner about her that if I am half as bright as her when I am that age I will count myself blest. There are so many more with so many other beautiful stories. I love the opportunity to blend the age gaps. In the eternal perspective, our physical ages are but trivial things and they should not hinder or impede our ability to build friendships of love between our fellow men. It's amazing what we can learn in our selves when we step outside our comfort zone and experience life through people's eyes and with other people by our side.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Unwritten
The other day I was watching Back to the Future.. actually I watched all three of the them (for the first time). Doc stated something very true 'It means your future is unwritten so make it a good one!". Truly, I believe that statement fully. So many aspects of life are given to choice, no direct way in which to do anything. There is an intense freedom in our lives.
Today I hiked Squaw Peak with my friend, Rob Glover. This was our second hike to do (first being the backside of Timp) and it's become very natural and easy to hike with him. We hike hard with a few breaks in order to not push too hard, stop for snacks along the way, have enjoyable conversation... at the beginning and after we've made it to the top, overall it's a great recreational activity to enjoy God's magnificent hand. While hiking, we came to a clearing. With the snow that we keep having, added mud from the warm weather, and a mixture of tracking-expertise-lack on my part... we lost the trail... numerous times in that clearing. However, in talking to Rob, we realized that it's similar to life - the trail follows no RuLeS simply gUiDeLiNeS. In life we aren't given rules - but guidelines. We figured that since we were going in the general correct direction, following occassional random footsteps, perhaps the way which we were going would lead us as a short cut (but we were willing to accept the 'long cut' possibility as well). Similar to life, you might not follow the cookie cutter mold (the trail) but as long as you are headed in the correct direction, you always run the possibility of coming out a little further than if the path had been followed with exactness as a number of people had. All in all the hike was wonderful with the occassional fruit snack break, granola bar break, water breaks, sandwich break at the top, conversational breaks, and oh! the labrador we met on our way down. The best part of the whole hike is that we accept each other's short comings in energy or lack of ability for finding real trails ( :) ), enjoy talking with one another, are able to help each other along the way, we are simply friends, and I felt completely safe the entire time due to his first aid kit, preparedness, and genuine concern of my well being (when I fell iN the snow rather than walking on tOp). The best part is we were able to be natural and LaUgH whenever we felt like it (which should be a part of everyone's daily ritual)
Oh... we did happen to get on the conversation of almost feeling like we were being watched... which would mean being stalked by some animal... in a wooded area that felt and looked much like a scene from The Village... I agree with Rob when stating a very good reason not to enjoy watching scary movies - my imagination is good enough without any help!
Today I hiked Squaw Peak with my friend, Rob Glover. This was our second hike to do (first being the backside of Timp) and it's become very natural and easy to hike with him. We hike hard with a few breaks in order to not push too hard, stop for snacks along the way, have enjoyable conversation... at the beginning and after we've made it to the top, overall it's a great recreational activity to enjoy God's magnificent hand. While hiking, we came to a clearing. With the snow that we keep having, added mud from the warm weather, and a mixture of tracking-expertise-lack on my part... we lost the trail... numerous times in that clearing. However, in talking to Rob, we realized that it's similar to life - the trail follows no RuLeS simply gUiDeLiNeS. In life we aren't given rules - but guidelines. We figured that since we were going in the general correct direction, following occassional random footsteps, perhaps the way which we were going would lead us as a short cut (but we were willing to accept the 'long cut' possibility as well). Similar to life, you might not follow the cookie cutter mold (the trail) but as long as you are headed in the correct direction, you always run the possibility of coming out a little further than if the path had been followed with exactness as a number of people had. All in all the hike was wonderful with the occassional fruit snack break, granola bar break, water breaks, sandwich break at the top, conversational breaks, and oh! the labrador we met on our way down. The best part of the whole hike is that we accept each other's short comings in energy or lack of ability for finding real trails ( :) ), enjoy talking with one another, are able to help each other along the way, we are simply friends, and I felt completely safe the entire time due to his first aid kit, preparedness, and genuine concern of my well being (when I fell iN the snow rather than walking on tOp). The best part is we were able to be natural and LaUgH whenever we felt like it (which should be a part of everyone's daily ritual)
Oh... we did happen to get on the conversation of almost feeling like we were being watched... which would mean being stalked by some animal... in a wooded area that felt and looked much like a scene from The Village... I agree with Rob when stating a very good reason not to enjoy watching scary movies - my imagination is good enough without any help!
Friday, April 18, 2008
too much time gets to the head
It's eleven days till I leave, I'm nearly ready to leave... and yet haven't fully comprehending the magnitude of what I get to do.
I have four out of seven classes completely finished with, received very good marks from my vocal juries - 2.54, am enjoying finally able to breathe and relax some (even though it's finals week), and yet I have mixed emotions about the entire leaving thing. I think now that I for once get the chance to 'stop and smell the roses' for once, the lack of such a tight schedule is getting to my head. Don't misunderstand me - there is no way I am going to willingly nOt go. The realization hit that I'll be leaving some pretty neat people behind. I've seen my mom just at the beginning of this month - which I'm very thankful for - but I won't get to see the rest of them for a total of 6 months. I think that too much time simply gets to my head, running around like an organized chicken with its head cut off is just so much more interesting. However, although I will miss many people here are the blessings I am receiving and foretelling to receive as well
Currently
1. I've gotten to spend more than normal time with Tiffany Rosenbaum who is basically amazing
2. I've gotten the chance to speak more often than normal to my lovely sister Sam due to extenuating circumstances in my life and simply having a lot of walking time from campus and my apartment
3. I have actual time to sLeEp!
4. I have only a take home theory final (which will definitely be done while listening to music or watching a few movies), an online world religions final (I think it'd be wise to study for that one), and my scheduled dictation final... I hope my ears are working that early in the morning.
5. My roommate Linda Patino is phenomenal and I love our hilarious laughter, relaxing movies, and wise... enjoyable advice.
6. It's getting warm now!!! (until, of course, it snows again in a few days)
7. I'm halfway through packing for Jerusalem
8. I'm nearly done with catching up on my missionary letters! (after... 3 months?)
9. I have only a little bit of dirty laundry right now (much better than my nearly 3 weeks worth of dirty laundry Tuesday)
10. I got breakfast at my 7am final this morning
To be
1. I'll get to learn about some amazing culture while experiencing it simultaneously.
2. I'm so excited to meet so many amazing people at the Jerusalem Center as well as natives
3. It'S hOt ThErE!
4. I love studying abroad, realizing how small the world really is and that we're all in this together.
5. I get to fly and test my narcoleptic theory: Martino genes allow you to sleep anywhere, anyplace, anytime of day... I think I'll succeed.
6. So many pictures to take!!!
7. I get to see Sam, D, Halle, and Bennett possibly if my flight and the Peterson's flight schedule (driving?) works out well in June
8. ah... the Spirit
9. Tiff's amazing and is now my storage unit for the month and a half I'm in the Holy Land
10. I might not comprehend what I'm getting myself into but I will grow so much for it and I'm appreciative for the ways in which I'm growing in preparation and will grow.
I have four out of seven classes completely finished with, received very good marks from my vocal juries - 2.54, am enjoying finally able to breathe and relax some (even though it's finals week), and yet I have mixed emotions about the entire leaving thing. I think now that I for once get the chance to 'stop and smell the roses' for once, the lack of such a tight schedule is getting to my head. Don't misunderstand me - there is no way I am going to willingly nOt go. The realization hit that I'll be leaving some pretty neat people behind. I've seen my mom just at the beginning of this month - which I'm very thankful for - but I won't get to see the rest of them for a total of 6 months. I think that too much time simply gets to my head, running around like an organized chicken with its head cut off is just so much more interesting. However, although I will miss many people here are the blessings I am receiving and foretelling to receive as well
Currently
1. I've gotten to spend more than normal time with Tiffany Rosenbaum who is basically amazing
2. I've gotten the chance to speak more often than normal to my lovely sister Sam due to extenuating circumstances in my life and simply having a lot of walking time from campus and my apartment
3. I have actual time to sLeEp!
4. I have only a take home theory final (which will definitely be done while listening to music or watching a few movies), an online world religions final (I think it'd be wise to study for that one), and my scheduled dictation final... I hope my ears are working that early in the morning.
5. My roommate Linda Patino is phenomenal and I love our hilarious laughter, relaxing movies, and wise... enjoyable advice.
6. It's getting warm now!!! (until, of course, it snows again in a few days)
7. I'm halfway through packing for Jerusalem
8. I'm nearly done with catching up on my missionary letters! (after... 3 months?)
9. I have only a little bit of dirty laundry right now (much better than my nearly 3 weeks worth of dirty laundry Tuesday)
10. I got breakfast at my 7am final this morning
To be
1. I'll get to learn about some amazing culture while experiencing it simultaneously.
2. I'm so excited to meet so many amazing people at the Jerusalem Center as well as natives
3. It'S hOt ThErE!
4. I love studying abroad, realizing how small the world really is and that we're all in this together.
5. I get to fly and test my narcoleptic theory: Martino genes allow you to sleep anywhere, anyplace, anytime of day... I think I'll succeed.
6. So many pictures to take!!!
7. I get to see Sam, D, Halle, and Bennett possibly if my flight and the Peterson's flight schedule (driving?) works out well in June
8. ah... the Spirit
9. Tiff's amazing and is now my storage unit for the month and a half I'm in the Holy Land
10. I might not comprehend what I'm getting myself into but I will grow so much for it and I'm appreciative for the ways in which I'm growing in preparation and will grow.
Monday, April 14, 2008
15 days and counting...
Since I have no form of online communication to any family or friends and am leaving for the Holy Land in 15 days, I figured it was about time that I made myself a blog so that I can have some contact to everyone in the states. 15 days and counting, I get to fly out early the 29th (with some poor unfortunate soul driving me there at 5am?) and am off to see the world and experience a new (and yet ancient) culture. I am extremely excited for this opportunity to see more of the world. I feel blessed to have been part of the few randomly selected applicants for spring term. I am more than excited to get to visit the sites we talk of so often in the Old and New Testament. Between the Grove of Olives, the Wailing Wall, the Dead Sea, Jordan and Egypt, I can't wait to experience and learn from so many wonderful places.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
