Goodbye to the Jerusalem I love!

    


   Well, here I am deserted by  65 of the students and left to fend for myself in this lonely place. Mom and Dad, I can not express to you what this experience has meant to me. Yes I have been able to go to some cool sights, see too many tels and sneak into thousands of cisterns. But I am a totally different person I feel then when I stepped off that plane in Tel Aviv. I have 82 best friends. They are the best of the best. These people are truly Amazing and I am honored to have been able to spend this time with them. I have grown deep strong roots of testimony for this Gospel. I can truly say that I know my Savior, I know He Lives, He loves me. He has felt everything I have felt and I can turn to Him whenever. He died for me. He suffered so much I can not even fathom what he went through those two days. I love you two and I love our family. You two are truly remarkable people and I am sorry it took me this long to show and express that. I know I was trouble, but I hope we can look back and laugh at what a drama queen I was? I love you guys and mom I can't wait to talk to you about everything! I dont think we have ever talked about Jerusalem and your experience. Well Mom and my girl Soph- I will see you two at the airport! Ill be crying most likely so be prepared. Dad and James Ill see you two when  you get home. Dad I hope your  birthday was amazing!! I love you so much. I love this land and I am coming back one day. I will never forget how the Savior changed me here.
.:/katie  

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE WHERE CHRIST WALKED TO BE WHERE HE IS...

One week left? I swear that is not right! I go through stages of being excited to come home and stages where I wish I could just stay here with these people forever. I cannot wait to see my beautiful family (well the ones that are in Utah- the others I will see soon). School will be fun to get back into and I have a ton of fun plans for the summer!

I am having a great day where I can just sit here, read my journal, and reflect on this experience. I came here, more like I started the year, with a theme in mind. It is an amazing poem that my mom showed me probably in 8^th or 9^th grade. It is called “Comes the Dawn” and if you know me you have probably heard me quote it.

“After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and changing a soul, and you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning and company isn’t security (kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises).  After a while you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open, with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child. And you learn to build your roads on today because tomorrows ground is too uncertain and the inevitable has a way of crumbling in mid-flight. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you stand too long in one place. So, you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone else .  You endure, and see that you really do have worth. You learn that with every good-bye comes the dawn”

 One of the first things that I noticed about the people here (in Jerusalem) was their dedication to their religion. I saw the ultra orthodox Jews and the Muslims fully living their religion. It taught me a lot about how I should rank religion in my own life.

 January 9, 2010

“The sacrament prayer was just said. It hit me so hard this time, looking out at the very city where Christ was bruised and broken, looking at the very garden where he bled and suffered for our sins. I don’t think I have ever felt so close to my Savior as I do right now.

 “Real love does not support self destructive behavior”   Love is the first law. I have learned so much about what real love is and how everyone deserves REAL love.

 January 28,2010

“I don’t think I needed to be on Sinai to know that Moses was a prophet, or go to the Garden of Gethsemane to know that Christ gave his life for me. The confirmations I get for those are when I am alone, still, reading my scriptures, or writing in my journal. I don’t know why I am here or the reason I came. Honestly it is because my parents told me to - but as the weeks go on I realize why I HAD to be here I NEED this experience whether I wanted it or not. I am so grateful to my parents for this!”

 "Even when things are dark we need to realize that God won’t let anything happen to us that isn’t for our own good”

 Music has been a huge testimony builder here. The words in the hymns really have hit my heart and made this gospel a more tangible thing for me.

 I have learned so much about the power of the priesthood and the atonement. I am truly amazed that Christ would suffer, bleed and die for each one of us. He struggled and asked his Father to “remove this cup”. Christ knows what it is like waiting for pain to pass. He knew the Father’s will and continued to endure the suffering. We are all able to take advantage of the Atonement. The Lord loves us so much. We are his children and the Savior is our Brother. We are family, they love us and we should return the love. They provided a way for us to be happy and to return to our Father in Heaven. I am so grateful for worthy priesthood holders. The guys here on this study abroad and such amazing men. They all love their Savior and put him first. They are caring and protective of us girls, which I am so grateful for.

 February 24, 2010

I will admit I didn’t know what to expect, coming here to Jerusalem. I didn’t know why I came, but day by day I find reasons. I have learned how strong I can be, I am being immersed in the gospel and feel the spirit every day! I have been able to meet people who truly blow me away. I see qualities in them that I want to acquire.

President Okiishi opened my eyes to how eternal our lives are and how this world is just one small dot on the line of eternity. He opened my eyes to how involved in my life the Lord is. My eyes were opened to my divine worth and what my potential is.  I was able to feel the Lords love. I have been humbled to a sobbing mess and have never felt so much light in my life.  I have never felt so much love in my life.  Who knows where my life will go when I get back but I know that if I keep the commandments the Lord will guide my life.  I know that there will be pain and tears but the Lord won’t put me through anything that I can’t get through.  I am looking into the future with bright eyes and with the knowledge that the Lord is on my side.  I testify that this is the one true gospel and if we trust in the Lord he will lead us to where and what we should do.

 I have been able to learn that we are not perfect. And we are not expected to be perfect. God knows that that is a silly request to make. But we MUST try. We must give our all every day to do the BEST WE CAN. Because the best we can do is accepted by the Lord. As long as you are striving for something you are slowly getting there, and that comforts me.

 March 15, 2010 (Galilee)

We went to the beach and were standing ankle deep in the water singing hymns. The waves were getting big and the wind was raging. It was very powerful. I was imagining Christ out there on his boat saying “peace be still”.  The words from the song “Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing” really hit me --“here’s my heart oh take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.”

 You don’t have to be where Christ walked to be where is IS.

 Not only walk where He walked but walk as he walked

 March 26, 2010

I find it amazing how everything about this gospel teaches us TODAY. We learn from these people’s lives. What were they learning from? Why did they come in those dispensations? Why am I here now? What can I do so others can learn from me? God knew what we needed in this life. He knew what we would learn from. He knew what to put these people through for us to learn from them. It is so easy for us to see the hand of God in their lives. Why is it so hard for us to see it in our lives?

 If the Lord asks us to do something…that is reason enough to do it.

 “Come to the edge…No I will fall!

Come to the edge…No I will fall!

Come to the edge…so I came to the edge

He pushed me and I FLEW”

 March 27,2010

Christ is exactly who he said he was. He came, he taught, he performed miracles, he suffered for us, he was killed, and rose again. He lives and he is my Savior. I love Him and love the opportunity to become closer to Him.

 April 1, 2010

“ We just reenacted the nativity. During our program we sang beautiful hymns. This is where Christ took his first breath of life. This is where his young mother Mary gave birth to our savior. I believe that his birth was a very humble and loving one. I believe it was quiet, without spectators. I can’t imagine the joy of Mary and Joseph as they looked into the face of their Redeemer.

 April 3, 2010

Thinking back on who I was and who I now am, I am blown away. I know that Christ has slowly been changing me. Day by day I have been shaped by my Savior, taking a little off here, adding a little more there. I am so grateful! I know my Savior lives, and I cannot deny it. This experience has been a little piece of Heaven. My Savior was born in Bethlehem, preached and lived in Galilee, he healed in Capernaum and Jerusalem. He fed the 5,000, He is the bread of life and the living water. It is only through him that we can return to our Father in Heaven.

 This has been the most amazing experience thus far in life to be able to live in the Holy Land for 4 months and study my Savior's life and learn about His sacrifice for me. I am so grateful for this opportunity and it will shape my life forever.  

More Photos of our trip to Jordan!

Easter service at the Garden Tomb

The Treasury at Petra

Monastary at Petra

Me in a huge water cistern

Dead Sea Mud Bath!!

A WEEK IN JORDAN...

Hey everyone! wow I will be home so soon and I can't wait to see you all! This trip has been the most amazing experience ever and I am so happy I have been able to meet all of these amazing people and see these amazing sites. We recently went to Jordan and were able to go to Petra which is BEAUTIFUL and so spectacular! I will see you April 23rd. 

Me and my security men...

JERASH: A very cool Roman place, very well preserved...

In a huge mosque.  We had to wear these Harry Potter robes...

View of Jordan

Jordan River

Me and Ali in the John the Baptist Church...

EASTER WEEK!

Ill just highlight some fun things I was able to do this week.

Palm Sunday was very interesting. Me and some girls headed into the old city we first stopped at the Church of the Redeemer. They were holding a service so we sat and listened for a little. This church is beautiful! It was the first time I was able to enter, and it had high high celings and the whole church was made of beautiful white stone. Then we headed over to the Church of the Holy Seplecher. It was crazy and some fights broke out in the line to enter Christ’s “burial”.  We were able to go upstairs and listen to some monks in training sing. Later that day we joined a HUGE mob of people on the Mount of Olives in the walk of Palm Sunday. It was very exciting and full of energy. I felt like I was in a parade. The old ladies did this crazy warrior call that was hilarious. There were so many people dancing and we threw in a few of our hymns.

We went to the Separation Wall today. It is very sad and causes a lot of heartache and trouble for these people. Followed by a hilarious talent show.

Shepherds field! We went to a beautiful field overlooking Bethlehem and celebrated Christmas! It was so much fun, we put on a Nativity and I was a little lamb.

Walking the Via Dolorosa on Good Friday. This was truly insane! We all started at station 1. There were people dressed as roman guards and a man as Jesus covered in red paint. I didn’t like that part at all. I was in a little courtyard and was trying to get out. The monks were arriving so the Israeli soldiers shoved us all out of the way and pushed us up against the wall. We were sooo squished but with the help of my man friends they protected us and got us out safe. We waddled our way through all of the stops with thousands of people from all over the world.

Later that night we welcomed in the Sabbath at the Western Wall. This time being there, was much more somber and quiet, we hardly danced. (we are not allowed to take pictures on the Sabbath, because you cant push buttons, so I don’t have any pictures…sorry)

Sabbath was amazing here at the Jerusalem center. Some girl friends and I went to Orson Hyde Gardens. It was so beautiful just overlooking Jerusalem on a beautiful, clear, warm day.

Wasn’t conference just wonderful.! I only have seen the first session so far.

Easter Sunday! I went to a service at the Garden Tomb. They played Christian rock and praised the Lord every other second. I loved it so much! There were people from every continent there!

I then literally walked EVERYWHERE! In west Jerusalem my friends and I took off our shoes to enter the Ethiopian church, there we sat for about an hour, all alone on the colorful rugs and sang Easter hymns. It was so beautiful. 

CHILE- FOR EMILY!

I LOVE GALILEE!

Just chillin' in some ruins...

Mine fields in the Golan Heights...

Me and my "besties"

Dad!  Your two favorite things!  A lighthouse and food!!

GALILEE

SEA OF GALILEE

MOUNT OF BEATITUDES

                                   

EATING MY ST. PETER'S FISH...

GALILEE

Walking where Christ walked... 

There are no words to express how I have changed or what I have learned while being here. Galilee was so beautiful and we were able to be quiet. I love you all!

 Wow can I just say how amazing this place is! It is tropical and full of flowers. It has been super windy so far but amazing!

 A testimony is like a tree…we sometimes can only see it from the ground up, but we rarely see or notice the roots. Some people have experiences that are trees and they see a huge difference. Others have experiences like roots. They are strengthened by them and will have that strength and nourishment forever.

 .. And so it begins. We were on the bus all day today but we got to go into Nazareth and see a bunch of churches and sites. We went to Caesarea and Midego as well. We had a  great FHE out on the grass and had some fun games to play. Then a few girls and I went to the waters edge and sang hymns for probably an hour. It was very powerful and so peacefull. “Here is my heart, oh take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.”

 Today was a very relaxed day. We had 3 hours of New Testament in the morning then the afternoon was ours. I read my scriptures on the beach and swam around for a little. The waves were really big and the wind was out of control but we had fun. I love being able to just sit and study…this may be the only time you hear me say that! After dinner we had a bonfire. We sang songs that I didn’t know J it was a good relaxing night.

 . HAPPY ST PATTYS DAY! So a lot of stuff is still going on in Jerusalem: police baracades, young men running around attacking our lower gate, more fires in the streets. We are thinking because a Jewish synagogues was dedicated and the Muslim’s may feel like it may be the first step to taking over the temple mount. Today was a very long day! We went to the Mount of Beattitudes and it is so gorgeous! There are so many flowers and green grass and it overlooks the sea of Galilee. It was a very sunny warm day and we were able to study by ourselves in the gardens. We then went to Capernum. Here we saw where Peter probably lived which was interesting. We then got on a boat on the sea of Galilee which was fun. The wind was blowing and the boat was rocking. The guys on the boat raised an American flag and we sang the national anthem. We sang a bunch of songs then had a devotional and sang “Master the tempest is raging”. Just as Christ calmed the storm on the sea, he can calm our inner storms. When we got back we had dinner then another 2 hours of class until 9. LOOONG DAY!

 We began the day with a 3 hour block. Later, a group of us went on a hike to a waterfall. The waterfall as well as the hike was oh so beautiful and the water was FREEZING! I jumped in and couldn’t move or breathe! When I was swimming back from the waterfall I was so numb it was hard to swim haha very beautiful though.

  Our field trip was very fun today. We first went to Masada “city set on a hill” we climbed it and I felt like I was on Lord of the rings it was so green and beautiful! à 7 days without prayer makes ONE WEAK ß after the field trip a group of us went rafting down the Jordan River. This was so much fun! Lacey and I got in a kayak and paddled down the river. I felt like Pocahontas and it was wonderful! We had battles with everyone and went through rapids! After, we were so muddy and wet we were suppose to take two trips home for the one bus that we had. we decided (with the permission of the bus driver) to pile all 80 of us on the bus! We shut all the blinds and boarded the swampey muddy bus. Of course we passed about 6 or 7  cops! We looked like a drug bus it was hilarious. We spent that night cleaning the muddy mucky bus.

 Sabbath! We slept in until about 8 ( my friend Alex and I have been going running every day at 5:20 so 8 is really sleeping in!) We slothfully ate breakfast and relaxed on the beach until 2:00. It was a glorious day! We then made our way to the Galilee branch. The building is an old house that they have refurbished and the garden in front is so quaint. When you walk in you see a huge window overlooking the Sea of Galilee. I had the opportunity to speak in church. I spoke about following Christ and the way in which we follow him. I talked about Peter and how he took the first step towards Christ. And how when he began to sink, Christ immediately pulled him up. Christ didn’t then carry Peter back. Christ walked next to Peter back to the boat. Everyone was sleeping but I got a lot of compliments after. We walked on the grounds which consisted of the roof.

 Free day! 3 hours of New testament then alone time. I wish I could really explain to you how wonderful this experience is. I just kind of give you a play by play. But I am having much subtle growth each day. I learn more and more about myself and this gospel. I am realizing the things that really matter to me, the things I want in my life.  I know that this is the one and only true Church and I am so grateful to be a part of it. I feel so lucky to be in the family that I am in and to have the friends that I have here. They are so wonderful and we are all so close. They have taught me so much about friendship as well as how to have a good time.

       I came here hoping to have this huge moment of … knowledge I guess. But by seeing the sea of Galilee I don’t have a stronger testimony of Christ than the next person. Usually those moments come to you when you least expect it. I have been very lucky however to see this beautiful land where Christ taught so many things.

 Galilee is BEAUTIFUL and I think Christ created it that way because he knew he would spend his ministry there.

 So much love!

Christ is exactly who he said He was. He came, He taught, He performed miracles, He suffered for us, He was killed, and rose again. He lives and He is my Savior. I love Him and the opportunity to become closer to Him these past 11 days

.:/katie

OFF TO GALILEE TOMORROW!!

Shout outs!

Morgan, Bailey, Braden, Mom , Dad, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIE (14^th) and MOM! (19^th) Grand ma and grand pa bourne happy birthday Grandpa! Phil!

 I am totally obsessed with my New Testament class. What I learn there will be the bulk of my blog.(just a heads up)

NT lessons I have learned

Right now we are starting at the beginning with Christ’s birth. We all know the story and it is such a beautiful time. I am sure it was very peaceful mother, father, and child. We went to the cave where the Savior was born on a field trip. it was very weird, it had a huge Byzantine church over it and was very gaudy. I did not feel the spirit but I was glad that I could recognize the birth of my Savior. They have a 14 sided star on the floor that everyone kisses it represents the 14 generations between Jesus and David as well as the 14 points on the Via Dolorosa (where Christ walked the cross) where Christ stopped. So it has representation of His birth as well as his death.

    We talked about how Christ was perfect. We all know this but my teacher opened my eyes to this statement. He said that Christ did have temptations and they really were temptations. Christ had feelings and emotions just like us. But, He had perfect self-discipline. Christ was mortal but was perfect because he could resist the temptation. He had something (immortal) with him that allowed him to overcome the natural man. Christ knew and understood the crucifixion. He was frightened and really meant “if this cup can pass from me”  To me this understanding makes Christ more human to me. I know that he is my Savior and is Gods only begotten son in the flesh, but I feel closer to him knowing that he really does know fear and all the emotions we feel here.

      Another question brought up in class was about the veil and when the veil was taken away. My teacher said that because the body veils our spirit, the veil was “gone” right when Christ was born. Christ was taught by his Father. (God) Christ grew grace by grace, we can assume however that by the time he was 12 he knew what his  mission was. Christ at the age of 12 was in the temple teaching When Mary asked what he had been doing he said “I have been going about my Fathers work” God the Father was his Father and he was doing his work. I find it fascinating that at such a young age he could know so much and be completely dedicated to his mission.

à “Any assessment of where we stand in relation to Him tells us that we do not stand at all, we kneel.”

THE WEEK

Well this was such a fun week! We had two field trips. The first one we crossed the border into the west bank and visited Bethlehem. It was a lot different than I was expecting but everyone was super nice. We visited the kids at Bethlehem University and learned about their hopes and dreams. Their campus is beautiful and they are offered many wonderful opportunities. We then headed over to the Church of the Nativity. I enjoy Bethlehem. The streets are curvey and hilly. Our second field trip was to this biblical land park. It was for sure the hottest day it has been here! I was dying, but we got to herd sheep/goats. My group was the first to go and we weren’t so good but we had a fun time.

 We were just running everywhere and I was pulling their horns so some guys came and pulled my hair…rude but he got the point across that you don’t do that. We got to see how they made their bread and how they would get their water. (I was put in the hampster wheel) it was a good hot day and we got to read out of the torah.

My friends and I walked out one day and visited Dormition Abbey. It was very interesting and a  church group was in the basement singing around the statue of Mary. Also this week we had an Arab night. (we all got dressed up!) We got to have the father and son who sing the call to prayer every day (it happens 5 times a day) this honor has been passed down in their family for years. Their voices were beautiful and they also demonstrated how they pray. We then had an amazing meal followed by arab dancing! On Friday I was able to attend synagogue with my Judaism professor. We arrived and he gave us an introduction. The then separated women on the left and men on the right. There was a lot of singing and a little dancing (prancing in a circle around all the women in the chairs). I really enjoyed welcoming in the Sabbath and I think that everyone should do it no matter what religion you are. Most people are out late on the weekends and don’t even think about the importance of the Sabbath until the day of- when they roll out of bed and stumble into their church building.

 We are told to stay inside today because of what happened in the Old city last week. So I get to start writing my talk for next Sunday in Galilee.

Sabbath thoughts:

Our theme for this month is praying with faith. The first speaker Kiinzie gave a wonderful talk. Quoting from Elder Bednar.

1-ask in faith and act on it [james 1:5-6] challenge=at the end of the day think about what you did to fulfill your part of your prayers

2- blessings come after the trial of our faith, challenge=recognize everyday the hand of God in your life

3- seek the Lords will, not your own [luke22:42] “Father if thou wilt, remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my will but thine be done”

 In Sunday school Michael gave a wonderful talk on chastity. One point I want to mention is when we talked about Joseph in Egypt. Potiphar’s wife wanted him. Many of us think that she asked him daily to lie with her but a point was brought up in class that it was probably more subtle than that. She probably asked him to help her with something, or to rest while se brought him something to drink. Every time he refused! He “hearkened not unto those things” and he avoided her. When she finally broke down and went after him he FLED. He did not calmly walk away. He ran as far as he could away for sin. C.S. Lewis said something along the lines of “one who gives into sin in 5 min has no idea what the trial would have been an hour later or what he would have been an hour later”  challenge=notice the things you look at, the things you listen to, the movies you watch, the language you use. Is it apart of the Lords standard? If it is not “hearken not unto it” avoid it at all costs because satan starts with little things which soon lead into very large things.

I am so grateful for this opportunity and the chance that I have to study these things in the land where they took place. I am off to Galilee so you will not hear  from me again until march 26^th or 27^th. Don’t miss me too much J This trip to Galilee will probably the one and only chance I have in my life to spend two weeks fully invested in the study of my Savior. I cant wait. See you on the other side

.:/katie

IT'S GOING WAY TOO FAST!!

ANOTHER WEEK WAY TOO FAST

Shout outs: BRADEN TAFT! I LOVE YOU! Mom your letter was so wonderful and I totally cried when you talked about Sophie I am so proud of her. Grandma and grandpa, dad I really loved talking to you thank you for all you do for me! My auntie Jessie, My auntie Lizzie the two most beautiful girls on the planet whom I miss oh so much

We were on lockdown for two days. (just from the old city) so no worries nothing happened to us at all. We didn’t even know what was going on. We just knew that we couldn’t go really leave the center but we didn’t even think of it because of all of the studying we had to do.

Piurum! So this holiday is like Halloween! On Sunday we found out about a dance party in town so we all dressed up crazy and got in our vans. We arrived at a big gym thing with about 5 people hardly dressed up doing folk dances. We weren’t sure if it was right. So we ran in and joined them…all 70 of us. Haha it was a little overwhelming but we had an amazing time. We all tried joining in and more people showed up. I really enjoyed learning other cultures dances.

So I just walked out of my final that, a week previous in the class we took the midterm, only to find 80 students beginning to study for our next final in 4 hours…wow and ask me if our teacher makes any sense….no. one bullet on our study guide says “concept of the middle east” wow can you say broad! Oh yeah and the final we took yesterday…our teacher told us he was drunk when he was writing it. When we were correcting it…all ABCD were yelled out. Then he gave us a puzzled look like he didn’t even know what the correct answer was…this is when you know something is wrong…

à you know something is wrong when you are given a final and all 82 students in the class begin to laugh because they have no idea what the answers are.

It is finished! Ah wow I can’t believe I made it through, this week was quite intense. It is Friday and we got a lock down again. The Palestinians were throwing stones and some form of grenade at the Jews at the western wall as they were preparing for the Sabbath. Israeli police released tear gas at the western wall and I think in a mosque as well. At dinner there were fires in the street right at our gate. So we couldn’t go outside but we got some pictures.

Sabbath random thoughts …

Todays whole blog was deleted so I am just throwing down my random thoughts.

This is not just the land where Christ lived and died. This is where he was risen. This is not only the place where he was it is a place where he IS.

I am in a temple prep class and I love it so so so much! Please go to the temple as often as you can! It is truly a blessing to go there. Don’t make it a burden.

Christ is very forgiving, he will forgive us as many times as we come to him in repentance. But how willing are we to forgive others? Doubt is satan’s power, don’t let him fool you!

Mom! We talked about "the one" today in relief society! We need to see what people are and treat them as what they can be. I think it is C.S. lewis said that we would fall to the ground and worship those around us if we were able to see their potential….something like that. Im sure Emily would know. Mom I think that this line of" Lord I would follow thee" could add a lot to your missing piece talk. It says “in the quiet heart is hidden sorrow that the eye cant see” love that!

This is really random and I am sorry I am really upset that my good thoughtful doc was deleted. But I love you all and I am very safe and miss you all!

Once again this experience is the most amazing thing ever! This week was intense…we are starting the New Testament I AM SO EXCITED! 

SHALOM!

The Western Wall- "Wailing Wall"

Shalom from the Holy Land!

I don’t think I have any shout outs…but my mom and dad I love you guys! No offence but I don’t really miss anyone but Sophie! I am going through Sophie withdrawls!! Please send pics or videos mom please! (of you too of course and my bear bear)

It’s a lame one because we have just had tests this week! And we have tests all week this next week as well. On our free day some girls and I went to the Citadel museum. It is the tower of David and I am pretty sure its also king Herod’s Palace… don’t quote me on that. It was very interesting none the less. So inside Damascus gate they sometimes have fresh strawberries. We bought a box of them and downed them. They tasted so amazing!

The field trip we took this week was amazing! We literally walked on the same stones that Christ walked on! We first went through the Western Wall tunnels. It was really interesting and we saw the rest of the Western Wall under ground. It is considered more holy down there because it is closer to the center. I am not sure how to describe this field trip. We walked all over the city just seeing places that dated back to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. We learned about Solomon’s temple and Herod’s temple. I loved it and I loved imagining myself back in the time of Christ.

Honestly the rest of this week consisted of me and everyone else studying and studying and going to class…and studying haha quite an eventfull week!

It has been so stormy and so rainy! I have loved it.



FUNNY TIMES IN THE OLD CITY

We had some free time so my friends Dan and Carrie and I decided to take a stroll into the old city. (preface: it has been lightning and storming all day! There was a break in the storm so we thought it would be ok) right when we are walking up the hill to the city gates it states pouring no no dumping rain! Those of you who know me well know that I absolutely LOVE the rain! It was coming down in huge sheets so we began running through the rivers flowing down the street. We were trying to find the money exchanger but most everything was closed because the sun was setting for the Sabbath. We found some stairs and explored up above the shops then meet some guys on the corner of the street. They had a fire and graciously shared with us.
 We were telling them about us and when I said I was 20 he corrected me and told me I was 14…wow even here people think I am a baby. Haha oh well. We then went jogging through the old city. We were so soggy and took cover in our good friend Shaban’s shop. He always gives us juice and is so sweet! The sun was going down so we ran back to the center (about 20 min away) and warmed up with hot hot showers.



This week we has an isralie folk dance class. Everyone really enjoyed it and we had so much fun! We then had one of our weekly crazy dance parties! People are getting creative with their attire. Some guys dressed as girls and the girls in turn dressed as them. One kid was hilarious and had some nerd get up.

Sabbath was so amazing today!

** Our plans for our lives are so lame compared to the Lord’s plans for our lives –beautifully stated by my friend Emmy

*In relief society we got a beautiful lesson from my friend Becca. The lesson was on Neal Andersons talk “Repent That I May Heal You” First of all this is one of my favorite talked EVER.  I have read it like 12 times since I have been here.  I encourage everyone who reads my blog to read it right now! We must know that repentance is a DAILY process.  We are not going to all of a sudden repent one night and have everything be perfect the next day.  We must feel sorrow and regret for our sin. We must be humble and offer ourselves unto the Lord. You must do your best each day. Anderson gives a beautiful though about repentance.  It is like coming back unto the Lord and being spiritually wrapped in his arms. Our Savior and Heavenly Father are always opening their arms to us.  Many people, when thinking of repentance, think of it like you have done something negative, so you in return  repent. In that sense it seems quite negative. We should think of it as coming back into the saviors love and being able to feel that love daily. In the Old Testament the Lord is basically pleading with the children of Israel to come back. (almost through the WHOLE O.T.) When they finally turn back towards Christ, he accepts them with open arms, no matter what they do. Often times people have a hard time forgiving themselves. Christ went through that pain so we could take advantage of it. If we do not use the atonement, we are being prideful. We must use this blessing that God and Christ have given us. They want us to repent and to return to them.


When I think of repentance and the atonement it takes me back to when I was 15. My boyfriend at the time brought over his…motorized bike.  He was taking  me and my girlfriends on rides. I was supposed to be in my house and he wasn’t suppose to take his bike out of his neighborhood. We were all just talking and I sat on it. I had no idea how to ride it and all of a sudden it was moving. I tightly grabbed the handles and pulled back (thinking I could stop it) I was now dragging behind it. I didn’t know where to go and I was squished between the bike and a parked car. I heard my dad calling my name and shamefully walked towards my house. My uncovered legs and feet were smothered in asphalt, dirt and blood. I told my dad that I would pay for the whole thing and he said “yes you will” so I began doing file work for him at the hospital. My legs were still healing so it was still hard to walk but I worked and earned my money to pay for the bike.  I personally feel that our Savior watches us through our repentance process and is happy inside. He sees us growing and learning from our past mistakes. It’s the typical story of the daughter saving all she has and still doesn’t have enough. The father teaches of the Atonement by making up the amount she could not pay. That is exactly what my father did for me. He did not do it in a spiteful way showing that he easily had the money I didn’t have - or make me feel small about not being able to pay for all of it. He lovingly took what I had and made up the rest.


We will not always feel forgiveness immediately. This is normal. The Lord is in tune with our personal struggles. Even if we don’t feel forgiven, if we have done all that we could we will be forgiven. We need to keep praying and one day begin to feel that we have been forgiven.



Well I love you all. Keep writing I would love to hear from you!

.:/katie