Places to learn

https://www.udemy.com/courses/search?q=Free (some free) http://class2go.stanford.edu/ (Free -- also research any Class2go courses) http://www.codecademy.com/ (Free) http://www.code.org/ (Free I believe but also interetwined with codecademy)

Check out my Mother's blog what a wonderful Idea

My Mother Started her very own blog!

One Hour on Tuesday: January 15, 2013 Today I got started...: Today I stared my first blog.  I named it One Hour on Tuesday because ...

Family History blog

Hey all just started a blog about family history

familyhistorytnt.blogspot.com

Check it out if you want!!!

Hey all I just thought I'd invite you to check out Cougar Tees! It's a business I'm starting for LDS T-shirts! Anyway have a great one

So Much Stuff

Hey there's a lot of stuff in here I haven't wrote about. So I figure I'll go chronologically. All the way to the finish. The last bit was written a bit later so... maybe I got it right chronologically.


We had a simulation of the Last Supper where I learned likely they were leaning sideways around a tri couched table. It's possible that Jesus celebrated the passover early according to one interpretation of the gospels. 


I also performed in a wonderful choir for the Christmas program. It was awesome - so many awesome pieces were sung. I was also in a trio playing Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring (Eliza, and Scott played wonderfully). Also I was in a men's quartet which was awesome (Kaleb, Jeff, Adam and myself).


During our sites visited this week we had interlaced throughout it all a wonderful series of devotionals. We began where Christ did during his Final week in Bethany. We then went into a nice Church there in Bethany. We went seemingly around and to the side of where you would expect to get inside the church. There was an awesome garden at this site. Next was Lazarus' tomb where I gave the devotional on Christ knowing each of our names and comparing Lazarus' coming forth as our resurrection. As you go in the tomb there are several steps leading down to a room and then a slight tunnel to another room which is supposed to be the tomb of Lazarus. 


Next we went to a church which commemorates Palm Sunday. It had paintings on all the walls as opposed to many mediums used in most churches. Following this and going out of the chronology of the whole week was the site commemorating Christ teaching the mysteries of the kingdom to his apostles after his resurrection. It was called Pater Noster and had a small cave wherein it was said the mysteries were given. 


Next was the church named Dominus Flevit (The Lord's Weeping) - inside there was a mosiac of a hen gathering her chickens. I've been there before because it was close to the Jerusalem Center and on top of that free. It has a great view of the Dome of the Rock. We went next to the Orson Hyde park to review Christ's Olivet Discourse. Finally we went to a Crusader Church which remembers the event of the Last Supper. We sang some hymns there and fellow tourists joined into the singing.


And so with the formal guided tour over I went to the Dormition Abbey. It was nice and had some great mosaics I especially like one of Christ alone. Down below is a tomb looking thing with a ornamented top to look like Mary. So this Church commemorates Mary and I guess is thought to be one of the possible burial places for her. Then we just walked around a bit it was fun


Ein Kerem 


This was the next day and a free day - man was this day lived out to it's fullest! We rode a bus to a bird watching location and despite the lack of any birds to release (if they have them you can physically release them). It was fun to see some of the birds and understand more about the compound there right by the Knesset. We then walked to Ein Kerem - of course that's more easily said than done. We never did get lost but we did decide to take a detour through a national forest and halfway through realized that the times weren't going to work out. So we ran up  hoping there was an unmarked exit. There was an exit - basically it led straight to Mt Hertzl where I had been before. I didn't realize that's where we were. Anyway it worked out because we were led straight to the street we needed. We saw a tower we suspected of being the correct church. Sure enough it was! St John the Baptist Church there in that city has a grotto and star just like the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem for Christ. Super awesome church I loved it. At the top of the dome there was a dove which was cool. Next we went to a chocolate shop where the salesmen told us some directions on how to get places and let us in on a secret which we definitely would not have found otherwise. So that was nice. We checked out Mary's Spring Mosque which had a small fountain there but if you go behind the Mosque climb up to a fenced in area and then find and uncover a water well looking structure you can climb down inside to the real Mary's spring. It reminded me of Hezekiah's Tunnel except it was just a small cavern. We had very little light down there but it was fun. We stepped on the stones we could feel There was just the room at the bottom of the long metal ladder and another slightly separated room and a smallish one we couldn't reach because we couldn't reach it without getting out shoes wet. 


After some deliberation some of us bought some pizza and we split up more or less. I was of the group which stayed and we had a bit of a time getting to the hospital and the acclaimed Chagall windows. We went down this dirt road and ended up on the highway and basically went around the hospital and then there was an obvious gateway to the hospital. Turns out the first section we went to was the shopping mall place. But finding the Chagall windows was a cinch once we were in and they were beautiful (12 pieces of art 1 for each tribe of Israel). We found the upper entrance to a convent where we did want to go inside. It's golden domed tops (reminiscent of Russian Orthodox style) were awesome to behold. After a brief misunderstanding as to whether we could actually get inside we were walking unguided through the convent. This series of homes for the residence of the clergy and among them this garden provided a impressive scene. We found the walls of the golden domed church and spent some time there. It was really amazing to be there. As we were heading toward a downward path in the monastery we saw another cathedral where we could go inside - we heard nuns signing - It was truly beautiful to hear. The trip out of the convent was actually pretty hilarious - We found the only bottom exit. It clearly would get us back basically to where we were at the start of this whole Ein Kerem Trip. But it was locked. And any attempt to climb over the wall at that point seemed suicidal. It was clear to the entire group that going back the way we came was not an option because that way literally took us hours.  So we walked around trying to find any alternative. Well we found a still pretty suicidal option of trying to see if we could fit through a small hole in the barbed wire fence and down a pretty good jump down a wall. During our initial movements to put this plan into action a sweet young nun found us. She was really nice and lead us with a key down to the bottom door and let us out. It was super funny and I am eternally grateful to that nun - probably saved us all from some very bad decisions we were about to make. 


Anyway we next went to the Church of the Visitation a site which commemorates Mary's visit to Elizabeth traditionally held to be right there on Mary's Spring. It had a tower which sadly is structurally unsound but we did go inside this chapel like area. and then as we went around and inside the cathedral it was awesome how the painted motifs all around lighted up the room. There is a particularly large picture of Mary as the mother of Christ symbolically place among the stars to show she was the mother of God in the flesh. Some of the paintings there I didn't have a reference for what they were about - I assume they had something catholic in their background. Then after we left that place we began our trek back. A quick taxi to the jelly doughnut place then another taxi back home ended a wonderful day!


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The time is short left in Jerusalem now so I try to make the best of it. This one last field trip remained. We went first to the Basilica near the Garden of Gethsemane which commemorates the lords suffering there. I saw an Irish symbol on one of the mosiacs in there. And I saw United States Eagle motif inside one of the domes -- the reason being that many nations combined the necessary funds to build this chapel. The whole chapel is kept in a reverant dimness to symbolize the weight placed upon our lord in this place. Outside is a gated garden of olive trees attempting to recreate a Garden of Gethsemane experience. Just outside the complex is a private garden which had more landscaping and a more peaceful atmosphere -- I had walked here many times to sit and contemplate. Now we held one final meeting as a group in that private garden, there were hymns sung and testimonies given. 


A short van ride over to a different part of town lead us to "St. Peter in Gallicantu" the place held to be the place where is the palace of Caiaphas where Jesus was held in prison and Peter denied the Christ 3 times. From the outside looking at the chapel I was confused as to what they were trying to do with the dome. I didn't see that it was stained glass. So inside provided a magnificent stained glass work looking up at the dome. Down a series of steps inside the church you can see an additional room and rooms of the church as well as a couple of caves you can go inside to really get a feel for the prison rooms of this place. There are ruins outside and you'll see a roped off stairwell - those stairs are without a doubt the ones Jesus would have been dragged up after his arrest in Gethsemane. Near the church there is also an excellent scale model of Byzantine Jerusalem - it was very cool to look at.

We then walked into the old city to see our final sites for the day. In a series we saw some churches dealing with Christ last hours. The Church of Flagellation commemorates Christ suffering in that he was mocked and harmed by both Jew and Roman. The style of stain glass moved me. I liked their presentation of this event of the Savior life. The Scriptures show the parrallel of Jews harm and Roman harm to Jesus. Our professors explained to us that the argument over who's fault it is that Jesus was crucified is a moot point. It is easy to see that it was Jesus' choice whether or not to make this sacrifice for sin - But ours is the sin. Each of us has and will sin in this life and it is "our fault" that he was crucified.

Next and very close to that church is the Church of the Condemnation I remember some woodwork statues of Christ placed as if they were reliefs off the wall. And I remember looking up to the peaked cones of the inner spires of that church. Naturally we had testimonies in each of these.

We next went to the place where earlier in Christ's like he healed a lame man by the troubled waters. It was interesting for me to go here because I had done an archaeological history paper on this very site. So obviously I could write a lot about this site. I'll not post my paper here - but I would do my research on this site (which includes St Annes) before I visited it if I were you. I went to this site before I did my paper and afterward and the first was concluded with some very wrong ideas about what the site is all about. I would recommend if you go to see the map on site situated like a billboard and then to believe what you see. These two pools of Bathesda are enormous. You can only see one corner of one of the pools (only because they made a stairway near St Annes) despite the rather large and complicated site you CAN see the miracle Christ performed could have been anywhere along this pool. Like most sites there is both Byzantine and Crusader remains of churches here. If you go down and inside you can see roman expansion and arches of the pool structure. Also back when there was only one pool there 2 awesome events of the old testament happened right on the pools edges (ask me about it if you want to know). Next was St Annes a place known for its acoustics. It is situated right beside the ruins of the Pool of Bethesda. It honors the mother of Mary the mother of Jesus whose name is Anne. That's all I've got to say about that.

Next we went to the Protestant Garden Tomb (Catholics as I explained hold to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher as the correct location) But I would highly recommend going to both sites. Because even if the Protestant site is not 'correct' it certainly retains a clearer picture of the tomb. In their presentation here at the Garden Tomb which I received at the beginning of my tour here in the Holy Land they emphasized worshiping the Person not the places of Jesus. I think that was well spoken. The rest of the class mates and I sang and sang more hymns. It was wonderful.

Winding things up here we had a final free day in the old city which was actually an awesome day. We did many things but they are kindof a blur now looking back. I'm pretty sure there was shopping involved at one point. Then we spent some time at a Children's recreational center just playing tag with some of the kids there which was a fun time. Actually it was an awesome time - especially after being beaten to a pulp by a little kid who was way better than me at ping pong. These kids went all out trying to get me in tag and I was trying to keep it playful and fun between us. They didn't speak English and I don't speak Arabic but that didn't detract at all. Tag is a pretty simply game and does not require words -- Ha! They were sending their fastest kid at me. Or at times everyone was it and tried to get me. I was just trying to get them to laugh so I like jumped over fences and stuff to avoid them. Good times. Some Old City treats were eaten and we headed back to the Center.

That night Brother Huntsman our professor (whose book you see for purchase here and he has more out I think) put on an Christmas Advent Program lighting all the candles because we weren't going to be in the Holy Land for Christmas. I'm not going to lie the program was long when I was told it was going to be short so I wasn't allowed the mental preparation of a long event. But I loved it enough I didn't fall asleep for sure. There were many personal stories shared - scriptures read - musical performances given - and testimonies given. I played the melody of a hymn on my cello for it. It was simply wonderful.

Much packing was done and then we were on a Jet plane flying home. There was a band of us going through all the way together to Portland. In a stroke of irony we did have a connecting flight in Pheonix which was funny. But our band got to the northwest with no problems.

A Great Time - Wonderful Experience - Always in My Heart - I'll Remember the Good Time Forever!

Christian Sites - Then Post Second Temple Stuffs

Christian Jerusalem

We first went to a Franciscan church which had a nativity set up on the left as we first entered. It was a nice place with different colored marbles pillars. Of course like all Catholic or related branches it had the 14 stations of  the cross on the sides (These). Our professor pointed out that the 1st of the 4 advent candles had been lit that previous Sunday (one candle for each Sunday till Christmas). An unconfirmed thing was said that Orson Hyde stayed at the hostel which is a part of this church. I asked a professor what was meant by a symbol I had scene at several of the churches we've been to. Turns out it was the Franciscan Crossed arm symbol - The Franciscans being the appointed Custodians of the Holy Land. So that was cool.

Next was a pretty cool experience actually. Mind you these are all within the Old City walls. All locations I'd walked by many times. This site was in a random door which I know I'd never thought to go inside. Our group went up and inside a small simple one room church. A Syrian women explained the long tradition she and many Syrian Christians have of holding to Aramaic the language which Christ likely spoke during his life. She sang the Lords prayer in Aramaic to us - it was amazing. This church had a downstairs room which was supposed to be the upper room of the last supper.

We went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre A sight I have been to on my own twice before we came here as a group. Though I did understand a bit more about the church from the guided tour. This church is built around where there used to be tombs and where there used to be a Rock thought to be Golgotha. Both are still there but they are substantially covered up by the church itself you see. The tomb where Christ is said to have laid was cut around and exposed so that it was more like a tomb room - then a grand church built around it (within the larger building). So it's hard to picture that there were tombs here etc. but I got a little more of a sense that its actually as likely as a spot for his crucifixion and burial as any other place. I just wish whoever built it had retained more of the actual layout rather than what they did. A different church we also went to preserves the remains of the gate which apparently is the one Christ may have gone through if we accept the Holy Sepulchre as the place of his burial.

Then finally for this day we went to a church to sing some hymns. There was a sweet garden area that was very lovely.

The next day we had the sweet experience of going to the Orson Hyde park and consecrating some oil for the healing of the sick. I learned that not just Orson but many apostles and prophets have been at that very spot. Very interesting stuff. Also I read part of the prayer that Orson had originally prayed there as recorded in a letter back to the Saints who were not yet in Utah.

Then Post Second Temple Stuffs

This happens to be our last full day field trip. Our first stop was Masada where a sect of Jews, the Sicarii - nasty bunch, during the Revolts took up their last stand and in a final battle with the Romans ultimately lost a horrible loss of the Romans breaking through their wall (which was thought impossible). This causes illogically those Jews to commit suicide rather than to become the slaves of those Romans. Apparently there is a movie of this battle and apparently it's a big deal but I sadly had not seen it. This entire city is on a plateau and that is why it was thought to be impenetrable. We went up to it not through the hike but instead took a gondala all the way up. Mine was the first group through and so at the top and around a corner we all pretended to be dead trying to imitate the scene the Romans must have seen coming and and finding all of these Jews dead. We went to Herod's palace at this location and it had some beautiful vistas. though there was really hardly anything left of the palace. I happened to see a byzantine church there and it was a pretty cool site.


Next was a wonderful experience in the dead sea. Listen it has more than salt in that water. In Madaba there is a ancient mosaic depicting happy fish near the Sea of Galilee but then a sad fish swimming away from the Dead Sea - perhaps a better name for the Sea would be the Sea of Death. Anyways I had a time using no effort to stay afloat. Sometimes I would freak out and think I needed to tread water for some reason but I totally didn't need to. You see you float no matter if you want to or not you can situate your body straight up and you will not sink - no movement necessary. It's hard to imagine. I look at the pictures I have of our group there and they're smiling for the picture and all. Truth is though they all are in absolute terror of getting the slightest bit of water in their eyes or mouth or anything else. Because the water literally hurts you if you do get it any of these places. I never would have associated the water in these pictures with pain before this experience. Anyway... if you're ever around the dead sea I would definitely recommend you take a dip. It was interesting for all its lack of enjoyableness. Haha

Next we went to a Nature preserve named En Gedi which was cool. it had lots of small waterfalls - I saw some Ibex and some more rock bunnies. There was this awesome waterfall at the end - super cool. But there on the left are some caves said to be the caves in which one of them Saul was hiding from david and had his skirt cut by him.

Finally we stopped at Qumran - an awesome site because of it's view of one of the caves where some of the scrolls were found. There was a short video at the beginning which mainly raised then shot down but left the argument opened about that John the Baptist might be associated with these Essennes. It's just a theory really and I don't know if it's true at all but to each their own. We saw where they copied tons of scripture and where they ate in total sacred silence. Also there were many mivkots all throughout that area so they could ritually purify themselves. Pretty awesome if you ask me. That was that. Have a good one ~

A String of Jewish Sites

We went to a Synagogue during one of their Friday night services to welcome in the Sabbath. The men and women were separate with a veil dividing them. In the middle was their prayer leader who had a shawl. It was mostly the Congregation singing or speaking portions of their prayer book some of which was directly from the Torah (like the shema). Sometimes all stood and once we turned and faced the other direction - though I can't remember the significance of that at the moment. There was a short sermon given in hebrew about the color red and during it I picked out the words Thanksgiving and America. Anyway that was pretty cool.

On Saturday we observed Sabbath - which of course is an exception for this area. I went out to the Old City and just walked the streets this afternoon. And I talked to my family this night after a fireside given by Elder Larry S. Kacher. Loved it!

The next day we went on a tour first through the Wohl Museum which is in the Jewish Quarter. It shows 3 nice ruins of homes during the 2nd temple period. These excavations are inside the Old City and also present pottery from that time period. Next was the Burnt House which was altogether similar to the Wohl Museum. It presented a movie of the period of destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. It showed that Jerusalem was destroyed and sieged in parts.

Next we went through the Jerusalem Archaeological Park which is a massive archaeological dig on the other side of the western wall on the corner. I saw the mikvahs that travelers would use to ritually purify themselves before going toward the temple as well as steps leading up to two points of entry on the southern side. I had already walked the bottom portion of this flight of stairs during the Hezekiah's tunnel tour. But we were there at the top where a closed three arch gate was visible as well as a visible corner of another gate series. Well there was also some ruins of Byzantine dwellings nearby as well as ruins of an Umayyad Palace. But more interesting to me of course were the unearthed entire plaza sections which were there during the time of Christ. It's certain that Christ - his diciples - and Paul walked on these plaza stones. Amazing - truly.

Afterward we were not picked up I went with a group to shop around. I went on the light rail out a couple stops. Asia Rikard insisted I try a Jelly Filled donut and I am glad I did the man even let us make some of the donuts ourselves.

Next was a Free Day ☺!!! Katherine Redd organized a trip to Tel Aviv which was awesome. We went around Jaffa and saw a tree in an egg suspended in the air. Also in Jaffa I saw a Egyptian gate which I have no idea why it was there! We went to the beach between Jaffa and Tel Aviv and went to our knees in the sea. We threw around a frisbee and Cameron McCord made a really impressive arched sand castle. We were walking through some shops and some people bought souvenirs. Further into Tel Aviv we stopped at a restaurant and I had Chicken Schnitzel which was awesome but I tried the other dishes - their being: Risotto; Spinach Ravioli; & white sauce spaghetti. So delicious! We saw the plaza overlooking the beach in Tel Aviv and were basically picked up there. Man that was Fun!

And just today we had the Kotel Tunnel tour. Were we went to the Western Wall and then proceeded north under the Muslim quarter but along the wall of the Temple mount. We saw a section of Robison's arch also saw a filled in arch which used to lead to a Jewish Synagogue under the Temple mount. There were prayer rolls in these Herodian walls just like at the Temple mount. The Romans of course destroyed the temple and threw off the wall stones on the plaza and road below. The most northern section actually had to be dug out so that the temple mount would be flat therefore the bedrock actually came up to where we were eventually. And we exited at a part of the old city I had passed probably a dozen times! Haha. Anyway it was way fun - Have a good one!

Paradise

I hope all these quick site descriptions are helpful to have you picture the sites yourselves. On this day we began with Mt. Tabor the traditional site of the Transfiguration - a wonderful site with a large church on top. There is a triple dome at the very back of the basilica with Jesus in the middle. As you go forward there are stairs down to a mosaic room containing symbolic representations of Christ. At the opposing side of the Church there are also Domes to commemorate Moses and Elijah who appeared on the mount. Of course this shows Jesus as the thing to which the Law and the Prophets pointed towards. There was a monastery set apart which we did not go to. There were also ruins of many shrines there from past times. 

Directly after this a priest from this Chapel took us to the Church at Nain commemorating the raising of a widows only son at Nain found in Luke 7. The Chapel was simple but there were two large stirring painting of the miracle. Outside was unkept  but the priest informed us that the same monastery had recently been granted permission to construct a garden there. Near this chapel was a mosque with many Muslims outside whom we found out were having a funeral procession. That and Bro Huntsman's stirring personal stories and testimony concerning death brought this relatively short literary miracle to a forefront in my mind. Really its a very important miracle to show Christ's ultimate power over death. 

Next was Megiddo a good tel. This city used to overlook all of the valley of Jezreel and as such was an important hold for any period to maintain. They showed us the Canaanite worship areas. Some of the pictures of their figurines showing their ritual worship were cool. There was an interesting model which showed not only what was visible nowadays but also what was torn away to get to what is now visible. The name of the site in hebrew is Har Meggido where we get our Armageddon (Greek). So many battles occurred here that in Revelations (16:16) it is referred to as the site of the final battle. The reference therefore may be more typological. (This site is also reference in Zech 12 & Joel 3). To finish out this site we walked through and out of the water system. Which had lights coming out the handrails. 

Gan Ha-Shelosha - This is simply a "warm spring" site. It was raining here - which made it fun. As I did not have my swim suit I simply waded up to my knees. 

Upper Galilee 

These sites basically lie North of the Sea of Galilee. It was a beautiful day filled with walks through the forests there. It was all so green. And with Nazareth so close and really with many events relating to Jesus happening in this area - I couldn't help draw a connection with the beautiful scenery with the Gardens in Galilee being yet another Garden which our Lord could be associated with. 

The first site on this day was Hazor which was considered the head of the Canaanite tribes of the time. I got to walk through the ruins of the palace structure of the "upper Hazor" complex where the ruler Jabin likely walked. It is said that perhaps the Israelite utter destruction of the Canaanites were not so complete. However with Hazor Josh 11:11 explicitly states that it was burned to the ground. Which makes sense as I learned that palace used to have magnificent wooden flooring. Later after Isrealite conquest it was left largely unoccupied till Solomon had others build it up as a fortress to guard the north. As such there was a Solomonic gate (6 chambered) there which we could walk through. That being said really we can tell much of what is actually original and what is simply built up by the archeologists to give a better picture by a line of cement on the ruin/wall. So for instance the original wall may have been about calf height and archaeologists put it to thigh height. So it is intimately clear when there is a large wall that much of it is really original - I find that rather cool. Also at this site was a large hole which you can step down into by a series of steel stairs. It was a cistern structure. 

The next site was Dan and man was that cool. We walked through part of a trail of a National Forest to get there. We were walking along stones where it seemed nearly that water was literally coming up from between the stones to form a stream which fed into a larger stream. Brother Huntsman talked here about the Living Water imagery that Christ uses with the woman of the well. Not that there aren't beautiful places and gardens in Jerusalem but I saw in Galilee here that there are real forests and waterfalls. That Christ likely walked through these places always is a motivating factor for me to heighten my senses and try to remember every moment of my experience here. We came to Dan's high place which I got the feeling was just the sacred part of the city. The Northern Kingdom or Israel set up two altars when they broke away from Judah, one in Dan and one in Beth-El. They erected bulls (likely a more acceptable symbol relating to God than we can perceive in this modern age) there which they eventually worshiped in idolatry. Anyway so we saw where the altar used to be as well as where their temple complex was. Near this site were trenches from battles - when they were built and to what specific purpose I've no idea. A short trek down a path and we saw the Mud Gate which dates back to Abraham's time. Likely it's the closest site I'll come to relating to Abraham as he very likely walked through it when it was still Canaanite land and a huge city. This arch was not accessible for us to go up to but I could sense it's magnificence. A short walk from that site and we saw the Israelite city walls and gate. 


Next we went to Caesarea Philippi The site of Matthew 16:16  where Peter Declares his belief of Jesus as the Son of God. It was dominated by a rock cliff which is iconic of the whole Petros - Petra wordplay Jesus uses in His response to Peter. There is actually here cut into the rock and ruins to boot around there Temples and sacred structures of a Roman persuasion. There is a Temple to Pan there and to Nemesis.


Next was "Nimrod's Castle" a ruin castle built over a crusader castle. The ruin now is a Muslim castle. Anyway the main reason we went there it seemed was the beautiful vistas. I will never forget it. Truly it was beautiful. And overlooked many green valleys. Directly after this we stopped our bus during our trek and saw a view of Syria. And during this night we had a bonfire on the beach of the Sea of Galilee.

West of Galilee 

Our first site this day we saw in the hills - Chorazin which is a site that is not specifically allotted to a miracle and so undesignated miracles could have taken place here. It is specifically mentioned in Matt 11:21 as a woed city. There was a synagogue there from the new testament times and a remnant of "Moses' Seat" some sort of special seat in the synagogue.


The next site was Sepphoris where we first viewed a mosiac depicting the Jewish religion right beside the zodiac and other Hellenistic influences. There is the famous "Mona Lisa" of Sepphoris a mosaic piece which depicts an unnamed woman. As it is during Christs time with this site only 4 miles away it's possible while growing up he frequented this city. Also this is where the Jewish Mishna was written down.


Finally we stopped at Acco a Port city to the Mediterranean Sea. It was a city before the Crusaders but during that period it was named Acre and really became quite a stronghold for them. We saw their cafeteria area as well as a great port structure. We saw catacombs and tombstones. And went on a walk through the market there. 


That night we had a fireside devotional and bearing of testimonies


The Last day in the Galilee area was marked first by our packing up and leaving the site we were staying at for the duration of our time there. We then went to a graveyard near Haifa where two LDS missionaries are buried - they were both called to serve in Israel and both served in a German colony of Christians. There was a story presented to us of a miracle vision leading to a conversion here. Amazing - really amazing. 


We went to the top of Mt Carmel where or very near where Elijah had his confrontation with Baal. Some of the students acted out the account in 1 Kings 18 - we went to the chapel there and sang some hymns then went up to the overlook which gave a grand view of the Jezreel Valley. And Brother Huntsman pointed out the stream where Elijah is said to have personally slain the priests of Baal. 


The final site we went to is likely where Paul appealed to Caesar after being held for 2 years. This site is Caesarea - a port city which had a great Greco-Roman influence. As the Temple was Herod the Great's effort to impress the Jews the build up of Caesarea was meant to impress his Roman associates. So there was a small theater here. I walked and saw the palace structure which i saw had mosaic flooring. These things were on the beach front so I went to the water a bit. The beach was mostly sand but had a strip of mostly shell fragments. There was a hippodrome there and there really were some great views. There were ruins also of living quarters both from crusader and New testament time frames. It seemed to also be simply a pleasant shop area and many students bought some ice cream there.


So we got back into the bus and took off for the Jerusalem Center. When we arrived it was full of Christmas decorations and we had the Thanksgiving meal right there, which of course was a great feast. Man that was great! Love ya~

Some hikes around Jesus Land

Here I will series several days events:

Gamla - Actually a supposed site of Gamla as it seems that is somewhat is in dispute. But if it is Gamla then it features closely with the Jewish historian Josephus. As it was he who helped construct such an impressive defensive position with two walls to protect their city set on a hill (it's ruins are beautiful). However he was in a neighboring village when the Romans overtook it and was captured. And Gamla fell not long after that. It is suspected that Josephus gave the Romans information to help them in their conquest - as he is favored in Roman society and given citizenship. He then become a historian and writes much about the history of all Israel. -- Featured at the site is a synagogue which is cool as Jesus may have taught there in his teaching in the synagogues all around the area. This city is set on a hill and is not too far from where the Sermon on the Mount discourse was given - so perhaps it is the very city the Lord was referring to in Matt 5:14. There was an choice to see the ruins OR seeing a waterfall. I opted to try and see both and though I made it to both sites it was too foggy to see the site of the waterfall.  

Qazrin Village - Before entering this site we watched a video which illustrated the Mishna by sharing one of its stories. The Mishna is the written oral torah which was passed down orally through the ages definitely during Christs time (by Pharisees) and claims to be from God's whispering in Moses' ear and informing him not to write it but instead to transmit it orally. Though what it held when finally written down included stories of many varieties and sometimes presents conflicting stories rather than resolving ones. Like the one presented in the story was of a Rabbi talking to his disaffected heretic Rabbi and still learning from him. Presenting the idea that one can learn from anywhere - but seriously the video was way cheesy. 


     As for the actual Village the site was from the 4th century I think and had actually been partly restructured. So they had made the rooms back up and filled them as if they were still in use. Anyway that was that.

Golan hike with Eric Maltzman - This was the next day. Eric was a tour guide and was a pretty good and safe instructor and hiker. He led us through a National forest and brought us to the Black Waterfall (featuring Basalt stone) and Then to the White Waterfall (featuring Limestone). All very picturesque - loved it and there were some great views. 


Today was Sabbath (Saturday) so we celebrated church in a members home which had a large open window overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Really great service. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 


Love ya! 

A day filled with things of Jesus

Alright lots of cool stuff has happened. We had a boat ride across Sea of Galilee which began with 3 songs of Gospel music which was fun. We stopped the boat in the middle and our teacher gave us a discourse on Jesus' walking on the water (which showed not only that he had power over the elements but also gave reference to the creation as he created order out of chaos). We sang Master the Tempest is Raging which didn't really fit the scene as it was perfectly sunny and calm (with little to no waves) - I suppose it did fit the geographical location (obviously haha). 


Next was the "Nof Ginosar Ancient Boat" - We watched a video there about it which was very interesting as a marine archaeology success story. They were concerned with this revealed boat that it would disintegrate if it was allowed to dry. Finally after digging it out they surrounded it with fiber glass type stuff allowing it to take one last trek into the Sea of Galilee. They then soaked this boat in a particular type of wax so that it would be okay. One note about it is that it's potentially old enough to be from the time of christ - it's made out of a plethora of different types of wood. Anyways it's a big deal.  


Mt. of Beatitudes was next which had at it's top a Octagonal church which was convenient as there are 8 beattitudes but really an octagonal church is a type historical architecture which means that it is a memorial  church to commemorate a sacred site. It's a wonderful church with stained glass holding in greek the beattitudes. We sang some hymns to set the scene and then Brother Huntsman gave a short lecture allowing us afterward a reflective session - which I used to read the entire sermon on the mount and the recitation to the Nephites in 3 Nephi. The gardens were beautiful and green. 


Tabgha - In this location lies The Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes where an iconic mosaic lies. I remember the windows to this church were full panel but shaded with a cool tan splotchy type of glass. I think it's pretty obvious what this church commemorates

St. Peter’s Primacy - This was on the beachfront and had been identified as a site related to the feeding of the apostles after the resurrection (where Peter jumps into the water and swims to the Lord) and after ward asks Peter "Do you love me? then feed my sheep". There's a "Table of the Lord" there which is supposed to be where they Lord laid out his meal for the apostles. 


Next was Capernaum the city ruins. As we entered we first went to the remains of the synagogue where various levels were visible but not accessible. Showing where Jesus may have taught during his life near the time of  his healing of Peters mother in law (also in Capernaum). They have a place in the city ruins (which your really can't enter) where they have designated an very early Christian meeting place. Like historically they are sure the time frame of this room coordinates with the time Peter was alive (actually he was a successful fisher/ business man). So venerated was this site that an octagonal church was built there - however this was destroyed. Now there is a suspended octagonal church above the city ruins and directly above the ruins of this room where it is highly suspected that the early chirstians met here and that possibly it could be Peter's Home.


Kursi is an archaeological site made of the black basalt stone which is definitely more prevalent in this area. This church was to commemorate the place where Legion went into a herd of swine and ran into the sea. This was the final site of the day and we were all ready to be finished after such a long day. We walked up the steep hill a bit and looked out to see the sea was likely very much closer to the cliff base we were at - no one guesses exactly where this event took place - but that it was near here it is clear. 


All that was yesterday 


So Today was just lecture doing a good part of Mark and beginning Matthew - I'm learning a lot and really like the familiarity I am gaining with the gospels so far. I have gained an deeper understanding and connection with their separate records - If I put my mind to it I'm sure I will nail this information into a part of my being so I'll never forget it. 


In the evening we went out by bus to a fish restaurant where we were served St. Peter's Galilean fish (the supposed very variety of fish which held the coin miraculously). I had Fish and Spaghetti there as well as the ice cream they provided - it was all good. We then went to the city Tiberius where we just walked around the shops and all - it was fairly late so it was about half closed down. And we saw ruins of 1 of 8 synagogues in the area. 


Yeah that's what happened  

The Galilee Begins

Now! My trip through the Jerusalem lands continue! On to The Galilee -- 

This is exciting for me because I know Jesus spent a lot of his time here - and I know I'll gain further insights not only into that time period but those surrounding it. 

Our first stop was to Bet Shean a large city which begins the "Patriarchs Way" (or the series of cities along a prominent trade route) from the North. It has had several very different names. For instance it is the same as the Decapolis city Scythopolis (during that time the city moved away from what is now the Tel there {which itself covers the Canaanite period and many occupations in between} and built around it creating a grand city). This was the first city which used basalt stone for building - meaning many stones were of a black color. And in the theater here there were pink colored pillars which I was told came from Egypt which is awesome because this is very far North and must have taken the pillars quite a while to get to their destination. This city presents the best preserved Bath house (it has gymnasium influence in its architecture) - the ground beneath the hot room was pumped with hot water and hot air to allow shafts at the sides emit steam and shafts in the middle with no opening to the top to heat the floor. So that was interesting. We saw all the natural things to see in a Greco-Roman city like a main cardo (north/south) and decumanus (east/west) running streets etc. We ran to the top of the Tel (real Bet Shean) and had a great viewpoint of the city below and to the north saw the remains of a grand bridge which spanned a valley. The events that occurred here seem from the gruesome account that Saul and his sons bodies were hung here on the walls for a time (1 Sam 31). Though this route was immensely well traveled in Jesus' time so it's possible that Jesus walked through here and certainly some of the apostles did. 

Next was Nazareth which of course was a extremely small town at the time of Jesus' living there after the Egyptian refuge. The first stop here was the Church of Annunication which is a recently built church really. We started at the basement section from which you can see some of the original church in a middle circular section. Down in there some priest led a congregations proceedings - they prayed and recited latin. We went up to the second floor (which had in the same location a viewing circular hole downwards). There was a great dome on top and mosaics from many countries there - I spotted USA's, Canada's, Chile's, 3 from Spain - but couldn't find any from Peru (all the areas of my brother's & father's missions). Next in Nazareth came St. Joseph’s Church - which featured Joseph the Carpenters workshop in a grotto below. Though really we couldn't see much of the grotto - more visible is the remains of the church built on top of it (with a basin) - on top of which the current church sits. The interesting things I learned here was that the word "Carpenter" could have as easily been translated as "craftsman" so really and especially in such a small town as Nazareth Joseph was most likely a man of many trades. Some suggest Joseph was also a stone mason. Also that a figure in history  Eusebius calls out Jude's (the step brother of Jesus) grandchildren but discounts their testimony as lunatic as they speak of a spiritual kingdom not a temporal one (so they were not killed). Finally in Nazareth was the Synagogue church - built over the traditional spot of Jesus' reciting scripture in Luke 4:16-22. That accounts retains a good representation of a normal scripture reading practice of that time. We sang there some hymns and one line particularly struck me Hymn 117 Come Unto Jesus where it said "Oh know you not that Angels are near you" - I just love that. 

Finally was more of an outlook point than anything else in the form of Mt. Arbel Where you climb a slight hill until you reach a cliff face. The Trek up is marked by large stones all around you although in between these stones you can see dark green grass visible. Apparently during some periods of history this location with it's natural caves in the middle of the cliff faces. Soldiers or warriors would hide out in the caves - one clever assaulter built cranes and lowered parts of his army in large crates down to do battle with those in the caves. Anyways we got a good viewpoint where we were able to see Tiberias and Safed (Tiberias was one of the cities to which the rabbis fled after being expelled from Jerusalem and its locals - Safed is where Jewish Mysticism flourished in the 16th Century). And we saw from a distance a good number of the sites I will see in Galilee.

And finally we arrived at Ein Gev where our residence seems really good. It's 4 to a room and there are like 6 beds. We are on the beach of the enclosed sea of Galilee and so far I feel like the food will be pretty good. We'll be doing some pretty intensive classwork here as well as our field trips so - Wish Me Luck! 

Brother Harpers Old Testament Class

Well I've recently finished the Old Testament section and will be getting into New Testament like a man on fire these upcoming days so I thought this would be a good time to reference you to my google doc of all my essays which I prepared for his class. This will give you an insight to the types of things I learned in Harpers class

Enjoy!

The Holocaust and Heroism

Wow, just wow. I've been to the Holocaust museum here in West Jerusalem named Yad Vashem (taken from Isa 56:5 KJV "a place and a name" - so referenced as the custom goes childless Jew couples would build buildings to bring their own name into a state of remembrance - so these 6 million Jew dead receive this museum as a remembrance). Upon our first entering our Judaism instructor Ophir Yarden pointed out the many carob trees at the entrance (the carob traditionally being a sweet remembrance). These are for the "Avenue of the Righteous" and each tree is dedicated to an individual or a family who risked their lives in order to save the Jews (there are some thousands of trees). He pointed out that any Jew going through would be reminded that though there were many atrocities which the Gentile inflicted on them there are these righteous examples (highlighted in the museum is not only German and surrounded conquered countries Holocaust actions but also how foreign countries refused to accept the immigrants who were trying to get out before and during the Holocaust). We first came to a plaza which illustrated well the theme of the day and that is Heroism and the Holocaust. Relief 1 and Relief 2 Two statues displayed the opposing reactions to the Holocaust events. Relief 1 shows an Heroic image of the ghetto fighters - those who saw the signs did not believe the illusions and fought and tried to convince others to do the same (this group is an minority). Relief 2 shows dejected Jews following orders and numbly praying to God (a note I made was that this group was holding the Torah and the other was not). This brings to my mind a deep question of national identity complex - are we Heroes or are we that other group (whom the ghetto fighters said were going like sheep to the slaughter). Just before the 67 war (6 day war) much Holocaust imagery was written. People saying for instance that I've been told to be heroic like the ghetto fighters but I'm not sure I will measure up. Also, for example the Israeli Olympic athletes being killed by the group Black September - it was reported that none of the athletes fought back (This was viewed as that second group behavior).


Our first stop was to the Hall of Remembrance where they usually take dignitaries of foreign lands - there is an eternal flame lit there next to a tomb like stone as well as names of the extermination camps (a note is that the Holocaust did not occur, both geographically or chronologically, in the State of Israel - so in bringing foreign dignities here Israel is declaring its Jewish ties and implies they speak for the Jews of all Nations). On the opposing wall is a steel hebrew letter quote of Isaiah 56:5. 


Next was the Memorial for the Children. As you enter there is darkness - I had to grab a iron rod and continue forward. There are candles in the center of a circular walkway. Glass panels and mirrors elegantly constructed shroud where these candles exactly are and mirrors on the tops and bottoms give the imagery which seems to me to be the stars in the sky. And in English are read the names of those children killed in the Holocaust. Upon exiting it is explained that a teacher in a ghetto planted a tree against Nazi regulations (because that Jewish holiday called for planting trees). So in this modern day it is realized and being acted upon that planting trees and education as well as protecting children all are extreme Heroic acts (a shaft of that same tree is planted there on the path as you exit the Memorial). 


Now for the more traditional Museum section - this section should be taken with a six hour self tour for maximum intake - we had two hours. I will try no exhaustive essay on the subject I learned here - there is too much. There were some 9 sections in the museum - some focused on ghetto life another on Hitler and Nazi actions against Jews throughout different sections of history. Things I learned were that in West countries it was more focused on extreme limiting of Jews in a legal sense (and the deportation of many Jews to the East), and that in the East is were the ghettos were set up as well as where the extermination camps were. I learned that those in ghettos would sometimes be asked to "Resettle" to "Work Camps". In the museum there were signs similar to the ones over those work camps which basically read Work brings freedom. Up until the very last moments these Jews might have been under the impression that they were actually working in Labor camps for the Nazi war machine - these Jews were killed. There were many variations to the theme but the degree to which the Nazi's wanted all Jews dead was never fully realized by me till now. One could say the last acts the SS and Nazis were committing was an outright killing of as many Jews as they could. Logistics for the bodies were presented at length. I tended to listen to survivors testimonies which were on the television screen - most tended to say how they didn't understand that their nationalism to their country meant nothing to that country. One survivor was smiling while describing it all - the internment camps - ghetto life and living of the holidays under quite grim circumstances - he said "many ask me that, how I can smile, I tell them that smiling saves me. Because if it were not for that I would be crying endlessly". Those ghetto fighters staged a number of revolutions against the Nazis one of the largest was in Warsaw. I can hardly say more - if I think of anything unique to the general obvious theme I will edit this page to add it. 


Next to the peak of Mt Herzl


4 Questions now:
David moved an item to a mountain in order to improve the spiritual centrality of the new capital
Who is David?
What is the item?
What mountain?
How did it improve the centrality?


There are two answers and this displays well the Orthodox Jew (left) vs Zionist (right) ideology:

King David (Biblical) - David Ben Gurion (1st Prime Minister of Israel)

Ark of the Covenant - Theodor Herzl's body 

Mount Moriah (Temple mount) - Mt Herzl (where there is a large plaza and ceremonies held)

Most sacred object to the capital - Theodor Herzl is Zionisms originator 

You see Herzl did not much care for Jerusalem in truth - he considered it full of religious peoples who were not altogether with him in his dream. So when trying to follow his will there was a great debate about where it should be laid (he requested it be moved to the State of Israel when it was created). The final argument went that it would improve the spirituality of the State of Israel. To what spirit? one could ask - Herzl cared very little about the religious segment of Jewish life. It was presented to us there is a battle between two mountains Mount Herzl and Mount Moriah. 


The Zionists (who equate themselves as Heroics - and with the Maccabees ) are secular. Their versions of songs for the Hanukkah display this perfectly - It is Israel doing the miracles (Not God) - There was no jug of oil provided by God to the Maccabees and it is Zionism lighting the darkness (a tradition was that this jug lasted for 8 days rather than 1 in the temple by Gods power - which actually is the basis for the Hanukkah holiday) etc. The Orthodox have their versions for Hanukkah which include God of course, but these are examples from the most popular songs of the Hanukkah holiday. We went up to Herzls grave which is the head of a great plaza. There is a ceremony for Hanukkah performed on top of this mount where the speaker for the Knesset lights the Hanukkahs and on the first time this was done the newspapers reported that the lights emanated as it was in old from Jerusalem to the mountains and hilltops throughout Israel (But it was Moriah not Herzl mount from which the lights emanated of old). Also on top the mountain is a hill of cedar trees each planted by a foreign dignitary visiting the new state of Israel - this ceremony is now next to never performed and in it's stead is laying wreaths at the aforementioned Hall of Remembrance. 


/end that day


Today's activities are worth mentioning - I went out with a group to see what we could see. We walked along the Ottoman wall of the Old City but turned right at nearly the first chance into what I thought was mostly a shopping district. To my surprise there was a festival going on (we saw another festival later) I'm not entirely sure what it was commemorating. There was a Ferris wheel and horse rides (as well as a mechanical bull, roller coaster, and bouncy house at the other place). Anyways these young kids gathered around us and were good natured at first - it was pretty fun really. I was teaching them fun hand shakes to do. I took a short walk over to the ferris wheel to look at it. The rest of the group stayed back there basically and after a short bit I realized they were gone and one member Taylor Crane was talking with those who had just led him on a horse ride. Unable to pay them the amount they wanted I was there to bail him out and get out of there as well. When it was revealed to me the things I had missed - I did not get to see how things escalated to the harassment of the girls of the group (shocking to me). That's why we opted not to go into the second festival we saw in the old city. The old city was flooded with kids and they seemed to be taking a lot of pictures (there were 2 guys with snakes to take pictures with). Then we went to Jimmy's a woodshop owner and saw some of the pieces there very cool. Well have a good one! 

Shepherd's field!

This period marks my transition from Old Testament Study to New Testament Study. As such our first field trip was to Bethlehem and came with a new professor in Brother Huntsman (whose blog I'm sure will feature more pictures including me). This field trip began with a trip to the Herodian a fortress tower near Bethlehem. We ascended to the top through Cisterns cut from its first usage as well as during the Bar Kokhba revolt (against rome). It's possible that this is the site that Herod met with the wise men (perhaps Nabotean Zorianastranists). From the highest point you can see Jerusalem, the dead sea, and Bethlehem. I learned at the time that Herod killed the children in an attempt to kill Christ it is suspected he killed perhaps 20 children. At the Herodian was found the defaced tomb of Herod (it was destroyed in large measure by Jews some time after his death). The structure itself is circular with four additional towers intermixed at four places lying on the edge of the circle. The center had rooms for dining (which later was a synagog) and Herod's residence among other structures.

Next we stopped at the Bethlehem University - as we approached students were playing basketball. We were shown a video highlighting some of the history of the place and were shown the catholic brother's chapel inside as well much of the campus. Very nice atmosphere I thought - it was a nice campus. It's curriculum as I heard is very much like our college system. We had lunch in a tent restaraunt which served as an appetizer as all places seem to - hot pita bread with many many dippings.

Next was the actual Bethlehem tour. During this excursion we met up with an the former palestinian teacher who lead us in a rather quick tour of the city including Star St (the Star is the symbol of choice for this town). We entered a plaza where you could see the Omar Mosque (palm trees adorned the front as their belief matches Jesus' birth near a palm tree) as well as the longest continuously running church in existence the "Church of the Nativity" So named as it was local tradition that Jesus was born in a cave right there even before the church was built in 327 AD (with some earlier writers hinting at the type of place it would be even before that). To be honest before I came here I was filled with confusion as to where and what exactly the circumstances would be as to Christs birth. I had heard there were some supposed 3 sites claiming to be the place - and believe me I am the first to put into my mind the question as to really whether all these 'traditional' places really are the places. Nevertheless I think it a excellent possibility - nigh unto convincing - that this cave was the place (Bro Huntsman pointed out that inn could be translated as guest house - and that Joseph was then at his own or a relatives house - the cave then was for privacy). Also at the site were graves supposed to be for the children Herod killed. And this was the site of a very early translator of the bible, St Jerome, who lived in the cave while translating in order to be closer to the Lord. We sang hymns in that section of the cave. I rather enjoyed going this way in to the greater part of the cave (there is a Pilgrimage destination in the Grotto Star which was pointed out by the Catholics to be the place of Christs actual birth)


The next and final section of our tour was a trip to a semi rock hillside which is near and very much like the  shepherd's hillside when they heard the angels announced the birth of Christ. We sang perhaps 7 hymns of Christmas and then had some contemplative time. I stood there and took in the scene. There was a valley right in front of us, the ground was about 40 % visible rock, there were buildings on the other side of the valley probably a city, to our right Bethlehem, and at the base of the valley to our left another village. I could see three towers with green lights emanating from the top - a Muslim belief has green as the color of heaven. A half moon clearly visible and the stars were speckled - I bet during the shepherd's day the stars were much more brilliant. Oh yeah and during our singing a herd of sheep lead by an Arab on a donkey flocked by - Oh how fitting.


Well I hope you had a good read - Love ya!

Alright, Alright

I know many of you are wondering what I did for Haloween,

The answer begins, on Oct 30, with a groups failed attempt to go to the Tower of David museum (we were 8 minutes late). Oh well no matter I'll try another day. The group split away and was left with Andrew Zenger, Jeff Nuckols, Taylor Crane, and myself - we all agreed we wanted to go to a pizza place and then to the acclaimed "Ghost Tour" (spooky right?) Well we got there and we took some pictures of some pretty epic costumes featuring the provided lanterns for the tour (2 ghosts, a mummy, and myself). I mainly was excited for the historical backing of all these true stories. [[graphic stories follow]] The first story told that many occupants of the city were buried in stone graves too short so to compensate they would be buried without heads (an then an expanded story of a lost head of a dead architect whose head was sent to England for examination). Next was an further explanation of the  "Valley of Hell" which I already knew was used to burn trash all the time and was typo-logical of Hell. But I learned from this man who must have said the word 'blood' like maybe 15 times during the 2 hours we had- that the valley was also used to sacrifice children to a strange God. Also that the same french fellow who tight roped walked 8 times between the two towers went only once across a cable which runs over the "Valley of Hell" (which cable was used during a war to transport supplies). Next explained a bit of history during the period when the walls of the city enclosed quite a bit of the populous, a set of buildings were built near it and promised to be protected but the people would not leave the city not even for a free living space - eventually they were paid to live there but they would still run to the Jerusalem city walls during the night to feel safe. Next was a general retelling of how much of paranoid person Herod was and a retelling of much of his killings near his family tomb (not his own tomb). Next a story about a Scottish man during some period of crusades or some such. He requested at his death that his heart be taken to Jerusalem and buried there however it was lost and buried instead in Scotland over much bloodshed.

On Halloween itself we were graced to watch the silent movie Phantom of the Opera while Pres Ohman played the organ to accompany (as organs should be played to silent movies). It was more different from our modern Phantom than I thought it would - kindof makes me want to read the book or the original story to see the true story. I dressed as a tourist for my costume. That there was basically the climax there were also treats and a dance. Enjoyable? Yes.

(Several days ago I walked down the Ultra Orthodox lane which is outside the old city. There was a sign saying "Girls please do not dress immodestly in our neighbor hood". There were plenty of lock laden black hat wearing men there. Pretty cool to see)

Jordan! Hoorah Hooray!

I've spent 4 glorious days in Jordan which I very much enjoyed. The trip was awesome and our guide excellent. On the Bus the trip through the border happened without event or delay. Our first stop was to Mount Nebo. Our guide instructed well that this is only a possible site of the mount. There were many "pillars" there commemorating the event of Moses' looking onto the promised land but not entering it (a statue of a rod with a snake around it, a monastery, a large Italian piece of art, and a stone memorial of Moses). Many Christians believe Moses died and was buried there or nearby, I learned Muslims believe Moses did die but that his body was taken up into heaven so that was interesting. From the viewpoint there Muhammed showed through the mild hase how a green streak in the distance is the River Jordan and so beyond that was the promised land. On the same day we saw the Madaba Mosaic Map it is in a chapel however the frequent earthquakes have destroyed much of it. That's actually a common theme that an earthquake has damaged all or part of a ruin site. The Map here has a view of Jordan, Jerusalem, and Egypt. The pictures of the prominent cities are quite exact giving the best idea of Jerusalem's streets and buildings of the Byzantine period (Also it has helped find the locations of ancient ruins - imagine how much more of a help it would be if we had the whole and not just this fragment). The Next stop we went to is the fortress, named Machaerus, where John the Baptist was held prior to his being beheaded (likely all the events in this scripture passage happened there Mat 14:3-12). It was situated in a grand vantage point - you could see the Dead Sea and mountainous areas all around you. Brother Huntsman, will be my Professor next week, drew a comparison Elijah = John ; Antipus = Ahab ; Herodias = Jezebel. Which is why Antipus was so upset - that is he could see the comparison plain as day. 

That Night we stayed in a hotel that is an abandoned village whose ruins have been renovated to become a rather suave hotel experience. There was a pool there and I had a grand old time swimming and taking in the atmosphere of the place.

The Next day we began our trip through Petra. Which is a huge site and is amazing to behold. As you approach there is a horse coral to you left. This is a highly secured city. I think it was the Romans who tried to take the city and could not (though they eventually poisoned their water source leading to victory). There is literally no way there except a pass through dual cliffs. Along the way there are pillars to their main god and his three daughters, as well as etched out camels and soldiers in the cliffs themselves. And once you enter you see a famous site from Indiana Jones, this tomb is magnificent and it is not clear whom it held (they are currently digging below it to ascertain that), as an aside it is mistakenly named the Treasury for no apparent reason. As you take a right and left you begin to get a feel for this site. Still with cliffs on both sides there are etched tombs on both sides with Nabotean triangles and/or steps to heaven patterns on the top (the number of these tell how many were buried there). Also while most are sandstone tan, some of these tombs are different colors due to the minerals and oxidation of these minerals. There is a theater here (there are Egyptian and Greek influences in architecture) with no stage due to it's ritual purposes. On your left just here is a stone stairway to the Sacrificial High Place. Nearly here the dual cliffs widen so they actually form a large enclosing circle. In the middle used to be the Nabotean city and residence. However earthquakes throughout time made this more or less unrecognizable it looks now like just a mound of stones. But there are beautiful things to see  on both sides. On the opposite side of the mound we had lunch in a wonderful restaurant. I wanted to be in the first group out to look at the Monastery (about a 20 minute hike up stone stairs). On the way up there are booths of merchandise and many people selling them for 1 dinar and up. I wonder if they have to rent out those spots from each other. Anyway they try and get you to promise that on the way down you will buy something from them (because they KNOW you'll be back that way). Anyway the Monastery was huge it was a little difficult to climb into it. I also saw a vantage point which displayed quite a bit of the city. Then I hiked back down - I saw a group rushing to also climb the Sacrificial High Place walk so I rushed with them. It lead to another vantage point which was cool. On the way back to the buses and bidding a farewell to the site I rode a horse back up. We took that bus on the 4 hour trip back to the Amman area. The hotel was nice that night after such a day of hiking. We did go out that night during which we saw the Rainbow Road shops - which was mostly high class stuff - so I naturally bought something at each shop. There we saw a recreation of Babylons blue and gold gate. Good night to that night. 

The Next day Amman began with a trip to the King Abudulah Mosque where our tour guide Muhammed explained many things about Islamic culture and religion. He explained that the call for prayer five times a day was a helpful reminder to have a prayer in their heart at all times. Also that the first prayer is the hardest as it is   before sunrise - he explained that the devil tries to stop you from praying and this time is usually when he succeeds (he has lead many mormon groups so I expect at this section he was pulling out similarities especially). Also, he explained how Their Prophet Muhammed was reprimanded during a part of his receiving visions because he said to a question "I will tell you tomorrow" after he had asked of God. In that he assumed he could command God and was reprimanded for that by Gabriel (This is in relation to the Cave Question). He was also asked about the beginning of the spirit which he answered with "I don't know" (which was the correct answer as any answer would have proven him to NOT be a prophet in the questioners eyes - a logical hurdle I cannot get over). Next we went to the Citadel - which was a confusing site to me. It was confusing because it had been inhabited for so long I mean a very long time - yet there were no layers from what I could see. Each period built next to each other rather than tearing down and building new it seemed to me. So we would be passing a ruin and explain it's history then jump several periods at the new ruin on the same level. Apparently the Amman Citadel area had been inhabited since the Iron Ages. I quote from Bro Huntsman's blog:

"We then drove to the Citadel, the fortified center of every city on this site since the Iron Age, if not earlier.  It was Rabbath Ammon in the Bible, capital of the Ammonites and frequently fought against by the Israelites.  In the Hellenistic period it became a Greek city known as Philadephia.  It continued as such into the Roman period, when it was one of the Decapolis or "ten cities" mentioned in the New Testament gospels.  In the Byzantine period it became an important Christian site, and in the Arab period it became Amman, by which it is known today.  The Citadel has remains from all these periods.  The most noticeable is the great Temple of Hercules, who was actually a Roman syncretism with Melqart, the chief god of the Ammonites."

There was an amazing museum there which held the first known remains of depictions of humans. It used to hold the metal scroll from the collection of the dead sea scrolls but they have since been moved.

We left Amman and on the way out saw the area where Gen 32 is said to have taken place. A very highly spiritual experience for Jacob (of which we only have a fragment in Genesis).

Next we saw Jerash the ancient city and part of the Decapolis - that experience began with a view of its Hadrainus Arch of mostly original stones we saw to our left while entering the horse stables which would have held ready horses and accepted the tired ones. through those you could enter the smallest known Hippodrome where we saw a presentation of the Roman Legion's formations as well as Gladiator and Chariot section of the show. Come to think of it This site rivals Ephesus as far as awesomeness goes. It may just exceed it in my eyes. Inside the south gate there is an amazing oval plaza surrounded by columns later you can see the center of the city which used to have four Gazebo like structures holding statues. As you continue down the slanted stone road you can see the chariot wheel imprints. On your left you behold a area which used to have a magnificent fountain. We saw a temple to Artemis and were left to wander. I saw a nice theater and loved it. There are columns lining the rows and it's a pretty cool place. We drove on the buses during that trip a large group stopped at the Royal Automobile Museum in Jordan. This Museum featured many of the actual cars that the Monarchy here has driven it was quite interesting and I hope to show you the pictures later. I would describe it but I am not that knowledgeable with cars to tell you much. There were motorcycles, fancy slow cars, slick fast road cars, Jeeps, and racing cars featured among them. We stayed in the same hotel this night as the last. The nights activities were fun as a small group was led by Katie a BYU Jordanian study abroad student to a famous and cheap restaurant via a taxi and afterward a wonderful cheese sweet shop (really good). After a short taxi back we also got this nice Smootie with fruit as well as Ice Cream with fruit dish - we got it at this cool little shop with a fish tank. Then I ended out the night playing never have I ever with some fellow JC students.  

This next day was highlighted by a trip to the Largest theater in Jordan which lies in Amman. I sang "The Spirit of God" with Jared Maxfield and Scott Walker in the center of the amphitheater. Many other performances were had. Directly after this we walked through a market place as a tour so we didn't stop to buy anything. Next a rest stop in a rather random seeming tourist mall thing. Where we also ate KFC then our stop at the Jordan river. Jesus was likely baptized near this site as there are ancient signs that this might be the place. There was an ancient Mikveh there (a Jewish water ritual immersion font which has as one of it's purposes conversion) old enough to have been there at the time of John the Baptist so it's possible that Jesus was baptized in a mikveh and not actually the river Jordan but I digress. There is an early christian chapel with steps down to what must have been a wonderful site - it is now a dry bed as the river no longer allows the small outlet that used to be there. Further along the trail is a wooden deck with a refined jordan "holy water" river there. The opposite bank is Israel and they have set up baptism sites on that side as well. There were several cathedrals there we didn't go inside. Also from a distance we saw there a cathedral commemorating Elijah's ascending into heaven near the river Jordan (2 Kings 2:4-13). 

All that remained was a trip back across the border. So I whipped out a computer and played Jack Johnson while the bus drove back to the Jerusalem Center.

While here I have recently ascertained a cello to borrow. I played my cello for those in the food court named the Oasis and got a pretty good response!  I thought it was really fun.