Wonderings

This week we went on a field trip to different viewpoints around Jerusalem. This was taken from the Mount to Olives and was my favorite view point!! You could see everything and all the geography that is in the Bible about this area made sense because it is right there. It reminded me of growing up in Virginia and learning about the civil war battles and then actually going to the battlegrounds. Anywho this is Kimberly and me from the top of Mount of Olives!

This is a German Lutheran church called St. Augustine which has a big tower and we climbed to the top and you could see Bethlehem from the top and the mountain that Herod the Great built. This church I believe was built my Kaiser. It was pretty cool!!

This is a group that went to the Rock over the Dome! 

 This is the Dome of the Rock obviously ;)!

 This is Lydia and me outside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher!  

This week in classes we started our Israel and Palestine civilization classes. Both are taught by a Israel and Palestine natives and it is sooo interesting!! We have been learning Muslim and Judaism and the theology behind both. It has made me look back on my own beliefs and the knowledge that I have that Christ is the literal Son of God. I don't think I have ever pondered on how unique and precious that one piece of knowledge is and how because of the that has shaped my whole belief system. I think religion is awesome and I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have of my Savior!! 

My favorite part of this week has been wondering through the streets and meeting people. The shopkeepers here are so persistent!! I bought a BYU Jerusalem sweatshirt that has a camel on it instead of cougar on it. Teehee I love it!! :)  

More to come!! Next week we are going on a field trip to Jericho and then going on Jordan in a week from Monday!!