PURE JOY!

NOTHING can de..........

I was going to say nothing can describe how I feel right now...

I was going to tell you that joy is bursting from my face....

I just turned in my 26 page midterm for my Palestinian class.

The same paper I blogged about yesterday.

The same paper that has been sucking up my life.

I was going to tell you all about how relieved I feel...

How incredibly joyous my life is.

But as I was typing this all out...

my teacher decides that it would be a great time to

utterly crush my happy little self

by handing out the

2 page.

front and back.

study guide for the final in 2 weeks.

Are. You. Kidding. Me?!

Just when I thought I could kiss the Library goodbye for a while,

I get a lovely smack in the face.

I am in the Holy Land.

Doing Homework.

HOW LAME IS THAT?

I wish I had the luxury of forgetting about school

& just having fun.

However, that is not the case.

Luckily, I'll be done with my Palestinian and Jewish classes soon.

I'll only have 2 classes to take, so hopefully that will give me more time

to spend out in the city.

I miss it out there.

Study Break

I always loved the idea of study breaks.

I indulge in them often.

Despite the fact that it is 10:30 p.m.

& I still have about 8 pages of mid term to type up

before the night is through...

I am taking a study break.

Because of I don't I'm sure my head will

blow up

p.s. I cut my own bangs yesterday.

I missed them.

Glad to have you back swoop bangs.

Quick Thanks to Donovan and Jessica for coming up to the Library to put me out of my misery. You guys are the best. Although I think I need to apologize to Brock and Danielle for having to put up with our loud voices.

Donovan is my JC Dad.

He gives good Dad hugs.

& He is motivating me to start anew.

He pointed out my faults:

1. debt (I owe 24 shekels to the snack bar)

2. procrastination

and is lovingly helping me recover

by forcing me to study with him

sometime before the night before it's due.

Thanks Donny

Jessica is my JC Mommy

She wakes me up in the morning.

She notices the little things

like how my face looks in the mirror

when I am getting ready for the day.

She constantly reminds me

that I'm not a lunatic.

She encourages me to eat healthy foods.

& she is my best friend.

Thanks Jasper

Mural

Something that I really enjoy about living in Jerusalem is the opportunity to serve here.

A couple days ago, Chelsea asked me to come down to the Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children with her to check out a service opportunity. We went with Greg, Sister Judd, and Brother & Sister Bentley (The service couple living here in the center), to check out the wall space to start working on a mural there.

We got there and met with the woman in charge of the center. She was a sweet older woman who has been there since it opened after the 6 day war. She was so excited to meet us and to have us there. She showed us around the center for a while, picking out different walls for us to use. Then they let us explore a little to see what past semesters had done and to see what the center was all about.

When we went down to the bottom level, one of the headmistresses in charge of the Pre-school and Kindergarten found us and asked if we would like a tour. She took us in to meet the children and see what they were learning about. They start to teach them English as soon as possible, so the children were so excited to use what they learned. When we walked in the classrooms, their faces would light up! They all would wave and say HELLO! Everyone wanted to shake out hands and give us high fives. It was so much fun to interact with these children, to see what they were drawing, and to help them practice their english. If they didn't know what you were saying, they would just reply "Thank you". It was such a unique experience to meet and play with these children.

Brother Bentley pointed out the important work we are doing here. Without these murals and paintings, the center would feel cold, like a jail cell. Children are sent from all over Israel to learn and to grow here, they need an uplifting environment to aid that growth. The project only calls for a couple people, because it would be hard to have more than 6 people painting at one time. I felt so honored to be a part of that group. It made me grateful for my talents and for the fact that I could use the gifts that god has given me in order to serve others. There is nothing more rewarding then knowing that a skill you have been working to develop are being used to bless the lives of others.

We decided on the large wall in the Cafeteria. We are in the process of designing and planning the mural. We want something bright and colorful, as well as something that incorporates a bigger idea, something that the children can interact with. If you have any ideas or impressions, please let me know! I would love to hear your input. This is a huge undertaking, and I feel so attached to it already. I'm excited for the opportunity to serve these children. Just by visiting for a couple minuets I have fallen in love with them, seeing their sweet spirits and the potential that they have to grow and overcome their disabilities. The center really is an amazing place, blessing the lives of so many. I love that by putting my heart into this project, a little piece of me will always be in Jerusalem, continually blessing the children there in some small way.

Today we had another opportunity to go out into the Old City and meet with some elderly folk and sing to them. Before we went to their houses, we met with Raja, the head of a non profit charity in the Old City that helps to take care of these people and I really liked what he said about service. He said "Stop preaching, we have enough preachers here... Go out and DO. Show your love for the Savior through your actions". I love that. Stop preaching. Just Do It.

Potty Training

Being in Jerusalem has introduced me to a plethora of new experiences.

One that I never expected to experience here was Potty Training.

My calling in the Jerusalem Branch is Sunbeam teacher, and let me just say its the best calling ever! We have 3 kids in our class that come regularly: Kaelen, Jacob, and Emily. Three of the funniest, craziest, sweetest, most amazing kids you will ever meet.

Teaching them has taught me so much already, I think its really prepared me to be a mom in multiple ways (don't worry, not anytime soon). As mentioned before, Potty Training has been one of those ways.

This past Sabbath, Kaelen's mom informed me that he was just starting to potty train. She said that he was really great about telling her when he needed to go, and if he said anything just to take him to the bathroom. Right when his mom started sharing time, Kaelen tells me that he has to go. So me, with my little potty training experience, escorted him over to the mens room and let him in thinking I could just wait for him outside. Mistake. After locking himself him a couple times, he finally opens the door and I ask him if he finished. He then exclaims "I went poo" and proceeds to shake his leg, and out of his pant leg, he gives me the proof. I had no idea what to do. Luckily Sister Jackson was walking by at that moment to give me aid. I felt so silly, of course I was supposed to go in with him and help him, It didn't even cross my mind.

Then we went to class where Addie gave a great lesson on the Holy Ghost. I love being in class with them because I'm always amazed at how much they know and that they are actually listening to what we are saying. Plus, they provide loads of entertainment. During class, Kaelen told me that he needed to go again. This time I was prepared. We went into the girls bathroom this time where I could help him. When he was able to use the potty without leaving anything on the floor, I felt like the proudest mother on the planet. It is so much fun to be able to work with these children. When I got the call to be a primary teacher, I was a little uneasy. I always thought that I was better with older children, give me the Young Women and I am golden. I love love love children, but to be honest, the idea of being responsible for the foundation of their testimonies was really frightening. But since being with the sunbeams, I feel like I've learned more then I have taught. I love working with these children, when they answer a question correctly, or when Jacob gives me a big hug at the end of class, when Emily tells me she would rather sit on my lap, or when Kaelen uses the bathroom, I am the happiest person on the planet.

My experience as a Sunbeam teacher really has shown me that the Lord does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called. I had no idea how to be a good teacher and to help these children, but through the blessings of the Lord, I am learning more and more every day. Amongst all the amazing experiences I am having here as far as Biblical study goes, I am growing in ways that I never would have imagined. I am now a master potty trainer, butterfly kisser, crayon collector, sunbeam wrangler.

Catching Up

Okay... now that I've gotten through all of Egypt, I think its time for a little update on what's been happening since we have been back in Jerusalem

Last week we had a field trip! Our first stop was Gath, the city where Goliath grew up. It was an absolutely beautiful day! The hills were bright green and the wildflowers were just starting to bloom. I was so sad because I accidently left my memory card at the JC so I had to use my little camera. In Gath we got to visit the site that our Near Eastern Studies teacher excavates at, so it was really fun to see him in his element talking about his work. Then we all went down to the bell caves where they used to quarry for soft limestone used as plaster. It was absolutely beautiful! We got to wander around for a while and then we all gathered together to sing hymns.

Then we visited one of my favorite spots in Lachish. We learned about the battles that took place there and imagined what it would have been like trying to defend your home and families knowing that if you fail, your family members will be tortured to death. Lachish was the most beautiful spots we have been to thus far. I posted a picture of it when it was raining on my photo blog if you had a chance to check that out.

We also got to spot at the Valley of Elah where David slew Goliath! We down to the dried riverbed and grabbed smooth stones and practiced our slinging. Its safe to say that I probably would have been smashed to death by Goliath because I wasn't very skilled in the art of slinging. I remember growing up and loving the story of David and Goliath, but reading it again made me realize the weight of the story and how much faith David had. The words that he spoke when facing the "uncircumcised philistine" were so powerful and full of confidence, it truly is an amazing story.

Those are the main highlights from the day. We did a lot more but I'm trying to type fast so I can get a good, full update on the past couple weeks.

Chillin with Kevin and Greg in some tombs

I would be afraid of us too...

Reenacting David & Goliath

Pretty Day at Lachish

Jess and I in the Bell Caves

Bell Caves!

Not too long ago we had an Arab night. We all got dressed up in our best "Arab" outfits and had lots of fun. There was a demonstration of the reading of the Qur'an and the daily prayers said by Muslims, it was so interesting to learn about the culture and how they perform the different aspects of their religion.

The Oasis (our cafeteria) was all decorated and the food was prepared by some of the students. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and took lots of fun pictures before heading into the gym where we learned traditional Arab dances. It was so much fun to learn these dances from the men and women our age, dancing really brought down any barriers we might have had. We all had an amazing time, and I got plenty of funny footage of our attempt at dancing.

Heidi and I in our Arab Dress

Playing with Jacob and Sabrina

Ayman, our Arabic Teacher

VALENTINES DAY!

Monday we got to go on one of my favorite field trips to neot kedumim. They turned the area into a biblical park where they wanted to grow all the different types of plants mentioned in the Bible in order to give people an image of what the land looked like during the time of the Bible. It was so interesting to learn about the different agricultural aspects because of all the symbolism associated with them in the Bible. Because the people were so connected with agriculture and the land, the Lord used it in order to get his point across to them. So by better understanding the land and agriculture, we are better able to understand the messages in the Bible.

Just herding some sheep...

Neot Kedumim

Crushing Hyssop

Chameleon Friend

Homemade Pitta (:

Just a Gerbil...

Some other highlights from the trip were: Sheep herding, making pita bread, trying date honey, getting to hold a chameleon that Jared found, playing in an water wheel, crushing hyssop to make our own spice, and lots of learning. It was a great valentines day! We all made valentines for each other and celebrated by having a valentines day dance in the gym. It was probably one of the best dances I've ever been to because we all knew each other and there were no awkward slow dances. I'm amazed at how close we have gotten, I feel so lucky to have met all these amazing people.

All pinked out for the Valentines Dance

We had a couple free days out in the city. We were able to fit in four sights on our list of places we have to see in the city. One of which was the Ariel Center where we learned about Jerusalem in the First Temple Period, watched a cheesy film, and learned how to write our names in ancient Hebrew. We spent our lunch time overlooking the Dome of the Rock and taking model shots. The city is our playground.

My favorite picture taken thus far... Brock and his ladies...

Josh playing model for me

Families that play together, stay together
Modeling for Joshua ;)

Glamour shots... Just for you Joshua