NEGEVerland

With Matt, Spencer, Lincoln, Emily, Dean, Emily, Sygni, Sadie, Amber, Lauren, and Mike.

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Sunday we had the time of our lives in the Negev desert - a place I like to call Negeverland. It's a place where all your wildest desert dreams come true :) 

Mike put together a day trip with twelve of us which included:

Off-roading in the Negev wilderness,

swimming a frigid pool of water and drinking herbal tea,

a nature hike,

a crazy tour guide,

amazing views,

A CAMEL RIDE,

sandboarding, 

and dinner (fire-cooked pita with hummus and cucumbers/tomatoes). 

Does it get better?

When we got to the sand dunes to sand board the sun was beginning to set and the temperature was cooling. There's something about that dusk light that makes you feel like you're having a cinematic experience. Time stops, all your cares dissapear, and you soak in the moment. I was so happy trudging up that sand mountain, board in hand, laughing with friends, and then riding down the mountain with an incredible view of the desert sunset. It was priceless. 

After dinner it was dark so we all climbed up to the top of the dune and laid there in silence. It reminded me of camping trips with my dad when I was in high school. We would go canoeing in the boundary waters between Minnesota and Canada with other young men and their dads. At night we'd go skip rocks and then sit under the stars to enjoy nature's silence. It's hard to find silence like that. I'm glad I got to experience it again that night in the Negev desert. 

Bethlehem

We've been learning a lot about Christ's birth recently, not just from our New Testament class but also from our Ancient Near Eastern Studies class. Did you know that Christ was most likely born in a small cave (commonly used for animal shelters at the time) and laid in a manger carved from one large stone (most likely a water trough)? According to physical, historical, and scriptural evidences it's also likely that Christ was born in December of 4 BC.

Our Ancient Near Eastern Studies professor, Brother Chadwick, is a very intelligent and accomplished archaeologist and historian and has written several articles about the birth of Christ. The specific date and place of Christ's birth can only be speculated from the limited information we have with several assumptions filling in the gaps. It's been interesting to read and discuss Chadwick's logic as he pinpoints very specific dates and locations for key historical events. 

Well, we got to go to Bethlehem this past week and see what many recognize today as the birthplace of Christ.

Here we are in Manger Square! Behind us is the church that was built to honor the site. 

We went inside the church and worked our way towards the birthplace of Christ. There was a huge crowd of people that arrived right after us so we had to hold our own to get in there first!

Walking down the step towards the birthplace memorial.

You can see a silver star-like shape marking where Christ was born.

Not exactly how I'd imagined the birthplace of Christ but there was still a unique spirit there. I'd felt it before in Jerusalem at the Holy Sepulchre where they believe Christ's tomb is located. It's a spirit of reverence for a place declared holy. I could feel it in my chest as I approached the entrance and throughout the experience. 

After seeing Christ's birthplace we went and toured Saint Jerome's grotto. St. Jerome translated the bible from Hebrew to Latin. 

Here's our class in St. Jerome's grotto. 

We got to sing in the room where St. Jerome translated the Bible! 

After the grotto we went shopping and bought lots of nativities and ornaments. Then we had lunch...

It was delicious. And they served us Coke with pita and hummus so we were all pretty happy :)

And then we headed to the Shepherds' Fields. 

We arrived just before sunset and found a place in the rocks and grass to sit and have a Christmas program. We were in perfect place to be able to look out towards Bethlehem, over the fields where the shepherds likely saw "a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:14 

With Kasdyn!

We sang every Christmas song in the hymn book and read the story of Christ's birth from the Bible. I was asked to sing O Holy Night near the end of the program. By the time I was supposed to sing it was really dark so I fumbled up to the front and took a moment to catch my breath. It was silent as I stood there except for the quiet, cool breeze blowing through the hills. I couldn't see anyone's faces but I could feel their undivided attention to the words of that powerful song as I sang them. I'm grateful I was able to share my testimony of Christ through song on that "cold winter's night" in the Shepherds' Fields near Bethlehem.

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Oh holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night divine

Interstellar

We went to Tel Aviv on Sunday and got to go to beach again! We went on a bike ride which was a blast. After a day on the beach and biking we drove to the IMAX theater near TelAviv to see Interstellar!

I was hesitant to write a blog post on a blockbuster movie while here in Jerusalem, especially one that's gotten enough hype throughout the rest of the world without my help. I'm sure some were disappointed but I wouldn't be surprised if the majority left overly satisfied with Christopher Nolan's new masterpiece. I loved the action and the intricate plot with huge twists at the end. More than anything I loved how I felt afterwards.

It wasn't a particularly happy or hopeful feeling. Instead I felt inspired and elevated. I was left in awe at how a human being could conceptualize such a story and then portray it in all it's beauty, glory, and complexity so effectively. It was wonderfully executed.

I was so engaged throughout and was grateful that there was no "fluff." No unnecessary sex or violence, no pointless plot twists. It was pure. There was a purpose and everything contributed to that purpose. For me the purpose was to illustrate the limitlessness of the universe, the infinite potential we have individually and collectively, the transcendence of love across time and space, and the omnipresence of God. That's pretty ambitious. 

For three hours I soaked in all of the dialogue, images, body language, and symbolism and then sat in silence for the entire 45-minute bus ride home from the IMAX theater. I sat and reveled in the elevated sphere of thought and feeling I found myself in. I didn't want to come back down to earth. I didn't want to go back to homework and job applications. I wanted to stay up there, looking out over time and space and seeing my place in the universe. I had been drowning in my own glass of murky water and then lifted out, so high that I could see my glass standing beside millions of others. A sea of experience, pain, and potential.

Every so often we need an experience to pull us out of the tiny world we create for ourselves. We can see how insignificant and imperfect we are, how invisible our dot in the universe is. And then we can imagine God, looking out over all his creations, turning his head towards our tiny world and deciding we were worth something more than just a glance. 

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Sunset at the beach in TelAviv. 

The River Jordan

Here are my two favorite quotes about the River Jordan:

Hold Me

Like The River Jordan

And I Will Then Say To Thee

You Are My Friend

-Michael Jackson

Also...

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. Mark 1:9

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There are few historically significant places I've been to this semester that have looked and felt like what I had imagined. The majority of religiously significant locations are under some sort of monument or church building that honors that place. While these memorials do pay tribute to the significant sites they often make it hard to feel the spirit of the place and imagine the important event that happened there. 

One of the places that feels and looks like what I had imagined is the Garden Tomb. Though it's likely not the actual tomb Christ was buried in it resembles an actual tomb and is located in a garden area where there is space to sit and meditate. The River Jordan is another one of these places. 

We don't know where exactly Christ was baptized but it was probably closer to the Dead Sea which is almost directly west of Jerusalem. I took this picture from the Jordan side and on the left is the Israel side. There was a church built in honor of John the Baptist that you can see on the horizon. The water was very dirty because of the rain that had fallen the day before.

When we got to one of the overlooks we saw an actual baptism in the river taking place! The members of the Church here often go to the Jordan River to baptize their children. 

On the bank of the river Sister Strathearn, yet again, taught an inspired lesson. She talked about how John was sent to baptize and how he already knew Christ. I love to think about how selflessly John accepted his role in preparing the way for Christ. Sister Strathearn also talked about the connection between repentance and service. She explained that to retain a remission of our sin we must serve others (Mosiah 4:26). 

After her lesson we got to take our shoes off and step into the river. It was an unforgettable experience. 

We had a few other stops that day before crossing back over the border into Israel. 

We visited the church office building before leaving Amman. 

It was just one floor of the building and included a chapel, classrooms, administrative offices, and apartment rooms for those called to work there full-time!

We also visited a mosque in Amman. 

Our guide walked us through how Muslims pray in the mosque. 

The trip to Jordan was so fun and full of valuable lessons. I'm grateful I got to go and experience yet another country here in the Middle East. 

Amman

Tuesday night we drove from Petra to Amman, the capital of Jordan, which was about a 3-hour drive. Robert Carroll and I had planned a BYU student get together which went great! He told all the BYU students studying in Amman and I told all the BYU Jerusalem students to meet up at an ice cream place on Rainbow Street. There ended up being around 60 American Mormon students on some random street corner in Amman mingling and eating which had to have been quite the site haha. 

At the BYU get together with Abigail's friend Isa. He asked me if I was her brother and as soon as he said his name I remembered Abigail talking about him! He was a really cool and nice guy.

The next day we visited sites all over Amman. 

Jabbok River was a cool place we visited first thing Wednesday morning. On the Old Testament it's mentioned in relation to where Jacob wrestled an angel. Sister Strathearn taught us that after Jacob's spiritual struggle at that site his name is changed to Israel.

Jacob literally means "he who deceives" which interestingly reflects his deceit in obtaining both his brother Esau's birthright and blessing. Israel means "God prevails." I love how this change of name reflects a change of heart but even more than that it reflects God's patience and mercy with his children. He chooses imperfect people to do his work and empowers them to change and grow and be better. 

Sister Strathearn asked each of us, "Are you at a place where you want a spiritual change more than anything else?"  I wondered as I sat there on the Jabbok River bank, "Where I am on my spiritual journey? What work does God hope to accomplish through me given all my strengths and imperfections?"

Our next stop was Jerash, the ruins of an ancient Roman-designed city right there in Amman. 

The entrance gate to Jerash.

A race in the hippodrome! Our class lost both boys' and girls' races...

Singing with Jordanian students and bagpipe players in the amphitheater!

There's the temple of Artemis behind us (Bro. Chadwick, Marianna, Clarah, Drew, and Jordan).

With Abby and Jessica - look at those nice ruins behind us!

Panorama of Aleena, Diane, Ashley, Matt, Jessica, Austin, Abby, and Sam in the main square which happens to look just like the courtyard from Hercules where he knocks down all the pillars domino style.

With the Gunthers (I LOVE these guys) with the main square down below behind us. They are the couple assigned to giving tours of the Jerusalem Center.

Then we went to lunch at a delicious restaurant where they made oven-baked flat bread!

The afternoon was a bit less exciting.

More ruins at a citadel...

And a decent view of part of downtown Amman. You can see the large amphitheater slightly on the right side and a bit below the middle.

We finished our field trip strong on Wednesday with a trip to the Royal Automobile Museum. The cars were amazing. The kings of Jordan have always had super nice cars apparently.

Yup. That's a thing.

Also I found a burgundy Buick that looks just like the one drive often in Provo...

Except that my car definitely got the short of the stick as far as looks go...

After the museum we headed back to the hotel to change, eat, and then go our in the town. It was fun to go with Lincoln, Matt, Olivia, and Lauren to hang out with Robert and his roommate Swara! We ate burgers, stopped by the mall for dessert, and then checked out Robert's sweet bachelor pad. I wanted to see what his expat living conditions were like - not too shabby! It was a nice place with a great rooftop view of the city and prime location.