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Galilee Day 5, Gamla, Ancient Synagogue, Kursi, Nature Hike

7/9/2010

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July 9, 2010
Field trip day again today! I could totally get used to this schedule! Every other day we get to go out and tour the Holy Land!! Today we went to a few... noticeably lesser places. We went to Gamla--where the Roman battled some Jews led by Josephus, old bunkers in the Golan heights, and the traditional place where the casting out of the legion of devils into the pigs took place (Kursi). After we got back, we had lunch and then a half hour until we had another hike—this time, though, there was swimming involved. It was fun, except our guide did not know English very well and we took so long so we didn't get to go to the biggest waterfall... When we got back, the other group went to the fish restaurant, which means I missed out on ever experiencing Tiberias at night... but at least the Kibuttz here had the best desserts ever. I had 6. Tonight people played kissing tag, but I just talked to other people who weren't participating. Am I really not wanting to participate because I think it is inappropriate, or am I just lame?


In addition to the pics below, here is a youtube video of my teacher talking on site.  More for my benefit of remembering than anything, but feel free to enjoy it!
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A Ballista like the one used in the Roman siege.
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A view of the Gamla and Dalyot Wadi's.
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The archeological dig area of the ancient synagogue at Qazrin
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a replica of the type of bed they used in the 4th-6th century
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Two friends and I at the bunker in the Golan heights. The huge jack-looking objects were to tear the tread off of tanks!
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Scott Johns and I using the bunker to its full potential
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A panoramic view of the holy place of worship at Kursi, the place of the casting out of the evil spirit into the swine.
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At the Black Waterfall located at '50.52' N '39.042' E with an altitude of 315.3 meters. Can I say again how much I love having a working camera again?
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Another cool view whilst on our hike. You can't tell, but I'm standing over a waterfall. I need to get better at explaining to the kind people who I ask to take my picture (whom I love and appreciate deeply) exactly what I want in the photo. Although, is it too much to expect that some things should be self-evident...?
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Sukk, Monks Angelo and Theophanis, and Misc Events Through July 4, 2010

7/4/2010

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Here are most (a good selection, but alas! Not nearly all!) of the places/things I've done in the last few weeks.  This will probably be my last post for the next two weeks as I will be in the Galilee!!  However, in addition to the photos and video below, I have uploaded a whole collection of videos from myself and others at the center here http://www.youtube.com/byuj2010#p/u Enjoy!!
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Hallah Bread. This is special sweet bread that is available only on Fridays. It tastes EXCELLENT. June 18th, 2010
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A Candy store at the Sukk. Yes, even here I do like to scope out what are the best sweets! June 18th, 2010
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In the middle of the main Sukk open market area. June 18th, 2010
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The Giant Menorah across the street from the Knesset. June 20, 2010
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In front of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. June 25, 2010.
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The Church of the Imposition of the Cross. June 25th, 2010
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Church of the Flagellation. June 25, 2010
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Convent of the sisters of Zion, June 25th, 2010. This is a model of the pool of Bethesda.
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the cistern underneath the convent. June 25, 2010
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Panoramic pic with Sharleis, Heather, and Mike (L to R), overlooking the Garden of Gethsemane Area. June 26, 2010
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The Church of All Nations, June 26, 2010
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On the inside overlooking the Garden of Gethsemane. June 26, 2010
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The separation wall, isolating a Palestinian village. June 27, 2010
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The Hurva Synagogue. June 28th, 2010. This was destroyed in the war, rebuilt, and finished in March of this year.
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Me inside the Hurva
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Father Theophanis in the Church of John the Baptist, with the claimed skull of John the Baptist. June 28th, 2010
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In the Church of John the Baptist, there was a depiction of the Harrowing of Hell, which is what I wrote my Honors Thesis about! June 28, 2010
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Father Angelo, Franciscan Monk and all-around lovable guy. See Youtube videos above. June 28, 2010
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Inside the Franciscan Church. June 28th, 2010
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Father Angelo showed us the Franciscan hostel where Orson Hyde stayed and carved his name into the door as most distinguished guests were invited to do. June 28th, 2010
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Overlooking the model city of Jerusalem at the Shrine of the Book Museum. July 4, 2010
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Panoramic of the same shot
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The DEAD SEA SCROLLS MUSEUM! I SAW THEM! July 4, 2010
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A large, completely functional outdoor clock. Me with my friend Jillian Carr. July 4, 2010
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Bobbing for apples at the 4th of July party! I forgot to take pictures while I was in the act.
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Father Theophanis invited us back (with our teachers!) and showed us what the church looks like with all the candles lit. This pictures doesn't highlight the light effects, sadly. July 4th, 2010 at 9pm. Yeah, that's right. I was in the city after dark!!
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Mary, the Mother of Jesus

6/26/2010

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One of the amaaaazing things about Jerusalem is that you literally can just walk down the streets and pass a dozen historical sites—and not just recent history. So yesterday, we went out to look for a few sites, but on the way there, we passed a place that claimed to be the birthplace of the virgin Mary! It was a Greek church, with lots of beautiful paintings on the main floor. The lower floors were these cool, natural caves. And then today, I was walking to the Garden of Gethsemane and we walked next door to another church dedicated to the Virgin Mary! Both times we really weren't looking for them, but there we were! Add to that the fact that we watched a special documentary series tonight that hasn't been released yet, Messiah: Behold the Lamb of God, (Produced by Bro. Kent Brown himself!), and the section he let us see was on the birth of Christ... I decided to read some things about the Mother of God, and I'm really glad I did!

As I re-read Luke chapter 1, I remembered a life-changing insight that my mission president gave our zone in a zone conference about faith. First, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and explains to him what God is going to do in his life and he responds, “Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years” (Luke 1:18). And is heartily rebuked for his question. Gabriel responds, “behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season” (Luke 1:20). When the same angel appears to Mary and gives her almost the same news... she is still fearful and even “troubled at his saying” (Luke 1:29). She, too, asks a question of the angelic messenger which, at first glance, I thought was identical to the question Zacharias posed to the angel: “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Luke 1:34). In essence, it is the same question, but there is a huge difference in their attitudes, their fath. Zacharias' question was outright incredulity. Mary's question is completely different. She does not ask for proof of the angel's claims—which would be proof of doubt—but rather, her question is “how shall this be”: she takes it as a given that it will happen... she is merely confused as to the method of its coming to pass. In contrast to the stubborness of Zacharias, Mary submits completely to God with a humble, submissive attitude: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). Humility and submissive to the will of God... I am hard-pressed to think of more rare virtues that would make her so “blessed among women” (Luke 1:28). I give full credit to God for the type of women He chose to raise His Only Begotten.

I think these two virtues hold the key as to how to be highly favored of the Lord. It caused me to think about all the times that I doubt or am at least impatient with the promises of God. I do it a lot. I know what promises the gospel offers, yet I want things to happen in the way I expect in the timetable I desire...or I get FRUSTRATED. I honestly don't think it is unrighteous of me to want to see God's promises fulfilled, but perhaps it is precisely my zeal and overly-eager expectation to see and know with proof of their fulfillment that are the keeping me from the knowledge that the completely submissive Mary was privileged with... 
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The upper floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Birthplace of the Virgin Mary (tm)
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A depiction of Mary's family
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A Shrine at the Church dedicated to Mary's Burial place.
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the entryway from Gethsemane to Mary's Church
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Where Mary is believed to be buried.
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Matthew Kalman, Professional Reporter of the Middle East Conflict

6/23/2010

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Today we had more classes, I organized my photos and studied for finals coming up... not a lot worth writing about, but for the weekly forum, we had an excellent forum speaker who talked to us about the role of media in this conflict... and how it falls short of what it could be in a lot of ways.  It was very insightful.  He was a very good storyteller.  My favorite story can be downloaded here.  Enjoy!



PS
I uploaded tons of new pictures and new youtube videos!
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Package Joy, Ethiopian Church and Me'a She'arim

6/21/2010

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Today I got my first and (hopefully) only package from home!  I say hopefully because not only does it take a long time to get packages, but Israeli mail has an extremely frustrating tax law on all incoming packages: they have set up a list of all the things that they deem should be taxed in order to "protect the economy."  The list is basically... everything that isn't homemade food items (even clothes carry a 100% tax on their value!).  Electronics are especially expensive to send because the government scans everything and is known for opening any packages that beep (add to that, the fact that if it has a tax imposed on it, even if it is small, you can't have it delivered--you have to pick it up yourself!).  Luckily, I only had to pay a small tax (I had my parents send me a phone accessory so I can plug my headphones in).  It was really great to get a real backpack and some Sweedish fish!!  When I was there, though, they asked if I wanted to pick up the center's other two packages for my fellow students, and they cost 200 shekels (~$54) just to pick up!!  When we got back, I picked up the two cameras that I broke from the security desk.  Boy, am I glad to have that headache over with!

Later in the day, I went to an Ethiopian Church with my friends Danielle, Katie, and Lindsey. It was a Christian church, but the style was with more... colorful with rugs and paintings and candles and incenses. It was probably the most colorful church I've ever seen. There was nobody else inside but a sleeping guard, so we actually hung out there for a while because it was really cool inside, temperature wise, and a peaceful place to talk--we had a great gospel conversation about the Kingdoms of Glory. It also had this really amazing painted dome ceiling, with saints and angels all around it. 

Then, we went down the street from the church there is this street called Me'a She'arim. It is a Hasidic Ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood. They had up all these signs that tell you that you have to be super modest and that they don't like groups to come through and disrupt their neighborhood. A few people who have gone there told us that they got some dirty looks if the girls were wearing pants or if there were a lot of them, but my friends were all in skirts, so we were fine (except I felt a little self-conscious for not having my kippa with me...) and since there were only 4 of us people were pretty nice. We stopped at a bookstore to look for a journal for Katie, and it was cool to see all the books they had- 100% of them were in Hebrew. There were also a lot of little stores and fruit stands, and we even saw a shoe-maker's store, where this guy was sitting at this intense sewing-machine stitching a black leather shoe. All of the little kids' sidelocks were longer, thicker, and curlier than any I have seen anywhere else in the city.

At night, I watched a concert put on by Palestinian children in a special music initiative.  It was pretty good!
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L to R, Danielle, Lindsey, and Katie
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The inner sanctum
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The ceiling art
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A wider view of the ceiling art
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Me'a She'arim
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Israel Zoo!

6/13/2010

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Today I went to the Zoo!   There was a giant ark there, which was pretty much empty inside but it had a great view of the zoo and the surrounding area. We got to ride on a little train too to get around. One of the best parts of the day was that there was this group of preschoolers who all had down syndrome, and it was so sweet to see how excited they got at all of the different animals... even the boring ones. They were really... uplifting... to watch.
It was called a biblical zoo, but that included most of the animals that were on the ark, so maybe that's what they meant. There were zebras and hippos and rhinos and giraffes and a lion and a red panda and snakes and monkeys and flamingos... As well as, well, you can enjoy the pics:
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The sign said 'Zoo'... At this point, we need don't need much justification to take a picture. My friends from Left to Right are: Amanda Fairbanks, Karissa Urry, and Jesse Manscill.
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Prairie Dogs may have just become my favorite animal. They're just so... quick to observe...
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PENGUINS... IN ISRAEL!
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In 2 Kings 2:23-24, the prophet Elisha has just healed the waters of Jericho and is on his way back home to Mt Carmel. While passing through Beth-el he encounters a number of youth who proceed to mock him and call him names. “Go up, thou bald head” cry the youth. The prophet turns back and looks at the youth. I do not know how much of the event is summarized in that phrase but in the next recorded moment the prophet of God, newly called with the death of Elijah, curses the youth. I’m sure there must have been a great deal more than a glance when he looked back. In any case two she bears walk out of the wood and maul 42 of the children. As we read this gazing at the rare Syrian bear, which no longer exists in Israel but would have been the specie present at that time. It was a small bear, roughly the size of a black bear but with nearly white fur and ears that appeared too large. It stared back at us with a hungry rebellious challenge. I wonder if it knows that aspect of history.
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One is never too old to play on the playground, says I.
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This is the type of fish that Christ told the tax collectors they could find a coin.
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Misc Event Catch-up

6/7/2010

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Me leaving my mark under the center! Went under May 26, 2010
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Me playing the YMCA bells for all of Jerusalem to hear! Did this on May 30.
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Me next to the YMCA bells
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At the YMCA tower!
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Me making pita bread--Jewish style!
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My friend Lance holding up an actual Torah scroll! The Torah is all handwritten and Jews have to have a degree in Torah writing. Plus, they have to take a ritual bath before writing the name of God--every. single. time!
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Me at Neot Kedumim. Neot Kedumim is a park where you can experience Bible times through all your senses. http://www.neot-kedumim.org.il Went there May 23rd. The Torah scroll and making pita bread were also from this place.
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My friends and I with our Jewish teacher Ophir, right before going to a synagogue for Shabbat (Sabbath) services. June 4th
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Me in Hezekiah's Tunnel! Went here June 7
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Hezekiah built a tunnel to secretly divert the water from the Gihon spring to inside the city walls to the pool of Siloam. Because of its importance (Israel would not exist were it not for the Gihon spring), Solomon was anointed King here.
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This is the point where the two digging parties for the tunnel met--quite an impressive engineering feat of the time!
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