Today is Saturday. But it was also... Sunday. We observe the Sabbath day on Saturday in the Holy Land. I still don't understand all the reasons why—partly it is because of the Church and wanting to jive with government policy stuff. But it is also because everything closes—there would not be much to do anyway. So they make Sunday our free day and Saturday the Sabbath. It is so weird! Today was fast Sabbath, and so we had fast and testimony meeting at the branch. There was a huge tour group that came, and so the center was filled to capacity (which is actually very rare). After sacrament, something COMPLETELY unexpected happened--Sunday school was in Spanish! Or, at least, mine was. I opted to go to the Spanish class because it was offered. It is taught by a sweet new convert lady from Bolivia named Hermana Torres. Priesthood meeting was cool as well, taught by Bro. Stoneman who is studying at Hebrew University. I then went to Orson Hyde garden and the garden of Gethsemane. I could not believe where I was—it still hasn't completely hit me. I want to go back there again after I have properly prepared. It was too surreal. Then had a fireside with Bro. Brown who talked about the Jerusalem center and how it is a miracle that it is here at all (when the Church was in talks with the government about building it, there was a huge reaction from the orthodox religions in the region—some of it very bitter, then the builder was threatened, and to top it all off if the excavators found one grave under the site, the whole project would have to be scrapped. None were found.
Just outside the walls of Old Jerusalem
At the road leading to Gethsemane
Overlooking the Dome of the Rock with people of awesomeness (tm) including one native
A view over the Old City
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