Saturday, May 14, 2011

A Little Bit of Jeru... Free Day!

So I'm trying to catch up on my blogging... A week ago from today we had a full day of free time. It was great. I'm still trying to get used to the whole Saturday is the Sabbath thing. It's weird going from hanging out Friday night to church the next day and then Sunday being free time. It's a whole other culture but I LOVE it. Anyways, so a group of girls and I went out to the city for this past free day!
First we started off at the Dome of the Rock. It's an important Islamic mosque located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It's beautiful... not mention that It's apart of the view from our balconies at the Jerusalem Center.


Look at that beautiful dome...

Oh, just me in front of the Dome of the Rock. 

Group of us at one of the prayer gazebos. 

Beautiful architecture.  
Angela, Matt and I!

Next we headed to West JErusalem just to cruise around town. We did some shopping and looked around the open air market. We also tried Schwarma... It's basically a burrito with lamb! Sooo goood. I love West Jerusalem. It's very European feeling and a lot more modern feeling than East Jerusalem/ the Old City! Here are some more pics... 

Open Air Market :)


Oh, and I took a picture by flowers for my mama on Mother's Day :)
Mmmmmm... schwarma :)








Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Welcoming the Sabbath

Sorry everyone... I've been a little behind but It's finally catch up time. Let's go back a few days. Friday was an awesome day. First we had class. That was a little exhausting because we two 3 hours classes. The evening was amazing though. There's a place called the Western Wall, which is in the Old City of Jerusalem. Let me just show you how awesome it is....



It's right at the foot of the Temple Mount, by the Dome of the Rock and the Al Asqua Mosque, where Herod the Great's Palace used to stand. It's the last remaining part of the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem that was found over a thousand years ago. At the wall people people pray and sing songs to god. They also write down prayers, fold them up and put the prayers in the cracks of the wall. It's pretty interesting because at the wall, and also at synagogues, there is an area for men and women, I'm guessing as means of showing respect. On the men's side there were soldiers dancing and singing. After we were finished in the separated mens and women area, we went in the open area and danced with the soldiers. I don't know if anyone knows the song "Ride that Pony" but that's what we danced to, except in Hebrew. It was awesome. Although it was pretty scary because they were swinging their guns around... no worries, they weren't loaded so we were all safe. I think this experience made our group a little closer. It was neat to see the Jewish people come together and sing. On the Women's side, we danced and sang with them, welcoming the sabbath. It was amazing to see how excited and humbled them become when welcoming in the sabbath. It was a great experience for all of us. 
Oh and of course, naturally when we got back to the Jerusalem center, we had a dance party. It was pretty awesome. I just love Jerusalem! 

Friday, May 6, 2011

Busy, Busy, Busy

Hey guys! So I have been super busy lately. Here are a bunch of pictures that are highlights from the past few days. I'll blog more about them soon....

Mmmm Turkish Delight in the Old City. 

Group in front of a grotta at Promenade. 

Roomiess! 

Roomies in Synogogue at Nabi Samuel

Nabi Samuel

Lizzie & I in front of Bethleham view 

Brother Muhlstein's adorable daughter Sabrina! 

View of Gibea of Saul- Saul's Palace

Streets of the Old City

Shaban's Souvenir shop!