This week was so AWESOME. I did a lot and saw a lot, and looking back on this entire experience, I just cannot believe how fast these past four months have gone.
I will try and give you an update about the wonderful week I had this past week though. Last Sabbath, there was a group of three of us that decided to go out after church and just wander through the Old City and see what we could find, anything that was open that day. I had heard about a couple of churches that were worth going to, so we went and visited Church of St. Stephen (where he was supposedly stoned I believe). This church was absolutely magnificent. It had such beautiful artwork and amazing gardens surrounding the area.
Jews walking through the streets of Jerusalem.
Church of St. Stephen.
Church of St. Stephen.
The next church we visited was Church of St. George. This one was also very beautiful. This one was probably one of my favorite churches, again because there was no one there and it just seemed to be so peaceful. We also visited the Sisters in Zion Convent, and went through a self-guided tour. We saw a huge CISTERN (woo-hoo!) and also some games and things carved into the floor that were played back in the time of Jesus. It was pretty cool.
Sisters in Zion Convent.
Sisters in Zion Convent. Original streets of the city.
SO excited to see another cistern!!!!! Woot woot. Haha.
CISTERN!!
We then went to Church of the Redeemer Tower. This is something that I had been dying to go do ever since I arrived in Jerusalem. I had just heard so many good things about it and how it was totally worth it. We climbed up what seemed to be a thousand stairs up a spiral staircase and finally got to the top. It was SO worth it. We could see a panorama of the Dome of the Rock, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Dormition Abbey, and basically the entire old city. It was SO beautiful, and definitely worth it.
Church of the Redeemer overlook.
Here are some pictures of Dormition Abbey (place where Mary's remains are located):
Basement of Dormition Abbey.
Here are some pictures of St. George's Cathedral:
Organ in St. George's Cathedral.
Baptismal font in St. George's Cathedral.
This last week, we also went on another field trip, our Herod/Essenes field trip. We got to go explore Masada (which was awesome) and also got to see the largest cistern in Israel at this place (again, WOO-HOO!). It was kind of interesting to hear about the battling that went on there.
On our way up to Masada. We had to take an electric car type of thing... Kind of scary.
TONS of stairs.
Blowing bubbles at Masada
Showing how they got water.
Beautiful mosaics.
SO excited to finally see the largest cistern in Israel!! haha
Model of Masada.
Diana Lewis and Elizabeth Barrata being silly in the gift shop.
Distant view of Masada.
We then made our next stop at Ein Gedi, where we got to swim in the Dead Sea!! I still don’t really know how I feel about this experience. Right when I got into the water, my whole body basically burned. That sea was SO saturated with salt, so much so that everyone floated VERY easily. It was pretty hilarious to see everyone floating on their stomachs with their legs all the way up in the air. I really could only stay in the water for about a half hour though. It hurt really bad.
We then made a stop at Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. It was so beautiful there! We saw a lot of wildlife and saw a few pretty waterfalls. We then hiked back down and left for Qumran and actually got to see some of the Dead Sea Scrolls!! It was pretty cool.
Dead Sea view.
Flip flop tan after four months in the Holy Land.
Dead Sea.
Dead Sea Scrolls.
A couple of nights later, we had a man come in and speak to us at our forum address about the second temple. He showed us the model he had built and spoke for awhile on the layout of the second temple and told us all about the function of each part of it. It was interesting.
Also, I don’t know if I told you this, but we just finished the last of our finals last week. We only had three. I’m sure I did fine on two of them, but I’m not so sure about the other one. We’ll see I guess. It feels really great to be done though. Now all I have to do is worry about fitting all my souvenirs for you guys in one little duffel bag. I’m really excited to give them all to you guys though. I hope you like them.
We also had our student choir concert last week. All of us students were given permission by the JC to hand out invitations to this event to people in the old city that we had become friends with. Don’t worry mom, we were careful about who we handed them out to. It was really fun to see everyone that we had invited there at the concert, and it was definitely one of the best concerts I have ever been to. The music was all so well prepared and everyone sounded awesome.
Jill Wood, Brother Emmett, Megan Greer after the choir concert.
Jill Wood and Brother Manscill after the choir concert.
I don’t know if I told you guys, but we had a volleyball “tournament” here at the JC. The sports committee let us make our own teams and give ourselves names. There was a group of about six of us that made a team and called ourselves “The Passover Seders.” I don’t know if you guys will understand the joke but we thought it was pretty clever, and we ended up winning the tournament. It was a lot of fun.
Anyway, it’s been kind of crazy over the last couple of weeks as everyone here has been realizing that we really don’t have much time left here in the Holy Land, and that we needed to cram as many trips to the city as possible within these last days. It’s been kind of crazy. But WAY fun. It has been super nice to be done with all our finals though, and I’m relieved that they’re out of the way and we can now focus on packing and more important things. Ha.
A few days ago, there was a huge group of us that got up around four and drove down south for about four hours to Eilat. We all hopped out and went snorkeling in the Red Sea!!!! It was completely amazing! There were SO many fish, and we even got to see tiny jellyfish and octopus. What a dream! There was also coral reef everywhere so we weren’t allowed to go down very far. I can honestly say that that trip was definitely one (of the many) highlights of my experiences here. It was AWESOME.
However, the next day (as some of you may have heard from other family members), I had some health problems. I was up all night vomiting and having other bodily issues. It was one of the most miserable nights of my life, and the doctors here at the JC said it may have been because of a mixture of “sun poisoning” and food poisoning. The kibbutz we ate at on our way home from Eilat didn’t have the best food and she said that that may have been a cause of it. I really think it may have been a 24-hour flu though. It was a terrible night, and the next day I paid the price even more when I missed one of our field trips that had to do with the last week of Jesus’ life. I was SO disappointed that I didn’t get to go. I really was physically incapable though.
The next day, we had our other field trip that pertained to the last week of Jesus’ life. I really didn’t think I was going to be able to make it to any of the places that we were scheduled to go to as a class. I was SO weak and just physically exhausted from vomiting all night and having such a terrible night the night before. I prayed and prayed that I would just be able to make it walking to each place so that I could participate. As we walked to Gethsemane in silence (so we could contemplate), I thought more and more about how this must be a TINY fraction of what the Savior must have felt as he went and suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and then was judged by Caiaphus. By the time we got to Gethsemane, I felt so incredibly miserable. I was so exhausted. But I was determined to keep going. Marie stayed by my side the entire day, especially as we walked up to Church of St. Peter In Gallicantu. The entire way up, I couldn’t stop crying, and I really think it was a mixture of my pain but also my realization that Christ suffered SO much more than I did. It was truly an experience that will forever stick out in my mind. I never imagined I would feel the Spirit so strong when I was feeling so miserable.
My last trip to Garden of Gethsemane.
That day, we also walked up to Church of St. Anne’s. Once again, I was feeling miserable, but as I listened to our class sing hymns and all the solos that were being performed, I realized that things were okay. I just needed to trust that I would be able to get over this terrible sickness. Here at this place, we learned about how Christ healed on the Sabbath. It was a really unique experience for me to be able to be there when I was feeling like that. 
Madison Rowe, Jill Wood, Leslie Smith. Matching outfits.
We also visited Church of the Flagellation, when Mary saw Jesus suffering, and then we went to the Garden Tomb. We had a class testimony meeting there and it was amazing. Our teacher also basically said his farewell to us and wished us the best in the future. He told us about how there would always be something in the future that would remind us about our experiences here in Jerusalem, whether it be roommates or smells or experiences. I can totally see that coming, and it almost made me cry. It’s been really hard to even think about leaving this place.
My last trip to the Garden Tomb.
A little while ago, we had our “Triclinium Last Supper” in the upper auditorium. What an amazing experience that was. Our teachers spoke to us a little bit about what the Last Supper may have been like and there was a set up on the stage of what it may have looked like. There were also a few musical numbers, and we got to hear the account of the Last Supper read by some of our own students. President Brown also gave us some insight and then individually shook our hands basically telling us good luck in the future. He is such an amazing man, and I feel so privileged to have been associated with him for these past few months. I have learned so much from him.
Triclinium set-up.
Triclinium set-up.
Last night, we also had our combined class program. Basically, it was somewhat of a farewell meeting, where a handful of people gave talks and shared some of the things they’ve learned while here in the Holy Land. It was so touching to hear all of the things that they had learned.
Also, I don’t know if all of you know yet, but I got a job in Yellowstone at a restaurant in a lodge right next to Old Faithful and I’ve decided that I’ll be living out there for the entire summer on my own. That means that I’m not going to be able to come out to California between now and the summer. The only time I’ll get to come visit California might be between summer and fall, maybe for a few days. I’ve been really nervous about it lately, and I’ve been praying a LOT that it will all work out. Hopefully things go smoothly and I will be able to do well out there by myself.
How are Kelsi and Dayvisson doing with getting ready for their trip to PERU?!?!?! And how are Ryan and Rachel doing with getting ready for their trip to India?? What the! How did I not get included on these little shindigs?? I’m offended. Well, hopefully I’ll be able to hear more about the details of all your adventures for this summer.
Here come the last days of my time here in the Holy Land. I definitely did not see this coming. I’m preparing myself emotionally and physically, but I don’t know if that’s possible. I know I’m going to cry a LOT when I leave. And it will definitely start tonight with our Memories night program, especially when I say goodbye to everyone here, and it will kick in even more when I get on that plane to Atlanta en route to Salt Lake.
Anyway, sorry for being all emotional, but I really am excited to see you all. Hope graduation goes smoothly and things don’t get too crazy with all these ceremonies going all at once. Yes, I heard about the schedule for you all. However, I AM praying that I will not get left at the airport.
Thanks for all your support and love. I appreciate you all so much individually, and I’m still praying for you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Love,
Jill
