Jerusalem Center

BYU Jerusalem Center. It's gorgeous! It has the most amazing views of the city and every bedroom has it's own balcony view. Even sacrament meeting has 3 solid walls of glass that let you look out over the city and let your mind...

wander.

Can you believe this property is leased by the church?!

The spectacular view.

Church of Bethpage

Crusaders believed that this church contains the rock that Jesus used to mount a donkey for His Palm Sunday ride into Jerusalem.

Matthew 21:1-9


Aaron used a tomb out back to rest in.

West Bank wall

On our second day in Israel we went to the West Bank barrier wall.

The wall was built in 2001 and is highly controversial because it is mainly built within the West Bank. In a 2004 decision, the International Court of Justice declared construction of the wall "contrary to international law." Since it is mainly in the West Bank many Palestinians are shut our from their property and family.

Over 26 feet tall.

Visiting Israel and Palestine was such an eye-opening experience. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity.

Believe it or Not...

All that I've posted of our Israel trip is just our first day!
(We're weren't wearing the same clothes our entire trip.)

I'll try to speed it up so I can get all of it posted before we are back in Utah.

The Wailing Wall

We went to the wailing wall on Friday night to welcome in the sabbath with the Jews. This picture was taken just outside Damascus Gate, it leads straight to the Western/Wailing Wall.

After I made my way up to the front to touch the wall, I went to the back of the women's section to dance and sing with everyone! It was really fun.

I couldn't understand a word I was singing!

Since Friday night is spent bringing the sabbath we weren't allowed to take pictures. It was a lot busier on Friday night.

We went back a few days later to snap these.

The dividing wall to keep men and women separate.

Old Jericho

Jericho is believed to be one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world.
It's mentioned over 70 times in the old Testament.

Each time it was conquered it was leveled and built on top of. Archeologists have uncovered over 20 levels of settlements there.

Some of the layers uncovered by archaeologists.

Which Witch?

I don't just look like any ol' witch.

It's Mad Madame Mim to be exact.

Aaron spotted the similarity, he gets the credit.

Jericho- THIS is what I get...

...for trying to take a picture without my sunglasses.

I end up looking like a witch!

I really think this picture is so funny! My face got so contorted trying to smile into the sun. Then the shadows made it look like I am missing a tooth!

This is why we stopped for the photo op in the first place.
It's the Sycamore Tree that Zacchaeus climbed into to see Christ.

"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but being a short man he could not see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was going to pass that way" (Luke 19:1-4, NET Bible).

Masada, Israel

Masada is where almost 1,000 Jews fled after Rome had destroyed Jerusalem.

They lived here for 3 years at 1,300 feet up before they decided rather than be conquered themselves, they would commit suicide.

View from the tram.

One of the many giant store rooms.

The remains of Harod's palace at Masada. He has built the complex during his reign. It was about 75 years after his death that the Jews used it to protect themselves from the Romans.

Aaron climbing the path of Harod's palace.

Qumran, Israel

Our first day and first stop in Israel was Qumran.
The Dead Sea Scrolls were found here in 1947.

Looking over the Dead Sea.

One of the caves where they were found.

I'm at it with the umbrella again. This place was HOT!

Me and my "Asian Umbrella Twin". They're the only ones who think smart, like me.

Aaron exploring around Qumran with some friends on the group.

Welcome to Israel

What should have taken us MAX an hour, (about 30 miles) took about 4 hours.
Israel isn't the easiest.

Warning: People dressed casually will be carrying large guns. I guess it was "casual Friday."

We're M.I.A.

We've been in Israel for 2 days now.
Another week to go.

We appreciate you're patience, posting will be postponed.

Let's get one thing straight, people.

We were in Aqaba, not...












Agrabah.

Two tickets to Paradise

I was more than a little heart broken when we decided that unemployed people shouldn't stay at luxury resorts.

We decided to hangout, beach, eat and swim there all weekend instead.

It was so sad to say goodbye to the Intercontinental.
We'll be back.

Ridin' Dirty

Leo was kind enough to show Aaron and I around his factory where he makes armored cars, that's right, bullet proof, grenade proof, indestructible, armored cars.

Leo's company, makes regular cars bullet-proof, so no one will know that you are indestructible.

On the left is the bullet proof windshield. On the right is regular windshield.
I know which one I want!
click to to enlarge this one, you'll want to see the difference.

Aaron's demonstrating how you load groceries the bullet proof way.

Out and About in Aqaba

We took our host, Leo, out to dinner one night at Captain's.
Welcome Aboard.

View of the harbor, just after sunset.

Dinner on the harbor.

It's not everyday you're walking down the street and see a camel tied to a tree, eating.