Final days!

        Hey so i go home in a couple days. It is a bitter sweet moment. I have made some friends, I figure I have been to over 75 different sites around the Holy Land and have a comprehensive understanding of the culture and religion. I don't think that I could have had a better time learning and gaining a greater understanding of that which is not my own. It took a couple people getting me here and I think it has been one of the coolest trips of my life.  Thanks for the support.

This is the Dome of the Rock from the Church of the Redeemer bell tower.

This is my favorite shop keeper. His name is George and shares my passion for photography. He is from Armenia and his father came over after the Armenian genocide in turkey in the 1930's. I fell in love, not with him but his work. 

This is me and Tyler at the temple sifting project. Basically we sifted material from the temple mount that was dug out and then discarded to make room for a bigger mosque. It was pretty cool I found some pottery shards from the ottoman period.

We reenacted the scene at Masada. I really like the look that Taylor is giving on the right. :)

This is the view off the back of Masada. 

Merry almost Christmas!

It is Christmas time in the Jerusalem Center! I couldn't be more excited.

Kaleb Valdez and Rivka Steele at the formal talent show last night.

Charolette, Danielle, Deseree, Jeff, Me, Tiffany, and Suzie 

consecrating oil at the Orson Hyde Park.

 The entrance to the garden of Gethsemane

A view of the Jerusalem Center, on the left with the arches.

A view going up the steps from Mary's tomb. 

Jeff and I at the bottom of the temple mt. Just to the right were the 

steps where Jesus walked.

We painted a mural for a handicapped school.  

Fresh bread, hot, and all for one shekel.

Russian Orthodox church on the Mt. Of Olives

Church of the Ascension

Place were it was believed Christ ascended into heaven.

They had tried to get in before. We were locked out and a little upset. haha.

Last weeks in Jerusalem.

This probably isn't the tree that jesus suffered at, but it is pretty close. I have loved going to the garden of Gethsemane almost every single week and think about how the savior has helped me in my week. I will miss it.

Happy Thanksgiving people!

Hey family it was nice talking to those that were there! I hope that the turkey and everything worked out for ya. Things just couldn't be any better. I have just gotten back from the Galilee which Christ was raised and started his ministry. I got to see it all, the be attitudes, the mt. of transfiguration, and even a super cool castle called Nimrod's castle of all names. It was awesome. I am just so grateful for all the opportunities that I have been given in my life and those that are close to me. Here were are festivities in the last week.

top left clockwise

1. We got to drive the boat for a little bit headed to the middle of the lake.

2. chill-in' in Jesus town.

3. Thanksgiving Jerusalem center status. they had everything in case you were wondering, turkey, stuffing, even candied yams. It felt like a little slice of home.

4. they reenacted Elijah smiting down the priests of Ba'al.

5. (background) Another awesome view from the place that we held church at.

I am so grateful for all the things in my life. Hope you have a wonderful day!

The Beauty of the Galilee

From top left clockwise.

1. This was the view from where we had church. We were literally in Christ's home branch that week. It was so surreal.

2. Hifa is one of the largest port cities in Israel. This is the view right in front of the Bahi temple.

3. Mt. of Transfiguration or Mt. Hermon. This was the chapel inside

4. inside the chapel of the annunciation of Mary.

The Galilee

Well the Galilee was awesome this is just a little tid bit of my week.

from the upper left clock wise

1. Me on the Sea of Galilee. I am on a boat! it was super pretty, we sang the master the tempest is raging, and I got super wet trying to put my feet in the water.

2. Being pigs where the devils were cast into swine. We had a pig race down to the sea, I almost died; fun time.

3. This was the Kabutz place that we stayed at. I liked it.

4. If you can read it it says "Holy Water, not intended for drinking". We went to a famous baptismal site on the Jordan river.

5. Jeff and I chilling on the seat of Moses.

6. Matty, me, and Nick in the trenches that were used by the special forces of Israel during the 1967 war against Syria. That is Lebanon in the background.

Chorazin

Bethelhem

clockwise top left

We read scriptures in shepherd's field. You can see papa hunts on the right.

singing hymns in the manger

planking right outside Hezikah's tunnel

Josh Ludlow posing at the Herodian

the sign walking outside of the church in Bethlehem.