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.

Travel is for when you go home you truly know what it is to be there. T.S. Eliot

        This week has been a great one. I have been up to finals this week. At the beginning of last week we went to Bethlehem. It was an interesting shift in what we had been learning. From up to that point it had been archaeology, the Assyrians did this, and the Philistines did that, or Herod was really insecure with himself so he built a huge palace so he could have a hot tub. They were all very exciting, but it was interesting to see the difference between the two. At Bethlehem we were able to go to the traditional site of where the manger was at. We had the tender privilege to sing Christmas hymns inside the cave were Christ was born. There are times like that where you can feel the peace that comes with gospel in your life, in which a still small voice whispers that not only logically this could have happened, but spiritually you feel the prompting that it did in your heart. We then got to sit in the Shepherd's field right at sundown and talk about the angels that came and told about Christ. When we were finishing a shepherd rode up on a donkey with his herd of sheep behind him. It was awesome.
this weeks top ten.
10.)We went to the Holocaust museum. That was a sobering experience. I can not, and hopefully never get to the point where i could, understand why someone would do that.
9.) We have been having powderpuff basketball. I have attended almost every single game. Love it!
8.) Practices are in full swing for the Christmas concert this December. I am singing bass.
7.) Studied for my Judaism final. I really liked it.
6.) We officially switched to New Testament if you hadn't figured out. We are studying about Jesus.
5.) I ate lunch with Suhiel. He is a Palestinian guy just down the street. Awesome man, he had alot of really interesting insights and his wife was a doll. Reminded me of the mission alot actually.
4.) We got to ride the light rail for the first time. It was also a bro day. Gotta love the ladies, but it was a nice change up.
3.)We are going to Galilee, staying on a beach, and learning about the whole life of Christ. I could do that.
2.)Sacrament meeting today was one of the best in a while. They talked about Gratitude and Trusting in the lord. It is interesting how it always seems to be what I needed that week.
1.)Just finished my Islam paper that took me butt long!