Tunnels. Chickflicks. Midterms.
This week was full of school. Yea we actually do work over here and its not the easiest. It isn't too bad, but this week we did a lot of studying and testing.
In a Glance:
- Tunnel River
- Valentines Day
- Holocaust
- Alone time
- Rain
- Jerusalem in my eyes
Tunnel River.
So we went to Hezekiah's tunnel which, to make it short, is a 300 meter long tunnel that channeled water from outside the city to inside it. Well we got to walk through it and it was so fun. The water at some points was up to mid thigh. The tunnel fluctuated its width and height often causing us to duck and squish. At one point we all turned our flashlights off and it was completely dark. Just utter darkness. The kid behind me loves to play harmonica and was playing hymns the entire time. It really set the mood. I posted a few pictures to help paint the picture. This is for sure one of the funnest things we have done yet.
Valentines Day.
Awesome Valentines Day. We had boxes and I got a few notes from people. They were all super funny.
After I watched a chick flick alone.
People came later, but it was way nice no lie. Mom, I think you have been my valentine the past 5 years :)
Holocaust.
So we just got back from Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust museum and memorial. To be honest I don't really want to talk about what I saw. It was horrifying. I left feeling emotionally drained thinking, "No one should ever watch this, let alone go through this." We weren't allowed to take pictures and I don't think I would have anyways. There were a few things though that kept me going and being hopeful. One was simply learning about all the heroes that helped save Jews and the things they did for them. One story hit me about this Catholic Priest who helped hide Jews for protection. At one point some German officers came and demanded he give up the Jews. He replied that he couldn't. The officer said, "Look I am Catholic as well but I have a duty." The priest then said, "Well then you know that Christ was a jew and he commanded us to help the oppressed. I have a duty as well to help these people." He ended up saving the lives of these jews and many more. It gave me hope, that in a time of such inhumane men, some would still have character, regardless of what the world was doing and the possible punishments.
Alone Time.
We went into the city and this time, instead of being rushed and stressed. We just stopped and sat down in the sun and read books. I went to a bench by myself in the open courtyard in the Jewish Quarter. I opened the scriptures to 2 Nephi and was reading the Isaiah chapters. Never have they been so relevant or understandable. I just sat there with the sun warming my whole face and occasionally looking up at the passing pedestrian. An Ultra Orthodox man taking pictures of his little girl finding joy in everything. A man wearing a kippa in traditional Jewish dress on his mac book pro. A huge group of Israeli soldiers in tiny work out shorts surrounding some blonde students of ours. A few girls with a rope tied to a pole playing jump rope. I eventually walked over and played with them. I could not speak a word and just smiled. They just jumped and laughed when it hit them. Next to me on the bench was a pensive old woman not saying a word and just looking out in the distance. What I would do just to know what she was thinking. To my right was an old man in some retro clothes doing some weird stretches that was obviously making the woman next to him uncomfortable. My eyes found my scriptures again as I listened to Isaiah talk about the very land I was sitting in. It was my most favorite moment in the Old City yet.
Rain.
As I write it rains. Rain reminds me of so much. Of you Mom. Of leaving for my mission. Of leaving to come home. Today I watch the people act so grateful for this nourishment of their dry, parched soil. They pray for rain all year. I love how God chose these lands to establish his people. I used to wonder why he didn't establish them in tropical, beautiful areas. Now it makes sense that he put them in desert areas SO THEY WOULD rely on him. These people often cast their voices heavenward for water. Without which they perish. God is always trying to remind us that he gives us everything. Here in Jerusalem, where rain is like gold, it is hard for them to forget him. They need him.
My homies.
These are the chefs. They love me. They give me sweet hookups and teach me arabic. The one on the far right loves me. Today he took me in the back and let me watch the Real Madrid game for a little. I love making friends with the "little" people who we often don't notice. It reminds me of the lunch ladies in High School who loved me and who gave me free lunches literally, everyday. Life is in the little.
Jerusalem how I see it.
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