Up early again...4 AM. But...I'm sleeping much deeper. I just had to say that. Hopefully the clock will continue to adjust...just in time to go home.
Buffet, buffet, buffet....wow! They are going to roll me home instead of flying me. I have no self control when it comes to eating. The hotel here in Jerusalem has a really nice buffet...at least it was last night. But then again...because their Sabbath began at Sundown, it was one big Jewish party with all of them dressed in their orthodox style. It was pretty fun to watch. People would just start singing at their table...quite beautifully. I'm going to do that when back in the states.
I did not mention yesterday about entering the West Bank area of Israel. We went through many checkpoints. The West Bank is broken into 3 sections...A, B, C. A...it means that Israel only has a small administrative role, B...they have a little bit more and C...they pretty much have full control. We pretty much stayed in C areas. We wondered why we did not go into Jericho as we passed right by it. Turns out it was a B area and therefore they did not want to take the risk.
Yesterday, I did not post pictures about the Dead Sea float that we all did. They are now on that blog. They are pretty funny and nice.
The food...I've had olives every meal. You get humus as an option for every meal. You get a full salad bar of distinct stuff for EVERY meal. The quality is really good. For many days it seemed like we were eating the same faire. But one night we had chinese food...which tasted so good. Last night we had chicken cordon blue, roast beef and a variety of other choices. But the food has been good.
We started our day by going to the most significant spot...the most important spot...for all mankind...the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. At this spot, a special feeling is felt. Here the Savior felt the weight of all our sins and atoned for our sins. It was a special and signficant feeling to know that we were standing in the place where this singular event ocurred. Some of the Olive Tree's...at least their roots...were present when Christ was there performing his great works. Along side the garden is a church...The Church of the Agony. It is a pretty church with murals depicting Christ in the garden.
After seeing this site, we went to the top of the Mount of Olives where a cave was. It is assumed that in such places, the Savior taught his disciples. It is pretty hard to imagine how this would be done..by candle ligtht only. But that is how they did it. The Savior was spending his last days here in this area.
The next stop was at the BYU Jerusalem center to attend Sacrament. Yes, today is Saturday. But here in Israel, to align to the Jewish Sabbath, we hold our Sacrament meetings on Saturday. The BYU Jerusalem Center sits on hill over looking the Mount of Olives and the old city (Rock of the Dome). The room used for the chapel looks out over the valley and city. Pretty spectacular. The bad news was that during church services (after Sacrament Meeting) you could not 'tour' the facility. And we did not have time to wait around. So the pictures I wanted to get...I could not. Such a bummer.
Our next stop was in the valley called 'Shepherd's Fields'. We did two stops for this...one before lunch on one side of the valley and another on the other side. Let me say here...that lunch was really good. Since we were in Bethlehem, it was Palestinian food. It started with the usual mediterranean faire... pita bread, various salads, humus and other spreads. But they then followed that up with grilled meats (lamb, beef and chicken) with broiled onions and french fries. Back to Shepherd's field...here is where the shepherds guarded their flocks in caves. You can look out across the small valley and see caves and imagine sheep grazing with shepherds near by. We went into a cave and were taught about the history of this area going back to Moab, Ruth and their descendants all the way to David and then Jesus Christ. Pretty neat place and feeling... One note about Bethelehem, it is one of those A areas in the West Bank...pretty much under Palestinian control. So it was different than Jerusalem in look and feel. A lot more street selling and hawking going on there.
Next, we drove into downtown Bethlehem to spend rediculous amounts of money on silly stuff. These buses always take time to drop you off where money can buy things...part of the trip...a yucky part. That's all I will say.
Our last stop was the Church of the Nativity in the middle of Jerusalem. Unfortunately, much of it is under renovation. But this is where they believe the Savior was born. You go through the church and then they take you into a cave where a star marks the spot where they believe the Savior was born and laid. People would prostrate themselves and kiss this place. Fred did not get so extreme...thankfully! Again...another sacred spot that has such a special place in our hearts. I have to pinch myself that I am here experiencing all this.
It was a special day...and could have been even more special if money (commercialism) was left out of it.
Some pictures....
Getting ready to go into the Garden of Gethsemane....
Denise and I in the garden doing a 'selfie'...
One of the many olive trees there still laden with fruit.....
Inside the Church of the Agony. The mural depicts Christ in agony against a rock...
A cave where they believe Christ spent time with and taught his Disciples....
Sacrament meeing at BYU Jerusalem Center. It was the Primary Program...and the 6 kids did awesome. Yes..just 6 (as compared to the 100+ primaries in most Utah Wards). And yes...I know you are not supposed to take a picture during a church service....but I could not resist. The picture does not share the beauty of the view as you look out to the old city and see the Dome of the Rock and the city walls.
Another picture looking down a hall out towards the old Jerusalem. Unfortunately, these were taken behind doors as they would not let people walk around while church services were going on.
An outside garden \ walkway at the BYU Jerusalem...
Shepherd's Field (and valley). If you look closely, you can see a cave (left of center) where the Shepherds take their sheep and protect them in the night.
A monument to the Shepherd's. Sorry I only took the back side!
Inside a Shepherd's cave being taught by Dan....
Exchanging filthy lucre. Crazy to go to Sacrament Meeting then end up here having thiefs hound you to buy their wares...that you usually find later down the street much, much cheaper. Don't get me started.
The Church of the Nativity. This is like the Salt Lake Temple in that brides and grooms are lined up to be married. You can see a wedding going on.
The birth place of Christ. The start marks the representation of the spot.
This is looking from the back of the cave to the place where Jesus was born...they think.
Outside the Church of the Nativity....
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