Shephelah!!! June 3, 2013

Shephelah which means "low hills" in the country of Judah. There are 5 valleys in Judean Shephelah 

called Aijalon Valley, Sorek Valley, Elah Valley, Guvrin Valley, and the Lachich Valley...

Beth Shemesh and the Sorek Valley  

Me at Beth-Shemesh, overlooking the Sorek Valley

Beth Shemesh is where the story of Samson took place (Judges 13-16)

Overlook of Sorek Valley 

Random Facts:

Beth in Hebrew means “house” (weird my middle name means house)

Shemesh in Hebrew means “Sun” 

Another of me with Sorek Valley in the background

McCall, Marie and I

Samson Story is so interesting. I knew the plot of Samson, but it wasn’t until I had to read it a couple of times for this field trip and also for Old Testament that I really thought deeply about it. And something that I got out of it was the importance of who you marry. Samson married a Philistine women and that was his downfall. This happen many times in the scriptures…It happened with King David, who was so righteous as a young man and then he had a turning point when he see Bath-sheba bathing on the roof. (Random Thought: Is how this could also be an example in the scriptures of how destructive pornography can be to anyone, even this man who was as righteous as David was. I think that because he wasn’t actively trying to do his best to be close to God, he fell into the laziness that we all do at time when we stop actively seeking the Lord and this is when Satan tempted him with seeing Bath-sheba) There are also so many other examples in the scriptures about how who you marry really matters. Like in the case of Solomon (who was blessed with so much) He was an amazing King as you can see from the story about the baby and the two mothers in Kings chapter 3.  But he married outside of the covenant and that starts his downfall. After reading these stories the past couple of weeks, I have realized the importance of choosing whom you marry, because this really affects you for the rest of your life and how you life will pan out. This worries me but at the same time, I know that the Lord will help me in finding someone who will help me progress in life and someone who has a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Azekah

Azekah

So Azekah is in the Valley of Elah and it is near where the story of David and Goliath occured!

Elah Valley is where David and Goliath story took place! We got to get out of the van and sling stones. (I saved 5 smooth stones like the scriptures say) It was so fun, but I am pretty sure I would have missed Goliath because I am not a very good shot. (I look pretty confused because I am) J

 Maresh/Beth Guvrin

The next place we went was called Maresh/Beth Guvrin, which are ruins that are known for their Olive Oil. (There are a few ancient Olive Oil Presses)  In order to get to the ruins you have to go through the Bell caves. These Bell caves are pretty amazing; they are craved out of Soft Limestone and so large. After going through the Bell Caves you get to the Ruins which are beautiful, We stopped first at this place that was where they used to store pigeons that they would use to sacrifice at the temple. Then we stopped at these Olive Presses… There are Olive trees everywhere (but that is not something new they are everywhere in Israel) Interesting fact…Herod the great was said to have been born in this city. This city used Grid System.

Bell Caves !!! So cool looking!

The light came into the caves really cool looking  and made for really cool pictures. 

This was in the city of Maresh, the place where all the pigeons of the city lived.

One of the Many Olive Presses we got to see...

I love trees... I saw this Olive Tree and I thought it was beautiful, so here is a picture of it. 

 Lachish

Tombs at Lachish, I realized that this picture is flipped the wrong way but I can't fix it right now...

Lachish is this ancient city that was defeated by the army of Nebuchadnezzar and it is also talked about in the bible in the fact that Joshua conquered it in Joshua chapter 10.
Also Lachish was the shephelah’s largest city during the Old Testament times,

One of my favorite things is that I can be reading the scriptures…Like the other night and I was reading in the Old Testament and I saw Lachish in the Scriptures and I was like I have been there! It was super cool to think about and it made the scripture more interesting then what I would have thought at first because I had been there.

Well that is our fun adventure to the Shephelah! Hope you enjoy! And if you have questions comment below or email me!
with Love,
Sierra 

Arab Night!!!!

ARAB NIGHT!

On May 29, 2013, We had Arab night, which is where we learned about Arabic Culture. We had a whole meal of Arabic Food, which was surprisingly really Delicious! 

Me at the Arab Night 

Me, Porter, Kaitlin and Summer at Arab Night 

Tiffany, Richard and I right after Arab Night at the Center

Finally Posted about my trip to Turkey!

Turkey

So this past week was crazy we did so much this week.

I got to try Turkish delight (which has been on my bucket list for the past couple of years)

We went to so many places. All of them were amazing.

I think one of my favorite parts was the boat ride of the Bosphorus. It was just peaceful and smooth.

Day 1 of Turkey

Flight to Turkey!

Hotel Hamidiye

Walking in Istanbul (Starting from the Right Marissa, Kimmy, Luiza, Amy, Bree, Me, Kendall, Courtney)

Day 2 of Turkey 

( Don't judge me for wearing the same outfit that I posted about the other day,  I only have a few outfits)

Blue Mosque

Me at the Blue Mosque

Outside of the Blue Mosque

Kendall and I at the Blue Mosque in our headscarfs (that is Scott in the back)

Basilica Cistern

Me at the Basilica Cistern (These Columns are from Roman period and were reused for this Cistern Under Istanbul)

Grand Bazaar (where I brought my lamp)
(didn't get any pictures of me there but this is what the Grand Bazaar looks like)

My Lamp looks like the bottom one in this picture there

The Bazaar was HUGE...There are over 3,000 Shops and it covers about 61 covered streets

Boat Ride on Bosphorus

Me with my Jerusalem Backpack!

Day 3 of Turkey
Gallipoli Battlefield Memorial

This was a Beautiful Ocean next to Gallipoli this is a memorial for all those that died in that battle 

Ferry Ride across the Dardanelles 
Don't have a picture of this on my camera, but I have a few friends that have pictures. That I will get from them at the end of semester. 
Troy

The Trojan Horse at Troy! 

Kendall, Me an Taylor at Troy. ( This is kinda of a strange picture but one of the only ones I have with me in it at troy)

Day 4 of Turkey
Assos

Assos overlook really in the morning.
Pergamon Acropolis

Pergamon Ruins 

Day 5 of Turkey
Church of St. John

Find Sierra! :D at the Church of St John

Church of St John! (there is even a Baptismal fount here)

Ephesus ( Super amazing Ancient City)

The Library at Ephesus 

Look in your scripture and you will see the picture I am holding. I have been there. 

Theater at Ephesus!

Priene

Super Beautiful Priene 

Day 6 of Turkey

Sardis

Sardis: Me, Lauren, and Kendall

The Gymnasium at Sardis

Thyatira (Ashisar)

Grand Mosque, Bursa

Bree, Rose, me and Summer

Day 7 of Turkey

Iznik (ancient Nicaea) 

Overview of the Nicaea

 Hagia Sophia

Me, Summer and Coryne at Hagia Sophia

This a piece of my paper I wrote about my turkey trip...

Ephesus, I believe, was one that was easiest to imagine what it looked like during its prime. In Ephesus, I really thought about the daily life of those that lived there. If I were alive would I have listen to John or Paul when they came to preach. I learned that John was exiled to the Island of Patmos; at the time I think that he could have doubted. He supposed be preaching the gospel of Christ, but instead he was given the opportunity to save so many by writing the book of Revelations. Paul also came to Ephesus, because there were people there that were ready for the gospel in their lives, which is just like now, with our missionaries out in the field.

One of the Places that I learned from and I really felt the spirit in was when we went to Constantine’s Lakeside Place or the Nicea and talked about the meeting to decide what Christianity entails or is. I think this site just brought this whole new love for Joseph Smith and his role in the restored gospel, which I thought I already had. The confusion that was on the earth and the clarity that I have in my life because of him. Another inspirational place was Gallipoli; we talked about the battle that happen there and draw that ensued that caused so many to loose their lives. My grandpa was in the military and I thought about if he had lost his life I would never have had the family that I have and that I am so thankful for. I also thought of all those that had lost their lives and that they never had the change to raise their families, but I know they will have that opportunity in the next life. I just really felt like we can all learn from this place, because it reminds us of the shortness of life and how we need to be thankful for each day that we have been blessed with.

Assos, with that beautiful overlook, it just really hit me, how true and real the

 Scriptures really are. I have never thought about the places that scriptural events occurred until I came here, the reality that all these places are real not fictional. Paul really came through this city on his way to Troas. As we visited Smyrna I had some of the same thoughts, I remember reading about Smyrna before and the letter that was written from his place to encourage the on going faith of the saints. I though about the faith that they must have had. These Saints brought forth we some of the teachings that have saved millions.

Once we came to Miletus and Priene, which is where they have city streets that are much like the cities in Utah because they are set up like a grid system. I have always wondered how these ancient cities are just left to riot. I learned about this was that the land changed that so much in the years, since the scripture were written, what at one time could have been a busy seaport, is now just a few miles away from the seacoast now. Paul wrote letters to the saints from these places and goes to that the leaders of the time really cared for there saints as do the leaders of the church care for us. Sardis inspired me in a way that I didn’t think it would. The reading we had for Sardis was in Revelations 3, in which the we are told to “Be Watchful” and to strengthen those that remain in the church. It reminded me the importance of friendship in the gospel and how that essential that is the church, to strengthen members and bring people back. It was as important then as it is now.

Thyatira was this peaceful and calming place for me. I never expected that we would be in the middle of the woods, before I can I always expected that we would visit places in more tropical areas, but here really bought me back to the fact that gospel can be true anywhere in the world and people are being prepared for the gospel all over the world for the gospel. Just like Lydia, who was in a wicked place but she was ready. Like Lydia who was in the world but of the world, we have the saints that were in Pergamum. John shared that even though they lived in wickedness the held fast to the gospel. Just as those saints held fast so can I in my own life, because we live in a wicked world also.