First week in Jerusalem!

Wow...This week has gone by so fast! I feel like I have seen so much and I have only been here a week. I already feel super close to everyone here at the center. So far I have gone into the city a few times. It is super amazing and beautiful. Everything is so ancient and old, with so much culture and history. 

Random Picture I took of the Jerusalem Center (It is a glorious place)

I think I already have a favorite part of the Holy city, which is the Jewish Quarter. It is just beautifully kept. I don't really know why but I really love learning about the Jewish Culture and people, but I just do. I am in a Hebrew class right now. I had my first class yesterday (which was pretty fun, kind of like a kindergarten class.) we sang songs learned words like. "Shalom"! and that means Hello, Goodbye and Peace. We also learned "Shabbat Shalom", which translates to hope you have a peaceful Sabbath. "Todah" means thank you. And from what the teacher said it should be easy for us to learn Hebrew after we have this class, because it is one of the easiest languages to learn.  Another reason I think that I like the Jewish Quarter so much, because we stopped and got this delicious candied nuts. I really want to go back and get some more. Another interesting thing about the Jews is how many times people have tried to destroy the Jews. We read an article about it for my Jewish Civilization Class. I thought it had only happened with the Nazis but it happened multiple times and they were removed from their homes many of times also. 

Some of the super fun amazing students here at the center! That is the Dome of the Rock behind us. 

The Arch of the Covenant! What? This is inside the Augusta Victoria Church.

Umm...what else have I done. I got to go the Garden of Gethsemane last Saturday. Saturday is our Sabbath day here in at the Jerusalem Center. It is very strange saying Saturday instead of Sunday, when you ask people how their day is going. We also got to visit the city this sabbath which was interesting, because it was Easter for the Orthodox Christians. There are so many religions here. Everyone wants their own piece of the Holy City. Everyone is different also, it is extremely interesting to see the cultures and languages spoken. There are people from all over the world here. 

All of us that were wearing coral/red/pink...At the look out point.

Amy, Lauren and I at the lookout near the Dome of the Rock, this trip that I found those super good candied nuts :D

Jet Lag!

So far I have flew from Sacramento, California to Salt Lake City, Utah, from Salt Lake City, Utah to New York City and now I am on my way to Tel Aviv, Israel! I seriously cannot believe that I am headed to Israel! I feel like it still isn't that real. I feel like it won't be real till I get off the plane to Israel. We get to Israel at 5:30 then we jump right into the Orientation in the Center! They give us a tour of the center and we eat (I think) and then I believe we have another couple hours of orientation at the center. I feel like we are all going to be so confused because of the time difference, which is around 10 hours ahead of California, which is the time that I am used to. Anyways I will post again when I am in Jerusalem. And I will post pictures when I get to Jerusalem!  

Packing!!

I am all done packed for Jerusalem! I feel like my suitcase weights about as much as I do, so I will have to figure out how to make it lighter (under 50 pounds I believe) I also already have a test scheduled for next week and two or three assignments that I need to do before I leave. I have decide to deactivate my facebook for the time that I am in Jerusalem, because I want to enjoy Jerusalem and get as much as I can out of being in a amazing place! I have just found out of things about the places I will be visiting. You already know about the Holy City. But I will also be visiting…Turkey, Israel (of course), Jordan, and at the end of the whole trip, I get to go to Italy!

 

A map of the places I am going to...(added the arrows)

And I only have 6 days till I leave for Jerusalem!!!! Can you believe that in less than a week and I am going to be on a plane headed to Israel where I will be living for the next 3 months! (I get to live where Christ lived when he was on the Earth.)


Here are some of my favorite pictures of Christ…   

With Love, 

Sierra

The first blog post of many...I hope...

17 days till Jerusalem 

So many exciting things are happening around me and to me. So many changes! It feels like just last year is when I graduated from high school and now my little brother Ethan is graduating. Time just flies by! I really feel like it is crazy to think that in about 17 days, I will be in Jerusalem, Israel!!!! I will be living here...

Jerusalem Center or Brigham Young University Near Eastern Studies Center

I have been trying to learn about the Savior's life these past couple of weeks. I have been reading and also listening to the New Testament.  It is this dramatized version of the New Testament (so it has different voices and stuff) and it really brings the scriptures back to life. I think it is helping me view the scripture stories in a new light. I think that going to Jerusalem will help me become a better disciple of Christ. I am so excited for the change! 

Random Pictures of Jerusalem that I found...Hope I will be able to see this places!

P.S. Just a random fact about me...I love listening to books on tape or CD. (Whatever you want to call it) There is just something about listening to a book or old radio show that brings my imagination alive. I think I love it because it is like reading a book, but you can do other things when you are listening. Who wouldn't love that? 

With Love,
Sierra