Lessons from Galilee

The very first field trip that we had in Galilee started out with a boat ride across the sea. While sailing across we discussed the story of Peter walking on water. I have always loved that story but I developed a greater understanding and love for the many lessons that were taught in it. Firstly, Peter sees Christ walking across the water in the stormy sea and recognizes him. He calls out to the Savior and asks if He can come out to Him. Then Peter took that giant leap of faith by stepping out of the safety of the boat and onto the stormy and temptestuous sea. Think of how much faith that would require, to walk out towards the sea. But Peter knew He would be okay because He put His trust in the Savior and walked towards Him. After the first fews steps on water Peter made the mistake of looking away from the Savior and began to sink into the waves of the sea. Often, in our own lives it is when we take our eyes of the Savior and begin to succomb to the waves of doubt and despair that we find ourselves sinking. Peter called out to Jesus and immediately the Savior reached out to him and lifted him above the storm. We need to follow Peter's example and always turn to the Lord in our trials and tribulations. Christ is always there waiting for us, all we have to do is call to Him. He will immediately lift us into His arms and encompass us about in His love.

Later on that day we had the opportunity to go to St. Peter's Primacy, a little church dedicated to Peter on the Shores of the Sea of Galilee. It was here that we talked about the love and compassion of the Savior. He always looked after the needs of those around Him both temporally and spiritually. Something that really hit me as I was learning all these things was that the very miracles that Christ preforms in the New Testament are avaliable to us in our own lives. The people that Christ healed were people just like you and me. Jesus Christ lives today and He is able to heal us if we turn to Him and put our faith in Him. The compassion of Christ is something that I have come to know more personally since coming to the Holy Land. I know that our Savior loves us each personally and infinitely. I am so greatful for that knowledge.

Galilee is a very special place. It is so beautiful and green. It is a fitting place for the Savior to grow up and preform miracles. I know that He truly did walk, preach, and teach in the area around Galilee. I am thankful for the opportunity that I had to come to know my Savior more deeply by studying His life and teachings in the very place that He taught his disciples so long ago. Those same lessons can apply into our own lives, they are real and they are powerful. We can learn so much from the scriptures if we truly study and ponder them. I know my Savior loves me and I am so thankful for the lessons that I learned on the shores of Galilee.

Thank You!!

This is a shout out to my amazing parents! I love you guys so much. You have no idea how greatful I am to have been given this opportunity to come and study in the Holy Land. I know I wouldn't have been able to do it without the love and support you have given me. Thanks mom, for always pushing me to come here...even when I wasn't so sure about it my self. You were right, it is well worth the trip and I know the experiences I have had here will sustain me throughout my life. Thanks dad, for always being a quiet support to me in whatever I chose to do. I wouldn't have been able to figure everything out if it wasn't for you helping me fill out everything every step of the way. You are both tremendous parents. I know I wouldn't be half of the person that I am today without all of your love and support. I couldn't ask for a better mom and dad. I love you both! Thank you!!

Farewell Jordan :)

Our last day in Jordan we went to a couple of different places. One of them was a beautiful mosque, one of the biggest in Jordan. It was really beautiful and all of the girls had to wear these outfits that looked remotely like the ones death eaters wear in Harry Potter.... but we got to learn a little bit more about how Muslim's pray and it was really neat experience. Then we went to another ancient Roman site and museum. They have some of the copper dead sea scrolls there which were really cool to see. The picture is one that was taken in front of what remains of a temple dedicated to Hercules. After the mosque and museum we went to the Jordan River where some Christians believe that Christ was baptized. The river wasn't exactly what I pictured but it was still beautiful nonetheless and it was a very special experience to learn about Christ's baptism while sitting there on the banks of the Jordan River. I absolutely loved my time in Jordan and would love to go back in a heartbeat. While we were there we had the chance to talk to the district president there in Amman and he said some interesting things about why we as BYU students and representatives of the LDS church are there. He thinks there is a bigger purpose for us to be there, learning about the people and the language, than any of us know right now. I hope to be able to come home in just a few short weeks and carry the wonderful knowledge that i've gained about this truly holy land to everyone and be an ambassador for the Middle East back in the United States. I have developed a deep love for the people and places that I have had the opportunity to visit. I truly am blessed to have the tremendous experiences that I have had here :)

Exploring Amman :)

So, we had a couple of free nights to head out on the town and explore the wonderful city of Amman, Jordan. On one of those nights a bunch of us decided to go to the Royal Automobile Museum where the royal family has a lot of their really awesome cars on display. (don't worry dad, I got plenty of pictures just for you) after the car museum we went to one of the giant malls there. For a bunch of college students who hadn't seen a real mall in, I don't know...say about 3 months, we were all a little excited to be there. Needless to say we all had a lot of fun exploring the mall...especially the food court :) Jordan also has absolutely wonderful ice cream. The best i've ever had I think... but anyway, Amman was a great city full of really nice people and all of us BYU Jerusalem students had a lot of fun while we were there.

Jerash

After Petra we drove up to Amman Jordan. It is crazy how much like an American city it is. There were Applebee's and I even saw a Fuddruckers. It was just like being in a big American city excpet for the fact that everyone was speaking Arabic. The day after Petra we got to go to one of the best preserved Roman cities outside of Italy. It is called Jerash and there were so many beautiful Roman ruins and it was a lot of fun to explore and see a Roman theatre and Roman temples to Zeus and some of the other gods. And of course...how could we not get a picture on pillars, looking like muses? Hercules anyone :)

Petra!

Wow...I'm getting just a little behind on my blogging! Back when we were in Jordan we had the opportunity to go to Petra. It is absolutely beautiful with so many cool rock formations. It was an ancient city at one point so they carved a lot of intricite and amazing buildings into the walls of the rock. The most famous of course being the Treasury. One of the professors made a joke about how much pride the Jordanians have. He said that he has only seen flags as big as the ones in Jodan in two places, one of them being Jordan and the other Texas. They have flags up everywhere so me and Ash decided we mine as well get a picture with one. There was this fantastice view of "The end of the world" if you climbed up into the canyon. It truly was a breathtaking view and I absolutely loved sitting up there and looking out over the canyon. Petra was so much fun!

Jordan Field Trip...Day 1

So, we went to Jordan. It was pretty much awesome. On the way there we stopped at Mt. Nebo (where Moses saw the promised land) and then this amazing crusader castle called Shobeck. It was SO fun running around in these old catle ruins. It was way cool. Picture #1. Me overlooking the valley while sitting atop the castle. #2. Bethany and I posing in the entrance to the castle. It was way fun! Then we went to Petra! Horray! We got really really yummy ice cream from Switzerland or something and then we walked around the city and enjoyed the night life. We played soccer with some little Jordanian boys who rocked us hard core. We also took pictures with the Kings...King Abdullah is the king of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and his picture is up everywhere! Weird? Yes, i think so too but nonetheless it made for a good picture of me and Jessica.