Our stop this morning was the Garden of Gethsemane. What a beautiful place that was! We had a devotional there and we sang "I Stand All Amazed" (my favorite hymn!) and there was such strong spirit there. After the devotional we had free time to find a secluded place to sit and read, study, ponder, pray, etc. The Garden, though walled, is right next to a busy street so it was as quite and peaceful as I would have hoped, but I still greatly enjoyed the time I was able to spend there as I reread the of Christ's suffering in Mattehew and Luke. I really do 'stand all amazed' at the love Jesus has for each of us and I felt that love many times on this trip as I walked the paths that he walked and beheld with my own eyes the places where significant things in his life took place. The tree that I am standing in front of is called a witness tree because it is over 2000 years old so it would have witnessed Christ's suffering in the Garden, kind of neat to think about.
After visiting the Garden we went to church at the BYU Jerusalem Center. Behind the pulpit on the stand is all windows that look out over the city, it is an amazing view!
From the church we headed toward Bethlehem. We stopped along the way at a little Bedouin tent restaurant where had a wonderful traditional meal.
Next we stopped at Shepherd's Fields, and the Shepherd's Church, the tradional site where the shepherd's received the glad tidings that Christ was born. We sang "O, Little Town of Bethlehem"-so fitting right!
We went to the Church of the Nativity which is the oldest church in all of Christendom. It was built over a little cave which is believed to be the manger where Christ was born. Here we are down in the manger.
We celebrated the end of Shabbot by going to Ben Yehuda Street. The had live music, street vendors, entertainers and food-including delicious gelato!! Our group randomly pulled out a camera case string and started a limbo competition in the street. The people there loved it! We drew a bigger crowd than the fire thrower!
After visiting the Garden we went to church at the BYU Jerusalem Center. Behind the pulpit on the stand is all windows that look out over the city, it is an amazing view!
From the church we headed toward Bethlehem. We stopped along the way at a little Bedouin tent restaurant where had a wonderful traditional meal.
Next we stopped at Shepherd's Fields, and the Shepherd's Church, the tradional site where the shepherd's received the glad tidings that Christ was born. We sang "O, Little Town of Bethlehem"-so fitting right!
We went to the Church of the Nativity which is the oldest church in all of Christendom. It was built over a little cave which is believed to be the manger where Christ was born. Here we are down in the manger.
We celebrated the end of Shabbot by going to Ben Yehuda Street. The had live music, street vendors, entertainers and food-including delicious gelato!! Our group randomly pulled out a camera case string and started a limbo competition in the street. The people there loved it! We drew a bigger crowd than the fire thrower!
Jess, your trip looks like you had a great time! I have been thinking about you and hope all is well, and you had a Happy Birthday on the 18th. Sorry I never called, I have been meaning too, but its always too late. I think I will try and catch up with you this weekend. Love you!
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