We are now in Jerusalem, and how exciting and what a city to visit...the City of David!!
We begin by exploring the ruins located south of the Temple Mount and walk the sidewalks and stairs of Jesus' time.
We climbed the Temple Mount where both Solomon's and Herod's temples once stood and where the magnificent Dome of the Rock now stands.
A highlight was our visit to the Western Wall, the most sacred site for the Jewish faith. A wall seperates the men from the women.
We wrote prayers and put them in the cracks of the wall as millions have done before us. Hundreds of the Jewish faith come and pray everyday!
While we were there many 12 year old Jewish boys were getting their Bar- Mitzvah...they say prayers, read from the Torah and receive their falacteries.
It was wonderful to see all of this great faith in such a special place.
That afternoon we walked through Hezekiah's Tunnel, built over 2,500 years ago to secure the water supply Jerusalem during the Assyrian siege. It is a tunnel about a mile long filled with water and what an adventure, you certainly couldn't be claustropic! We were glad for our flashlights and water shoes.
And after we found the pool of Siloam where the born blind washed as instructed by Jesus ans came away seeing!
The next next day we visited Beit Lehi and experienced an archeological dig firsthand.
Our visit to Beit Lehi included beautiful early Christian mosaics, oil presses, and a ritual bath.We also saw a recently discovered colum-barium where doves were raised by the thousands for sacrifice in the Temple.
Here we saw a New Testament stable, which gave us an understanding of the real setting for the birth of the Savior.
On our way back to Jerusalem, we stopped at the Valley of Elah, where David fought Goliath! So cool!!
On Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, we attended Sacrament Meeting at the BYU Jerusalem Center. What a beautiful view as you look out over the city of Jerusalem while singing hymns and learning of the Savior. It was a wonderful experience. And what a miracle about the church getting that spot of land in Jerusalem
On our next day we we retraced the footsteps of the Savior during the last hours of his life. We visited Mt. Zion, and the traditional site of the last supper. We visited St Peter in Gallicantu, where he denies the Savior three times. And the palace of Caiaphus where Jesus was tried.
From there we descend into the Kidron Valley to visit Gethsame, the garden of the Savior's deepest prayers.
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Some of the oldest and most beautiful olive trees are in the Garden of Gethsemene.
We took some time to consecrate some olive oil for the healing of the sick in the Garden of Gethsemene, it was a sweet and memorable experience.
In the afternoon we entered the Old City and continued the last hours of the Savior's life. We visited the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus commanded the impotent man to take up his bed and walk.
We saw the Antonia Fortress where Pilate tried the Savior.
We concluded our day at Golgotha, knowing that the Savior was crucified near this very hill!
...and the Garden Tomb, where a sign on the tomb door reads, "He is not here, He is risen!"
As we went into the tomb, we had time to ponder the Ressurrection and final agony and yet the triumph of our Savior.
As we sat at the tomb feelings of reverence and gratitude filled our hearts. It was an experience we will never forget!
Early the next morning we off to the Masada. Rising above the desert floor is Herod's Grsat fortress, which we visited by cable car.
During the Jewish Revolt in 70 BC, the Masada's Jewish defenders committed suicide rather than be taken prisoners by the Roman army.
We then crossed the border into Jordan and stooped at an area where most scholars believe Christ was baptized. It was a beautiful, serene setting as we reached down and touched the waters of the Jordan River.
Early the next morning, now in Jordan, we bussed 2 1/2 hours to Petra. Petra was recently voted one of the "Seven New Wonders of the World", and is also known as the Red-Rose City. We walked down the narrow canyon to the breathtaking view of the Treasury, Petra's most famous landmark.
We had time to walk 6 km in and 1000 steps up to the Monestary, another amazing site at Petra, where the ancient monks lived.
I had my first camel ride from a Bedouin that used to live there, but several years ago, since the popularity of the Indiana Jones movie which was filmed here, the government moved the Bedouins out of Petra and now they live several miles away...but still come down to Petra to sell their handicrafts and give camel rides to the tourists.
That evening was our last evening in Jordan and the next day we flew to New York City. We stayed in NYC with Ronn and Wendy and had fun touring around the city, going to shows, we saw "Newsies", "Spider-Man"' and "Stomp"' we ate in some delicious wonderfully old restaurants and even toured Central Park. It was a lovely way to end our trip together.
We loved our trip to Israel, it was truly life changing for us, to actually be near and see the sites of the Savior's life and death. It has endeared the Savior to us in a very special and unforgettable way. What a blessing that we had the opportunity and the time to go!! I really hope and pray that our children will take this special opportunity some day. I know it will strengthen their testimonies of the Savior, it certainly has mine, I know I am so much more grateful for our Savior!!
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