DAY ONE:

I can't believe it but I'm in Jerusalem, Israel (and in one piece I might add). The city is BEAUTIFUL!! You can tell really tell that this is a holy city. We're right in the middle of Ramadan, a Islam fasting event where the Muslims abstain from food and drink during the day and eat/drink only at night. It is so neat because not only is the "call to prayer" broadcasted all over the city but there is also some prayers or scriptures (not sure which) sung over the speakers every morning and evening to mark the time that you need to eat in the morning to prepare for the fast and the time in the evening where feasting can begin. The music is so beautiful and a constant reminder of the fact that I no longer live in the states.

Landing in Tel Aviv was uneventful minus the fact that none of my part of the plane worked. No reading lights or sound for the movies. Lame. Tel Aviv reminds me a whole lot of El Paso. The parts that I've seen are not that pretty. As we drove to Jerusalem (one hour drive inland), we drove through Judea. There is a hymn called "far, far away on Judea's Plains" and I can honestly tell you that whoever wrote that song had never been to Judea! Judea reminds me a lot of some of the hills in the hill country of Texas. *side note: everything is still moving. By that, I mean to say that this computer keeps rocking back and forth. (I think it's because I'm still not used to being on land or maybe it's jet lag).

The Jerusalem Center (JC) is SUPER cool!! Dinner was amazing. I have never eaten so well! We had Jasmin rice, chicken, beef, fish, salad with some sort of really good cheese, broiled veggies (YUM!) and this amazing custard dish that I can't identify. After dinner we had a presentation of the organ and meeting room where we have church. We have the finest organ in all the Middle East!! (or so I was told). As I was walking into the meeting room, the curtains at the back of the stage start to open with this POWERFUL organ music playing. The curtains open up to a window wall that over looks the city of Jerusalem. The old city is right there with the wall around it and the Dome of the Rock is RIGHT there! It was so powerful and touching. I honestly can't believe I'm here.

Classes start tomorrow bright and early. Life is wonderful! I can't wait to start our field trips!! I have been appointed Madam Palfrey from Harry Potter (the nurse/cure all lady from Harry Potter) and also the head of Gryffindor(our group of 10 or so students). Man, am I going to be busy! I can't wait to hit the ground running. We have fresh cut flowers from the JC grounds all over campus. My balcony over looks the old city and the Dome of the Rock AND I have tons of rose bushes and a pomegranate tree on my balcony!! How cool is that!?!

Although I'm excited for class, I also can feel the intense jet lag so I'm headed to sleep but I love you all! Thanks for your help getting here and your prayers!!

Night Before

Hello world!! This blog has been created to keep ya'll posted on all the fun stuff that is going on in Jerusalem. Seeing as how Facebook is blocked at the Jerusalem center this and email will be my only form of communication. Crazy. Well, I hope all is well and I hope you enjoy this blog!