Who is the true Disney fan?

I have been enjoying the sea of Galilee, but it isn't the same as the beach. It did make me miss the beach even more because I was so close to water, but knew how much better the ocean is then a sea. So when we were able to go and see the Mediterranean Ocean, I was really excited. I know its not the same as the Pacific Ocean, but it comes from the same body of water right?
In honor of my ability of speaking Disney fluently, I decided to take some great pictures inspired by one of my favorite princesses. So lets see who knows their Disney Princesses..

After getting a bit wet and sandy, I knew that if we are by water some more, I was going to go all out because I am already wet and sandy why not become more.

So when we went to Caesarea, a very prominent and flourishing city during Herod's time, there was a spot where the waves would splash over. All I could remeber was flashbacks to Sea World and wanting to be in the Splash Zone. So i knew I was wet and sandy and wanted to do something I would not do usually, so i went and waited for the perfect wave to come over and get me soaked. It was so much fun just watching this huge wave and leaning over the rail and getting soaked. I loved smelling the sea salt and just wanted to be on my beach again. This is how I know that you can take the girl away from the beach but you cant take the love of the beach out of the girl.


Here is Dane and I a few moments after the big splash. The back was alot worse due to having my back to the water the first time so that I could look at the camera when the water would come over.

Church at Tiberias, Galilee

I was really excited to be able to go to church with the branch in Tiberias, as well as seeing the view that is second to the centers view in the church. Plus I really wanted to see how their branch was and how big it would be. The branch is small and new, but the branch meets in a house that was dedicated by Elder Holland to be a church building.

Here is Lizzie and I in front of the church with the Sea of Galilee behind us.


After church we went to Yardenit, a major baptismal site on the Jordan river. HEre they had lots of people being baptized with many gates and rails installed inside the different areas on the river. There was also a video station where they could record the baptisms as well as a huge store and a nice looking resturant. It was cool to go and watch the baptisms, escpecially when there was a large group of singing going on and the group looked like they were from Eastern Africa. I knew they looked liked the people from Ethiopia or around that area due to how their skin was.
Here I am holding the picture from the Bible pictures that is the exact spot of were the photo was taken. Its been fun trying to find all the places that are in the bible and to see them in real life.

Galma and Hippos, Galilee

I was able to be in Galilee for the last 10 days and I miss it already... I have noticed that I havent written that much about my experiences or sites visited in Galilee so I will try to do a bit of catching up.

This "camels hump" is Gamla, where the Jewish people revolted against the Roman and were able to win the first battle but wasent able to come back for the second battle. So the leader then was able to convince the people to jump off the mountain instead of being conqured.

So there is a little piece of history, which is werid for me to write about but I have to show, to my dad who is reading these blogs, that I am learning here. The hike down to the mountain was a beautiful hike and we were able to do it on a great day. located on the hill was a synagoue, houses and other small structures that are still able to see during the time of the Revolt.

We then were able to hike to a waterfall, which was another amazing hike and a bit more easier to get to. I did have my judgements of the waterfall because I now compare it to the Victoria Falls, but it was still amazing to see.

Here is some of my friends Rachel Bennett, Amanda Walker and Amy Washburn.







We then headed to Hippos, another site that is what to have been believed the city that christ referred to as the "city that cannot be hid" druing his sermon on Mt.Beatitudes in Matthew 5 or 6 I believe.

Today we had to stay on the trail because there is still mines not found. Here is Rebecca and I posing for the sign. It is thriling to be in a "dangerous" place. But what I felt bad was for the cows that were out wondering in this dangerous land. How sad would that be if a cow found a land mine.

The Sea of Galilee and I
In Capharnaum, the place where Peter's family lived and Jesus and apostles stayed at for many meetings.

Chilling in Galilee, land of Jesus

So i have been in Galilee for a couple of days now, but its been hard to blog since the internet service isnt that great here in the Kabutz. I have a little apartment like that is right on the sea of Galilee and it is gorgeous. We are able to go around the different areas surronding the sea of Galilee and study the miracles and teachings Christ did here, and it has helped alot with connecting the stories to the places. I really enjoyed the boat ride our class took out in the sea and learn more about the New Testament stories that took place, like how Christ came to his apostles on a stormy sea to comfort and guide them. I have really enjoyed my time here because it has helped imensly on understanding who Christ was as a man walking and healing others in this area and to see the views that he might have seen, and stand int the Sea that he stood in thousand years ago.
Its been great to have more thinking and pondering time here. Every other day we are taking field trips and on the other days we have class for about 3 hours and then rest of the day is free to study, read or even go play in the water. I really enjoyed just laying out and trying to get some sun on my white skin, thanks to Idaho, but thats ok I am getting the sun and that is what matters.
Another fun thing, is at night some of us girls get together and watch a movie in the double twin size bed on our next door neighbors. Last night we watched "Return to Me" and had at least 9 girls on the bed, and it was a blast. I really like these types of sleepovers because I am able to go back to my bed and sleep comfortably while still getting the girl time in that is required for sleepovers.
I will try to upload pictures and write a little about each place, but dont hold me to it...

This is me, still alive after the race! :)

I survived the run!!

Ok so I have survived the 10K run in Jerusalem and I am sore but I am alive.
We left the center around 7:30 and got bused to the meeting area for the runners in West Jerusalem. From there we waited in the pouring rain, and strong wind for 10:15 to come because that is when the race would official start.
I just mostly walked around and looked at booths and to see if there was any free food or prizes I could grab before the race. I did get a key chain which is pretty sweet after spinning the wheel that had hebrew on it, so i have no idea what the wheel said or what I landed on. I basically tried to keep warm, even though I was soaked, and kept thinking positivly and not allowing myself to get nervous.
Now I did not train for this run at all, I have only ran one time while being here, and basically signed up so I could get the cool t-shirt, medal, friends were doing it and the experience to run around Jerusalem. So keeping that in mind, I was hoping to walk most of the run and to take pictures, maybe get off the track a bit and grab a shwarma or some type of food, but with the rain my plans changed alot.
I knew I needed to run this entire course, to be warm and battle the rain and to get the race done as fast as I could. That is when I started getting nervous because I have never ran that far in one run, never have done a race and now had weather conditions to battle against as well as the hills on the course.
I decided to then just do the best I can do, and not to allow myself to walk at all, because that would only make it worse when trying to start up the run again. I ran by myself, and I really enjoyed it because I was able to get that independence and alone time I have been craving for the last 3 months being here. It was hard to run after the 6K mark because it started to hail, and it was stinging my face and the wind was picking up making it hard to breathe at times. I just started laughing because I never imagined myself in Jerusalem, running for an event I never trained for, making a rash decision to do so, trying to rain against the hail and wind, while having one of the best times of my life.
I was just loving every moment, and found that I can really push myself on those times were my legs were crapping up and I didnt think they would give me another 3K more. But they did.
As I came up to the finished line, it looked like it would end at the bottom of the hill I was running on, and had tons of people cheering as well as my ipod telling me that I had only 200 yards left, so I ran hard to end strong, only to realize I wasent finished and the finish line was at the top of a hill I was now approaching around the corner. THat is when i had to get on my game face and keep going.
It was very helpful finishing strong because I recognized familiar faces cheering me on. They were other students from the program including Grace, Travis, Sarah Brown, Dan, Ashley, Bonnie, Sheleigh, and others that I feel bad I cant name off right now.
When I did cross the finish line I wanted to have that moment to myself, so i let a big group of people pass me so that I was finishing by myself rather then in a big group of people.
The announcer called my name, and where I was from and it was exhilarating feeling. I could not believe I did it, and that I did it in my opinion at a decent time for never training at all.
Plus I burned 754 calories during that race.
I am now trying to finish my last final paper for my Palestine class and then hoping to crash and take a nap. I may load pictures of me from the race, but it depends on how nasty I look in them...

I am running a 10K in the morning!! :)

Alright so I have noticed how long it has been since I have blogged, and since trying to catch up will be too overwhelming for me as well as time consuming, I am just going to be re-capping what is going on today and not do catch- up as much.
I did take plenty of pictures of Turkey, and for me seeing those pictures is what helps me remember events that occurred, so if anyone wants any stories I am happy to share, just wont be able to blog about the events right now.

So yesterday, today and tomorrow have been "race days". I say that because I have been trying to finish my last final paper for Palestine class, that has been taking me forever to do, as well as the other papers I am required to do for New Testament and Ancient Near History, while at the same time going on field trips this week and getting ready for Galilee as well as my 10K race.

That is right, I am running my first 10K race tomorrow in Jerusalem, and I am really excited for it but a little worried because I it is suppose to rain tomorrow during the race. But i think the rain will force me to run a bit faster and may be refreshing to cool all of us hot runners down. On top of trying to prepare for the race, end the papers for finals, while trying to get money and packing for Galilee, I am still remembering to breathe. Which is hard for me at times cause I do get stressed and try to perfect everything along the way. Also to add to my plate, because I can never have too much to do, I am helping to coordinate about 55 students to go to Tel Avi on Sunday, which I am really excited for as well. I am hoping to not be in control that much and just plan the rides to and from and let everyone else take it from there. But I am really excited for what this weekend holds, next week in Galilee, and hopefully to remember to breathe on these hectic times.
Well I have to really go work on my paper now, just needed a quick break and thought parents would appreciate a quick update on the blog. See ya!

Jumping off in Pergamon, an amazing place and offers great steps to come off.

I am on the Trojan horse, in Troy!! It was awesome being part of the experience and realizing there isnt much left of this place

Back from Turkey with a Turkey gut to show off! :)

So we got back to Jerusalem today at 4 am and was able to sleep in till about 11 to get food and get ready for our mini church service at 12. It was weird to sleep in again to 10 but then realizing that I got less sleep then I do other nights when I get up earlier but go to bed sooner.
I do love Turkey and the amazing structures it offers as well as the wonderful delicious food. Oh my goodness what great food we had, I could just eat it all day but wait I did eat it all the food all day long. The bread was my downfall but also amazing and great to eat all the time. The hotel places we stayed at was very nice and realized how greatful I am that it was not the tourist time so that we could stay in these nice hotels instead of the cheaper hotel rooms.
For about 3 nights our hotels were on the beach, which really made me excited and miss home. I loved watching the sunsets on the beach and a couple of times I thought I was at my home beach watching the sunset in gorgeous SD. But that is what is so great about sunsets, they are wonderful and magical no matter where in the world someone may be.

I have great stories to share about all the places I went, so I will try to mention them as the pictures come on to the blog.

Turkey Baby!!

I am offically been in Turkey for a day, and i love it here! The food is wonderful and so amazing that I could just keep on eating all day long. I realized that I will be coming back with a turkey gut and I am ok with that. The mosques and the landscapes are gorgeous and our hotel's dinning room looks out to a major town square, across from Instanbul university and a gorgeous mosque.
Today we were able to tour Instanbule on foot, and not on a bus which I was very excited about and got to see amazing sites.
We then were able to take a ship cruise and see the bridges that connect Asia to Europe and it was such a wonderful trip. I really love how the food we are served here is in the perfect size, its a great proportion for the food which allows me to enjoy many other selections of amazing food Turkey has to offer.
we were able to go to the Blue Mosque, which was gorgous and amazing, the Basilica Cistern and teh Topkapi Palace. It was wonderful and I took amazing pictues that I am really excited to share and tell more about, but I will do it later.
we are going to Troy tomorrow, and I am super excited but also have to get up super early tomorrow so good night!!

I found the snow!!!

Today, March 2, 2012 it snowed in Jerusalem!
I have heard that it has snowed in Jerusalem, but had no idea that it would occur while i was here! I woke up early this morning, and looked outside and saw what I thought was snow. So i went outside, forgetting my shoes and coat because I was so excited, and felt hard hail coming down on me. I was depressed because I thought that this is what they may think snow was, and was pretty upset about it.
Don't worry, during my first day of New Testament class, it was snowing! I was so excited that we were let out early for a break to go and enjoy the snow. It was a blast, and a dangerous place to be with all the snowballs being made and thrown at random people. It was amazing and so great to be outside, overlooking Jerusalem in the snow. That does not happen everyday.
We then came back inside, soaked through all my clothing, but thats ok I will just up the vitamin C pills. I then really wanted to be outside and enjoy the snow, since I didnt get any at school this last fall, and was able to participate in another snowball fight. It was great, even though i am horrible at throwing snowballs, I am good at dodging them. The teachers' kids got out of school early today due to the snow, and we were able to benefit from their snowman. It was adorable and fun to take pictures with.
Our friend Sterling had to leave today, so he wanted to go out to the city one last time. Unfortunately due to it being friday, we were unable to go out to the Old City until 4 so we went to W. Jerusalem. We were able to get a cab,which was nice to not walk in the snow, and go to the shuq. The shuq is so much fun to go into. Just imagine a alley way filled with pastries, dried fruits, fish, candy, halva, and everything else possible along both sides with men yelling out the different prices for their items. It is a huge market, and reminds me of the one in Aladdin. I bought some really great pastries and dried fruit, which is almost done but oh well.
I then was able to enjoy a delicious shworma, which was the best one yet!
I then had to hurry back to take the last final for Old Testament, and guess what I am officially done with 3 of my classes, and only have 2 classes now to focus on!!!
It is an amazing feeling to be done with those classes and to know that I get to go in Turkey in 2 days, and then will go to Galilee and will have many more days of free time for the city.