Jordan...the Country ;)

Jordan is a really nice country.  I was impressed with the cleanliness of Amman, the capital.  Amman is the modern city of Ammon in the Bible.  We went to the place were Bathsheba's husband Urriah was slain in battle (after King David sent him to die.)  The shop keepers & little kids there were so kind and always wanted to practice English with us.  A few of them asked to take pictures with me and would said, 'You are so beautiful."  They were so beautiful...dark hair and skin and big brown eyes. 
We saw several school groups on their field trips and it was so fun because at one place we had a big dance party with them.  We were in an ancient outdoor Roman theater with a bunch of different school groups who were being loud.  Our tour guide wanted us to sing a hymn & so we sang , "The Spirit of God" in the middle of the theater.  The 15 year old girls (students) all came around and started filming us with their cell phones.  Then some bagpipers came started playing, "Amazing Grace" and "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and then other fun songs.  We all started dancing and some of the young veiled Arab girls started dancing with us.  They were sooo precious and laughing with us.  I won't ever get bored of dance parties in ancient ruins with people from around the world. 
We stayed in such beautiful hotels and Danielle, Tessa and I felt like princesses.  I've been braiding and styling all of the girls hair here and loving it.  I did Tessa & Danielle's hair, Danielle did our makeup and we got all dressed up and went out.  It was really fun! 
Only two weeks until I come home.  I'm loving my experiences here.  I also think I'll be ready to start my life again in Centerville when I return.  I'll be working for my Dad for the next year and finishing up my degree in Communications.  We have the rest of our finals this next week and then we'll learn all about the last week of the Savior's life. 
I've felt such a sweet spirit at these places and in my personal scripture study.  I know that Christ was a person that walked these places and performed these miracles.  The people were astonished at His boldness and power and changed by His love.  I love Him so much and know He can heal our hearts as we follow His commandment. 

What a day... :0)- Happy Birthday Samuel!

So we just had such a great day.  We just walked in from spending the evening in West Jerusalem.  We went to dinner and got frozen yogurt after.  Our taxi van guy pumped up the music and blue lights for a dance party all the way home.  It was such nice weather and we had a fun new group with Emily, Cori and Abby.  They are so funny!  We ran over to the Russian Orthodox Church this morning after class and then came back and had Falafuls at the Oasis.  Yummy!  We then realized that there weren't any museum cards left and so we stayed and studied, did laundry and chatted with Sarah G. in her room as I made a map of Israel.  It was fun to get to know her better.  She asked me all about the mission and it was way relaxing.  Then we headed out to the city, got popsicles and gummies (from the open market –extra hygienic- stands) and enjoyed our beautiful Jerusalem.  We stopped at Shaban’s store, one of the main salesmen that caters to Mormons.  He always has warm pitas and fruit juice waiting for us.  There was a fun festival going on and we got lots of samples…(I’m starting to notice a pattern: Synthia’s fun= food. ;)  Then we wandered around an artist colony, passed an ancient windmill and found ourselves with a lot of other friends on Emek Refaime Street for dinner.  I rarely ever go out to dinner here and so it felt like it was such a special occasion.  J 

Only three weeks left and I'll be home.  Happy Birthday Sam! I love you!

Galilee...

To be filled in soon....

The Wilkinson's Blog

My cousin and her family are really special to me. Their adorable 2-year old just passed away and here is an beautiful, inspirational blog about it. Please feel free to pass it along.
http://www.sunshinepromises.blogspot.com/

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

We had such a neat day today.  It was really rainy and windy when we went out.  We did some fun shopping and then ended up at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  It is one of the most holy sites in the entire world for Catholics.  The Greek, Roman and Armenian Churches have their own sections.  Andrea Hale advised me to make friends with the Armenian priests.  That made all the difference. We got to know this young priest who was in the seminary right now who grew up in Vancouver.  He was a DJ before becoming a priest.  He’s in the process of deciding if he would be celibate or not.  If he chooses to be celibate then he can continue up the latter of priests in the church but if he wants to have a family then he can only be a priest at a local church.  He took us around to all the secret areas and even took us in front of all the lines.  It was so neat to hear him talk about his faith but also the quirks within his religion.  He said that there is a lot of enmity between the priests in the three religions.  He explained that the cultures divide them.  It was a very happy day. I love these girls that I've become close with.

Our two religion teachers have their families here.  They have 11 children between the two families. Tonight they put on a talent show that was so fun!  They were doing skits, gymnastic shows, poems, piano performances and dances.  I loved it and totally want to do that with my kids some day. 

It feels so good to be done with our Judaism and Islam classes.  I loved them but am excited to have a little bit more time to explore the city. I feel so privileged to be here and having this experience.

Finals & Exploring the Old City

This week we have been and will take more finals.  During our last month and a half we are going to Galilee and Jordan and so most of our classes are ending now.  There

Tomb of the Kings: We went to what looked like a construction sight in someone's backyard and were able to see an ancient tomb. It is in the middle of the city and was really cool.

Swarmas: We got them.  They're delicious meat wrapped in a big tortilla. 

Running in the mornings: The other morning I was heading to the gym and some girls invited me to go out running with them.  I've not been running outside of the center boundaries yet.  We did a 3.5 mile loop, saw some beautiful overlooks and it felt so good.

The Waffle Bar: A big group of us went out at night and stopped at the infamous "Waffle Bar" where we got a Banana Boom waffle dessert.  Wow.  It was chocolate fudge sauce, ice cream and banana goodness.  :) Definitely going to make these at home.

We also visited a variety of churches and met people that spoke a bunch of our mission languages

I have some great friends here who are soooo good to listen to me and chat whenever I need their help.

Wandering the city with Victoria and Neal: I was feeling really stir crazy because I haven't done anything but eat, workout, study and sleep for DAYS!  So, we ordered a van and we went to a big crazy market and just walked around and then wandered the streets of Jerusalem for house.  I got to hear all about some of my friends' families and it was really nice.  Then we watched this new movie, the "Nativity Story" and I loved it.  As we were reading Luke 2 the other day, the realness of Jesus' birth hit me hard.  It makes me happy because I want to feel and see things differently.  Everyone talked about "how Jerusalem changes them" today in church and I really want to have a change in me.

The Holocaust Museum: Today we went to the Holocaust Museum.  It was really graphic.  I've been to several similar ones before and so it didn't jolt me like it did others but it definitely got me thinking.  

Disclaimer: On the blog I only say the good stuff that happens here.  Life is wonderful but not perfect.  :)

Israeli Dancing

Tonight was really nice....we did a bit of Israeli dancing.  A man came and led us in several dances and then ended with some Macarena.  I think I'm gonna have to do a bit of this at my wedding one day.  ha ha.  It was sooo fun.  I'm kinda sick right now and so I was a bit off, but I just couldn't stop.  We did a big circle...then we'd come running into the center and do a little shimmying out....ha ha.  Dancing does me a lot of good.  It helps me to relax and get a bit of spunk out of my system. 
Last night we had a Seder dinner, a traditional Easter dinner and it was really neat.  I was in one of the singing groups.  We all had a little story book of the Exodus that we read throughout the night.  They had us do a ceremonial silent hand-washing and also eat flat bread and bitter herbs.
We have a few finals next week and we'll be starting New Testament.  Last night our assignment was to read 23 chapters in the Old Testament... oh wow.
Today was also Lisa, a faculty member's daughter's birthday.  They asked us to help paint nails and do hair.  I loved looking around at these cute 10 year-olds who were glowing as a college girl was curling their hair. 
We're going to go to the Holocaust Museum this week and so we've been studying all about it. We also learned about the dedicatory prayer that Orson Hyde did when he came here back 1841.  He dedicated Jerusalem to be built up again as gather place for the tribe of Judah and for a temple to be built here.  The Orson Hyde Gardens (that's the official name that it is recognized as) are just a few blocks from the Jerusalem Center.  It was a really incredible class.  It makes me want to dive into church history.

Hope all is well.  Feel free to write me.  -Synth

Adventures in Jerusalem

Primary Hide & Seek-- Our closing activity.  (I hide in the cupboard and they all wanted to join me.)

Katie & I...She's adorable and I visit teach her

Pomegranate/Orange Juice shop...lovin' it

Cute kids from the Galilee Primary--they're the entire primary

The deck of the chapel in Galilee...the Sea of Galilee behind me

Sweet sisters in Galilee

In front of the Chapel in Galilee- with Kels and Brock

Armenian Cathedral

Getting ready with the roommates....Kels is gonna kill me for this...love the clip in her hair

Definitely herded these goats and sheep

As I was posing for the picture, this lamb walked between my legs

The Shephalah

David's Citadel

Cute Palestinian friends

Visiting a sweet woman who has lived in the Old City her entire life (She said I look like her husband...ha ha)

Feb 4^th, 2011  (I forgot to post this)

This week has been a lot of catching up with homework.  Last night we were assigned to read 23 chapters in the Old Testament for one of our classes.  It’s been a really demanding workload but I really enjoy the things we study. 

So tonight I helped to host a jazz concert here.  I got to welcome
everyone and take their tickets and I FELT LIKE A SISTER MISSIONARY AGAIN and it was soooooo fun!

We also had a “Girls’ Night” and like 40 of us crammed into a room full of bean bags and way too much estrogen.  It’s really fun to have a million spunky girls talk about crazy dates and guys.  Ha ha….I’m back in the college dorms again!

Tonight is Arab night and I signed up to cook with the chefs for a
few hours. I felt really good today.  I got some
exercise and got up early after getting some good sleep.

Feb. 19th, 2011I also taught Sunbeams today.  I set up the room as a maze with all the chairs and then put my headlamp on Jacob and he had to lead the rest of them through the maze.  It was a lesson about how God created Night and Day.  Then I acted out what I do before bed and when I wake up...they were entralled by my miming talents.  :) 

I just got back from a neat tour of some houses in the Old City and we met with some elderly people.  It was really neat and I want to go back and visit them.  It was like the mission, they loved us.  One old lady that singled me out of the group and said that there was something about my eyes that perfectly reminded her of her belated husband and she sweetly said that she hoped that I would live up to that because her husband was a wonderful man.  I'm just gonna take that as a compliment... ;)

Palestinian Kids :)

After lunch I studied for about two hours and then joined a random group of students go to visit a Palestinian family that they had gotten to know.  They live right across the street and Lawrence has been trying to help them fix their window.  The little alley ways with connected homes totally reminds me of Uruguay.  When we got there a few of the kids started asking us our names.  I responded by saying, “Shu Esmek?” Which means, “What is your name?”  (To a girl)  They taught us some phrases and then wanted us to go play games with them.  They were soooo cute!  Only one of them spoke English very well but we kept teasing them and giggling with them about how we couldn’t pronounce their names.  Their names were, “Hallah, Mahmud, Muhammad, Aheh,  Ahkmad, & Nisreen.  They wanted to play Duck Duck Goose, but only half of them knew how to play.  Ha ha….so when it was Hallah’s turn she said, “Duck Duck Duck DUCK!”  and took off running…Akmad, our little interpreter said, “She means Goose!”  So then we’d chase them down the alley way, around their mother, under the clothesline and back.  It didn’t matter if we’d caught them or not, we’re rotate.  Ha ha.  It was so genuinely joyful to sit on that dirty alley floor and take pictures and then learn clapping games.  One of the clapping games had a cute little song, “Ameerka, Europa, Espana Peri (Paris)!” 

They were so excited to practice English with us and their parents liked that we were playing with them.  They were around Sam’s age.  Then they brought us to the playground that sits at the bottom of the Jerusalem Center and all the little kids swarmed us. It was just like being at the park in America except that all the mom’s were wearing their head scarfs and we couldn’t really understand these adorable bright-eyed kids. 

We played hide and seek, tag and all the clapping games.  We tried memorizing more name, Rah-af, Muer, and Miriam.  They were totally making my little friend Victoria fly up so high off the teeter totter.  It was way better than going into the city.  One little girl told us that she’d come back next Friday to play with us again.  Everytime we said we were about to leave and said, “Marsalami!” (Goodbye) they’d rope us into another game.  It was probably one of the best days I’ve had hear.  WE INTERACTED WITH THE PEOPLE!  I almost died laughing at one point when I was “it” while playing tag.  I was right in front of all their mothers and little Mahmud ran in front of me and so I went to tag him and instead totally spanked him on his bottom…whoops!  Luckily I’m in Israel, had I been in America, who knows what kinds of court cases we’d have had.  I didn’t mean to and hope all the mothers didn’t see.  Ha ha.

Now I’m back to the center for some more long hours of studying.  This Islam take-home mid-term is like 15 pages of writing…dang! 

Speaking at the Sea of Galilee Branch in Spanish

Can life get better than this???.... I dare say, it cannot.  Uruguayos (2 sisters) saints at church, Sacrament Meeting over-looking the Sea of Galilee, yummy lunch after and bonding with the members.  It was seriously such a wonderful day. 

On our way to Galilee this morning they pulled us off to do a security check.  I laughed with my roommate Kelsey while they armed men examined our vehicle and said, "Wouldn't our families and friends just get a kick out of us if they had a bird's eye view.  We're in our dresses, heading to Galilee, chilling in the middle of no where in the West Bank.  Three of us students got special permission to go there with one of the district presidency members.  He would have been driving there anyways and wanted some spanish-speakers to come with him.  We all gave short talks in both Spanish and English and then Kelsey and I sang, "A Child's Prayer" in Spanish.

One the wall behind the podium are 4 different hymn page numbers for the opening hymn.  Everything lesson was taught in English, Spanish and Hebrew and the Sacrament prayer was done first in Hebrew and then in Spanish.  It was so neat.  These saints really touched my heart!   They treated us as honored guests and gave us a million hugs and kisses.  I was battling all the sisters in Relief Society to slow down and so I could translate for them.  A passionate latin sister would raise her hand and then go off on a complicated tangent for 5 minutes and not let me translate until the end.  ha ha....I felt sooooo at home and like I was an Hermana Missionary again. 

I got kinda sick on the way back as we wound up and down through the hills on those narrow roads....and then pretty much only wanted ice cream for dinner.  ha ha. 

If anyone comes to the Holy Land, they've got to spend a Sabbath in Galilee!

Shabbat Bread and Synagogue

Feb. 11th, 2011
Happy Birthday Yesterday Justin!

This morning I woke up at 4:30am to start my studies.  I’m really starting to get hooked to this whole “Go to bed early and wake up with the trumpeting Arabic Melody of Muslim’s Call to Prayer” thing.  It is so refreshing.

Today we had 4 hours of class and then after lunch a few friends and I headed out in a Taxi van to the Shouk (a Jewish Flea Market.)  While we were driving over there I said to them all, “Guys!  We are in Jerusalem, it’s raining, we’re going to buy traditional Shabbat bread and having fun with our friends!!!”  It’s cool when you realize that you’re doing something that you’ve always anticipated.  I’m learning that it’s also important to recognize the good moments while you are in them.  I sometimes wonder if in the future I’ll say to myself, “Oh, the good ole days when I was 23.”  Am I appreciating this moment?

So we got our twisted Shabbat bread and some incredible croissants.  They tasted like a chocolate chip cookie + a cinnamon roll.  We also got fresh squeezed Pomegranate/Orange juice.  We walked about 45 min. back through the old city to the Jerusalem Center. 

When we got back, we went to the Synagogue with our Judaism Professor and his little boy.  His six year old son had a little Kippa/Yarmulke (or a lid on his head, as our professor called it.)  I really really enjoyed it!  We sat by a woman who said that she goes there to pray every day.  She is in mourning for her mother who had passed away 6 months ago.  She’ll be attending that frequently for another 6 months.  She told us that in the local Jewish community a typical family will have 4 kids and that a family of 7 kids is really big.  She was so friendly, as was everyone there, and the synagogue looked like a cultural hall at one of our churches.  There was a lot of singing and praying and standing and turning.   It was fun to see all ages and types of people there, just like at our church.  I’ve come to really respect these faithful and devoted people. 

I’m falling in love with this city and the good people here.  I’m going to be speaking in Galilee in Spanish and singing in Spanish and helping with Primary!  Yay!

PS- Everyday here isn’t like this.  FYI- I’m studying a million hours a day and in class, I just don’t want to bore you all with those details.     

Back from Egypt

First I wanted to acknowledge the Wilkinson/Kjar Family and the passing of dear little Bennett. He was such a joy and sweet boy. I love you and your family and you've been in my thoughts and prayers this week. Thank you for your courage and faith.

We just arrived home, to the Jerusalem Center, from a 8 day tour of Egypt. As many of you know, Egypt has been a bit crazy this last. We were so well protected while we were there and weren't ever in any danger. I think we learned so much from being so close to everything and talking to the Egyptians about the riots. It really opened my eyes to the disagreements between the middle-class and the government. I learned that many of the younger and educated citizens are started to work together in order to make changes in their country. They would like the a new government to be appointed and for the President to leave. They started the demonstrations the first day that we arrived in Cairo and we didn't even know it until we'd arrive in Luxor. 

 I couldn't believe the the pyramids were just side the big city of Cairo, in a place called Giza.  We all went crazy on the bus when we saw them in the distance!  WOW!

                                                              Danielle and I at the pyramids

                                               Pyramids at the pyramids.....we are so clever.

                                           The only kiss I've gotten in weeks....lame.

Dad....I've been thinking...I bet mom wouldn't mind if you switch out her car for one of these.  Frugal.....that's the spirit!  A family of 7! That's definitely a record!

                                                       The Step Pyramid

                                    A camel just chillin' on Sinai...look at how they bend their knees!  Their lips totally flop around when they walk and their feet look like big gummies! 

                                                             The felukahs on the Nile!



While In Luxor we rode camels, felukahs (sail boats) on the Nile and really enjoyed the incredible temples and tombs. When we returned to Cairo by a night train we realized that the government had shut down all of the country's internet, and later text messages and cell phones. The demonstrations were being organized via Facebook and this was a way to try to control them. The riots broke out again after the call to prayer on Friday evening. Christians and Muslims alike left their worship services and came out to protest. The government issued a 6:30 pm curfew for the entire city. One of our friends there wanted to participate and went to guard the Egyptian museuam from looters and was shot in the leg twice with rubber bullets.

The demonstrators feel that the elections have been completely skewed and desire a better democracy. I don't feel informed enough to explain more but it's all over the news.

We also hike Sinai this morning at 2:30 am...it's now midnight. I should get to bed. It was breath-taking. I can see why Moses would go there to commune with The Creator.

Sunrise on Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai on the way back down.

                                                

I'm so grateful for the freedoms I've always had. We are so blessed and have so much opportunity to progress in our lives. Seeing the poverty here is very sobering and makes me want to give financially and also do all that I can to help them.

I had a special experience while driving home from Egypt. The phrase, "But the children in Africa are starving" often is said by someone who feels bad for throwing away food. Many people have responded to that phrase by saying, "Well, we can't get it to them anyways and so calm down." Well, yesterday, as I watched these adorable kids playing with palm leaves, dirty faces and barefoot, I realized I COULD do something for these "starving kids in Africa." We'd all received enormous box lunches that we couldn't finish and so with permission of the professors, I ask my friends to pass up extra food for the kids. Within a minute we had 25+ big rolls and veggies down to these cute kids. They started scarfing it down and I sat down and smiled bigger than I had all day. As we pulled away I learned a good lesson: I can't save everyone nor give to all people, but God will help me to see what I CAN do and who I CAN help. I will respond and try to see those opportunities. It was very comforting.

The first mate of our boat, about 6 years old.  He would climb the mast and took care of the sails.  Sooooo cute!

I love you all and hope all is well. God bless.  -Synth

Learning and wanting to grasp it all...

Teaching sunbeams was soooo good today and I felt so happy about it and excited to be a mom one day. The lesson was about pray and at the beginning I just couldn't get their attention. I finally got their attention by posing with my arms in the air and saying, "Do we pray with or arms like this?" then arms on my hips, "What about like this?" "No!!!!" they screamed back! They were enthralled! ha ha Mid-lesson little Jacob said, "I go pee pee" while sitting on Kaitlyn's lap. "And time for a bathroom break!!!" ha ha We jumped up quick before we had any excitement!

 I laughed so hard when I walked into Omar's Olive Wood Store.  He definitely caters to Mormons!  He is an incredible artist!

Kelsey, my roomie, and I.  She always leads us in yoga and dance parties in our bedroom.  :)  No boys allowed!

This is a mosque across from our rest stop for lunch.  I wish the bathrooms had been as pretty as this building...

I also went to the Garden of Gethsemane today for a couple of hours and was able to study alone there. It was so peaceful and neat to be able to be at the site where Christ paid for my sins. I loved that the plaque on the outside of the walls said something like, "And his friends stayed not with him..." It reminded me to support others selflessly when they are in ruts. It's easy to interpret a friend's bad mood as an insult to us but most of the time the other person is just feeling hard on themselves. It's then that we must "stay with them," remember who they are and their potential and love them even more.

Hope all is well at home! -Synth

Western Wall-Way Wonderful

 This is the St. George Monastery in the Wadi Kilt...a large canyon where Christ fasted for 40 days. 

 We're definitely in the desert.  This is the road to Jericho were the "Good Samaritan" story took place. 

As we were doing homework in the dreary library....my roommate Kelsey burst in and made us run out to capture the sunset over the city....I don't remember who those people are but this is our view from the Jerusalem Center.

We had a really awesome experience tonight at the Western Wall. It's the Western Wall of the old destroyed temple. It is sacred for Jews around the world and is especially busy on Sabbath eve. To be respectful woman are asked to approach their segregated area with a scarf over their head. I was touched at the reverence of a lot of the woman. People really are searching for solace and God in all parts of the world. Many bring a prayer written on a piece of paper and they cram it into the old wall rivets. Most of the women will then walk backwards from the wall as to not "turn their backs on the wall." The destruction of Herod's temple in 70 AD devasted Jews who were dispersed around the world and transformed Judaism and how they worship. The temple mount is the most sacred place on earth but the Muslims own the temple now. This is the closest place to their ancient temple and so it is constantly being visited. There were thousands of people there tonight. The sides are divided for the men and women and all of us girls from the JC were congregated together. We were all adorned with our skirts and scarf/veils and suddenly I noticed that some of my friends were doing Jewish dances. A huge group of Jewish (?) Argentine girls our age were teaching them. Of course I joined in....come on....let a cultural bonding moment pass me by. Never! It was the best! Singing "Shabbat Shalom!" (Welcome Sabbath) and laughing like little schoolgirls. If you are asking yourself, "Did Synthia talk to these girls in Spanish after and feel extremely happy?" Well your answer would be....Bing Bing Bing....Yes! I felt a bit shy.....kidding....but sadly I had to rush back to the bus and couldn't exchange email addresses. ha ha...no pass along card allowed in the Holy Land.

After Michelle, my sweet roommie, and I organized, talked and bonded in our room for a few hours for our Friday night fun. It was so relaxing and chill.

Michelle and I....she's so wonderful!

Week 1- Wow...lots has happened

We went on our first field trip on Monday. I was actually pretty sick for the first half of the day, I'd thrown up a bit the night before, but everyone helped me to be as comfortable as possible, sit in the front of the bus and asked how I was feeling. I am in charge of the music on the field trips and love that. We sing hymns at a lot of the places we visit and my favorite was singing in the Protestant Lutheran Church of the Ascension. It is on the Mount of Olives, which is believed to be the place that Christ ascended into heaven.

I really enjoyed my Old Testament class today and wanted to tell you about a few parts of it. The readings that we did were from Gen 29-36. The Old Testament is coming alive to me as Bro. Judd shows me how it applies to my deepest needs. I really love that he continues to show us how Rachel, Jacob, Isaac, Rebekah etc. are good people who are covenant worthy and can obtain the celestial kingdom but they aren't perfect. Rachel's flaws seem to shine as she struggles with her fertility problems. She feels envious and tries to force the Lord's will by gathering mandrakes. Mandrakes were believed to have helped barren women get pregnant. She also takes some of her father's idols and hides them from him. She is a human, an imperfect yet beautiful who has the potential of exaltation. God knows her weakness, lack of faith at times and wants her to be so happy. He still makes covenants with her because she is trying. I love that. Someone in class also pointed out that Jacob loved to serve Rachel. That made me smile. Service for those we love can be so pleasurable and exciting.

We attend church with the local branch here and I was asked to teach the 3 Sunbeams in primary on Sunday. My favorite was when we talked about "feasting upon the words of Christ." The Sister in charge of sharing time asked the kids, "How do we do that since we don't eat scriptures?" There were a few ideas and then one little kid in the back was thinking really hard and rose his hand and said, "Well, maybe we cold put the words in a chicken and then eat the chicken." "Well....good answer but not really what we looking for...." ha ha. We showed them that God has a body and our bodies are like His. It was so cute. We taught the Sunbeams...and it was their 2nd week ever in Primary. So funny!

I've made a lot of great friends here and felt so blessed to be around such quality people. I'm still quite tired because of Jetlag and staying up late studying but really happy. I miss home but know I'll be back soon.

I can't facebook or Skype here and so email is the easiest way to reach me.

-Synth

Jerusalem!

Jan. 5th, 2011
We arrived yesterday in Tel Aviv in the afternoon and they threatened us all the way home to NOT FALL ASLEEP YET! Since we are 9 hours ahead of Utah, I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 11:00 pm here, cause it was the afternoon back home. This morning though....I was really tired.

So, this is what we've been up to:

The JC (Jerusalem Center): After entering the Center (Arabian Palace) I told the girls next to me, "I just want to put on a gown and dance around to princess music!" (Okay, so that's a bit dramatic, but you should see this slab of architecture! It's breath-taking! The best part is the view of Jerusalem. This morning I couldn't believe that it was the true balcony scenery. I feel like one of the most blessed girls alive. I'm able to get to know the city where Christ walked and from a Latter-day view.

My roommates: They are so sweet and down to earth!

The Oasis (cafeteria)- delicious and nutritious

This morning we went out walking from the JC to The Old City. (I'll tell you more later)

Most of the students here are a couple years younger, so happy and friendly!

The service couples and professors and JC workers are so cool and excited for us!

I'm trying to retrain my brain to not smile at those that pass by me. Smiling at young Arab men could be very dangerous because they won't necessarily see it as an innocent expression of global friendship, as I'm trying to portray.

Love you all!
-Synth