The Garden Tomb

So I didn’t have time to blog yesterday cause I was out having too much fun! HA! I don’t feel bad at all. We had classes in the morning and then almost the entire day off so that we could get ready to go to Egypt. I was going to do some homework but…I mean how much fun is that? And Moon had left her wallet in West Jerusalem the day before so we used that as an excuse to go play a little. We decided to go to the open market and get some dried fruit and candy and things for the Egypt trip because the food there is…well…sketchy at best. The entire city was REALLY busy because everyone was getting ready to party on Shabbat, and so it was hard to even walk through all the people, but it made things a little more interesting. After picking up some supplies and then making our way back though rapping Jewish men and awesome shopping-cart-riding-singing men…we called a taxi and came back to the center.
After dinner (which I randomly fell asleep for an hour before), I started some laundry (and may or may not have accidently flooded the room…woops…) and then went to play some games with kids from the center. Let me just say that Sardines on the Jerusalem Center grounds is way cooler than Sardines back home. About half way through the first game, I remembered my laundry and rushed down to pull it out. Only problem was they had locked the door an hour early! Anyway this is getting way too detailed, I”ll give you the summary: me, laundry room, my ipod and dancing. That’s basically how it went down – and no, I don’t know how to dance but I thought it would be cool to try, and I was alone anyway so it doesn’t really matter right? Then I spent the rest of the night running around the Center discovering some pretty cool secrets about the building, and chatting with good friends. (If you’re a JCite…no…I can’t tell you anymore secrets, it’s against the rules. Anyone else feel free to ask!)
Today we had Church which was every bit as amazing as it always is. We got to perform I Need Thee Every Hour in sacrament meeting, and the spirit was very strong. Afterwards we all set out for the Garden Tomb, another place people believe the tomb of Christ could have been located. What I appreciated about this place as opposed to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was that it was outside, and actually felt like it could have been the place Christ was buried. We had a guide tell us about the different parts of the Garden and Tomb area – an American Baptist preacher who had a lot of personality and flair – it was really neat to learn about everything and the evidence they have to support this place. The guide kept emphasizing, however, that it doesn’t really matter if we know the exact location of the events that transpired there or near by, what is more important is that it happened and that we have faith in how it can change our life. I realized that is how a lot of things are in this life: instead of worrying about all the little details that have only to do with mortality, we should instead worry about eternal implications of the actions of others and of ourselves. Anyway, that was a super neat experience which we ended in singing He is Risen, Christ the Lord is Risen, I Know That My Redeemer Lives, and How Great Thou Art. There were some Nigerian folks taking tours through the garden as well, and on How Great Thou Art they joined in singing, it was amazing to feel the fellowship we had with these brothers and sisters in the gospel. I’m so grateful for all these experiences!
Well I guess that’s it for now! My computer isn’t going with me to Egypt so I guess I’ll just have to keep an amazing journal and fill you guys in when I get back! Look forward to an EXTRA long blog then!!! Love you all