Day 10-Yad Vashem, Israeli National Museum, shopping in the Old City

We started the day at the Holocaust Memorial.  I have been to concentration camps and I just could not emotionally handle it today. So I sat outside in the gardens and listened to a marching band play from somewhere else.  Strange but it really helped me.  There are trees memorializing those who helped the Jews.  I found the ten Booms and the Schindlers.  

We had lunch in the cafeteria in the museum.  We then went to the Isreal National Museum which includes the 1to 50 scale model city of Jerusalem and the Shrine of the Book, a museum of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Adam by Rodin

The Knesset, the government of Israel. 

We were dropped off the bus at the Joffa Gate and went shopping in the Old City.  I got a tapestry and a few small things.  Both Mark and I don't really enjoy shopping but we do enjoy being with friends so it was very enjoyable.  Thanks Pete and Terese!

Day 9-Shabbat, BYU Jerusalem Center, Orson Hyde Memorial, The Big Tent, Shepherd's Field, Bethany

Three types of wine presses.

"He tread the wine press alone"

We went to Sacrament Meeting at the BYU Jerusalem Center. What a sacred place in a sacred place. It is a beautiful building on the Mount of Olives in east Jerusalem, the Ocupied Territory.  

My dear friend Jan asked me to give the organist a hug.  I had a great conversation with her.  She played a beautiful arrangement of "Take Time to Be Holy" that I loved.  

We walked to the Orson Hyde Memorial Park.  The views of the Old City were stunning.

Blair teaching us about the Orson Hyde Memorial Park.

The whole area is on called the Mount of Olives. 

We then drove though the check points out of the Ocupied Territories to Bethany.  There is a very tall cement wall separating Israel from Palestine.  It is an ominous sight and bothered me every time we crossed it. 

We ate lunch in a large Bedouin tent replica restaurant.  We had the traditional lunch meal but there were fries.  Mark asked for Ketchup and the waiter said, oh American sauce and brought it.

We went to the Mormon Shepherd's field.  There was a working stone well.  We sang Christmas carols and talked about the Savior's birth.  There are cities all around but there are still hills used for herding sheep.

We then drove into Bethany to Lazarus' tomb.  It was a very small place, but several of us fit in the tomb.  I really liked thinking about Mary and Martha and Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead,  the tacky stores, not so much

Inside the tomb.

Day 8-Masada, Going up to Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the Western Wall

We stopped for a quick picture of the rock commemorating the lowest place on Earth and Mark saw a camel and asked if he could ride it.  Now when our guide announces a quick stop he says, no camel rides.

Masada tram to the top of the ancient fortress.  

Looking out to the Dead Sea.

Model of Masada.  A fortress built by Herod the great.  He only used it for 15 days.  Later used by the 

Jewish zealots for 2 years holding off the Roman army.  It did not end well.

Our wonderful Palestinian Christian tour guide, Mike.

It's a long way down.

Baths with heated water

I really enjoyed the tour here.  It is really hard to imagine building this and even harder to imagine the suicide of over 300 people.  

Stopping for shopping.  Mark blowing a shofar.

A very beautiful but very expensive olive wood nativity. $80,000.00

Waiting to get into the Church of the Nativity.  There were so many people.

Lots of restoration work in the church.  There are 3 churches here over the traditional site of the birth and the manger, the Catholics, the Amenian and the Greek Orthodox.  We got to go to the exit and work our way down.  It was so crowded and people were pushy and cranky.  It was hot and it was claustrophobic, but I went down to the grotto anyway.  I hope Mary and Joseph had a little more privacy when they were there.  

One of my favorite moments from the trip.  Blair talking about Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. We sang Silent Night together and didn't mind the crowds. 

 

We checked in to our new hotel in Jerusalem.  It is a very nice place with a great buffet.  We are overeating every meal and as you know, it's all fun and games until your jeans don't fit anymore. 

After dinner we went to the West Wall or Wailing Wall.  It was the start of Shabat and people came to pray and celebrate.  It was quite interesting.  The men and women are separated.  There was one woman wailing like I have never heard.  She was in so much pain.  Most were not so dramatic.  I climbed up on a chair to watch the men's side because it was more interesting.  Mark noticed me and motioned for me to get down, but I didn't.  

Day 7- Jordan Valley, Beit Shean, Jordan River, Jericho and The Dead Sea

I still can't believe I am here reading and hearing the Bible stories in the airspace (as our guide likes to point out) where they happened.  I am sure I will never read the scriptures the same again.  Our friend Jerry told me that I wouldn't feel that much while I am here but I would think about it every day when I got home and that it would be very meaningful. Jerry is wrong.  I feel so much, I am emotionally exhausted every night.  But every morning I am excited to go again.

Beit Shean ruins.  These were pretty amazing.  They are the most complete ruins in Israel.  

We hiked up for a better view.

Bathrooms in the Delta Center.  There are a lot of them.

The River Jordan where John baptized Jesus.  The border with Jordan runs down the center of this River.

Lunch is pretty much the same each day with pita, meat and salad.  Today we had some meat and rice.  It was good. 

For Carol Sue. 

Tel Jericho

Qumran Caves where The Dead Sea Scrolls were found.  

Floating in the Dead Sea was amazing.  I licked my finger and the salt burned my tongue. Some people were rubbing the back mud all over themselves.  I thought I was doing good getting in and floating.  I was worried I would start to itch all over but I didn't.  I think the Roberts would have enjoyed the experience and I am sorry they are not here. 

We stayed in Jericho for one night. I was so tired, I didn't blog.  I wish I could write my feelings about each site, but I just don't have time.  I am keeping a journal, so hopefully I can rewrite this when I get home.  I am missing Alta, Ellie, Olive, Kaitlyn, Austin, Ashley, Beck and Penny!  Please Instagram for me!!!!