The Adventures of the Almost Waterslide (aka Hezekiah's Tunnel)

Fun fact, the center is producing a new tour film and yep you guessed it, we are the starts. Sadly this means we had to leave an hour early so they could get all these cool angles of us walking and paying attention to lectures (they also filmed our classes on Friday...ya kinda difficult to pay attention with cameras in front of our faces but we do what we can)

We started out overlooking the city of David and then ended up beneath it in Hezekiah's Tunnel. The water (which they said would go up to our knees) came up a lot higher on me. Don't worry. I planned for this. As you can see in the later photo, I rocked the aqua socks today (and I thought running shoes were a no no fashion statement) We took a aqua sock group photo but I am having a hard time tracking it down. Sorry.

Once emerged from the tunnel, we were greeted by a few European men who had come out right before us who were sporting speedos and their underwear....ya more than we wanted to see but we got a good laugh out of it for sure.

After emerging from the tunnel, we ended up at the pool of Shiloah  where we had a little devotional reminding ourselves of the miracle of the man who was blind from birth that Jesus healed by spiting in dirt, making mud, placing it over his eyes, and then having him wash in the pool we were sitting near. It is interesting to me the places I feel the spirit the most and have the most reflection. This was one of those places. After talking about the miracle and the symbolism of Jesus being the water of life, we sang Come Follow Me.
For those of you that are not familiar with the lyrics it goes like this:

"Come, follow me," the Savior said.

Then let us in this footsteps tread,

For thus alone can we be one

With God's own loved, begotten Son.

"Come, follow me," a simple phrase,

Yet truth's sublime, efullgent rays

Are in these simple words combined

To urge, inspire the human mind.

Is it enough alone to know

That we must follow him below,

While trav'ling thru this vale of tears?

No, this extends to holier spheres.

Not only shall we emulate

His course while in this earthly state,

But when we're freed from present cares,

If with our Lord we would be heirs.

We must the onward path pursue

As wider fields expand to view,

And follow him unceasingly,

Whate'er our lot or sphere may be.

For thrones, dominions, kingdoms, pow'rs,

And glory great and bliss are ours,

If we, throughout eternity,

Obey his words, "Come, follow me."

When we sang this, the words just hit me. All we ever have to do is follow the Savior and his example. It is that simple. Sometimes we just need to be reminded of the purpose of being here. All the stress of upcoming tests, drama, daily struggles...all of it in the grand scheme of things are not that big of a deal. Everything will work out how it is supposed to in the end if we just do our part to follow Him. I am really grateful for this reminder I received today sitting and pondering by the pool of Shiloah and for the wonderful experience I continue to have here in the Holy Land. Love you all!