The Caves Crusade

Welp today was our cave adventure which obviously is not complete without a few head lamps.

...and partying on ancient artifacts

So this is the whole gang and look at the beautiful day. To be honest today turned into a great excuse to take tons of pictures. I mean yep we lurked in caves and climbed around but we had a whole lot of fun just messing around. We were legitimately the only ones there so we could do whatever we wanted and be as loud as we wanted to be. It was really fun times. And look at the great pics!!

^^ probably the most epic jumping picture ever taken...but for reals

highlight of the day: Brennan once again reppin the fanny pack and bus-wide nap time on the taxi home

Saturday is the new Sunday

So I don't know if I will ever get used to having church on Saturday rather than Sunday but week number two and it happened again. Also, great news! I officially have a calling. I am a primary teacher for 6/7 year olds. (So if you guys have any suggestions please comment) Now to catch up on the past few days.

Mainly the weather has been bad and we have had so much class but we still made time for some fun stuff. Below is where we all got falafals in the city and to be perfectly honest I am not their biggest fan...oh well more for the other people right?

Yesterday, we took a fieldtrip to under the center (hence the hard hats) and got to explore down there so that we won't do so on our own. It was pretty cool but my favorite part was in one of the rooms we got to sign our names along with all the other people that have come here. It was fun looking around for people's names I recognized and helping others look for siblings and stuff.

Because of the rain, our fieldtrip to the wailing wall at the start of sabbath and our trip to the garden tomb today have both been postponed so really other than classes, homework and playing so many card games nothing that crazy is going down. Tomorrow I am going with a few people to some caves...idk sounded fun. Don't worry I'll blog all about it. 

(Shout out to Tucker's mom Jenny for reading my blog. Yes your son is alive and well. I will do my best to convince him to keep his own blog up to date. Wish me luck!)

عيد ميلاد سعيد

So the title means happy birthday in arabic :) It was such a great birthday!

The birthday gear courtesy of the parentals for the very special select few (Brennan, Ashley, Mark, Tucker, Megan and I) made for a great 20th birthday celebration. I honestly had such a great day and felt so loved! In the cafeteria, they sang to me also in every class haha so I got sung to about 7 times. Then everyone wrote me birthday notes. It was great :) Sam and Meredith even made me a cake!

Between classes, we had a few hours so a group of us went into the city to just walk around and explore a little more. We met yet another merchant who loves us and made all the girls rings for free and had us all dress up as arabs...pictures to come.

After class and dinner 15 of us hit up west jerusalem since that is the only place we are alowed to go after dark. We took a party taxi there! Singing american songs on the radio and rocking out to Sterling beat boxing...our driver was entertained to say the least. First stop, we went to Josh (one of our faculty's sons) flag football game and cheered hard core and they won! Birthday magic in action!

Second stop, we hit up the main street called Ben Yahuda street and stopped for Gelato. So good :) 

the gang

Literally I am having the time of my life here. I miss you all and I hope you are having a great time as well. Thanks for all the birthday wishes and emails. I love getting them and hearing what is going on. 

That is all.

Your newly 20 year old,

Jen

Last day of being a teenager

Today was our Jerusalem overlook field trip so we went to a whole lot of high places with different views of the city and surrounding areas.

We started further away where we could view Gideon and the Benjamin Plateau. Oh at each viewing place, we read scriptures about the stuff we were looking at and then sang a few hymns (one of our teachers, Bro. Huntsman, is in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir so singing happens a lot actually)

To be honest, today was the worst day weather wise since we have been here. It was super cold and super windy like super is an understatement. The sites were great but we rejoiced every time we got to get back on the bus which is kinda sad times since  we are in Jerusalem and all.

Other then views of the city, we also saw Bethlehem so that was fun.

Highlight of the day: Meeting my FHE group and GETTING MY BIRTHDAY PACKAGE F ROM HOME

I think today was a great way of spending my last day as a teenager. Tomorrow I'll be 20!

Ruins at the overlook of bethlehem

Great times copying this model chick since it was super windy

ope ya we did the sorority pic

Livin' on a Pita and a Prayer

Since sabbath is Saturday here, Sunday is a free day. Right after breakfast, Megan, Amy, Brennan, Alec, Tucker, Dylan, and I went into the city. First stop, dome of the rock. On the way there we hit up the western wall.

dome of the rock

Then we went and changed money and ran into Jimmy on the way to his store. He was so nice and gave us falafals and juice and told us all about his store. I want everything inside for sure! There are always people in the city that love the "young mormons" since thats what they call us here. It's a lot of fun and crazy how many people know us.

Jimmys!!

random store keepers love mormons

dylan's face kills me

highlight of the day: all the free stuff :)

we are all still kids at heart

Okay so today was first day of church. My favorite part of church was being able to look out to the dome of the rock and the old city during sacrament meetingPrimary was the best thing ever. This one girl was super sassy though so it was really entertaining. We taught them how to choose the right and I think we were successful. At last I hope so, they are our professors kids afterall.

After church, we hit up the old city. I lucked out and got stuck with one other girl, Codi, and 10 guys. So protected! haha it was a whole lot of fun. So first we went to Hyde park where the church gave money to Israel to beautify it. Then, off to the garden of Gethsamane and to this church where there is a rock in the middle that they believe Christ knelt on. It was probably one of the most sacred places of another church I've ever been in. Probably cause everyone that went inside were super reverent. Sadly the sitting garden part was closed off today but there should be plenty more opportunities to go.  We went into one last church and then headed back to the center. Once back we just lurked around the outside of the center found the wine press and all that also made shadow puppets which pictures I got to steal from another girls camera so I'll put those up later.

Ope we love when the gate is locked and we gotta call security to get out

Also when I got stuck with an entire group of guys. Love them.

Just fake pressing some grapes with Kyle and Mark

Highlight of the day: Hour long shadow puppet sesh with the boys. More pictures to come but here is a preview

ya we are that cool

Playing Sardines in a Bomb Shelter Gets Scary

 Another day here at the center (pictured above) and it was actually the first day of school so Ashley and I decided to take first day of school pics to make our mothers proud (here you go madre)

Besides that, we entered the city without our teachers and guides today. Our only restrictions are that we have to be in at least groups of 3 and have a boy with us after dark. However, I feel we will be having a boy with us at all times. Not that it is super dangerous, I just feel more comfortable with them around just in case ya know? It was just a short little jaunt but it was still a good time. Tomorrow is first church cause the sabbath is on Saturdays here...weird but I get to teach primary!

Goodnight!