-->August 31, 2012
Well classes started today and I am
actually really excited about them. At least to a point because I
think the reading is going to kill me, but not much I can do about
that. I think the Old Testament class is especially going to be very
interesting class. It has the feel of my Book of Mormon, New
testament and Pearl of Great Price classes in college, which I loved.
It might be a little more difficult than those classes, however,
since I don't know the background or stories that well. Always got to
start somewhere I guess. After classes we had free time. The majority
of the students went back to the city to explore and such but I
decided that I really needed some alone time to think about what I
really want to get out of this experience. I just walked around the
grounds for while, which are beautiful by the way, and just sat and
pondered, and wrote in my journal and read in the scriptures. While I
am hoping for more, I guess, inspiration, I did come up with some
things I want to work on. I really want to know myself better and what I really want out of life. I also
want to learn more about the Savior and gain a deeper understanding
of His sacrifice for me. The Atonement is such an incredible thing
and I haven't even scratched the surface in my understanding of it. I
am hoping that through those two things will come the other thing
that I want to learn and accomplish while I am over here. I actually
studied on a Friday night, Ha, imagine that. Take away the internet,
a cell phone and tv and it is amazing what I can accomplish and push
myself to do. who'da thunk? Tomorrow is “sunday” which is still
very weird to me. I think it might be weird to me the whole time I am
here. Well that just about sums up my day.
September 1, 2012
Well today was fast sunday, and boy was
it fast sunday :] Actually it wasn't that bad. In fact it was
actually a pretty good day. I went to church, sang in a choir, met
new people, became better friends with others, enjoyed church and got
to go to the Garden of Gethsemane. First off church and choir. I
always forget that I really do like singing in a choir. It was a lot of fun.
I think the majority of the students decided to be apart of it, which
is cool. We learned and practiced a song in about 40 minutes and then
sung it as a prelude for church. Then there was church. It is Sooo
hard to concentrate when you have this huge window, behind the
speaker mind you, that looks directly into the city! It is so
beautiful and incredible and amazing and awesome! From what I did
hear, the testimonies were very good. There were people from all over
the world, with all sorts of crazy background stories. You don't get
to experience that everyday. After church there was a big group of us
who went to the Garden of Gethsemane. It was
different than I imagined it. I thought it was going to be like this
little forest of olive trees and farther away from the road than it
was. I wish it was a little quieter and a little more personable
(there were a lot of tourists walking around and talking) But even with the
differences and some disappointments, I am so grateful to have the
chance to be around the place where the Savior took on Himself such a
great burden for each and every person on this earth. Going through incomprehensible things, so that He would know every single one of us perfectly and be
able to be a perfect mediator, leader, friend and brother. What an
incredible opportunity, and it will be an experience that I will remember always. I am going to try and go every week, hopefully
it works out.
Just a little picture of Gethsemane
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