AmAZiNg!

Ok so I came to the realization that if I post only once a week, the post would be about a mile long because there is so much to write about.

So I am going to be posting more often. That way I can go into more detail without having one post take about an hour to get through, which no one but probably my family (and that is stretching it) would read. And if no one reads it at least I will have something to look back on just in case my computer dies and my journal get ruined.

Also hopefully I will be able to post some pictures soon because I know that blogs are honestly way more fun to look at when there is something to actually look at.

Well moving on

I will start with the beginning and go from there, so the first few will be from a few days ago.

August 30 2012

The city is amazing. We went on a tour after breakfast and it was as if we went back in time (at least that is the feeling of East Jerusalem). It is a pity that East Jerusalem has trash everywhere. Anyway, we went into the Old City, which was way cool. It has these narrow roads with just shop after shop of just everything you can think of; bread, clothes, sweets, jewelry etc. It has an interesting feel to it that I just can't explain very well. It is like a street in disneyland or a movie almost, except it is their everyday life. There is so much influence from all sides of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It is crazy! After we got the quick run down of the Old City, we came out of Joppa Gate and went onto a sort of high (sp?) street in West Jerusalem. West Jerusalem feels closer to how Europe felt. A little more modern, cleaner and you don't feel quite as out of places as you do East Jerusalem. We went and got ice cream, which was pretty good. Then we learned some more history and took a bus back to the center and this was all before 12:00pm. We then had some free time and some more orientations which took up most of the rest of the day. So the rest of the day is kind of boring to write about. I will say this though, jet lag is of the devil!

I MAdE It

Well I arrived yesterday but was way too tired to write. Plus now that I am here there is a good chance that writing on this will go to just once a week. Unless of course something incredible happens, that isn't too personal, that I just have to write about.
The city is amazing!! All I could/can do is just stare and stare. It is a little different than I imagined. Neither good or bad, just different.
It still seems a little surreal to be here after learning/hearing about Jerusalem for so long. We heard the call to prayer a couple of times now and it is so incredible to think about the passion that all the people here have for their religion. It makes me a little sad that sometimes the saints don't have/show that kind of passion for our religion. I not wishing for a huge civil war or anything like that. That is a bit too much passion. But I wish that the members wouldn't be so influenced by the world and almost embarrassed to stand up for what they and the Church stand for.
I am excited to get to know the city better. I don' think four(ish) months is going to be enough but I know that I am very blessed to be here, so I will make every minute count.
I am sorry I can't post pictures. I will just have to show you when I get back. The center's servers aren't that big and if we try to post any it will cause the whole thing to crash so I hope I can explain and convey, enough over text, that you will be able understand and experience (at least a little) what I am learning and feeling.
I love you all. I don't miss you quite yet and I will "talk" to you soon

Oh BOy

Well nothing starts off an adventure like a very embarrassing moment

To start off I must tell you motion sickness is my middle name
And my middle name and airplanes sometimes don't like each other

Next I must give some advice.

First, If you have the same middle name as I do, Do Not eat anything before you get on board a airplane...you will end up like me

Second, always have a change of clothes

Third, have an extra baggy on hand

And Fourth, don't swallow....

Now that you have heard these rules and have probably gotten a pretty good idea as to what happened, I proceed

Actually I decided I won't go into great detail, since it will probably make everyone reading this sick.

So to sum up

Peanut butter/honey sandwich and a pear + A roller-coaster ride in an airplane + plus having to check carry on luggage since there was no room on the plane + extra clothes are in that said carry on = not so good stuff everywhere, making people next to you sick, cleaning clothes in the bathroom and buying a new shirt because the other one smells like the not so good stuff.

There you have it. That is my first five hours of the next 31/2 months

Oh what fun!  :)

SiMPle PLeAsUREs

Sometimes all it takes is dancing like a idiot, in front of a mirror, with the music blasting, to remind you that life is good....Amen

AdVEnTuRE Is OuT THeRe TaKE TwO

It is amazing to think about all the small little miracles that happen in our lives

Whether it be a text or phone call from a friend just at the right moment

Or a hitting all the green lights because you are late for an appointment

And today was a day where I had one of those little miracles happen

And I tell you what, it was a good little miracle

This week is finals week, bleh

And with finals comes stress, lack of sleep, and a lot of slurpee runs

Well this year, finals also came with frustration

You see, you would think that studying like 12 hours for one test would count for something

As it turns out studying is a crock and there is no point to it (said with all the bitterness I can muster)

Cue the little miracle

Well I applied again for the Jerusalem study abroad, since I didn't get in the first time, about a month ago

And the answer was suppose to come, at the latest, yesterday

Days prior to yesterday=no answer

Yesterday=no answer

No answer=frustration and exasperation 

Now not having an answer and a terrible test that went horribly wrong, my day was pretty much ruined

But the Lord always has our backs (funny how often we forget that)

About two hours after getting out of that terribly horrible test, I got a call from my family

My answer had come

And it is good one

A really good

So good in fact it has cause this terribly horrible day to become one of wonderful excitement

I got in!!!! 

A wonderful answer, that was a day late and on a very depressing day, coincidence? I think not 

I will always remember that the Lord is looking out for me

And has little miracles planned throughout my life to show me that He loves and cares about me

Now bring on an Adventure of a lifetime, that will hopefully change my life for the better!!

GeTtiNG OLdEr

I seriously hope this is me when I am 80

NoTHinG BeTtER

There is nothing better in life than spontaneous activities and long drives with the windows down, while blasting feel good music. Life is too short not to take a break from the routine and just live a little.

I hope my future is filled to the brim with spontaneous trips/activities and long drives. Those are the times I remember and cherish the most. Like 1 in the morning hot chocolate runs, last minutes trip to St. George to watch the basketball game, cramming 8 people into a small car just to go watch the sunset on the hill, taking the long way home just to be able to listen/sing to feel good music. The list can go on and on.

Not only can they be done anytime but also they can be shared with anyone. May we all be able to have a little bit of spontaneity and take the long way home once in a while because life is good.