Kissing the Lilies

For those who don't know, a few weeks ago was Holy Week.  On of the best reason for attending BYU Jerusalem during the Winter Semester.

I got to start the week off by participating in the Palm Sunday walk.  After visiting a few sights in the city, Dormition Abbey, Schindler's grave, one of the many spots claiming to be the room where the Last Supper took place, and grabbing a bite of Shawarma, my group made its way to a church where the opening service would occur before the walk began.

In front of the Dormition Abbey w/ Tye

Outside the Upper Room w/ Spencer

Hundreds of pilgrims from all over the world surrounded the church, filling the courtyard and spilling out into the streets.  Everyone either had an olive or palm branch in their hands as we slowly walked to Old Jerusalem, recreating the Savior's grandiose entrance.  There were so many people that the progress was extremely slow, but fun nonetheless.  We walked next to a group from Portugal that loved to sing and dance.  It was a party in the streets.  They strummed the guitar, banged on drums, and sung at the top of their lungs hosanna!  The joy was contagious.  We would not have been able to stop ourselves from joining them even if we wanted to.

Not only did people walk to commemorate the biblical history, but many walked for peace in Israel and Palestine.  Ironically, at the beginning of the walk, a fight between teenage boys broke out right next to me.  As far as I know, none of the walkers were harmed except for being pushed around a bit.  It was an interesting way to start a walk for peace. 

The next day I didn't go out when class was over.  Instead, I gave blood!  This was a first for me people and I'll admit I was rather nervous.  In fact, I couldn't stop laughing throughout the whole process.  Lay out a tray full of shots before me and I wont bat an eye, but giving blood is a tad different.  I wouldn't be surprised if the woman taking my blood thought I was marginally coo-coo in my giggling.  However, there were no hiccups and I was soon allowed to go and eat my way through half the refreshment table.  I figured I earned it.

The rest of the week was filled with filed trips into the city.  We walked all over both the Jewish and Christian quarters, exploring all the different churches.  Church of the Holy Sepulcher will always be one of my favorites. It is so beautiful.  I could never tire of gazing upon all the amazing and detailed mosaics, and the dome has possibly my favorite design out of all the churches that I have seen.  Not only do I love it for it's artistic value, but I find it so wonderful how that one building brings together so many different religions.  The location holds such importance to all of them that they are able to put aside their differences and worship together.

Another stop that we made were the "Steps to the Temple," or so the caption says under the picture in the back of the Bible.  These steps lead up to where the Temple of Herod was and date back to the time of the Savior.  If there is one place where we can say for a certainty that we walked where Jesus walked, this is the place.  Other locations significance are just traditional belief and we don't know the exact routes He might have taken while walking in Jerusalem, but He had to walk up these stairs to teach at the temple.

When American astronaut Neil Armstrong, a devout Christian, visited Israel after his trip to the moon, he was taken on a tour of the Old City of Jerusalem by Israeli archaeologist Meir Ben-Dov. When they got to the Hulda Gate, which is at the top of the stairs leading to the Temple Mount, Armstrong asked Ben-Dov whether Jesus had stepped anywhere around there. 

“I told him, ‘Look, Jesus was a Jew,’” recalled Ben-Dov.
“These are the steps that lead to the Temple, so he must have walked here many times.” 

Armstrong then asked if these were the original steps, and Ben-Dov confirmed that they were. 

“So Jesus stepped right here?” asked Armstrong.
“That’s right,” answered Ben-Dov.
“I have to tell you,” Armstrong said to the Israeli archaeologist, “I am more excited stepping on these stones than I was stepping on the moon.”

Amen to that.

The seperation wall

The rest of the week was filled with more trips to the city, the separation wall of Israel and Palestine, and a tour of the Israel Museum.

There is a charming little nook in the Christian quarter

to sit and enjoy a good discussion with friends in the 

city.  And if you get there early enough, none of the

vendors are there to pester you!

I'm sure you can guess what the highlight of the week was.  Sunday we woke up at a ridiculously early hour in order to walk to the Garden Tomb for a special Easter Service that was broadcasted world-wide.  As we walked through the pitch black city, our only light being the yellow/orange street lamps, I became aware that there was no sign of the clashing cultures I had become accustom to.  The city was completely still but for the mass of BYU students, dressed in church attire, whispering in tired excitement to one another.  It was as though the city itself knew the sacredness of the day, and for that time, the city was ours.  Not the Muslims, not the Jews, but the Christians (LDS included...duh).

Before the service began.   Dawn was just beginning to break

Walking into the garden was like stepping out of Israel and into the Bible belt south.  It was filled to the brim with those who had come from all across the world to worship and they were all singing Christian rock at the top of their lungs.  A live band played right next to the tomb and I was taken back to my days working at The Clay Chameleon (a paint your own pottery studio).  My employers were very devout Christians and often played Christian rock on the radio in the studio.

I had never been to a service of a different religion before, and it was very interesting to note the differences and similarities.  

All in all, it was a beautiful Easter morning.  The garden flowers were blooming and the the morning sun streamed through the leaves in the trees.  It was easy to imagine the grand splendor of that first Easter morning so long ago.  Doesn't that sound like the perfect Easter?  But wait, it gets better...

As some of you may know, I had a personal goal that by the end of my time here at the Jerusalem Center I would have made a decision as to wether or not I'd serve a mission.  I was starting to get worried because the end of the semester was coming up fast and I still wasn't sure of anything.  But making a wonderful day even sweeter, I received an answer at the Garden Tomb.  It was so perfect I couldn't stop smiling the rest of the day.  Now I'm thrilled to let you all know that when I return to the U.S. in two weeks, I will start my papers to become a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

About a week before, while out in the city, my roommate Paige bought some lilies to decorate our room for Easter.  Although the man who sold them to her said that they would open before Easter Sunday, several days went by without any change.  Worried that the three little flowers would never open, we decided that all they needed was a little extra love and motivation.  So every morning and night we would each kiss the lilies one by one, whispering words of encouragement to them.  While it was a fun little roommate ritual that we joked about with others, we secretly hoped that it would help our dear flowers bloom.  Yet Saturday came and went and the lilies were still sealed shut.

We each kissed the lilies as usual when we walked out of our room Sunday morning.  A bit of disappointment settling in our hearts.  But reaching the Garden Tomb they were soon forgotten.  Imagine my delight to then return, after such an amazing, life changing morning, to find our flowers in bloom.  It was the sweet frosting on a most delicious cake.  My Easter was complete.  It's going to be really difficult to top it next year.

I love my life.  But I know that the only reason I do is because I have a knowledge of this amazing and wonderful gospel.  It makes my life hold so much more wonder, excitement, and meaning and that is why I love it so much.  I have been so blessed to be here in the Holy Land and learn about Christ's life and ministry right where it all happened.  I have always loved mission work and am so excited (and terrified) to go out and spread this glorious gospel on a mission of my own.  Wish me luck!