The adutorium and Talent show

This is the auditorium and chapel in the Jerusalem Center. The auditorium has the most amazing view, it is most definitely the best view I have ever seen from a chapel. This room looks over the Old City and has a perfect shot at the Temple Mount.
Anyway here is a small sample of the amazing talent show we had at the center.

Gage, Jane and Maria


City time!

A day with the Squires

The Squires were our amazing chorister and accompanist. Sister Squires directed the branch choir and Brother Squires played the organ and the piano. Every Sunday Brother Squires would go to the YMCA tower in West Jerusalem and play the carillon bells and then ring the bells to signal 12 o'clock. This day they invited a bunch of us to join them. It was pretty fun playing the bells!

In front of the YMCA tower

This is how we played the bells

playing the bells


The carillon bells


There were only suppose to be 4 people in the elevator, we fit 7!


After the bells the Squires took us to the Jewish Open air market (Machane Yehuda)!
It was a lot like Pike Place without the Puget Sound and with a lot more Jewish people.



Just some soldiers and their huge guns walking through the market



Getting lunch at the market! It was really good!

After the market we went to the Pita Factory. Only 5 shekels for 12 hot fresh pitas




All the girls!

The City of David and Hezekiah's Tunnel

Back in October we went on a field trip to the City of David which is located just below the south side of the temple mount. We saw some of the ruins of the city and learned a little about the ancient city's water system. These are some pictures inside Hezekiah's tunnel. The tunnel was created by King Hezekiah and was used to protect the city's water supply from poisoning. When we walked through the tunnel there was about of foot of water in it.




Me and Adam


Ali and Seth




Wet feet




We stood on the tallest roof top in the city of David and were able to look down onto the roof tops of neighboring Palestinian homes. The Palestinians use the roofs of their houses like another room in their house. It wasn't uncommon to see women up on their roofs with their children doing laundry or little children riding their bikes and playing on top of the roof. Learning about the culture of Jerusalem has really helped me understand the Bible better. I loved learning about the people and their culture and then relating my new knowledge back to the scriptures. I always thought it was strange that Bathsheba bathed on top of her roof and that King David was sitting on top of his roof. After being in Jerusalem I now understand why Bathsheba and King David would have spent time on top of their roofs.





A cute little Jewish family



The pool of Siloam.

just outside of Hezekiah's tunnel is the pool of Siloam. This picture isn't the real pool the real pool hasn't been excavated completely, but this pool is just across from the real thing. I loved being able to read New and Old Testament stories at the site where they happened.




Dormition Abbey



The ceiling of Dormition Abbey






King David's Tomb and Synagogue