I liked the Red Sea Eilat

I know I haven't posted in a long time, but our internet was out for a couple days and then we've been absolutely bombarded by schoolwork. So allow me to play catch-up for a minute here... 

For forum (a big meeting with all of the students where we get to hear special guests speak) last Wednesday, we heard from a man named Elias Fienzlberg – a 96 year-old Polish Holocaust survivor. He is the sole survivor in his entire family. Some things that I wrote down:

·      “We didn’t know that the soap was made out of people.”

·      “I have 11 great grandchildren. This is what gives me life to live.”

·      “Every time I go to a party, I say ‘This is my revenge on the Nazis!”

·      “There were so many days of fighting with only one piece of bread.”

·      “I fought and I fought. Thousands of people died, but I fought and I fought.”

·      “You’re like horses looking straight ahead. I had no friends. I looked out for myself.”

·      “We all fought to live.”

·      “It has been very difficult for me to live without my family. But thanks to God, I have been able to make my own family. This is my revenge on the Nazis.”

·      “Only God knows how I was saved.”

Mr. Fienzlberg is the one with suspenders in the front!

Thursday we had another field trip to King David’s city! We saw some really incredible excavations and talked about the symbolism of seals in ancient legal documents and how that is representative of seals with our families.

We went through Hezekiah’s Tunnel and I LOVED it. I don’t have pictures because I didn’t want my camera to get ruined in the water, but I think I’ll get some from my friend’s GoPro in a bit. It is narrow and pitch black when you turn the headlamps off (yes dad I rocked the headlamp). I think I’m going to go back in couple weeks. After King David’s city, Eliza, Seth Bunker and I tried to get falafel in the Old City, but out of the blue, everything was totally shut down. Apparently, all of the Palestinians were protesting something going on in a jail…? Not totally sure of the details. So, long story short, I ate a Magnum ice cream cone for lunch. ‘Twas grand.

Friday was a long day of classes, but afterwords, Eliza and I went with two of our guy friends into the Old City to just walk around and we stumbled across a really nice Palestinian community center. We befriended the manager and he showed us around, went through the photo albums of past events held in the center, gave us cokes, and proudly showed off the computer room for the students that attend day school there. He gave us his phone number, name, and FaceBook page and invited us to see a children’s dance class!

Sabbath in Jerusalem is so peaceful. I am so lucky. Mission prep was really good – we got to practice teaching! It was harder than I thought it was going to be, but I love that we study Preach My Gospel so intently and that I’m actually getting practice.

Room 408! Gabby, Jenni, and Eliza.

Sunday, we went to EILAT! After a 4 hour bus ride through the desert, we arrived at the Red Sea and got to spend the day snorkeling! It was so incredibly blue and we saw some really cool fish and coral as we swam. Later that night, I got to call my dad for Father's day. I love him.

We had fun with Taylor's GoPro

Jake Slater. He's great.

Ready to snorkel!

Here are some pictures from our free day last week...

Lord's Prayer in GERMAN!!! Pater Noter has the Lord's Prayer in 180 languages.

Tomb of the Prophets

Russian Orthodox Convent

Traditional site of the Last Supper

Schindler's grave

St. James'

ARMY OF SISTERS! I'm headed to Germany, Theresa is headed to Japan, and Jenna is headed to Korea! Not pictured... Alyssa - Argentina and Liza - Paraguay.

Yes. I squealed like a little kid when I saw this.

I love it here. Absolutely love it.

"HELLO LOVELY I LIKE YOU"

The title refers to something a shopkeeper yelled at Eliza and me as we walked down Via Delarosa. He then promptly asked if we had boyfriends. We may or may not have told a white lie... 

Anyways. 

Today was our field trip day and we went to Yad Vashem (an incredible Holocaust museum) and Mount Herzl (the burial site of Theodor Herzl). The museum was one of the coolest museums I have ever been to - Mom you would LOVE the building materials and style. It was interesting to go through the museum knowing that I will be serving in Berlin. 

...Casual side note.... NO I HAVEN'T STOPPED FREAKING OUT ABOUT THE FACT THAT I AM GOING TO BERLIN FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE. I am on cloud 9. 

Anyways. After the field trip, a bunch of us didn't want to just bum around the Center for the rest of the day, so we wandered around West Jerusalem and found the coolest market where I took many a creeper shot of cool people in the market. People watching is the best in Israel. So many interesting faces. I got an amazing falafel for dinner - spicy! West Jerusalem is so different from the Old City and where the Center is - so much more modern! They have a Gap! 

It is Jewish tradition to place stones on graves and memorials to leave your mark. This is a memorial commemorating those non-Jews who risked and gave their lives to help Jews during the Holocaust.

Stones have also been placed on this relief outside of the children's memorial. This exhibit and memorial was one of the most beautiful and interesting I have ever seen... I can't even describe it... 

SUCH a good falafel - this was a couple days ago.

Friends Jenny Pattison and Chelsea Clayton. The normally bustling West Jerusalem is empty on the Sabbath!

I will never get over this view.

Braids because BERLIN

Spicy falafel for 8 shekles? Yes please!

Market life

Supposedly, if you pedal the right way, the fans and lights and sound machines on top of the bikes work. We tried for a long time... our efforts were in vain.

My noble steed.

This girl was b e a u t i f u l 

Star Trek Jerusalem edition?

CALLED TO SERVE HIM

"Dear Sister Hendricks, 

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the GERMANY BERLIN MISSION. 

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, October 22 2014. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the German language."

I have waited to read those words for as long as I can remember. I AM GOING TO SERVE IN BERLIN! 

After 7 hours of classes and a midterm, I was in my room reading a message given at the Provo MTC by Elder Jeffery R. Holland concerning missionary work and the Atonement. Our room phone rang and my branch president told me that he had something in his hands that was very special to me. I ran up the stairs and proceeded to freak out - my mind was racing at a million miles a minute. I got a few close friends together and we walked to the Orson Hyde memorial garden on the Mount of Olives - the place that I had previously designated after reading Matthew 24 and learning about Orson Hyde as the first missionary in this part of the world and the man who gave the dedicatory prayer consecrating Jerusalem as the Holy Land. I got to Facetime my mom and sister Maddy as I opened my call! Then I got to call my dad and talk to my siblings and grandparents. 

As I read my call, I had so many thoughts running through my head. So many emotions. But all of them were positive - that's how I know that this is where I am supposed to go. And GERMANY? Can you think of anywhere better for me to go?? I am so blessed and SO excited. 

I will be serving with one of my best friends from freshman year - Elder Brigham Gallacher! I will also be serving with my friends Elder Jacob Clarke and Sister Hayley Walker. Maybe Hayley and I will be companions! 

After I opened my call, we had to hurry back to hear His Excellency Ambassador Lazzarotto (a delegate for the Catholic Church here in Jerusalem) speak to us about the Catholic church and his experiences as the ambassador here. It was so unbelievably cool. Such a happy and passionate man. 

Thank you everyone for your love, support, and role in helping me prepare for a mission. I am so excited to serve the people of Berlin and teach them about WHY I am so happy!!! If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask me. 

The Church is true. I have a testimony of Jesus Christ. I know that Heavenly Father loves me and knows me. I know that He loves and knows the people of Berlin. And my job is to let them know that!