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.