ISRAEL: November 2015

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Jewish Quarter

Foot washing basin that was probably similar to the one that Christ must have used when He washed the apostle's feet.

Pots that were probably similar to the ones used when Christ turned the water into wine.

Platter that was found in Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem. Similar to what Christ would have used to have the last supper and to break bread on.

Bar Mistva!

Jewish tradition for their holiday of Sukkot.

Entrance to the temple where Christ must have walked. These entrances are now blocked.

These are the mikvah. They were the ritual baths where the Jews bathed before going into the temple. Things that make you ritually unclean involve death, blood and birth. Mary probably used a ritual mikvah before they brought Christ into the temple (Luke 2).

The southwest pinnacle temple where some believe Christ was tempted to jump off by Satan.

The original southwest corner of the temple where the trumpeters would sound.

Bethlehem

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Jordan River

Jordan River 5 November 2015.

We just got home from an incredible Jordan trip! Not only was it fun being in the Jordanian culture with all of the Muslims and the men with their red head dress thingies and black cords, seeing the treasury, high place and monastery at Petra and riding a camel, but also seeing the place near where Christ was baptized.

We visited it today. The water was very muddy. It’s not a very wide river, so we could easily see over to the other bank. On the other side there were many groups dressed in white stepping into the water to be baptized. Two men where baptizing them. They were cheering after each baptism and they looked so happy and were singing halleluah. It was a very ethnically diverse group, and I had fun imagining the steps and the experiences they must have gone through to make getting baptized in the Jordan River a goal for them. Dr. Muhlestien shared when his daughter got baptized here, his son was giving a talk on the Holy Ghost, and all of the sudden a white dove flew behind him. Dr. Muhlestien got emotional talking about it. I have a cool video of them getting baptized and our group singing “Come Follow Me” in the background. After we finished all four verses we hear cheering from the other side and see people looking at us and smiling, saying, “We love you! We love you!” It was tender. J It was a good opportunity for me to sit and think on my own baptismal covenants that I have made, and my choice to follow Jesus Christ. It reminded me about how I can follow Him.

I am loving being here! I look at the scriptures so differently. Everything is contextualized, and I have been to about 80% of the pictures that are featured in the quad. I just want to remember everything in great detail so that I can go home and teach everything that I’ve learned! I already know how I am going to change or sift my teaching style at the MTC. I want to be a gospel doctrine teacher so I can help them learn! I would have never understood the Book of Mormon as well without understanding and visiting all of these Biblical sites. I don’t know how I would have learned this anywhere else. Dr Chadwick is SO knowledgeable, and Dr. Muhlestien is an Egyptologist and knows so much. I feel blessed to be doing this, when I know people back home would die for this experience. So many deeper levels. People I taught and members on my mission probably would never even dream of this! Ah, I am just so excited to share.

Another theme that came up during the Old Testament is “The Plot” and how Abraham was the example family. The Plot is the Abrahamic covenant, and having the promised land, and being blessed with seed.

Peniel

November 3, 2015

Jabbok.

We are here at Jabbok River and just had a beautiful devotional by Brother Muhlestien. We talked about how Jacob had to go through his Abrahamic test by sending his family back to Esau with the possibility of them being killed, but the Lord asked them to do it. Then he says a prayer near here to thank the Lord for His goodness, but also to remind Him of His promise with the Abrahamic covenant to save his family. This all takes place on Peniel. He is struggling to much in prayer that an he starts wrestling with an angel. He even hurts his thigh during the wrestle. Dr. Muhlestien mentioned that this was not uncommon for that time period. When something was hurting from the inside, they would inflict pain or make uncomfortable the outside of their body. When they were feeling sad or uncomfortable they would put ashes on their head or a sack cloth around their neck (hence the phrase “in sackcloth and ashes”). Or when they were torn or frustrated, they would rent their clothes (sidenote: we also have learned that renting their clothes was a form of their covenant).

Anyway, Jacob is wrestling with this Messanger and Dr. Muhlestien elaborates and talks about how this is possibly his calling and election made sure. He is on a mountain—Peniel—and he is given the new name of Israel. He asks the Messanger what His name is, but the Savior says “Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?” Think about the temple endowment! It all fits in contextually. Peniel means something like “Seeing God face to face.” We believe it was the Savior. See Genesis 32.

Then Dr. Muhlestien talked about how we all go through our Abrahamic Trials like they did. Sometimes we go through really hard things that are almost too impossible to bear (Abraham sacrificing Issac, Jacob going back to Esau with the possibility of his family being killed), but the Lord is just testing our faithfulness. I thought of my family and my parents losing Devin. Dr. Muhlestien’s testimony was powerful. He said that if we hang in there the “veil would burst” (quoted a lot of Elder Holland), and we could see God too, whether it is in this life or the next. Chanise and I were bawling.

Then we sang “Nearer My God to Thee.” Look at the text! It has Abraham written all over it.

We also found Mustard Seed plants. The seeds were so small. Think of it! These are what Christ would have looked at and decided to teach with as a cool object lesson. I brought some home.

And random. . . I ate camel!! A camel burger!

PETRA

PETRA! So cool! This is South Jordan (haha no puns intended). It is also close to Moab, which is why Moab, Utah is called Moab I believe. Think of Indiana Jones!

The Treasury where the King Aretas IV's tomb is. He was from an Arab Nabataean Tribe during the time of Christ. This place is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.