YMCA in Jeru, Yad Vashem, and Separation Wall

Last week on our free day a group of us spent the day in West Jerusalem and did the carillon at the YMCA building. Yes, like the Mickey Mouse song! Before it was time to meet Brother and Sister Squires though we walked around.

We tried to go to the Dormition Abbey but Mass had started. I think we go as a field trip though.

...Tacos!

Chacos and...

We also went to King David's Tomb!

Statue of King David

A better view of the Dormition Abbey

We then met up with Brother and Sister Squires, who are in charge of the Sunday concerts at the Center, plays the organ, and does the ward choir and each Sunday from 11 until noon you play the bells for all Jerusalem to hear.

You can see the tower from our Center, it is very beautiful.

Melinda and I were partners and we played God's Daily Care and Ode to the Joy (Beethoven). It was SO cool! I was bass and played the really low bells that sounded super cool. Melinda was the best partner ever!!

The piano type organ that plays the bells, you had to pull down the kegs real hard to hit the bells.

Climbing up the stairs to the bells and overlook

Touching the biggest bell, when it was played it vibrated a bunch!

After the bells, which we all got to play one of the 12 dongs in the noon song (I've always wanted to do that!!) we explored around West Jerusalem, went through the mall, and found the best crepe place in the world.

A sculpture of a piano and violin in the mall so Melinda and I just had to take a picture

At Creme de la Creme with the best crepes ever and for only 15 shekels!! You could get two sauces and two scoops of ice cream, I am so going there again.

The machine was right outside the store and was very professionally made. The guy was very nice.

Just have to show off my gorgeous friend Devery! :)

After we went through the Shuk we got slushies and our tongues were very red.

Also last week we went to the Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem, for our Monday field trip. Our Israel teacher Ophir was our tour guide and it was a very sobering day. It is amazing how much suffering so many people had to go through. 1.5 children died. Being here in Jerusalem and engulfed in the Jewish culture it was a humbling experience. We went through the whole museum by ourselves in our own thoughts and there were so many stories, journals from kids with dreams, and love stories of couples dying together, and people telling stories of the suffering they went through and everything they saw, and I realized how great of a life I have. I need to remember all the blessings I've been given and be grateful for it. I also was pondering throughout the Museum of Christ and our Heavenly Father. Although all these people went through all these crazy things, I know that there is a Father in Heaven who loves them. And through His Son, Jesus Christ's Atonement, they can be ressurected and live again, forever. This sobering experience reminded me of the Savior and my life and what I can do to make the world a better place, even if it is just helping one person. I am so glad I had the opportunity to go to Yad Vashem.

Later in the week we went to get ice cream for Priscilla's birthday and we couldn't resist getting some delicious looking pizza.

We got pizza that was AMAZING! It had corn on it which is the thing here. So good!

Wednesday we had a mini field trip to the seperation wall. The Palestine/Israeli conflict is everywhere here. We got to see a seperation wall and there was graffiti all over it. I wish we could help find a solution but our tour guide said we as JC students are helping. We have this light and we bring the people together, subconsciously, and just being here is helping the conflict. So that's cool.

The Hands that Build Can Also Tear Down

Seperation wall on Mount of Olives

Overlooking towards the East towards Judean Wilderness during Seperation Wall discussion

I had a great two weeks, there wasn't much to post so they were combined all into one. We spent most of our week studying for the midterms and finals coming up. I am so grateful to be here and learn more about other cultures and religions and have these amazing experiences that I will never forget!!