Midterm Exams, Dodgeball, and Hezekiah's Tunnel

Well not a whole lot happened this week. We had midterm exams. We went on the City of David field trip and today we went to the Holocaust Museum (Yad vaShem) and Mt Herzl.

Picture #1 is the most fun. Lana and her Family Home Evening group prepared to play Dodgeball. I wish that I had seen it. I just got the reports afterwards. Everyone told me to check out Lana’s hair. The finals for Dodgeball are tomorrow night. I guess I’ll have to go upstairs and have a look this time.

I got a note on my door Friday night. Two of my students brought me this Valentine’s Day flower! They had bought them for all of the girls, and I thought that it was so very sweet of them to think of me. I got a little teary!

Pictures # 2, 3, & 5 are from our field trip to the city of David last Monday. Hezekiah’s tunnel was just as fun this semester. The students absolutely love it—even though it is winter and the water was a little cool!

Picture 2 is me at the end of the tunnel. I’m pointing to where the plaque was that talked about how the two teams that were cutting the tunnel met in the middle. The original plaque is now in the museum in Istanbul, and we get to see it when we go.

In picture #3 I am standing by the ancient tower that was built to protect the Gihon Spring. It dates back to the Middle Bronze Age, around 1800 BC—to the time of Melchizedek!!!!! That’s pretty cool. 

Picture #5 is me teaching with the walls of Jerusalem in the background. We took the time to talk about Nehemiah rebuilding the city walls after the return from the Babylonian exile. In particular we talked about Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk, “We Are Doing a Great Work, and Cannot Come Down.” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/we-are-doing-a-great-work-and-cannot-come-down?lang=eng

It’s a great talk about the story when Nehemiah was repeatedly taunted by his enemies to come down and meet with them. He responded with the famous quote: “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.” I love Pres. Uchtdorf’s application. Although he is speaking to the Priesthood, the message is just as important for the sisters:

"We live in times of great challenges and great opportunities. The Lord is seeking men like Nehemiah—faithful brethren who fulfill the oath and covenant of the priesthood. He seeks to enlist unfaltering souls who diligently go about the work of building the kingdom of God—those who, when faced with opposition and temptation, say in their hearts, 'I am doing a great work and cannot come down.'  When faced with trial and suffering, they respond, 'I am doing a great work and cannot come down.'  When faced with ridicule and reproach, they proclaim, 'I am doing a great work and cannot come down.'  Our Heavenly Father seeks those who refuse to allow the trivial to hinder them in their pursuit of the eternal. He seeks those who will not allow the attraction of ease or the traps of the adversary to distract them from the work He has given them to perform. He seeks those whose actions conform to their words—those who say with conviction, 'I am doing a great work and cannot come down.'

I bear solemn testimony that God lives and is mindful of each one of us. He will stretch forth His hand and uphold those who rise up and bear the priesthood with honor, for in these latter days He has a great work for us to do.”