Back from Galilee

Sorry that I haven’t been very good at writing the last couple of weeks. I have been so busy with writing projects and then going up to the Galilee, which is always an intensive 11 days. But we’re back in Jerusalem now. It was hard to leave Galilee this time, even though the heat and humidity were so oppressive. I almost sent you a picture of the heat rash on my legs, but it’s too ugly!!!!! Even so, I love going up there. The spiritual experiences are so rich and powerful for both the students and for me. Each time I’ve been it’s a little different because it’s a different group of students with different personalities. 

I had to include this picture to prove that I climbed to the top of the tell at Beth Shean. This was the only time that I did it. In the past we were in a rush and the students could run up there and back, but it takes me a little more time. Last semester, I got half way up but then realized that I wouldn’t have enough time to get back to the bus. Beth Shean is famous in the Bible in the story of Saul’s death. The Philistines hung Saul’s and his son Jonathon’s bodies from the walls of Beth Shean. So this picture is with me and the girls: L to R Amanda, Rachel, Amy, Cara, Cara, Emily, Sabina, and Kim.

On the Sea of Galilee. Notice how glassy the water is. In the picture is Kim, Nicole, Abby and Kami. We had just finished talking about how much Jesus loved the Sea of Galilee. While usually we love to talk about him stilling the storm, for the most part he experienced the water like we were! This was the start of a great day where we went to Magdala, Capernaum, the Mount of Beatitudes and Peter Primacy. This was the first time that I had to do this field trip by myself. That’s a lot of teaching!!!!!! While we were at Magdala, we were confronted by a “missionary to the Mormons”! He was there to call us to repentance and to study the Bible, which I told him we were doing—that’s why we were there. Anyway, he went off and I excused us and kept walking, but I was afraid that he would follow us into the Church so I was trying to work out what my contingency plans were if he did. He didn’t, but when we got to Capernaum he was there as well and started again, so I had to back away until he left!

On the balcony at Church with Amy, Mads and Andrew.

We went to Megiddo. Again, I was doing this field trip by myself and Megiddo was a little scary for me because there is SO much to have to know about this site. It went ok though and he we are reenacting Egypt’s Tutmose III declaring that the “taking of Megiddo is like the taking of a thousand cities”! It’s hard to see but there is an iron chariot there that I’m standing in.

The class at the Banias waterfalls. This is not far from Caesarea Philippi. It is water from Mt Hermon and one of the three sources for the Jordan River. Look at the rain forest look—not the terrain that people normally think about when they think of Israel.

This is my favorite picture for this week. One of the afternoons we came home early enough for the students to swim. Some of them decided to make a sand castle of the Jerusalem temple and the City of David. I was so excited to see what they did because it showed how much they had learned. They included the fortifications that were around the Gihon spring—originally built in Melchizedek’s time and maintained up until the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. They also included the step stone structure which is probably the Millo mentioned in the Old Testament. I loved the detail of the houses and the grass trees! I was so proud of them!

Well, I continue on my emotional roller coaster with the thoughts of coming home. I can’t imagine what it will be like to not have these experiences with the students. I know that I’ll have students when I get home, but I won’t be with them on 11 hour field trips, or be sharing intensely spiritual moments in quite the same way. I won’t be going to church with them and see them do amazing things as they fulfill their church assignments in spectacular ways. This has been one of the great experiences of my life. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here. 

I was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting here on my last Sabbath. That’s going to be a difficult assignment. It is always an emotional day for me anyway. Now that will be magnified.

Have a great week