MTC Week 2

Oi familia!!

 

Email time stresses me out because there is a clock ticking in the corner telling you how much time you have left! I always have way more to say than the time allows, so hopefully I can get all of my thoughts out real quick!! This week went by so much faster!! It was so nice to be more in a routine and know what is going on. The days are long but the weeks are short. There is so much truth to that.

 

Dad! Thanks for the packages!! The same man that gave me a pep talk about working out, has also sent me dearelder brownies, a package with my debit card and skittles and M&Ms, and a dearelder munchie package...which is all candy!! Plus, the candy mom sent me...I have candy for days!! I am going to gain all sorts of MTC fluff. Just what I need. hahaha. But I love packages! So thanks!! I feel loved!!

 

So, I don't know where to start...last week we were given the bio of our "new investigator." Basically, we teach people that our teacher actually taught on his mission, but we treat them like a real investigator, and really address their needs. The funny part though is that we are "teaching" a woman...but really we are teaching our teacher...who is a guy. So that's funny, but you role with it. But, we were kind of nervous about teaching her because she has a really heavy situation. But we taught her on Tuesday, and it went really well. We talked about God's love and the Atonement, and that miracles really can happen in her life. We felt really good about the lesson, and the spirit was present, and our teacher even told us that we did a good job...so that's always encouraging. Thursday we had decided to teach her about the importance of faith and works, and that it is one thing to have faith, but that she needs to act on that faith. We realized that we had committed her to pray on the first lesson, but the second lesson we realized that she didn't know how to pray. So, we taught her how to pray and that pray is one way that she can exercise her faith. We also asked her to "go" to church on Sunday. Our teacher told us that in real life he saw miracles happen in her life, so it will be interesting to see how things will play out.

 

Teaching investigators is definitely a learning experience. I am also learning better how to work with my companion. I tend to be more of a talker, and she is more quiet and talks when she has something to say. Tuesday our lesson went well, and I thought I was doing better at talking less, but after our Thursday lesson, I new I didn't do as well. We did a role play in class and my companion, Sis. Peterson, was companions, with Sis. Dunn, and then I was the investigator and Sis. Hymas observed. Sis. Dunn was talking most of the time, and she felt bad for not letting Sis. Peterson talk. Sis. Dunn said that she knows how it is to be the one not talking at much and not sure what her companion is saying. That kind of hit Sis. Hymas and I hard, because we are naturally both more talkative. I felt really bad because I don't want my companion to feel overshadowed or that I am taking over. But our lessons are usually pretty planned out...I am just more the one that will stray from what we have planned and say stuff. I need to learn to just let there be some silence and not always be so anxious to ask or answer questions. I tend to start talking and figure out what I am saying as I am talking, but she thinks it out completely before she says it. It's something I need to work on. But once I am out in the field, I will be so clueless to what is going on that I am pretty sure it won't be a problem. hahaha.

 

Sunday's are always awesome!! I had so much time to just read the Book of Mormon, and catch up on my reading. Our branch president challenged us to start and finish the Book of Mormon while we are here. I am a slower reader, but I am making way, I am a good way into Mosiah right now, so that's fun. I love reading the Book of Mormon, it is one of my favorite times of the day!! Plus, it is such a relief from studying Portuguese. I just am learning so much more as I read so consistently, and intently. It's the best!! I'm so excited for everyone that seminary is the Book of Mormon!! Really take advantage of the time to study and gain a testimony of the book!! On Sunday, we had Mission Conference and District Meeting (it's like Sunday school) and Sacrament Meeting and a Devotional. haha. Lots of meetings!! Our Devotional on Sunday night, we heard from Jenny Oaks Baker, who is Dallin H. Oaks daughter. She is an AMAZING violinist!! Like she went to Julliard and has major skills!! It was way good! She spoke and played. She even had her kids play and they were little muscial prodigies. What have I been doing with my life?! hahaha. Then we got to listen to a talk from Bednar called Character of Christ that he gave to the MTC a while back. I love that he said, "It's more important who we are than what we say." I love that!! He talked about Christ and how all he does is look outward, and that when you look outward, you improve yourself inward, without even trying. I was great! I came out of it thinking, "Man, I am such a natural man! I have so much to work on!" But it's definitely a lifetime of improving...

 

On Wednesday we had an all Portuguese day!! It was hard!! We have only been here for 2 weeks, so our vocab is very minimal. That's why Hannah told you that I would only speak Portuguese to her, because I was trying to be good...and I didn't want my district to judge me! hahaha. I spoke to her in English too, don't even worry!! It was a long day...and it was exhausting...it was comparable to normal fasting...similar feelings, giving something up. We definitely talked less, or just used whatever words we knew. Basically, we know a lot of gospel terms though, so that doesn't super help with everyday conversation!! Sometimes I would start saying something and then realize that I didn't know how to finish my thought, so I would just say..."Nao importante" and move on...or I would just drift off...or we would say that we would tell each other tomorrow. hahaha. Sis. Peterson and I are getting to the point where we could figure out what the other one was thinking, so that really helped! It was so happy when we could speak English again!! I am scared for the day when it will be Portuguese all day everyday...I am not ready for that!! But our dictionaries were our best friends that day, and we definitely learned more Portuguese.

 

Gym is one of the best times of the day! It is such a nice break from studying and classes. We love going to the gym in 2M because it is more of a gym set up...with elypticals and bikes. AND they have different screens with the Restoration movie, or conference talks or mormon messages. But you have to have ear phones...which I didn't bring, because we were told not to...apparently I was supposed to know secret things like bringing ear phones for the gym. But a few days ago, I brought my little speaker and plugged it into the machine, and it was the best thing ever!! Most people don't have earphones, so people around me enjoyed it too!! The past couple of days that gym has been closed, and it is so sad...we just want to watch mormon messages. Gosh dangit! hahaha. But I ran around the track and talked to Sis. Hymas, so I guess that is cool too.

 

I don't know what else to say. Things are good! The food is already getting boring...lots of comfort food...which is tasty, but I don't always want burgers and fried chicken and mashed potatoes. The sisters in my district are awesome!! I love them!! I love the times that we are just in our room together at night and we just talk to each other about life and really get to know each other!! They are awesome!!

 

Sis. Peterson and I started "You know you are a missionary when..." last night...here are some of the entries....

 

You know you are a missionary when:

-You are excited to go to bed at 10:30

-You feel guilty reading the Book of Mormon during language study

-You are excited to go to gym to watch mormon messages

-Everyone says "thank you" in a different language. (Portuguese is obrigada)

-The hardest habit to break is not calling people "guys"

-Everyone is harmonizing to hyms in the shower

-Receiving letters of packages is like gold

 

I love you all!! Keep the letters coming!! I love hearing about anything and everything!!

 

Tchau!!

Sister Heather Van Wagenen

Ginger and I the first Sunday here! She is already in her mission now!!

My district at the temple, before we lost two. 

The brownies that I got from Dad! Then Sis. Hansen! So delicious!

The sisters in my district! Woo Brazil! Sis. Hymas, Sis. Dunn, Sis. Peterson and I. 

The first 10 Days!!

Oi familia!!

 

Como vai?! I feel like I have so much to say and I don't know where to begin, so hopefully I have time to say everything!! Take your for all of the love this week!! Letters really are like gold! We always get our letters from our District Leader at 9:25, and they are always so fun to get after a long day!! So, I really appreciate all of you for the love!! Keep them coming!! And thank you, thank you, thank you for the packages!! I was really feeling the love this week!! I got dearelder brownies from popsicle, an awesome package from mom and Kara, and Sis. Hansen is so thoughtful and sent dearelder brownies to both Ginger and I! Could she be any more thoughful?! I was seriously feeling spoiled to be getting so much love! Getting packages is the best!!

 

Ok. So, Wednesday I got out of the car and a very enthusiastic sister started leading me around the MTC and getting me all checked in. I was a little overwhelmed by hearing "welcome to the MTC" alllll dayyy. And people saying, "the MTC is the best place ever." And you just think, "is it? is it really?" hahaha. But Wednesday was kind of a long day. I was the last one to show up to my class, so they had already been learning some of the basics. And the second you walk in, your teacher just talks in Portuguese the whole time. My teacher is Sis. Tirrel and I just love her. I think we just learned basic phrases that day. I don't know. It's all a blur now. I also had been up since 4:15 and I hadn't gotten any sleep the night before, so I was really tired and I was just kind of ready for the day to be over, so that I could sleep and start the next day without this orange newbie sticker on my badge. I saw Ginger at dinner, and she yelled, "Heather!!" hahaha. It was so fun to see her!! She was like, "Oh em gee, I can't believe we are in the MTC. Oh em gee, we are missionaries!!" She was just so excited and I loved it!

 

My companion is Sis. Peterson. She is 19 and she is from Provo. She went to a year at BYU. She is going to my same mission. We have the strangest things in common...her older sister is exactly my age, like same birthday and same year. Her sister is currently serving in Washington while she is waiting for her visa to the Argentina, Resistencia Mission. How random is that?! Apparently Argentina missionaries aren't getting their visas either. We have the same little shoes from Hawaii, the same scarf...basically we are twins. Jokes. We are actually pretty different. I am more talkative and out there. She is more reserved. But we get along well. I think my personality was probably a little overwhelming to her at first, but she is getting used to it. Every once in a while she is sassy to me, and I think it is so funny. Like when we are planning a lesson and she suggests something to say, and she says it in Portuguese, and I tell her, "You can take the reigns on this lesson." And she says to me, "brat." I think it is so funny, probably because she gives a little sass back to me.

 

The other two sisters in my district are Sister Hymas and Sister Dunn. Sis. Hymas is from Kentucky and did a year at BYU. She is talkative and has been picking up on the language super fast. Sis. Dunn is from Medford, but didn't know the Brendles. She did two year at Idaho and is majoring in Photography with a minor in Dance. They are both cute and fun, and I love all of the sisters!

 

My district started out with 14 of us. Sadly we lost an Elder on Monday and we also lost an Elder on Tuesday. It was really quite sad. Even after a few days, you are with each all the time and you grow to love them. We all just pray that they will be able to figure things out and get back on a mission. So, now there are 12 of us. I love my district. They can be very entertaining, and distracting sometimes, but I love them. Most of them are fresh out of high school, and sometimes they do things that really remind you that they are 18 year old boys. You can see a difference in the Elders that got a little bit of school under their belts, they are a little more mature and understand more where we are coming from. But they are awesome, and they are good Elders.

 

Thursday was good, it was just long too, because it was our first full day. Those first few days are kind of rough just trying to get into the swing of things and becoming familiar with the schedule. We were told on Thursday that we would be teaching our first investigator on Friday...in Portuguese. We were like, "say what?" We pretty much had the whole script written out. I was so stressed about it, and as we were about to knock on the door, I was like freaking out. But it went...ok. Basically whenever our investigator replied, we kind of just stared at him blankly. It was awesome. hahaha. He would like ask a question, and we didn't know how to answer, so we would just bare our testimony instead. hahaha. We taught on Friday and on Saturday and we pretty much just felt like we were talking at him, because we didn't really know how to respond to him, and we just read from our notes the entire time. Those first few days were overwhelming with the language and everything.Saturday we finally got our first gym time, which was way nice to go outside and take a break from studying without feeling guilty about not studying.

 

Everyone had been telling us, "just make it to Sunday." And I didn't really understand why...until Sunday came around. We just got so spiritually fed, and I was reminded why I was here and that I was where I was supposed to be. The first few days of being in the MTC, even if you know that you are where you are supposed to be, you really start to question what in the world you are getting yourself into, and a year and a half just sounds like forever. But Sunday I felt the spirit so strong and I really heard what I needed to hear. Also, Sunday night between 8 and 9...you get to choose a little movie to watch, so we went and watched a talk by Elder Holland from years ago to the MTC...I'm sure Kara has seen it...I think it was called, "Missions are Forever." It was AWESOME!! He just talks about why missions are so hard. And he talks about how salvation is not easy, and that Christ sacrificed for us, and we need to have a taste of the Climb to Calvary to truly be a witness of Him. It was so good!! I want to watch it again. Plus, he says things so funny sometimes that we were laughing and crying all at once. hahaha.

 

Monday we taught our investigator for the third time in Portuguese...with NO NOTES!! We were freaking out beforehand.We were like, "how in the world are we going to teach a 20 minute lesson in Portuguese when we do not know the language!" Our teacher, Sis. Tirrel, gave my companion and I a pep talk and it was just what we needed to hear. She said how we are able to pick up stuff in class, and I said, "Ya, because you say vocab that we know." And she was like, "Exactly. You know vocab." She just brings us down to earth and reminds us that we have only been here a few days, we aren't expected to be fluent. And surprisingly it went so well. We only had our scriptures and a dictionary, but it went so much better than we had expected. We still didn't understand everything, but we understood him a lot more. It was also a lot better to not have our noses in our noses the entire time. On Monday we committed him to baptism, and he said yes. My companion and I joked around that if he didn't commit to baptism that we would just drop him, and for some reason we thought it was way too funny...probably because we knew that he really was a member of the church. But he was basically a golden investigator the entire time...so we figured he would say yes. But it was still happy to hear him say it...we had to double check that he had understood us and we had understood him. hahaha.

 

Tuesday and Wednesday, we continued to teach him. I knew from previous missionaries that he was going to become our teacher, and that he was just posing as an investigator...but it was exciting when he showed up in our class on Thursday! All the Elders were loving it, and those that didn't realize that he was a teacher were so surprised. I also think the Elders loved getting a guy teacher. Plus, we had found out the night before that one of our Sister Training Leaders had dated this guy before, and that he wanted to marry her, but she went on a mission. So, pretty much they see each other all the time! That seems like that would be hard. So the Sisters were all wanting to say something to him about her, and he ended up asking us if we knew her, and he figured out that we knew the story. When my companion and I were walking out, we asked him if it was hard to see her, and he said, "It hurts my heart, but I love it so much. She is happy, so I am happy for her. I just love her with every fiber of my being." Our hearts pretty much melted. We hope they get married. Wednesday and Thursday were kind of rough because I felt...for lack of better word, "crappy." I just sucked it up, because I didn't have any obvious symptoms, but I was really lacking energy. I really wished that I could just call dad and ask him what I should take. Today I am feeling better though, so that's good.

 

I see people all the time that I know!! So, seeing Ryan Smith wasn't that weird. Since I went to BYU, I know so many people that work here. My companion thinks it is ridiculous how often I see someone that I know, but I love it!!

 

Fun quotes and stories:

 

Elder Hardy: "You are lucky I am an Elder right now. I am the King of the Body Roll. My hips don't lie and my body doesn't lie either."

 

Elder Hardy was also giving a lesson and the investigator asked if they had talked to their parents, he said, "No, we email them on...'payday'." He said that in Portuguese and the investigator started laughing and the Elders were so confused. They told us about the story and I told them that payday means "I farted." The Elders companion was on the ground from laughing so hard. He is never going to live that one down.

 

I'm doing good though!! Each day gets better and we have gotten more in the swing of things. Keep the love coming, it is the best!!

 

Love you all!! I love what I am doing, even though it is hard, it is already rewarding. I know that I have been called to speak Portuguese, so eventually I will be able to speak Portuguese!!

 

I am out of time, so I won't be able to write individual emails to people, sorry!! Love you all!!

 

Sister Heather Van Wagenen

 

P.S. It was so hard to get used to called people Sister and Elder and introducing myself as Sister Van Wagenen...every once in a while, I still slip. hahaha

Here is me with my second cousin from Rocklin!

Off I go!

March 14th, 2013. I checked the mail and found a big, white envelope.

"Dear Sister Van Wagenen,

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Brazil Curitiba South Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. 

You should report to the Brazil Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Portuguese language."

"Oh my gosh, I'm going to learn Portuguese! Oh my lanta. I'm going to Brazil!"

I was not expecting Brazil. But as soon as I got my call, I knew that Brazil was exactly where I was supposed to be. I honestly couldn't imagine going anymore else, Brazil already has a special place in my heart.

Here I am. A little over 4 months after that day, about to begin my journey, serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 18 months.

Four months gives you a lot of time to question why I want to go on a mission...but I know that a mission is exactly where I am supposed to be. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ is true with all my heart. I am so excited to Preach the Gospel to the people of Brazil and to testify of Jesus Christ each and every day. I can't wait to see people's lives change as they accept Jesus Christ into their lives, and to see the happiness that the gospel brings.

"Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world."

-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

If you want to know what it means to be a missionary or what it is that I will spend a year and a half of my life teaching people, go HERE

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can change your life, as it has mine.

Well friends, I am off! You can hopefully follow all of my journeys here! If you feel so inclined to write to me...I would LOVE to hear from you!! (Just click on that little "addresses" button up there.)

Have a great year and a half!

Jordan: Part 1

So...I realize that I am home...but my blog is far from being up to date. Since my blog is for my own records...the blog posts from Israel (and Jordan) are just going to keep coming...


This one time we went to Jordan. Ya, Jordan. I don't think I ever thought in my life..."hey, I would really like to travel to Jordan one day." But I sure did enjoy it! Usually when we go on these trips...the teachers don't really give us much details about our trips...so we are always pleasantly surprised. Low expectations always result is high satisfaction...at least for this summer they did!

We started the trip on a Monday morning, bright and early. Earlier than any of us would like...but hey, it's Jordan...and we sure don't want to be left behind. So, we boarded the bus and headed for the border. We were now studying the New Testament, which meant that we had switched teachers...and we were now Huntsman-ites. Bro. Huntsman called the trip our "awkward first date." It was totally true. We love all of our teachers. But especially the first day together, we were just adjusting to the different styles and different quirks. Even something so simple as counting off was throwing us all off.

When we got to the border crossing...we all got off the bus, with everything in hand.  It was definitely a different experience than Turkey where customs were at the airport. All of us luggage was unloaded. We went into a building, got in a large line...they looked at our passports...then we walked through and boarded another bus. It was a funny concept. Then we waited a while for them to give us the clear? I think that's why we waited. It sounds good. Right?

When we first drove in Jordan, there wasn't a whole lot to see. But we got a glimpse of the tiny little Jordan River out of our window. We were also introduced to our new tour guide. Being in Israel, our teachers have permission to be our tour guides...but as soon as we go into another country, it is a rule that we have to have a tour guide. The hard part about tour guides is they have a lot of pride in their countries...so they have a tendency of talking...A LOT!  Our teachers understand how much we can take...and that on the bus rides we tend to just fall asleep.  But our tour guide had a tendency of starting to talk in the middle of the bus ride, when we were all half conscious.  Also, sometimes they are hard to understand.

Our first stop in Jordan was to Mount Nebo.

Deuteronomy 34:1, "And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo..." There Moses sees all of the promised land, and it is recorded that Moses died there. But we know that since Moses appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration later, that Moses was a translated being and did not die as Deuteronomy says.

Anyways...Mount Nebo commemorates Moses. So, we overlooked the Holy Land, read the scriptures, sang a little (Bro. Huntsman is in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, so he loves singing...and we love the spirit that singing brings), and of course, we clicked those cameras.

The "Brazen Serpent" behind us.

Next, we were off to Madaba....where our tour guide had a whole lot to say...and let's be honest, I don't exactly know what all he said. Madaba had a church where there is the oldest map of the Holy Land, in Mosaic form. So, that's pretty cool. 

After Madaba, we headed to "Dana's" for lunch. Mostly it was great because we had a Dana in our group, so we ended up stealing napkins and writing birthday notes for Dana on them. It was cute! 

After lunch we headed to Machaerus. 

And we hiked to the top of that hill.

Machaerus is a fortress originally built by the Hasmonean king Alexander Jannaeus and after rebuilt by Herod the Great. It is the site where John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded by Herod Antipas.

Herod sure loved his building projects.

So, we read from Mark 6 and sang "Faith of our Fathers." Bro. Huntsman always had a song to be sung at every site.

"Strike a pose" pictures started becoming a more common occurrence...we learn to entertain ourselves in our picture taking.

We then had a long...rollercoaster ride to Petra. I became quite grateful for the well paved roads of the States. It's hard to sleep on a bus in general, but it's even harder when you are being whipped around. 

But we made sure to take a real quick stop on the side of the road to enjoy a beautiful Jordanian sunset. I was honestly super shocked when we just stopped and all of us piled out of the buses to take a quick picture before the sun was down. 

We arrived in Petra where they greeted us with juices and a horse in front of their hotel. We then went to dinner where there was music playing...and a buffet of food (which is often the case of the food we eat). Our room had nice little towel hearts and flowers for us. Precious.

The next day was the day we had been waiting for. The only place in Jordan that we actually had some knowledge of...Petra! Woot! The fact that they allowed us to wear shorts was indicative of the fact that it was going to be a hot day...but we were ready for it!!

 It was a pretty incredible day...probably one of the coolest sites I have ever seen!

We walked a little...and from the beginning you see tombs in the rocks...then you run into the siq. 

After you walked through the siq...there is a gap and you begin to see the treasury. It really is quite a site to see! Think Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Same place. Although...I did not find the Holy Grail. Darn. :)

After our tour guide gave us a good rundown of Petra and we got a little history. We were let lose. We walked down a street where there were tombs and a street that was full of columns and ruins of buildings. We took some good pictures...this was a BIG picture day. I would post even more...but it might get a little excessive.

The main goal was to hike to the Monastery. And a hike it sure was. We hiked and hiked. Many people tried to offer us donkey rides up to the Monastery...but we weren't allowed to take a donkey. Once we started up the stairs...we fully understood why! It would have been terrifying to be on a donkey up that path. The stairs were super steep and uneven. A donkey ride would have been miserable.

But before we knew it, we turned a corner and beheld an incredible site...

I am one of the only ones in the air. Woo!

And then took an excessive amount of pictures...

We hiked to more look out spots...

We even hiked to "The End of the World"...

And then head back down for a delicious buffet lunch.

After lunch we just explored more. The entire site is filled with places to see and it is all cut out of the rock. I'm not sure how they did it! We were going to hike to the "high place," but let's just say...we were a little hiked out. We were tired and sweaty and we were not feeling the "high place." Our teacher had shown us a picture of it in class, and I felt very satisfied with that.  At that point, all I really wanted to do was ride a camel.

So, after more exploring we headed back to the front where the monastery was, and payed $3 to get on the camel. I wanted to say I rode a camel, but mostly we just kind of got on the camel, and did a little ride around. But it was still fun! The best part is when they get up and down because they are so stinkin' tall, it's a long ways up. I feel bad for those poor camels, they just go up and down all day. They are cool animals though! 

I am really quite proud of this shot of Juan.

Here I am in all of my camel riding glory! I rode a camel in Petra. Ya, it was a pretty epic day! Definitely a day I will always remember!

Some of our friends went exploring some more with the little bit of time that we had left. While some of us were feeling pretty content with what we had seen. Our bodies were warn out...and being tired brought all of our sassiness out more.

So, instead I looked at a necklace that a little boy was selling. He was about to sell that sucker to me for $25. I laughed and told him that I was not going to pay that...with which the price slowly began to decrease. I didn't know if I cared enough so I walked away...but before I knew it that boy had followed me and the price had lowered to $3. What the heck? I guess I'll buy the necklace from you. (I actually have come to love that necklace...it makes an appearance in many of my pictures.)

But the necklace was missing something. A nice cold Diet Coke. Mmmm. Sometimes a soda is just necessary...especially after a long, hot day.

Petra was such a cool day. We all got on the bus, sweaty and dirty, and warn out.

We had one more site though! Our teachers hadn't ever had enough time to go to the Castle, they had only previously looked out the window at it. But we had time...and the teachers were in Jordan for their last semester...so they were going to see it.

So, we went to the Castle for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

It was sweet. Being in a castle, I felt that it was necessary to take a Princess pose. So, I recruited Priscilla, and we put forth our best princess efforts. We get bored of taking pictures, so we really try to get creativity. Some pictures are definitely more creative than others.

We headed back to our hotel, showered off, ate dinner, and hung out at the hotel for the rest of the night...which included playing card games for a little bit, and then going on the roof of the hotel with Steph.

It was a good, long day!

We love Finals...but mostly we love Tel Aviv

After our City of David field trip...the week was not all that exciting. For you see, we aren't just here to have fun...we actually have to take classes and have tests and stuff. Weird. 

So, it was finals week! Woo! Everyone's favorite...

So...our week consisted of two writing exercises, a take home test (hardest take home test of my life), and an in class essay in Old Testament. A final in our Israel class. A final in my Arabic class. A midterm in our Field Trip class. And an essay final for our Palestine class. Fun stuff! 

Tuesday and Wednesday consisted of staying in the center and studying! 

Tuesday night we had a self-defense class. Although I was stressed, I went anyways...and man, I feel like I learned some sweet skills! I actually do feel like I know what to do. Let's just hope I never actually have to use the skills that I learned.

Wednesday night was the funniest though...we only had our field trip midterm on Friday left and people weren't ready to start studying for that...so people were walking around so bored. It was the first time I had felt that I didn't have anything pressing to do...I could do whatever I want. Granted...I should have probably been writing my Palestine essay or my Israel Extra Credit essay or studied for Field Trip...but oh well. We watched a movie, and I didn't even feel the need to simultaneously attempt to study.

Thursday was basically a free day...aka we should have been studying but we chose to have fun. So, we went to the Old City, stopped by Rita's shop. Then we went to the Tower of David Museum, which was cooler than I was expecting. Plus, we didn't have to pay anything, so that's always great. 

Basically the Tower of David Museum has been used for various different things throughout the ages. It wasn't actually constructed by David, which is deceiving. But it was used as a fortress at one point and as a mosque at another point...the uses vary widely. 

Not the typical museum.

The Tower of David is the highest point in the Old City...so it has a sweet look out point.

It was a fun adventure. Then, I came back to this beauty...

My mom is seriously the best! Honestly, clothes and chocolate are all I really wanted! I had secretly been looking at the Loft online...excited about going shopping when I get home and having more variety in clothes...then this beautiful package come! Love my mom!! (2 shirts, a skirt, a dress, and a sweater! Perfection!)

Friday we had our first New Testament class...and Old Testament was making me more excited to study the life of Christ. Plus, Bro. Huntsman just loves Jesus and he is so passionate! It will be a fun term!

Friday we also finished our field trip final...so we were basically done with finals...and we were feeling real good about life! I helped at the humanitarian project. We have an ongoing humanitarian project of making school kits for surrounding schools and cities. It's fun to feel like we are helping the people of Israel. Then that night we went to a synagogue. Going to synagogue was way different than I was expecting! But it was great! I enjoyed it! I love experiencing other religions and being able to see people so faithful in their religions. Being in Jerusalem has definitely helped me gain a greater appreciation for other religions.

I came back to a Justin Bieber dance party. The life at the JC.

Saturday after church I went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Sometimes it seems nice to stay in and not enter the heat...but I don't want to regret not taking advantage of the moments I have to spend in these great spots on the Sabbath. Sometimes I am really good at walking...and my foot kind of slips off the curb and rolls a bit. And sometimes I am kind of embarrassed that I just fell...so I suck it up and keep walking, because I actually do feel fine. Then, I get back to the center and struggle to walk on my ankle...so I get the doctor to wrap my foot and I ice it and I confine myself to bed...because walking is a serious struggle.

But then I wake up and feel so much better! Prayer works...because I was not about to miss a day to the beach! 

Yes. The beach! Since finals were over, we all felt that it was necessary to take a trip to the beach. So, back to Tel Aviv we went!! It was such a fun day! (I realize the word fun is extremely overused in my blog posts...but my word use is limited.) It was even more fun than the time before because I was more comfortable with the people I was with, so we had a blast!

First we headed over to Old Jaffa!

And we headed over to the flee markets. It was fun to just wander and shop a little bit. I surprised myself and got a necklace and a scarf. My necklace is an elephant necklace, I am surprisingly pretty proud of my elephant necklace. They were good purchases.

There was the funniest little store with ceramic statues (I don't know if that is the most accurate description of what they were...but oh well), so Steph, Juan, and I had fun wandering through the store and just laughing at the obscure things they had! There was a hot dog with a face, a pink panther, a giraffe, a monkey astronaut...the possibilities were seriously endless!

Then we were off to...the beach! The moment we had been waiting for! Every time I say "...to the...beach." I think of Mr. Bean's Holiday, but no one ever seems to know my reference or think it is funny...so I just awkwardly laugh to myself. It happens. 

We hung out at the beach most of the day! The water was seriously perfect, so we just hung out in the water for long periods of time. It was so fun and relaxing. I think the moments when I got sunburned were from just floating and chilling in the water. Some how we all ended up in the same spot...so it was fun to be around the whole group that was in Tel Aviv together. 

(Super cute water picture on Steph's blog...here. Steph is a photography major...so she has skills.)

It is so fun to be here during the summer because we get to enjoy the beach more! Other semesters it is too cold to enjoy the beach and the water...but we live for it, because it is toasty! I just took a nice nap on the beach, enjoyed being in the water, and learning even more about people's lives! 

We then wandered to Tel Aviv's shuk. My sunglasses had gotten broken in my backpack, so I purchased some new sunglasses, and Brooke and I shared a delicious...sandwich? Ya, it was like a schwarma sandwich. It was delicious! 

We played on some of the exercise equipment along the beach. Posed by this weird...mouth? sculpture. And went on the swings...where I my bum may of may not have slipped off the swing...leaving me frantically trying to slide my bum back on to the swing...and endlessly relieved that I hadn't changed out of my swimsuit. Poor Juan would have gotten more of a show...and I would have been mortified. But instead there were just A LOT of laughs!

I thought this was the coolest. All the Muslim woman in their clothes in the water. So interesting.

It was a fun day at the beach! All smiles, all around!!

We got back to the Center with some time to pack our bags and prepare ourselves for our next adventure to Jordan!