A Special Place

Friday we had classes in the morning. Dr. Chadwick told us about a tower that was found in Jericho that was built in 8000 BC. This is the oldest structure on Earth. So cool and we get to see it. We aren't allowed into East Jerusalem or the Old City until 3pm on Fridays because of some special religious ceremony the Muslims do on Friday mornings. Also I learned that for some reason Ramadan actually didn't end until Thursday night instead of on Wednesday night possibly because they didn't see the New Moon Wednesday signalling the end of the month of Ramadan. Muslims have a lunar calendar. This morning there were canons and celebration to wake everyone up to eat since Ramadan was over. Well right at 3 we went into East Jerusalem to try to exchange money but everything was closed because of Eid al Fitr which are feasts and celebrations for the end of Ramadan.

Friday night we all went to the Western Wall as a group. It was so amazing. It was the Sabbath and Rosh Hashana which is the beginning of their new year so there was a lot of excitement. There were so many people and many of the men were singing and dancing. There was a special feeling there. It was neat to see the devotion of these people to come and pray at this sacred sight, the closest thing to a temple the Jews have. It was also neat to see the pure joy of these people. Some of the younger girls also started singing and dancing. They were singing and dancing in jubilation. They were joyful for the coming Sabbath and the new year that was upon them. I have not seen such a pure joy in a long time. Others worshiped by touching the wall and reciting prayers. Although this was a Jewish worship site, I felt a special spirit as I watched these people worship in their different ways. There are many good people on this earth who are trying to do whats right and do the things they know to be true.

Today we had church and then after church we went to the Garden Tomb. This was also a very special experience. We all walked there as a group and then a Baptist service couple talked to us about the site. There was a special spirit there. There were many other groups there that came to see the Garden Tomb and that held special communions. Some taking the sacrament and others singing praises to God. We had our own special meeting and Easter songs together. It neat to see the tomb and realize this is where Christ could have died, been buried and risen again. It is neat to see places like this and then to go back and read the scriptural accounts of the events that took place there. The scriptures have come alive as I have been able to see where these scripture stories took place and imagine what it was like back then when the people in the scriptures were alive.