Yesterday was the second half of the Last Week of Jesus' Life field trips. We started out by walking in silence down to the Garden of Gethsemane. We talked about the Atonement there, sang some hymns and had free quiet time to sit and read our scriptures and ponder. It was my last time going to Gethsemane, and I really really loved it. It has been one of my very favorite places to spend time because of how peaceful and quiet it is there.
After Gethsemane we went into the Church of All Nations, which commemorates the Savior's time in Gethsemane. It is designed to look like an olive garden at night, with dim windows and stars on the ceiling. It was really beautiful, and there were beautiful paintings and mosaics of Christ inside and outside the church.
Next we walked to St. Peter's in Gallicantu, which commemorates Peter. This is supposedly the place where Peter denied Christ 3 times during Christ's trials, but the church also commemorates all of the events between Jesus' arrest and His crucifixion. Then we went to St. Anne's, at Bethesda, where there was a pool where Christ healed a paralyzed man. The church there had really amazing acoustics, so we sang some hymns, there was a quartet, and the ward choir (including yours truly) sang "This Is The Christ". Over the summer I have definitely come to appreciate the power of singing to bring the Spirit to the places we visit.
After St. Anne's we walked to St. Mark's Church of the Flagellation, where we talked about the scourging of Jesus during His trial and on His way to the cross. Then we went straight to the Garden Tomb. We talked there about the crucifixion itself and the Resurrection 3 days later. We had free time there too. I love spending time in the Garden Tomb, and it was especially nice after the discussion and the testimonies we had just had about the events that happened there. It was without a doubt the most powerful field trip that we have had here in Jerusalem. Even though I had been to most of the places before, I feel like you can never go enough. I get so much out of every visit and I'm always anxious to go back to feel the Spirit at these places.
Last night we had a closing meeting, where a few people got up and shared what they have learned since being in Jerusalem that they are going to take home with them. I really liked everything that everyone shared, and it was good for me to reflect personally on what I have learned and what I am going to take home with me. I've been thinking about it a lot lately, and I think there are a lot of positive changes that I've made and that I want to continue to make since coming to the Holy Land.
After the meeting me and my roommates had one last roomie sleepover, with all of our mattresses out on the floor. We were so tired, but it was so fun to spend one more night together. I am going to miss them a lot this fall when I'm back to my own room.
This morning I ran over to Omar's olive wood shop to pay for one of my purchases, then out again to do the very very last minute shopping. We got t-shirts and small gifts and some treats for the flight home, including a big bag of gummies. Gummies are a treat that I will miss a lot back home. We stopped by the Western Wall for a few minutes, and we saw a couple of Bar Mitzvahs going on. We got shawermas and frozen fruit drinks and some caramelized nut samples, and just had fun wandering the Old City one last time.
Our last stop was at the Garden Tomb. Like I said, I get something out of it every time I go there, and even though we had just been there yesterday it was really good to go back and read my scriptures, pray a little and just sit and think, reflect on the last 4 months and on everything I've learned and felt here. We sang a couple of hymns and then we walked back to the Center. I guess technically our very last stop was at the one-shek popsicle store on the way back up the hill to the JC.
When we got back we had a ton of packing to finish up. Most of our stuff in our room was packed, but there were a lot of little things here and there that sometimes are the hardest to find a place for. By dinner, though, all of our bags were packed, weighed, and waiting at the top of the stairs. Dinner was a barbecue outside, with really great food and really great desserts. It was actually probably one of the best meals we've had here so far.
After dinner we had an awards ceremony and a slide show of all of the best pictures from over the summer, then a bunch of us played Murder in the Dark for a while. We are all still awake right now, at least all those of us that will be leaving for the airport at 3 am. Our cell phones and linens are all turned in, our bills are payed and now we are just waiting to get on a plane and get back to our homes.
It has been an absolutely amazing summer. I can't imagine anything I would have rather done, and I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. There have been highs and lows, but I have loved every day of it. I have been surrounded by the most amazing people and I have learned so much from them, in addition to what I've learned from the teachers, the field trips and above all the Spirit. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have had to be here and I hope that I can come back to the Holy Land again one day.
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