For example.
About five months ago the thought about going to Jerusalem crossed my mind but I dismissed it at first because I had my heart set on going on a study abroad/internship that would fulfill credits for my International Development minor. I went through a couple of options but didn't feel that those were right and ended up feeling like I needed (and really wanted) to come to the Jerusalem Center.
Little did I know that I would learn about International Development at the Jerusalem Center. Like, what?
On Monday we visited a NGO that is aiming to help Bedouin women. The Bedouin are the native people of Israel who had their land seized from them and face a lot of challenges because of it. This NGO (Sidra) is helping the women in this community learn to weave and sell their products. They are also doing projects with child nutrition. UM WHAT. Okay. Anyone who knows me at all knows that those two things (women empowerment and nutrition) are my JAM.
Basically I learned a ton and got to talk to the lady in charge and I have new ideas about what development should be.
Here is where I would post the picture I took with her but it's on my friend Jenna's camera and I don't know where she is...but you'll see it eventually.
On that same day we also went to an ancient Israeli temple. At one point in time it was built to worship Jehovah, but as time passed it was used to worship Jehovah and another god. My teacher Brother Muhlestien is so cool. He told us- the question isn't if we do the same thing in our own lives, but how. It has led me to think a lot this week about I have always worshiped God but how at certain times I have let certain ideas of the world influence my thinking (I have a lot to say on the topic actually, I'd love to share more about it sometime). We were able to stand where the Holy of Holies once was. I won't visit a current temple on this trip, but it is certainly special to visit places that were once functioning temples!
Frans- left to right- Krystal, Emily, Myself, Josh, Cody. I look like I'm grimacing but I was happy.
Oh yeah. Guys what guys. I got a calling! It's family history co-chair! I am super psyched because family history is the bomb. But it's also kind of funny that that seems to be my perpetual calling.
A couple of nights ago we attended a Jewish Sabbath service. It was really cool! It was in Hebrew so there was a lot I didn't understand but there was a lot I could appreciate. I appreciate how reverent they were and just the resiliency of the Jewish people. They have been through so much persecution as a people but they always hold out hope that everything will work out!
Also, I went to a museum on free day! It was really cool to see artifacts from Biblical times. For example, we saw some carved stone idols that may have been like the ones Rebeckah took from her dad. We also had fun. I have a problem. It reminds of when Elise and I went to the bean museum and tried to look like all the animals and made a competition out of it. I'll let you decide how we did.
No comments:
Post a Comment