16,031 steps in Instanbul

Istanbul is a beautiful city!

I went to the Blue Mosque today! 

The inside of this mosque is absolutely beautiful. The floor alone has over 20,000 blue ceramic tiles, all of which are decorated and painted colorfully.

This mosque is seriously a masterpiece. 

After the Blue Mosque we went to the Topkapi Palace, which is now a museum with cool islamic treasures and relics from various sultans and such.
Then we went underground to  the Basilica Cistern (Sunken Palace).
The cistern has 336 columns, walls 13 feet thick, and can hold 2,800,000 ft of water.
Oh . . . From Russia with Love, the James Bond movie, was filmed here. NBD.

This is what the cistern looked like! It was dark inside but each column had a light under it, making the entire space beautiful.

......................................................................................................................................

Then - I had a BAZAAR experience whilst shopping in the 

Grand Bazaar of Istanbul.

I bought a rug!

Aint it a beaut!

This is how the purchase went down.
Cheers!

Then, to top off the marvelous day we took a ferry ride across the Bosphorus!
I love ferry rides!
And, I had my first experience with Turkish toilets...squatters? We wont talk about it.
Anywayzzz....
The Bosphorus Strait forms part of the boundary between Asia and Europe!

Europe....Asia!

If I could take a ferry everyday, I would . . . SO FUN!

Happy Turkey Day! {2,495 steps & flying through the air!}

I'm in Turkey! Instanbul! 

We had a very long day of traveling traveling traveling and flying - but we made it! 

Turkey is absolutely beatiful. So far we have only seen the city at night, but the architecture of every building is fascinating, and there are seriously mosques every direction you look; up, down, sideways, north, diagonal, west, left, south, east, right!

OH! Funny story. Once we got through the security check point in the airport - I lost my boarding pass!!!! Funny, huh? NO. I was in shock, and extremely stressed. I quickly retraced all my steps, saying silent prayers and hoping that it would turn up. And guess where I found it?Laying on the ground . . . next to a janitor who was quickly sweeping the floor. My ticket found its way into the janitor's dust pan, but luckily I was able to run forward and rescue it.
Prayers are answered! The church is true!

Happy Turkey Day! 

I am thankful to be here, participating in such a wonderful program and to be surrounded by such glorious friends.

I am thankful for the experiences I am having and the knowledge I am gaining.

I am thankful for the gospel, and the marvelous professors at the JC which increase my faith and testimony.

P.S. . . .

Taking a break from classes to play in the snow!
{stole this pic for SJ}

I LOVE MY LIFE!

. . . it snowed!
in JERU!

for the first time in 6 years!

and I was HERE!

Synagogue on the Blog

On our free day we walked on over to West J to visit the Great Synagogue.

One of our teachers compared this synagogue to the LDS Temple Square, but the Jewish version.

The synagogue was fairly new, and the architecture was beautiful.

The front corridor displayed mezuzah's of all shapes, sizes, colors...It was fun to look at all of them.

I loved the beautiful stained glass windows.

Many of the window art depicted stories out of the Bible.

Absolutely glorious.

303 for Lyfe

After the synagogue we stayed in West J and wandered through the city. 

We went to McDonald's*Browsed the shops*Looked at Kippa's

And I bought a HOODIE!

Seriously. Best purchase I have made thus far. The Jerusalem Center is freezing - always. 

I have had goosebumps ever since the plane landed! But seriously. 

In da HOOD

I was so excited that I didn't want to take the hoodie
off when I bought it.
This kind clerk rang me up anyways : )

This hoodie is saving my life!

 

Pater Noster

In between classes we had a long enough break to take a gander up the hill to a church called Pater Noster. This was one of the most beautiful and unique church I have visited thus far.

 I really loved it and it was fun to visit, even if we had to pay 5 shekels. 

The church has plaques painted with the Lord's Prayer in 62 different languages.

This is believed to be the place where Jesus taught the disciples the Lord's Prayer.

Me and #17
We spreken Arabic

Sweet Ashley and me in the courtyard

Behind the church was a beautiful grove! Complete with a spectacular view of the city.

It truly was a glorious day to skip and frolic through this meadow.

Women of Jerusalem - Frolick Yourself!

In the spirit of prayer - let me take a moment to bear my testimony.

I know that my prayers are answered. I know that I have a Father in heaven who hears my small pleas, and listens to me through my trials. I know that Christ prayed when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane, and that example teaches me that God is always there, no matter how big or small our problem may seem. I know that I am loved, and known, individually. I know that prayer is a form of work, and if we take the time to speak to our Heavenly Father, we can create a strong relationship with Him and truly come to know Him.

And with that . . . 

Amen, Sista!

Neot Kedumim

This field trip was one of the best.

The sun was shining. Brightly!

The birds were singing.

The turtles were out and aboooot.

The sheep & goats were..cute.

The campfire was roaring.

And we were hyssoping all the day long!

Hyssop y'all

Neot Kedumim is a Biblical Garden. We learned all about lots of herbs, plants, trees, and flowers -  and we got to see them all up close & personal too.

Dearest Jen and me basking in the meadow

We made like Shepherds and got the flock outta here . . .


Ya herd?
    Baaa ram you.

Cute sweet Sammy Sosa
Sheep Whisperer Extraordinairre

Matching Shepherds right there.

Then we grabbed some firewood, put our nature skills to the test and made delicious pitas, popped wheat nuts, and ate our lunch in a grove of trees.

Made me miss home.

And camping.
A lot.

Firewood. Clearly

Homemade pitas with delicious fig honey!

Harper boys up in a tree

 

Familyyyy Photo

Just grinding
some Hyssop. Y'all.

Turtle Club

If life hands you melons....
you might be dyslexic 

Glorious day? I submit that it 'TWAS!

Best picture Shealeigh's ever seen . . . 

Ohhhh I almost forgot. We also got to watch a professional Torah Scribe!