Friday, June 3, 2011

I went to Turkey!

Okay Okay...I know I'm a terrible blogger...but it's a work in progress, okay?  
Well let me fill you in on my life these last couple of weeks...

Well...I WENT TO TURKEY!!! !  All I can say is that it is the most beautiful place I have ever been in my entire life.  Literally breathtaking.  Green rolling hills, beautiful coastline, cute little towns, ancient sites...INCREDIBLE.  It’s what I have always imagined Greece to be like.  I wanted to stay there and live there for the rest of my life...well not really, but kinda :)  
This is just a normal sight in Turkey...isn't it unreal?!  

While there I experienced a couple things.  I had my first experience with a beday (which turned out to be a very positive and exciting experience...did you know that every toilet in Turkey has a beday?!  I certainly did NOT!  

I ate goat milk ice cream (not the greatest thing i’ve ever tasted in my life, just to be honest). 

I rode a ferry on the Bosphorus Sea (and drove the ferry for about 2.5 seconds).  


I ate the best baklava in the entire world. 

The baklava bakery owner...he was SO proud of this pan of baklava with Obama's face on it...so funny!

I went to Troy (as in THE Troy...with the Trojan Horse and everything...although there is debate about whether that actually happened...but let’s just say we believe :)

Trojan VICTORY dance in front of the Trojan horse...at Troy!!

  I ate at a picturesque fish restaurant on the coast (and if I was a fish lover, I’m sure it would have been fantastic...but unfortunately I really just can’t stand fish...ergo, it was mostly just a cultural experience for me, and not a tasty experience). 



I went to Ephesus, where Paul (one of the greatest missionaries of all time) lived and preached for a couple years.  That was a really cool experience, especially with Brother Muhelstein’s insights while sitting in the famous theater of Ephesus—he is so full of spiritual knowledge and goodness, I always just feel enriched after he speaks to us! 

Ancient street @ Ephesus

I went to the natural hot pools of Hierapolis and laughed as scantily clad Turks posed for awkward pictures in the hot pools—they were so awkward, yet so serious...which made it so funny! 

Hierapolis!!!

I went to some really cool mosques (including the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul).  Those places are incredible, and so detailed—it really is amazing!

Blue Mosque @ Istanbul

Great Mosque @ Bursa

Hagia Sophia @ Istanbul

Great Mosque @ Bursa


 I discovered the best gas station cookies in the world...they are called ‘coco stars’ and they are delish.  I spent large amounts of time on a bus. 

 I went to the ancient city of Pergamum and saw the Temple of Trajan (referred to as 'the Seat of Satan' in the Bible...it was so beautiful though...anything BUT the seat of satan!)

Pergamum

Pergamum

Temple of Trajan @ Pergamum

One of the columns @ the Temple of Trajan (at Pergamum)

Theater @ Pergamum (below the Temple of Trajan)

Temple of Trajan @ Pergamum


 I splashed around in and skipped rocks on the Aegean Sea.  

I stayed at a broad spectrum of hotels (ranging from super classy to super sketch and trashy...).  

All in all, it was one of the most fantastic and stellar trips of my life!  But seriously...if you EVER get the chance to visit Turkey...DO IT!  It's an incredible country!    

Well, that's all for now folks...stay tuned for more of my adventures in the near future!!!
 

Saturday, May 14, 2011

I'm going to Chicken!! Err...I mean...Turkey!!!

This...is a camel...
Elise (my engaged roommate), me, and Josh Dance (crazy kid who looks so funny in this picture)...This is us, defying gravity, at Wadi Qelt (aka the Road to Jericho--that Christ walked)  It is also the place where the Good Samaritan parable happened.  It is also the place referred to in the Bible as "The Valley of the Shadow of Death".  It is an incredible place...I loved it!
JERICHO-The Oldest City in the World!
 "Joshua fought the battle at Jericho, Jericho, Jericho.  Joshua fought the battle at Jericho...and the walls came a tumblin' down!!"
Karate-Kid stance @ King Herod's Winter Palace 
To all of my faithful followers (aka mom and dad)...MARHABAA (مرحبا) (that's 'hello' in Arabic!)

In reference to the title of this blog...I am indeed going to TURKEY!! We fly out of Tel Aviv tomorrow (Sunday) and we will be back the following Sunday. I am so stinkin' excited! It's going to be awesome! We're not allowed to bring our computers and we probably won't be on the internet, so don't be alarmed if you don't hear from me for a week! I'll definitely update you as soon as I get back :)


So this past week in Jerusalem has been wonderful and eventful, as always :) Yesterday (Friday) we weren't allowed to leave the center or go into the city, because there were Palestinian protests and stuff going on. It was a little unnerving because I kept hearing really loud bangs all day (I'm pretty sure they were smoke bombs). They sounded alot louder and closer last night--but don't worry, we are safe and sound here at the Jerusalem Center! I really don't feel scared, but I was thinking about it last night and it just makes me sad that there is so much hate in the world--I just wish people could love eachother. Being over here has really opened my eyes--just seeing the conflict and how real it is. Everyone just needs the gospel! That's the main problem!

Speaking of needing the gospel--on Tuesday I had the opportunity to be in the presence of a general authority—and he spoke directly to us BYU-JC students—sitting around the dinner table in the JC cafeteria! It was Elder Pieper of the Quorum of the Seventy. He is assigned to the Middle East and he was over here for some meetings. But he wanted to meet with us, so he came and had dinner with us in the JC cafeteria! I felt the spirit so strong there—it was amazing.

I felt an automatic kind of connection with him when he said he grew up in Pocatello-what a small world! (Dad, he wrestled with the Armstrongs--he said he knew Bryce Armstrong?) Anyway... So at first, we were all just sitting around talking and eating and he was asking us questions about ourselves and we were asking him questions about himself. But then, eventually all 80 students were gathered around this table and he basically gave an impromptu fireside—it was amazing.

He talked about President Monson’s October 2009 general conference talk where he told us that we need to pray for the areas of the world (where the church is limited and we aren’t allowed to share the gospel) to be opened for missionary work. He related it to President Kimball’s talk where he told the members to “pray for the nations” and how it was through the faith and prayers of members that the Berlin Wall was opened. He said that in order to open up the Muslim world to the gospel, it will take greater faith than it took to open the Berlin Wall. But it is ENTIRELY possible!! He said “There is great power in the faith of members”. He also said “I am under the impression that you will see greater miracles than we have seen.” Wow—I am so curious and interested to know what kind of miracles I will see in my life, if I am living righteously and faithfully. He said something to the effect that “Something is happening in this area-something is moving-the gospel is starting...

He also talked about how in the past year, Elder Holland came to divide a stake here and how he brought the keys to this land. It was right after Elder Holland came that things started getting riotous over here. It wasn’t coincidence that Elder Holland came right before that—it wasn’t coincidence that the Priesthood power was upon this land while things started getting upset. They needed the Priesthood power over here-it’s a major blessing that the power is here. He also talked about how, in our lifetime, people without the gospel will have more fear in their lives. This is another reason why we need to share our testimonies and our light—so that our brothers and sisters don’t have to fear!

Something else I found really interesting was when he said that BYU has more students studying Arabic than any other university (University of Utah is second). He talked about how there is something that is impressing these individuals to study Arabic and how this isn’t just coincidence. These latter-day saints will play a major role in helping the gospel to move forward in this area. So anyway, that was just a really cool experience and I felt so lucky to be there!!


Okay, sorry my posts are so long--I'll try to make them more exciting...I'm still trying to figure out this whole "blog" thing...So be patient with me! Anyway, I love you all!!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Highlights of my life (well, of the past 2 weeks...)

Lost Hebrew Dog?  Poor guy...
Dome of the Rock
This is under the Homos Ecces Convent.  It is some of the original Roman road that Christ walked on, on his way to Calvary.
I know I know I know...I might or might not be the world's most terrible blogger--I'm sorry, okay? But here I am now, repenting, and updating this blog!
So, I've officially been in Jerusalem for 2 weeks now--and can I just say that it's been 2 of the most incredible weeks ever? But seriously...let me give you some highlights:

1) The Muslim call to prayer--so beautiful!! And it's different every time. I love it. It was especially cool tonight--I stopped mid-step and just listened for a little bit :)

2) Sitting next to an olive tree in the quiet side of the Garden of Gethsemane, singing hymns quietly to myself, and reading my patriarchal blessing.

3)Getting rocks thrown at me by a little Palestinian boy...

4) Daily confidence boosts that come from local Arab guys saying "You're beautiful"...."Hello sweetheart"...."BYU? I love you!" (haha, not really a confidence boost--mostly just funny, and kinda creepy sometimes..)

5) Pita bread with peanut butter and nutella (my new favorite addiction...)

6) Playing "Ride that Pony" with a bunch of Israeli soldiers....and doing the worm in the middle of the circle...at the Western Wall...

7) Celebrating the Jewish Independence Day with all the local Jews--dancing and singing the night away--and watching the fireworks

8) Fieldtrip to Jericho--as in THE Jericho...where Joshua fought the battle....and the walls came tumblin' down...

9) Fieldtrip to the Wadi Qelt (aka The Road to Jericho) (aka The Valley of the Shadow of Death)

10) Falafel...need I say more?

11) George, the Palestinian security guard at the Jerusalem Center (he is going to teach me how to break someone's arm in 3 seconds flat)

12) Teaching the 4 and 5 year olds in the Jerusalem Branch primary

13) CATS! There are at least a billion cats in Jerusalem...and I hate cats...but I've started taking pictures of every cat I see and in the end I'm going to make a calendar. I'll name it something like "Cats of Jerusalem" or "Felines of the Holy Land" or "Jewish Cats" or "Muslim Cats" or "Nasty Whiskered Creatures at Famous Places in Jerusalem"...

14) The Old City--and how much it reminds me of Alladin...it's so cool!!!

15) The view from my bedroom

There are a million more highlights...but I'll wait for another day to tell you about those...so hold yer horses (Dad!) I love you all and miss you all! But I am SOO HAPPY and SOO BLESSED to be here! Have a stellar day :)

p.s. I tried to upload pictures, but the internet was being so slow...but I'll keep trying!!

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Billy Joel was right...Vienna really DOES wait for you :)



Well, I made it!! And Jerusalem is more incredible than I ever imagined it could be! It was a bit of an adventure getting here, so let me give you the rundown:
I flew from Salt Lake to Washington DC on Wednesday morning. At the DC airport they made us check our carry-ons (if they were more than 17 pounds) so I had to check mine. Then we got on the plane and flew 9 hours to Vienna, Austria! I guess we sat on the plane for 2 hours before it actually took off, but I totally missed that-I was passed out from being so tired! On the plane, I sat next to an Albanian man and his mother and 1 year old son, from Kosovo. They were so nice! The woman didn't speak any English, but the man spoke pretty well. The poor little 1 year old was struggling to sit still for 9 hours. He was all over the place and screaming and crying. Being from a large (and fairly loud) family, I can pretty much sleep through anything, so that was definitely a blessing. So I slept for most of the plane ride, which was super nice. We finally landed in Vienna and we only had about 25 minutes until our next flight, to Tel-Aviv. It was at this point that I realized my passport was in my carry-on, that I had checked as baggage back in DC!!! AHH, I was freaking out...I told the Austrian airport workers, and they said they would try to find my bag in the bottom of the plane and get my passport, but if my passport wasn't in my bag, then I wouldn't be able to go to Tel-Aviv. Our plane was supposed to take off in about 5 minutes, and they still hadn't found my bag. But they said that my bag wouldn't fly without me, so the whole flight would be delayed because of me! I was feeling super dumb...and pretty embarrassed. BUT, they were super nice and they found my bag and I showed them my passport and they let me on the plane, without too much delay :) So anyway, it was kind of stressful, but I made it! After I got on the plane, I turned on my i-Pod and laughed to myself when Billy Joel's song "Vienna" came on. The lyrics hit home with me--they say "When will you realize Vienna waits for you?" Haha, Vienna really did wait for me :)
So, we flew from Vienna to Tel-Aviv (about a 3 hour flight) and it was so great to finally get to Israel!! It was rainy and overcast and alot greener than I imagined it to be! It's so beautiful here--I felt like I had stepped off the plane and into California! We got onto buses with our teachers and headed to Jerusalem. On the bus, our teacher pointed out a lot of really cool stuff. I was already learning so much! We passed Judea and many people think that Judea consists of plains (due to the song "Far Far Away on Judea's Plains") But, contrary to popular belief, Judea is actually covered in hills and trees-there are absolutely no plains in Judea! That was kind of interesting :)
We finally got to the Jerusalem Center and what an incredible building it is! It is so beautiful and I just love it! We have a perfect view, looking down onto the old city, it's pretty surreal. We had multiple orientations and meetings, where I was seriously struggling to stay awake (I was definitely doing the whole embarrassing head-nod thing). Everyone was so tired! But we got through it!
Friday morning (I am about 9 hours ahead of most of you reading this) we got up and went on a tour of the old city! I didn't realize how close we live--it takes about 5 minutes to get down to there from the center. This was so much fun! It was basically just a quick preview of what we would be seeing throughout the rest of the semester. But I was really excited, because I ran into my parent's friend Omar--he is a wood carver from Jerusalem. He was handing out business cards on the street and I introduced myself and it was really fun to make the connection! We went through the Palestinian/Arab part of the city on the east, which was so cool and there were so many little shops and vendors all along the streets. Then we went into the west part of the city, which is the Jewish part. It was so much fun to see so much culture and so many colors and sights and smells--my senses were definitely overwhelmed! (But it was a happy kind of overwhelmed, haha!)
Today is Saturday, which is the sabbath over here. So I went to church today! When I got off the plane in Tel-Aviv, my teacher pulled me aside and said "Kimberly, I'm going to ask you a question that you might not want to hear..." Umm, how do you respond to that? I was feeling a little worried. But, then he said "Would you be willing to speak in sacrament meeting on the sabbath?" Haha, I was a little relieved, but not entirely! Anyway, so I spoke in sacrament meeting today, and that was a really great experience. I also got called to be a primary teacher today! I'll be working with the 4 and 5 year olds. The primary is actually surprisingly big in the Jerusalem branch. I'm really excited to work with those cute kids :)
So anyway, life here is great! The food is super great---mmm, I love it! I'm starting P90X with my roommates tomorrow, so that I can have an excuse to eat all the delicious food here and not feel bad about it! :)
Well, sorry this was so long and drawn out...I'll try to make my later posts a little more interesting and succinct! Until then, adios amigos y amigas!!!

Monday, April 25, 2011

And the journey begins!!

So here I am, sitting at my house in Pocatello, Idaho...and counting down the hours until I depart on my biggest life adventure (as of yet)! I leave for Jerusalem in about 35 hours...am I stoked? You could say that :) I don't have much to say, right now...but look for more exciting posts and pictures in the very near future!! LATER GATERS...