YOJO

You're Only in Jerusalem Once

That's what all these kids keep telling me. So I guess we'll make the best of it!!

Yesterday we woke up and ate breakfast. I could end it right there because every time I eat here it's my new favorite meal ever. Breakfast.

The food is insanely good here!! Half the time I don't know what I'm eating but I don't even care. It's just sooo good. I weighed myself today because I can't stop eating. Don't worry, I've lost weight. It's probably all the stairs in this freaking eight story building. I still can't get over my house I'm living in. It's so beautiful!! Every window has a breathtaking view of Jerusalem. The gardens are incredible, except for when they're full of nasty kitty cats. Speaking of cats and breakfast, you won't believe what happened at lunch today. Every meal there is a flock of cats that come meowing and complaining at us for food. They look all mangy and gross and all they do is cry. The cats are extremely afraid of us though so they never get very close unless you give them food. Well guess what...despite their snaggle tooth and patchy fur, people still try to feed these things. Ok, the cats don't look that bad but they're still gross. Everyone has warned us about all their nasty diseases and fleas and gave us strict orders to NOT TOUCH OR FEED THE CATS!! I was fine with that. I don't want to touch them. Well here's the problem and so there I was, eating lunch out on the patio while enjoying some nice company and a beautiful backdrop of Jerusalem City when out of no where I feel sharp pokes in my left leg and I look down to see a mangy kitten on my leg. He jumped up out of no where INTO MY LAP!!!!! Not ok. At all. I screamed the deadliest most terrifying scream I could muster which in turn terrified the cat who dug his claws in and froze in fright as he screamed some weird cat meow hiss thing. Then I jumped up from the table, knocking everything over, and successfully got the cat off my laps. Gross. Not a fan of that moment. My heart was pounding out of my chest!

Anyways, yesterday we went for a walk in the morning around the Old City. It was beautiful. We walked through Kidron Valley to get to the wall. The Jerusalem Center is right between East Jerusalem (Palestinian side) and West Jerusalem (Jewish side). The Old City has four different quarters: Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian. It also has eight different gates: Lions, Herod's, Damascus, New, Jaffa, Zion's, Dung and Golden. We came into the Christian Quarter through Damascus Gate and walked through it to Jaffa Gate. Imagine being in packed little streets with vendors on both sides and as many people shoved in there as you can fit. There are different stations along the roads that are important parts in Christ's walk with the cross. I got to put my hand on the stone that has a hand print on it from where they say He placed His hand to steady himself. It's comforting to know that Christ stumbled too, just like I do. We saw where Simon offered to help carry His cross. Can you imagine helping the Savior carry His cross? I'm sure every one of us that were watching from heaven were aching to go to His aid as well but we couldn't. He had to bear all of that on His own. It was a powerful experience to walk through those crowded streets and try to imagine the Savior walking through them carrying a cross. I can't wait to go back to the Old City and see more of it...and shop of course. We just quickly walked through in small tour groups to get a little bit of our bearings down. When we came out of the Old City, we were in West Jerusalem.

The differences between East and West Jerusalem are incredible. West Jerusalem is a lot cleaner and nicer and more Americanized. It's the Jewish side. We walked through a little shaded area that looked like it had huge pillows outside to sit on. I thought that was very convenient because I was exhausted so I sat down on one expecting delicious relief and it was concrete! They all were! Then we found these bikes that had drums, flower pots, record players, and other things attached to massive poles on the top. It was hilarious! As you peddled you made the flowers grow or music play or the drum beat. I played the drums and I couldn't stop laughing because it reminded me of Dr. Seuss.

That night and all of today has been full of homework. I had some classes today and finally got to start my nursing class. This is going to be a heavy load but I know that I'll make it through if I put the Lord first. Tonight we're eating dinner. I'm so excited. Every meal is heaven! Then I think we're going to get everyone together to watch a movie or play sardines in our beautiful building. There's tons of great hiding places. Tonight was supposed to be our first night that we were able to go out into the city on our own. But Rosh Hashanha just ended and there was some uprisings by the Dome of the Rock and the police were there with tear gas so we can't go out til things settle down. Tomorrow is Fast Sabbath. I'm excited to meet everyone in our branch. The bummer/great part about that is two fast Sunday's in one week! What are the chances of that!?!