Shalom #86 Real Meaning of Christmas

Music: "How Far Is It To Bethlehem?"

Christmas Eve visit to the Orphanage.....

Making bubbles
Making sure everyone had their fair share
We were so blessed to spend Christmas Eve with several Jerusalem Branch members in Bethlehem.......first visiting the Orphanage for several hours playing with the children and holding babies........ giving gifts.......

We then met for dinner and gift sharing at Sahar's house. Her family had worked hard to have 30 guest over for such a lovely meal. have 3 members living in Bethlehem.....two brethern who have not been able to come to Jerusalem for church and our dear friend Sahar.....our Jerusalem Branch Relief Society President. Because of her job with the UN she has a special permit that allows her to cross the border and attend Church. Our "twig" in Bethlehem was recently organized under the direction of Elder Porter after he and several others including Pres. Allen visited with these two brothers and determined it was time for them to be blessed to meet together and having the blessings of the SacramentAfter the Priesthood brethern made their visit.....they decided it was time to allow these wonderful members the opportunity to have the Sacrament and to bring it to them in the land of the birth of our Savior......Bethlehem. Two of the brothers have not been able to attend Church in Jerusalem because of the separation wall and the only women, Sahar has a work premit which has allowed her to come to Jerusalem for church. Sahar is our RS president in the Jerusalem Branch and because of her work with the U.N. she has permission she to come to Jerusalem to our meetings. The meetings in Bethlehem are held on Sunday which makes it easier for Sahar to attend in Bethlehem and lend her strength, support and understanding of the Gospel. We have been able to attend several of the meetings also, what a spiritual feast. Sahar never knows when her job might

change and also her status for coming into Jerusalem, so having this meeting in her home town is a real blessing.

The song, "O little town of Bethlehem" brings a new meaning with the Lord's supper being offered the saints after all these years.....Bethlehem.......house of Bread, the Lord's Sacrament.......Bread representing His body, the blood, his great sacrifice. It's only fitting that the Sacrament would be offered by the "Bread of Life" in Bethlehem...........

We love this following youtube........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PURToRRq7gM

Shalom #85 Santa's Elf's at the Jerusalem Center

Santa sent his elves to help the good boy's and girls'

at the Jerusalem Center...........

Shalom #84....Good Bye to Fall Semester 2009

Fall Semester 2009..........such good friends and so much fun that went too fast this semester. Good times at the Allen's.......we will miss your late night cookie baking parties, long talks about life and your wonderful testimonies.

Always good ole' linen exchange. Kalli, Kathryn and James.....the best!

Our committee........

Bus rides were always a fun time......

Shalom #83 OpPs........

Ok, so it's been a month since I blogged.........OpPs........it's not like we haven't been at the Jerusalem Center but when the student's leave for extended field trips and we don't go.......it's a

great time for family to visit........We had such a great time and made so many wonderful memories with Ben & Sam, Mark & Debbie,

Ron & Ann and Glenn and Marcie............

thanks for coming to Israel...........

Shalom #82 Elder Holland

Elder Holland: Elder Holland said that he had an unfailing celestial feeling walking into this building. God is good to all of those who come here. We are under obligation to never be the same again, and if we are we are a disappointment. Cherish what so many would give anything to experience. Not only because we walk where Jesus walked, but because we have had the privilege. Remember it all the days of your lives.

Elder Holland went on to describe what he called one of the most remarkable days of Christ's life, which was not a New Testament day. It is in the Book of Mormon, the greatest day in the history of the world, Christ arriving in the New World.

Jesus taught about baptism, equivalent of Sermon on the Mount, the doctrine in 3 Nephi 12-14, the Law of Moses, other sheep, and the redemption of Israel.

3 Nephi 17: 2-4 "I ^aperceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot ^bunderstand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time. 3 Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ^aponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and ^bprepare your minds for the ^cmorrow, and I come unto you again. 4 But now I ^ago unto the Father, and also to ^bshow myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not ^clost untothe Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them."

Christ terminated the day because He had an assignment to go unto the Father and show Himself unto the lost tribes.

3 Nephi 17:5 "And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were ^ain tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them. "

The people didn’t dare say a word, but in their tears they cried out for Him to stay a little longer.

Christ's bowels were filled with compassion. He understood. He had them bring their sick, maimed, deaf, and afflicted in any manner.

This story teaches that if we really want the Savior in our lives, we can.

The gospel of Jesus Christ forever and ever mercy trumps justice. Mercy, tears, the lame, blind, deaf...justice or duty were all set aside.

One of the greatest single incidents of all the Book of Mormon occurs in 3 Nephi with the children. Christ asks the children to come forward, and He weeps and blesses them.

Elder Holland reiterated that the key line in this story is "behold my bowels are filled with compassion...my bowels are filled with mercy." This is the personification of mercy.

In Luke 6 it says "be ye therefore merciful as our Father in Heaven is merciful."

To be perfect is to be merciful. Be kinder. Be more forgiving. Be less demanding. "Be merciful" is the message of this city (Jerusalem). The atonement is the ultimate merciful act. The holiest setting of the Old Testament is the mercy seat, the figurative or literal place where Jehovah would come to commune with Ancient Israel.

Be a little more merciful. Be a little more disciplined. The great call that goes out to disciples is to be more merciful. Let us be merciful, helpful beyond our own needs. Be consumed with compassion.

Shalom #81 Halloween @ the Jerusalem Center

Halloween is always fun at the Jerusalem Center.

It's amazing to see how clever and creative the students become. It doesn't take money to be original. Laundry basket with dirty clothes....

Pop Rocks!
The Western Wall and Dome of the Rock !

Salt & Pepper shakers

Shalom #80 Cookie Time At the Allen's

Keep a batch of cookie dough in the refrigerator and students will come!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies soothes many ailments.........homesickness,

study overload, boredom.........

Shalom #79 More of Egypt

Out for a family ride.......he had 4 daughters on the motorcycle with him.
A lovely family celebrating the ending of the

month of Ramadan.........

Did he make it on the camel this trip????? YES HE DID!!!

Shalom #78 EGYPT FALL 2009