Shalom #45

This was such a wonderful post from Kristy that I wanted to share it with you......

FEB 12, 2009

Special Special DAY

(This is for my kids)

Today is the 9th anniversary of an event that completely changed our little family. I want my kids to know my side of the story (Billy's and mine differ a little). After I graduated from high school I went to Rick's college. It was a good thing for me to get away and find out who I was and how I wanted to live my life, to not always rely on my parents and what they said, but to decide for myself. I went home for Christmas and got a very unexpected called from Billy (we had said our goodbyes graduation night and I really never expected to hear from him again.) He had asked if I wanted to go see the temple lights. I thought it was really crazy he wanted to go but didn't want to pass up this opportunity so I decided to go.The temple lights were beautiful and it was fun to see each other and catch up. As we walked around he started asking questions about what we believed as Mormons and said he wanted to learn more about our church. Honestly (and I know this is really bad) I didn't believe him and thought it was all just a joke. He is the biggest jokester so even now it is hard to know when he is really serious. He even said a few other things like we should just go get married so I really did not know what to think. We had a really fun night. The break went by so quickly that we really didn't talk much after that night. Right as I was leaving to go to the airport to go back to Ricks I got a call from Billy and again he had asked to hear more about our church. My dad happened to be right by me and at the time he was the stake mission leader so I told my dad that Billy wanted to learn more but was still very skeptical . I was on my way out so I immediately went to the airport and went back to Ricks.
(So this is what my dad and Billy say happened after)

My dad calls Billy a few minutes later and asked when he was free to learn more- Billy says whenever, not really thinking anything about the discussions and that my dad was the mission leader, and they ended up having the first discussion about a half hour later. It was about a month later that Billy got baptized. So 9 years ago today Billy was baptized a member of the LDSChurch. Of course it was life changing for Billy and I can't even begin to say how proud I am of him and how amazing I think he is. He is not who he was 10 years ago and so much more than I ever thought he could be.
For me though, it was also life changing. I remember thinking at times if living the gospel was really that important and did I really want to do it, but when Billy was baptized it helped me more than anything. Even to this day if I ever question things all I have to do is remember Billy and his story. If the gospel could change someones life so drastically then I want to be apart of it. If someone would have said 10 years ago that Billy and I would be married and have two little kids and be as happy as we are (don't get me wrong we fight and have our hard times but we get through them and I love him even more) I would have laughed and said it never ever could happen. But I am so happy that it has happened. I love Billy and he helps me to be better in so many ways. He is so giving and does so many things without even thinking. He is so forgiving and kind and loving to me and my babies. I know God's hand was in it and I am so glad my dad had more faith then I did to not doubt but to just proceed. Thanks dad, that call changed so many lives. Billy, I can't wait to see what the next 9 and many many more years have to bring!!!

Shalom #44

THIS IS THE COURTYARD OUTSIDE OUR APARTMENT.  WE HAVE HAD SOME WONDERFUL RAINS HERE THIS PAST WEEKEND WHICH INCLUDED A BIG ICE STORM.....IT LOOKS LIKE SNOW TO US.  ISRAEL HAS BEEN IN A SERIOUS DROUGHT AND THE SEA OF GALILEE IS AT IT'S LOWEST POINT IN YEARS.   

Shalom #43

THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO DAVID AND JESSICA.......THANK YOU FOR OUR FLIP VIDEO.......WE FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT (WE HOPE)...

WE ARE READY TO ROLL!

SO....WE WANTED TO BRING YOU "LINEN EXCHANGE"...ALLEN STYLE.

EVERY STUDENT IS ASSIGNED TO A COMMITTEE BEFORE THEY ARRIVE AT THE JERUSALEM CENTER. WHEN THEY LEARN THEY ARE ON THE LINEN EXCHANGE COMMITTEE THEY ARE TEASED BY THEIR FAMILIES & FRIENDS...HA HA ....YOU HAVE TO DO EVERYONE'S DIRTY LAUNDRY....SOOOO....GUESS WHAT....EVERY ONE WANT'S TO BE ON OUR COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE TURN A "CHORE" INTO A FUN EVENING.

ALSO, WE REWARD OUR "TEAM" WITH A NICE CANDY BAR... 

WE ARE SO BLESSED TO WORK WITH THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS.

Shalom #42

This afternoon, I was looking through some of our recent pictures.  It reminded me of what a great time we had with Todd and Tami.  

Arab camelboy/camelgirl

Garden Tomb

Over look of Jezreel Valley

Thanks Todd and Tami for coming to visit us in Israel.  We had such a wonderful time with you...we hope others will be "inspired" to visit The Holy Land.

Shalom #41

Happy Valentine's to my sweetheart of 43 years.  For several days prior to Valentine's day, students had been advertising singing Valentines....so during our Branch prayer on the evening of Sabbath and also Valentine's day, President Allen was surprised by this quartet of  young men. His reaction was the best!

 

Soooo, we've been absent from blogging for several week.  It takes commitment, energy and creativity  to blog regularly and we really admire those of you who do.

From time to time special conferences are held here at the Jerusalem Center.  Since one of our duties is housing, we make room assignments and help in any way that is needed.

H. David Burton and his wife along with 10 couples from Europe, Africa and Utah were here for a week of meetings.  These men are employees of the Department of Temporal Affairs. In the past they have met in Salt Lake City around conference time but decided this meeting would be held in Jerusalem.   In visiting with Bishop Burton, it was interesting to learn that he has never travelled to Israel or the BYU Jerusalem Center.  The group had a wonderful visit and after their meetings were able to see many sights around the Old City. 

 

The Branch was able to host a special Fireside with Bishop Burton as the guest speaker.  As Bob was introducing him, he choked slightly as he said Bishop Burton had graduated from the University of Utah.  The audience loved that. 

His message was on satan - the great deceiver.   He began by telling of his great love of baseball and used the example of pitchers and how important it is to be able to throw different kinds of pitches to deceive the batter and strike him out.  Ted Williams, a famous baseball player who still holds the honor of having the best batting average ever, had a great eye for watching the pitcher in his release of the ball and could tell what type of ball was being thrown and therefore had the ability to not be deceive as a batter.     There are so many ways satan tries to deceive and destroy our lives......we must use our eyes to see the evil in this world and turn our lives over to the Savior and see His good works and follow His counsel.

Shalom #40

Going through some of our videos we found this one of visiting the Temple Mount where the Dome of the Rock is located. 

This information comes from Dhimmi Watch....... Jews and Christians are forbidden to pray at the Temple Mount.  Judaism considers it the holiest place on earth.  Muslims say it's the third holiest.  Christianity reveres the spot as being of great historic importance.  But if someone prays there, if he or she is not Muslim, the worshiper will be immediately arrested.  Welcome to the Temple Mount.

the Temple Mount is the large area directly behind the Western Wall in Jerusalem.  It is the site of Judaism's first and second Temples, the primary area of workshop for the Jewish Faith and the location in which God's "shekhina," or presence, is thought by Jews to reside.  The area is about the size of 15 football stadiums.....

Although is not mentioned by name in the Quran, the Temple Mount is also commonly identified by Muslims as the "furthermost sanctuary," the site from which the Prophet Muhammad, accompanied by the angel Gabriel,  made the Night Journey to the Throne of God.

In addition, Christianity considers the area historically important.  The book of Luke recordds that Jesus, raised a devout Jew, was dedicated in the Second Temple in accordance with the Laws of Moses, and describes Jesus' boyhood visit to the Temple, which, it iw written in John, he cleansed at Passover and during the last week of his life.  Jesus once referred to the Temple as His  "Father's house."

During "open" days, Jew and Christian are allowed to ascend the Temple Mount, usually through organized tours and only if they conform first to a strict set of guidelines, which includes demands that they not pray or bring any "holy objects" to the site.  Visitors are banned from entering any of the mosques without direct Wafq permission.  Rules are enforced by Wafq agents, who watch tours closely and alert nearby Israeli police to any breakinf o their guidelines.

Shalom #39

The Dome of the Rock.  This magnificent mosque was built on the site of the First and second Temples in 691 A.D. by the Omayad Khalif.  It is one of the wonders of the modern world with its golden capped Dome and is an outstanding landmark of Jerusalem.  Wall mosaics, beautiful carpets and stained glass windows inside the mosque and beautiful blue and gold tiles on the outside walls of the building.

For the 3 major monotheistic religions, the Temple Mount is the historical and spiritual focus of Jerusalem.  It is revered by Jews as the holiest place on earth.  The rock at the centre of the Temple Mount (now covered by the Dome of the Rock) is the place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, Issac.  The Muslims believe this is the spot that Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son, Ishmael.  Solomon built  the First Temple here which was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587BC, and later the Second Temple built by Herod was erected on the same spot.  It was destroyed by the Roman's in 

70 AD.  Christianity associates the Temple Mount with the preaching of Jesus, while for Moslems this is the accepted place from which Mohammed ascended to heaven.

Shalom#38

Ok, so we have had a wonderful two weeks with Todd and Tami.  They arrived January 22 and left this am - February 3.  They arrived several days before the students left for their 2 weeks in Egypt which was fun for us because they were able to meet many of the students, eat in the cafeteria with them and see a little of what makes up our responsibilities here at the JC.  This trip to Egypt is one of the highlights of the students semester in Israel. We did not go as the physician couple this semester because fortunately there is another medical couple here at the JC who was assigned to go.  It meant that we would have 2 free weeks....what a perfect time to have visitors.     I am going to refer you to Tami's blog:6krazkids.blogspot.com for the last 2 weeks.   She was so diligent in keeping a journal and blogging about our experiences.  We were so blessed to spend this time with them and hopefully more of our family will be able to visit while we are here.   I think I can speak for them as they felt the same way I did when we arrived....no words can really describe the experience of Jerusalem or the places of the Savior's life and to be in a country so rich in history and centuries of civilizations mentioned in the Bible.  Please visit her blog for a great experience...........6krazkids.blogspot.com