Jim came to Jerusalem last week for meetings with the staff and management of the Jerusalem Center. The volunteer couples and Faculty also had training meetings with him. He has been with the center since the original inception of it. He knows the most about the HISTORY of the center. The stories he tells about the negotiations to purchase the property, the protest of the Orthodox Jews not wanting it to happen, all the phases of the building of this amazing structure from the design to it's completion were so interesting. The Jerusalem Center opened March 1987. He also shared many other stories like how they purchased one of the finest pipe organs in the mid-east and all the difficulties getting it installed to a funny story of one of the Professors wives who kept complaining about the faculties laundry room and how he needed to get some new washers and dryers for them.....which he did after Her assignment was over!! He has work closely with all the Prophets since President Howard W. Hunter. This was Pres. Faust special project and he loved this Center. Elder Holland now has the responsibility of overseeing the Jerusalem Center. We are hoping that he will come for a visit while we are here. When we finished our meetings, Jim and Eran Hayet (Executive Director of the Jerusalem Center in Jerusalem) had arranged for the senior couples to have a "field trip". We first visited the Weizmann Institute at Rehovat, Israel, which is about 1 1/2 hrs from Jerusalem. It was founded in 1934 by Chiam Weizmann, a renown scientist from England who became the first President of Israel. Top scientist from all over the world come for advanced degrees in all scientific disciplines. We then went to a very interesting site called the Ayalon Institute where top secret operations took place during the years between the end of World War 2 and Israel's independence in 1948. We will blog about it later as there is much to tell about it. It is definitely a site we want you all to visit.
This is a picture of Eran Hayet, Executive Director of the Jerusalem Center, his son Nimrod and youngest daughter Hadasa. Eran has been with the "Mormon University" - as it is called here in Israel- for many years. He started in security and has worked his way up to the top position. He is an Israeli but not an orthodox Jew. He is very much admired and appreciated by the General Authorities and BYU for his loyal service to the Jerusalem Center. He knows he is working with some of the finest college students America has to offer because of their high moral ethics and standards that comes because they are Latter-day Saints. He has spent time in Salt Lake and Provo learning about the Church, BYU, etc. We would like to meet all the Prophets and General Authorities he has!! He has very good administrative skills and works well with his staff, the faculty and senior couples.His son, Nimrod, is a swimmer and a olympic hopeful for Israel. When we first arrived at the Jerusalem Center, Eran was is Bucharest because Nimrod was in some important European swim meets. Eran left last week to take Nimrod to New Jersey where he will spend his senior year of high school. This high school has many swimmers from around the world that attend it all with the goal of making it to the olympics. We said to Eran, "this will be hard for you to send your only son away for a year...." he said, "yes, it is hard, please let's not talk about it." I reminded him how we feel when our children leave us for missions. He can talk everyday if he wants ....we could only talk 2 times a year!!
This is Tawfic Alawi, Assistant Exec Director of the Jerusalem center and his beautiful wife (we forgot her name) and their little daughter Tia, 18 months old. The senior couples and faculty were all invited to Tia's baptism held at the Rosery Sister's Catholic Church. Their families are both Palestinian Christians. The family and guest were all very attractive and well dressed. It was a very formal occasion for them. The family was so pleased to have all of the folks from the JC come.
These are the men who make up the Service couples. From l to r:L to R: Dr.Ray Thomas - pediatrician from Salt Lake City. He and his wife are over Hosting. That means they give daily tours of the buildings. Norm Squires- amazing Organist, Dean Madsen- Branch President in Galilee, Dad -Branch President, Center Doctor, housing, all around busy guy, Dennis Thomson - President of the District and also director over the volunteer senior couples.
The Women of the volunteer staff l to R: Doreen Squires - heads all the Sunday night concerts,Karin Thomson - Humanitarian Services in the Mid-East, Carol Thomas -serves as a hostess with her husband. Carol & Ray give the tours of the center Tues -Fri, Mom - Dad's helper, Susan Madsen - serving in Galilee.
It takes so many people all working together to have the JC run well. The senior couples meet Tues - Fri at 8:30 a.m. and begin our day with a prayer meeting and then business. It's a nice way to begin our day. Hope you have enjoyed meeting some of our friends and associates.
We love you all and hope you will beable to come for a visit.
Love, Dad & Mom
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