Friday December 7, 2007

Stefi Faust
December 7, 2007

After a fun filled day of snorkeling yesterday in Eilat, going back to class was a hard task. But today we took our last New Testament quiz! It’s crazy to realize how quickly this past semester has gone. In class today we learned about the last days and Christ’s suffering in Gethsemane. It learned that Christ was willing and able to fulfill the demands of justice and mercy. It was such a spiritually powerful lesson.
Then we went to Brother Huntington’s archeology class and learned about the Pharisees.
After lunch many students headed for the Jewish open air market in West Jerusalem for some last minute Christmas shopping. Then most of us had to finally start our Near Eastern Studies and New Testament essays due next week.
Tonight we had a forum from the man second in command at the US Embassy here in Israel. He had some really interesting comments on the situation here in the Holy Land. After congregating around the Shalom Shack for some snacks, most students gathered in the lounge to welcome in Shabbat by watching some classic beloved Christmas movies.
My favorite New Testament highlight was the night program we had in Shepherd’s Field a few miles out of Bethlehem. Brother Ludlow taught us how we were there rejoicing and singing at Christ’s birth. I was struck with how happy I must have felt at this glorious event. As we sang Christmas hymns overlooking the site of my Savior’s birth, the spirit touched my heart and testified that He was born, He did live, He did die and He now lives again! It was a very powerful night, one of many treasured memories I will take away from my time spent here in the Holy Land.