Saturday December 15, 2007

Amber Patterson
15 December 2007

Today was the students' final Shabbat here at the Jerusalem Center.
Rachel Briggs, Sarah Johnson and Jessica Bringhurst spoke during
Sacrament meeting. The choir started and ended the meeting with
beautiful musical numbers, and other students performed in between the
speakers. Afterwards, everyone attended their final Sunday school,
Priesthood and Relief Society meetings.
Following church, several groups of students went to visit the Garden
Tomb and the Garden of Gethsemane. One group of students decided to
accompany President and Sister Heyes, James and Karey to visit Shannon
White in the hospital and administer the sacrament to her. The group
visited for a while before starting a mini sacrament meeting for
Shannon. After administering the sacrament, everyone shared a brief
testimony. The group left shortly afterwards, but Carlee and Rachel
Briggs stayed behind to keep Shannon company for the afternoon. After
dinner, another group visited the hospital and picked up Carlee and
Rachel.
Traveling the Holy Land while studying the New Testament has greatly
enhanced my learning experience. One of the most touching moments for
me occurred sitting on top of the wooden frame of my porch watching
the sunset over the Old City. I thought about the Lord's love for all
his children, specifically those of this land. In that moment, I felt
assured of the healing that could and would someday be brought to this
land through the gospel and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. No where
else we visited had a felt so strongly that God would not leave His
children alone and that one day, they too will have the opportunity to
receive the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.