Tuesday November 27, 2007

April Palmer

November 27, 2007

Bro. Ludlow

New Testament Journal Entry November 27, 2007

Tuesday’s Highlights:

After two days of touring the Galilee it was time for our “Bus One” to settle down, stay at En Gev, and have class. Beginning at eight o’clock in the morning, our class that was supposed to be split in two ended up running for three and a half hours straight with only a ten-minute break. Though our attention wavered at times, our discussion on the Gospel of Luke was enlightening and engrossing. Plus, once class was over we had a free afternoon!

For most of us this free afternoon was spent studying, sleeping, and playing on the beach. After all, what student from Utah wouldn’t want to spend an afternoon in late November lying in the sun? Personally I stayed on the beach until it became too dark to read (this of course happened at about 4:30pm), and then I ventured inside to watch the news. CNN and BBC were both highlighting news from the Annapolis conference and before dinner I was able to watch the opening remarks of the Israeli Prime Minister and the President of the Palestinian National Authority. Pulling myself away from the conference, I went to dinner and to two hours of NES 336 with Brother Huntington, but I was anxious to return to the latest news update. The news after class highlighted all of the riots that had broken out in the West Bank and Gaza in response to the happenings in Annapolis. Palestinian police in Ramala were beating rioters with clubs, and one man had already been killed in Hebron. Palestinians who are loyal to Hammas were calling the President of the PNA a traitor. I went to bed sad thinking about all of the violence that is occurring in a land where I feel so much happiness and peace.

New Testament Scriptural Highlight:

Throughout our study of the New Testament Gospels I have been paying special attention to the instances and miracles that include women; one of these miracles in the healing of the woman with the issue of blood. After finding the woman who had touched his clothes, the Savior said “Daughter be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” This passage highlights the compassion and love that the Savior showed towards the women in the scriptures, and also shows that truly faith does precede the miracle. Had the woman not had strong faith in the Savior and His divine power, touching his clothes would not have healed her. I hope that I can have the same faith that this woman had so that the Lord can work miracles in my life and the lives of my family members.