Day 1

Hey! I wanted to send an email to say I am here and I made it safely!  Unfortunately those that weren't on the delta flight haven't been able to make it.  They are all still in Phoenix.  A few will arive on friday and a few will come on saturday and we have no idea when the rest will show up.  I am very lucky to have made it today!  Thank heavens!  We have about 30 of us here and 50 not here--which makes things interesting.

 

When I got to the airport in Tele-aviv I was one of the few who was questioned semi-deeply.  Some of the girls were taken into a room to be asked questions.  What they told us to say at our provo meeting didn't work quite that well.  They should have told us before that we don't need the study visa because we leave the country and come back later.  If I had know that it would have made the questions easier.  As it was he told me that if I stayed for 4 months on the 3 month tourist visa that we have that I would never be able to come back here.  It was pretty terrifying at the time but I made it through. 

 

Since I have been here we have had a tour of the JC, ate dinner, had a few brief classes and we just got out.  I think they are trying to keep us awake so we can sleep through the night.  I will tell you what though, I am EXHAUSTED!  I could fall asleep in a matter of seconds right now.  Everyone has dead faces--but we are all so excited to be here!

 

We don't know all of the scheduling for the next few days because not all of us are here, but the plan for tomorrow is to get different views of the city from differing mountains around and then head into the old city.  It may be a little closed down because Ramadan just ended.  But it will be fun to be out and about!

 

Can you believe that I can go outside and see the Dome of the Rock?  Right behind it is a big Catholic cathedral (or something) and to complete the triangle we have the biggest Jewish synagog in Jerusalem.  It is pretty amazing.  I am so blessed!

 

I hope you are all doing well!  You are the greatest!

 

Love,

Whitney

 

P.S. We haven't gotten our cell phones yet, and I don't know how I can set an alarm to wake up for tomorrow.  Sooo....good luck to me with that one!