Wandering around Jerusalem

Today we had a plan.  We were going to go to Mea Shearim, go buy costumes, and be back in the center to eat lunch and spend the rest of the day studying.

Well we went to Mea Shearim (a super orthodox street--meaning you need to not show any skin anywhere).  Some other students had gone there and had men turn away so they wouldn't see the scandalous ankles showing.  One girl even had an onion thrown at her.  Well we went and nothing was really open and nothing exciting happened.  We saw some Orthodox men walking around but that was about it.  To tell you the truth I was a bit dissapointed in the outing.

Next, we went to the open air market and found a delicious pastry shop.  How wonderful!

Then we went to the YMCA to hear President Omen play the bells.  For future reference I would not come to Jerusalem for this.  Sure, it was cool.  It was loud and the bells were awesome.  But, the bells tower at BYU actually has more bells.  Am I spoiled?  Perhaps.  But this wouldn't make my top 20 favorite places.

We wandered through the old city and found my haloween costume.  It will be great!

Then we went to Omars and looked at olive wood.  Then we went to Alladins.  Then we went to the Arab Costco.  And THEN we came home.  We got home around 2.

After that I spent all my time in my room studying.  I learned some great stuff while studying.  I really like this quote:

How like life are wildernesses. A veil separates us from God-our support. Life and death are the issues, without the knowledge that God knows our particular wilderness and has chartered our way. Under such circumstances we venture forth. Surrounded by opposition, we discover in the process that he has chartered the way, the dangers are known, and to the extent we trust him he will guide and direct us to the water and bread of life, help us overcome the poisonous serpents that bite, and help us triumph over every hostile force. Gradually we learn that after our faith has been tried, the blessing comes-the discovery that God was there. If there had been no trial, there would have been no blessing.
            (Keith H. Meservy, "The Good News of Moses," Studies in Scripture, vol. 3, 220-21)

All in all it was a day of wandering.  It really was a great day!