Galilee Day 7--Field Trip Day

Today was pretty great.  We started out by going to Mount Tabor which is the traditional site of the Transfiguration.  The bus couldn't make it up the hill so we were put in vans and taken up.  My bus driver had the ends of his mustache about 3 inches and would turn around, look at me, and wiggle the mustache.  It was pretty funny even though I don't like mustaches at all.

When we got to the top we went to the look out which was beautiful.  Then we went and sat down and learned more about the Transfiguration.  Even though it was freezing, it was delightful.  There are some differences between the Mark, Matthew, and Luke accounts of the transfiguration.

In Mark (Chapter 9) we learn that Elias and Moses appear, God says "This is my beloved Son: hear him" and when Peter, James, and John look they only see Jesus.  This is showing the hand off of the Old Testament power to the New Testament power.  We go from the Law and the Prophets to the Savior.  We are now to look to the Savior.  Furthermore, the apostles hear God's testimony of His Son.

Matthew adds a bit to the account (Chapter 16 and 17).  He adds to Peter's declaration that Peter says that Christ is the son of God.  He also adds that Peter gets priesthood keys.  Pretty awesome.

Then Luke (Chapter 9) gives us some great treasures.  First Jesus goes up to pray, to talk to his father, and then he is transfigured.  Elias and Moses come to talk to him about "his decrease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem."  They come to give him a pep talk.  And while that happens Peter, James, and John, fall asleep.  One can't help but think of the similarities between this and the Garden of Gethsemane. 

I absolutely loved going to Mount Tabor.  What an amazing experience.

Then we went to Nain which is where Jesus healed the widows son.  It was great.  We talked about loss and the pain of it.  Brother Huntsman gave a really spiritual devotional about losing his father.  We talked about the comfort that Jesus can provide for us.  Come to find out after that the prayer call from the minaret outside was taking longer than usual because a Muslim funeral was going on.  It was a really touching place and I absolutely loved the spirit that I could feel there.

Next up: Megiddo also known as Armageddon.  I feel like this place will best be explained by pictures so when I get back to Jerusalem to add all my pictures to the blog this one will be great!

Who do you think will win this battle?  Me, obviously!

What a manger looks like--so I obviously had to get in it :).

It was absolutely stunning!

Then we went to some nature reserve.  There was a "hot spring" there.  It was pouring when we got there but since we had heard it was "quite warm" I was all for it.  I put my swimming suit on, ran through the rain, and got in the water.  The water was not warm, but it was warmer than the rain.  It was such an interesting experience trying to swim with water pouring down.  I couldn't see in the water because it was so dirty, and I had a hard time keeping my eyes open with the rain, but trying to tread with my eyes closed was too hard.  The stairs to get into the pool had turned into a waterfall.  It was pretty crazy and semi miserable yet super fun!  The thunder then started and even though it would be sort of cool to get struck by lightning I didn't think that today was the day.  So I got out and go dressed.

Back to the Kibbutz.  Dinner and then class--on a Sunday night--from 7:15-9:15.  Very joyful!  Then I went and tried to check my email, but my computer was slow, so I borrowed Ben's computer for a bit and then headed to bed.  I was locked out.  So I waited a bit and finally a roommate came.  What a delightful ending to my day!