Biggest shock of our lives

It was late at night and Kathleen and I were having a great time chatting away on our twin beds.

Procrastinating everything we thought the only thing that could make this night better is if we ordered pizza. So we call security to ask them for help and they tell us the phone number, we call the phone number, its completely not in English. So we run upstairs to the security office. The security guards are so so nice and really funny and great. They are always completely going above and beyond the call of duty and they don’t just make us safe they do everything for us and are always teasing us. One of them, Murad has a twin who works in an antique shop in the old city. Whenever we see him in the antique shop hes always saying, "I'm not Murad, Im Mustafa" but it only occurred to us this week that he doesn't really have a twin, and he just works two jobs and poses as his twin, and hes really just teasing.

Our favorite security guard Hadar loves snorkeling and is always excited about life. He used to work for the U.N but it was kind of dangerous and he couldn't be with his family, so now he works here.

So we run to security and we say "hey can you order us a pizza?" They just talk on the phone to the pizza place in Hebrew and we simply inject that we want a veggie pizza, since Kathleen and I are both loose vegans. So they said okay it usually takes 20 or 30 minutes. So we hang out for a little while impatiently, then we dash up to pick up our pizza. We talk to security guards a little more. Its 11 30 by the time its arriving. Hadar's the one that opens the gate for us and protects us while we get our pizza. And the pizza arrives on a motor cycle which was really cool.

Building up the suspense. Okay so we get the pizza, it smells awesome by the way. Were offering it to all the security guards "hey do you want a slice?" "Hey want a slice?" Turns out everyones full. So we run downstairs the stairs, say a blessing and fling open the cover..... A corn pizza! A mouthful of corn in every bite, not to mention heavy on the green olives, barely any sauce, strictly corn! Kathleen recounting the experience said, "Never been so surprised in my life."

We managed to get rid of all of it. First we ate one slice each, then asked each other, "hey do you want any more?" I suggested we save it for tomorrow but Kathleen insisted it would not do well in our room which we have been keeping at a comfortable 82 degrees on account of its winter time now. So we decided to just go eat some more. After 3 slices each we discovered its pretty good if you take the corn off. It also had green olives, some mushroom and bell pepper, but mostly corn. Kathleen looking at the box said that every vegetable was pictured but corn-the main ingredient. The crust was great though. And we got 3 other people to eat a slice for us and we were done. Did I mention it was 20$?

Kathleen and I were imagining gourmet pizza with black olives rich with mozzarella cheese. Always ask what toppings your getting, never assume! But in the end it was a great and hilarious experience!

Painting at Yonahs

I met this darling man Yonah one day in the old city. He has this awesome art shop with all these pictures of the old city. He was painting when I first met him so I started asking him about it. Then he asked me if I painted and when I told him yes he invited me to paint in his store. He said that when there are artists painting in the store it brings in more customers. So the next day I came and he was completely darling, he set up a canvas and set out all the paints and brushes all ready to go.

So Ive been going there to paint and he is the nicest man. He just lets me paint for as long as I want and the most interesting workers are there. The first day I met his brother who looks dead on of santa clause. All day he kept slipping us almonds and kept mentioning that I would be perfect for his 33 year old son.

I couldn decide what to paint, but the people here have been what has affected me the most. They always make me happy wherever I go and are always being darling walking hand in hand in the street.

My friends that come with me are all so darling doing their own art or helping model.

My friend Josh was helpful modeling his great smile.

I got the kids finished, but cant decide what to do for the background. I dont want to create a division between them by painting in the Dome of the Rock or Western Wall so its at a stand still for now. One more time and I hopefully will finish!

Dome of the Rock

I have been blessed beyond measure. I know with faith in the Lord, all things are possible and the Lord uses small and simple things to bring about his purposes.

My friend Abdallah, the tallest teenage boy across the street and his family are the most wonderful people. In the Mormon church, we would consider them "ward missionaries". They have taught me so much about Islam.

Abdallah invited me to the Al-Aqsa mosque and I said yes but after asking my professors before and the Palestinaian workers I felt a little discouraged. One of the workers in the kitchen Zachie said, "Dont talk and cover everything but your eyes and you might get in". They used to let tourists in but ever since the year 2000, when the second Intifada, the Palestinian uprising happened, they usually only allow Muslim inside.

So that afternoon I was filled with excitment, but tried not to get my hopes up as I came to meet Abdallah, who had full confidence I could go. His darling little sister Zenab began wrapping my head to cover my hair. Even though it was just a piece of fabric, I felt suddenly like I slipped further into their world as I walked down the street looking like a Muslim woman. Even though this look excentuates the roundness of my face I found myself feeling beautiful. I truly feel that the women are glorified and respected here rather than oppressed for their modesty.

When Abdallahs mother, Khadega found out he was taking me, she was incredibly kind and dropped everything to be my escourt. I was relived and so greatful as women pray seperately then men and I wouldn have a clue what to do after I was seperated from the boys. Abdallah's father, Sameer, a kind faced, bearded man who resembles Raffi drove us in his little Van.

The Temple Mount where the Dome of the Rock sits, is perhaps the most highly contested area in Jerusalem, because it is so holy to both Islam and Judaism. Its here that the Jews belive that God gathered dust to create the first man, and where the temple was built in Christs time. its so holy the Jews sont set foot on the Mount.

Since this sight is so sacred to both, it has been a hot spot for violence tourists usually have to pass through 3 security checks to get in. This time we entered a small private gate for Muslims. I felt a little anxious but excited walking arm in arm with Khadega past the guards, they didnt look twice. But as I glanced back at my two friends, Aaron and Brian, they were stopped at the gate, Abdallahs father who knows everyone, was making phone calls trying to see what he could do.

I felt a little nervous being on my own, but I just said a little prayer in my heart and preceeded walking to the Dome with Khadeja. I have been there several times as a tourist with my class, but this time I felt it so different.

Khadega was so beautiful, she told me how good it feels to be a muslim. Closing her eyes and with her hand over her heart she breathed deeply the the crisp air and said, "Beautiful" as if to describe the moment, I felt it too.

When we got up to the Dome of the Rock my heart was pounding. I began to feel nervous and hot under my headscarf. I took off my shoes just like all the women and went inside. When we got inside we immediately joined in the prayers. I tried to follow along quickly with all the motions. I tried to be reverent during the prayer but I was so curious I accidentaly kept peeking.

The women were so beautiful, many of them had their children with them and had just come from shopping. But they are so devoted to prayer. The call to prayer goes off everyday 5 times a day, starting at 4 AM on the big loud speakers all across Jerusalem, reminding everyone to say their prayers.

After prayers we walked around the Dome and there was all this ornate gold writing on the ceiling, very beautifuly decorated, but the most beautiful were all the women who were sitting on the ground studying or praying, no matter their age, showing their respect and love for God.

I know that Heavenly Father is the father to all of us, and that we all pray the same loving Father. Im so greatful for my friend Abdallah and his faith! We truly do need to have childike faith and we can do all things.

There are so much good here, but there are also many problems. People will say that things are impossible, and so they prove to be for that very reason. But I think if we all belive in miracles then perhaps they will have a better chance!