Friday, June 26, 2009


When I saw this plaque outside of the church building in Amman I almost cried. Can you believe that there is a church being established in Jordan?!?! I got to listen to the branch president, Robert Hofman, and he talked about how missionary work goes on in the country and how us as BYU students were fulfilling prophecy by being there. When I heard him say that I felt an overwhelming confirmation that I am here for a reason and that I have a purpose to what I am doing right now. The church is true=)
As I walked through the slot canyon, I marveled at the intricate designs in the rock, at the formations that had been made by the water so long ago, and at the carved out statues, from ancient people, representing egyptian gods. I rounded the corner, seeing where the canyon would soon end and saw a small glimpse of it... the thing I had been waiting to see since I had arrived in Jordan. I finally came around the corner and there it was! The second greatest wonder of the world... The treasury of Petra!!! I couldnt help it so I start to sing the Indiana Jones Theme! This place was so valued by the world and I was there... of course I also couldnt help it to not make a movie with my friends here... we now have a good chasing scene for my end of the semester video that im excited to make. Petra was gorgeous, pictures do it no justice because it was so magnificent and grand. One of the best parts was at the end of the day, just like the movie, I got to ride a horse out of the canyon. And not only did I ride a horse I ran that beautiful arabian stallion! I asked the man who was going to lead my horse out if I could ride it alone promising him I knew how to ride and so he jumped on another horse and we galloped out of there at top speed. Riding with the desert wind in my face, passing up all my friends and letting the horse run free was the best feeling ever!! Oh my goodness, I love my life so much!!!!

Thursday, June 11, 2009


Today we celebrated a beautiful and very filling Passover dinner. The program and joyous singing made the night feel like we were a kibbutz celebrating the holiday all together. My Judaism teacher and his children joined which made it all the more fun. I ate so much but I couldnt help it cause it was so good!!!!

Yesterday I went to the Holocaust museum Yad Vashem. Yad meaning name and shem meaning hand... this coming from the scripture in Isaiah 56:5 where it talks of the Lord giving an everlasting name to all who keep his commandments. By naming the museum Yad Vashem they are saying that it will be eternal... an eternal memorial to the Holocaust. The tour was 3 hours long but I could have been there so much longer. It was a very amazing to go through and I feel that I have a completely different view on what really happened.

Monday, June 1, 2009


The dome of the Rock is one of the prettiest buildings I have ever seen. It is so grand and such a treasure to Jerusalem.

Last night we had an Egyptian dance party... it was probably one of the most fun and relaxed, crazy nights I have had since I have been here. We finally had the chance to do whatever we wanted!! It was so much fun dressing up especially after just getting back from Egypt and having seen how they dress. We truly learned how to walk like an egyptian...

Monday, May 25, 2009

Mount Sinai was the highlight of my trip. I have never seen a sunrise like the one I saw Sunday morning. The testimony meeting that we had after the sun was up was so full of the spirit and one of my best moments of my life. I know that Moses was there and that God appeared to him. I cant think of a grander place in the whole world for Heavenly Father to have given his 10 commandments. It was Amazing... =)