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!!!!

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.

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...

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... =)

Hahaha... This picture was fun to take... Im on the donkey 5th from the left! We had to travel so far from Jerusalem to Egypt... we almost died!! ;)

Egypt was was amazing!! Even when I was inside of King Cheops tomb I didnt believe I was actually there. Every where you look in either the city of Cairo or Luxor there is ancient history flowing from every corner. The beautiful paintings and carvings on all the temples and many ruins that I saw and felt with my own hands were too unbelievable to describe. I now have a great love for Egypt, one that I never thought I could have.

Sitting at the pools of Bathezda. The ruins were amazing and because it was just a normal day in the city there were no tourists which gave them all to ourselves. The beautiful architecture and stone structure was enough to look at for hours and hours. Sitting in the place where Jesus healed the sick long ago was so peaceful and I wish I could have been there to see those miracles.

My day trip to Jericho with all of my 79 new best friends=) It was beautiful and we got the chance to look out at the entire land up on this hill. There were miles and miles of sandy mountains for as far as I could see! It was amazing...

My mom just sent me these pictures from Jonathan's wedding and I thought I would put up a picture of me and my new sister. I love Heather and am so eternally grateful we are now family. Thank you Heather for always being there for me no matter what. You are an amazing person and I know that you will make my brother happiest. He is my best friend and so are you so I couldnt ask for anything more. I love you both and miss you. =)

Today I went to the Garden Tomb. The weather outside today is beautiful and the garden was quite peaceful despite the tours that were going on. This picture was taken inside the tomb and the sign was on the door. What a message that the angle gave to Mary, "He is not here for he is risen." I believe that the angel that gave that message must have felt so priveledged. I love my Savior and know he still lives today.

A couple days ago Rachel, one of my new good friends, and I went down to the Red Crescent hospital and we volunteered in the ICU. We got to feed and take care of a bunch of pre mature babies. The one I am holding there was only 2.2 pounds! He was so adorable and so small it was crazy... I felt bad for them and hope they make it. While we were there one of the nurses walked in with a brand new baby that was only a couple minutes old! She cleaned him off in the sink and wrapped him in a baby blanket while he was crying! It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. It was an wonderful experience. Rachel and I plan on going at least once a week. Unfortunately we cant go this week though cause we are going to Egypt very soon and have no time but I am planning on being a regular when I get back=)

Today is Tuesday and I just finished my Modern Near Eastern Studies class. In that class we will mostly be talking about Judaism and stuff. The teacher is Mr. Yarden and he is Jewish himself which is pretty cool but his explaining of things was hard to understand today. I will get used to it I guess. So yesterday we went all around Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethlehem and a bunch of places. We went up on top of the place where the last crusade with Richard Lionheart was defeated by a great Muslim from Jerusalem. I cant remember his name right now! Anyways, we saw the whole Benjamin Plateau where about 70 percent of all the things that happen in the Old and New Testament took place. It's so cool knowing the whole geography of everything now. I love this place but I am getting so worn out! I really am so so tired. Its okay though, i will just have to get over it.

Hey everyone!! I am going to be giving a sort of summary of what I do everyday on here and sometimes post some pictures but thats about it because Im also going to writing in my journal everyday and I have tons of classes so I dont want to over load myself with things! Anyways, today is Sunday and I actually bought things! It was very weird but dont worry, the sabbath is on saturdays here! cool huh? My friends and I went down to the old city and spent all day there. I bought a widows mite, a nativity set and some scripture carriers! It was so fun. They have so many shops down in the city its crazy, and kind of ironic. I think of how Jesus got mad about everyone selling in the temple and because I think of the city as such a sacred place I feel people are invading temple grounds. Anyways, the people are so friendly and nice. I have made tons of Muslim friends especially this kid mahedeie. He is 13 and has become one of my good buddies. Today I also walked all around the city on the wall. It was so fun but now Im so tired! I am really loving it here and especially loved going to the Garden of Gethsemane yesterday. It was beautiful but I feel as though the place He actually prayed was not in the spot the Catholics claim it to be. I feel like it was on the other side of the mount of olives. I dunno, it just seems more peacful there. Well I have to go! I will keep this posted!