Around the Center

My Office

My office hallway

One of our students was engaged when she came and we had a bridal shower for her in the student lounge:

Here is the bride - she isn't normally this blurry! ;) 

Cumquat tree on the 8th level



Winter Semester home teachers - Dylan Bates and Alec Park - We're all wearing our memory shirts

   Cool bird in our patio garden - preroses as you can see

 On the steps going from the 7th level to the 6th. Mosaics are on loan from the Israeli Archeology Department

These are some of the awesome people that we get to live/work with here!!! 

This is the Harper family at our Arab Culture Night

Summer has come

Winter is over - the rain has stopped. Most of the wild flowers are gone. The grasses are dry and brown. But, the JC is a beautiful Oasis of color!

 This is our own rose garden on our patio

Can you believe I live in such a wonderful place? Me neither!

More front door

Here are some more apartment door decorations. Some for Easter:

[sorry this one is so blurry!]
When we went to the Lighting of the Flame, these banners were hanging all around Christian Quarter in the Old City and our friend Shaban managed to get some for us to have. Also, notice the lights we bought AND the door sign. It all says "The Jacksons live here!" :)

New one for Summer:

Palm Sunday

Easter is a great time of year to be in Jerusalem. All of us were lucky enough to participate in the Palm Sunday walk. We left the Center and walked to Bethpage. This is where Jesus got on the horse/donkey? to ride into Jerusalem.
Those who wanted to, purchased palm fronds to carry and we took a quick look in the small church commemorating this event.

The service, itself, was held behind the church. Lots of people. It was the first day since we've been here that we haven't had to wear a sweater or more. I was a little worried about Kent, because he was just getting over a terrible cold/lung infection. This is a LOOOOONG walk. But, he didn't want to miss it. We waited amongst Christians of all colors and tongues!

These are some priests gathering at the podium to help with the service.

The boys in blue in the far background are scouts that helped lead the procession.

More priests to lead the service

 

 Me with some of our students. Shealeigh, who is standing right next to me, is Barb Lettich's niece! :)

Flags, banners, palm fronds, olive branches and lots of happy people:

 

Here we are, leaving the church to begin the walk

More of our students

 

 Me with our very own Sarah Brown! :)

 

This banner was being carried right behind us as we began:

We moved forward through the crowd, joining different groups of Christians singing and even dancing as they walked. Most of the groups that we were with were Palestinian Christians singing in Arabic! Here the crowd is working its way down the Mt. of Olives into the Kidron Valley - just as Christ would have done.

 

 There were many spectators along the route, taking pictures or just watching this crowd of people go by their homes.

This is at the bottom of the valley, next to the Church of All Nations - Garden of Gethsemane.

We had both walked more than enough at this point so we walked home. UP hill!! Kent was so weak by then that I was pulling HIM up the hill!!

Even though we were hot, tired, and thirsty - we LOVED it! Part of the wonderful experience was sharing this holy experience with all our fellow Christians. Wow - what an experience.

Maundy Thursday

I'm going backwards through this past week. Yesterday I posted about Easter morning. Today is about Maunday Thursday. That is the night of the Upper Room and Gethsemane. Here on Thursday, many of the "old" people went to a late night service at the Church of All Nations - one of the sites of the Garden of Gethsemane. Because it didn't begin until 9:00 pm we had to hire a taxi to take us to the church. We left the Center about 8:00 and then waited in line. The only sad thing I saw this night was the fight that nearly broke out at the side entrance. People wanted to get in and the priest kept telling them to go to the other door. The priest was finally able to push the door shut against the angry arms and faces and lock it tight. Happily, people calmed down and went to the other door. Peace returned.
It was very crowded, as you can see. It is so light inside due to the filming crew lights throughout the church.

 After we were seated - we were each given a program so we could follow along. The cover shows the inside of the church.

Before the service began the priest helped us practice the different short songs we would be singing throughout the evening. We began the service with this song:

The one of the priests would read or say something and we would answer with "Amen" or a short cantus. The readings were from Psalms or one of the gospels - all relating to the Last Supper and Christ's suffering in Gethsemane. Different priests would read different parts, in their own language. There was English [though not a lot], German, Arabic, Latin, Italian, French, and even one in Hebrew. It was very cool! Here is an example:

At the end of the service we all filed out. Many singing:

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Those who had candles, lit them and then we all walked up next to the walls of the Old City. You can see them off in the distance.

When we reached the wall we continued, outside of the city, to St. Peter in Gallicantu. This is the site where many believe Christ stood trial.

This is inside the upper chapel at St. Peter in Gallicantu.

 

Kent loves this painting - look at what God is doing as He looks down on this "trial" of His son!

Before returning to the Center, we sat for a few minutes out in the back of the church. There are ancient stairs there - stairs Christ may have walked up. They had candles going down the stairs. You can see a picture on my facebook wall of us with the Huntsmans.

Such a sweet experience.

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Kent and I went to a sunrise service this morning. It was awesome! On the Mount of Olives, right behind us is the Augusta Victoria hospital/hostel/church. The compound is huge and goes far back behind the buildings that you see from the street. One of the Lutheran churches from the Old City, held a service out on the edge of the area. They even had a small orchestra:

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 This is the priest and his wife preparing for the service. She has an official title but I don't know what it is!

 They handed out programs so that we could read and sing along. We sang some BEAUTIFUL songs and recited scripture and responded to the priest with Amens and "Christ is Risen, indeed. Alelujah!"
Here is the priest giving his short and very thoughtful sermon.

Following the sermon and some more singing, they had their sacrament. The sun rises in the background.

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The orchestra plaid lovely music throughout and sang along.

 We weren't the only ones from the Center to attend. This is our Doctor and his wife - Val and Arlene Chapman

Us

Eric Huntsman and his daughter Rachel

Marvelous way to start the day!! Happy Easter everyone.