I'm an AUNT again!!! :) :) :)

My nephews and nieces <3

Whitney and Sabrina :) I don't know which one is which though haha.

I got to talk to my sister for a couple minutes yesterday and apparently they are pretty cute. And I can tell from the pictures :) I can't wait to meet them in December!

Over here in Jerusalem things have been busy busy busy.

Friday:
At sundown was the beginning of Jewish sabbath, and we also celebrate Sabbath on Saturday here so that is what today is. So Friday night we went to the Western Wall, something I"ve wanted to do since we got here. It was AMAZING. There were lots of people. It was also the 2nd and last day of Rosh Hashana, or Jewish New Year, so I think there were more people than normal possibly. But I got to touch the wall and then there were some women who started singing and dancing in a circle that some of us joined. They were so inclusive of us in their circle! Obviously we didn't sing because we didn't know the words but it was so happy. They really celebrate the sabbath here, not just live it. The men and women worship separately at the wall. Actually, the wall is an outdoor Jewish synagogue which is interesting. The men on the other side had big groups dancing and singing as well, it was so cool. Just watching them all felt special and happy. I'm glad I got to see it and be part of it. We weren't allowed to take pictures that night but I'm planning on going back and I'll take some.

Saturday: After church we all went to the Garden Tomb. We hadn't been yet and it was wonderful. I was having a lot of pressure in my head all day from being sick and didn't want to walk there just because I didn't feel so great, but I'm so glad I went. We had a Baptist preacher (who is living here as a tour guide at the moment) as our tour guide at the beginning and I loved the way he talked about everything. He really believes that area is where the Crucifixion and the Resurrection happened. Our church believes it too in general, but not everyone does. Just being there though and seeing the possible site of Golgotha and the tomb where Christ was buried was so special. It's a very special place. We sang some hymns as a group after we went inside the tomb and that is where I felt the Spirit the most. It was kind of perfect. Golgotha. The site where Christ was very likely crucified. The Garden Tomb. Where Christ was very likely buried and where He  was Resurrected also. It is very special at this place. Yesterday (Sunday): I went to Tel Aviv!!! I swam in the Mediterranean Sea and it was FABULOUS! I've never been to a warm-water beach before and I fell in love with it. We were all swimming in the water for hours and having a great time just hanging out in there and on the beach. I also got some gelato, my first official experience and it was quite delicious. I love this sea!! Me and the Mediterranean Sea! Lovely picture hahaha The sand was so fine. There were cabanas! And I loved the water. It was a wonderful day yesterday to just chill out in the sun. Tel Aviv has some really cool looking buildings right on the beach. Tel Aviv also has some very interesting statues... TODAY: We had another field trip and this time we went to Jericho. Land of HOTTTTTTTTTTTT. Jeez we went from elevation about 2700ft to -850ft. Yes Jericho is one of the lowest cities in the world!! And it is also the OLDEST city in the world!!! COOL BEANS! It also has the oldest found man-made structure in the world! Haha we saw lots of cool things today while sweating like nobody's business. The only thing that is ok about sweating so much here, is that you know everybody else is too. =D So while Jericho was super super hot, we saw lots of cool places from the Bible. Pretty flowers This place had tons of mosaics. And there was a Byzantine church to commemorate the story of the Good Samaritan in the Bible. This is at Tel-Jericho!!! Behind me is the oldest man-made structure that has been found in the world to date!!! This is from Neolithic time period I think...seriously, thats like 8000BC Behind us is remnants of the wall. THE wall. The wall that surrounded Jericho that Joshua and his army marched around everyday for a week and then it fell down. SOOOO COOL. This is the ugliest camel EVER. But it was hilarious! It was growling at us hahaha Me and Smiley Kylie in front of the Oldest City of the World! Judean Wilderness. Behind us is the road that the Savior and other people would take to go from Jerusalem to Jericho. You literally go DOWN to Jericho. And also in this wilderness is the road where the parable of the Good Samaritan happened. It was really cool to sit there and think about the story. Overload of pictures. I'm at Hebrew University right now and the internet connection is sooo fast. I also just went on Facebook, even though I said I wasn't going to while I was here. I don't think anyone has gotten engaged since I've been gone for 2 weeks hahaha. Life is good here! I've got homework to do now! I love my new nieces!