Celebrating

Happy Birthday to me! I'm now officially 22 and I got to celebrate by being in the Holy Land. How amazing is that? It was such a fun day. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to me at breakfast in the cafeteria (and many times throughout the day.) I feel like everybody knows my name now, I just have to work on remembering thiers! Unfortunately we couldn't go into the city because it was the 1st Friday of Ramadan. That's a big deal because not only is it the Holy Month for Muslims it's also their Sabboth day, so there was tons of extra people in the city and they didn't want us out there for it. Although it would have been really cool to see and take pics. We had class in the morning and hung out in the center all afternoon. The Relief Society Presidency gave me a beaded bracelet from Bethlahem. It is so pretty! I also got to call home for the first time. A call home, and a bracelet - two really good presents on top of being here. What a good birthday!

Today was our first day of church in Jerusalem. They celebrate Shabbat, the Sabbath, on Saturday along with the Jews here. It was so amazing. We hold Sacrament meeting in the big Autitorium at the top floor of the building that has huge windows that overlook the city, and even more impressive, the Garden of Gethsemane. It makes the Sacrament so much more meaningful when you can see the place where the Atonement took place while your taking the bread and water. It was even better because it is Fast Shabbot today so every one was bearing their testimony of the Savior and the Atonement. The Spirit was so strong during the meeting. It made me feel so grateful that I'm a member of the church. As much as I felt the Spirit today, it was the same Spirit that I have felt all my life. Another testiment to me that this church is true. And it's true no matter where you are in the world. Jesus Christ is my Savior and he suffered for me. I know that's true, whether I can see the place where it happened or not. But I LOVE being able to see it.