what i dont like is the rain

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I am going to be so happy when i can put another location other than Jerusalem. I love the city and there is still so much to see, but i am ready to see the rest of the country as well. But for now, i am still blogging about Jerusalem because this is where we went on wednesday as class. This time however, it was for a New Testament walk through the city. We left on tuesday night and stayed in the city again. But in a different hotel this time...not the gloria. sad. It was called the Knight Palace or something like that. I really enjoy the over night trips because we are able to get away from the Moshav and stay somewhere else. What i dont like is the rain. it poured on and off all day tuesday and then was freezing cold on wednesday. I could barely take notes, my hands were frozen. they hurt. we left the Moshav at around 6:30pm so that we could go to the Israel musuem to view a model of the old city in Jesus' time. It is a really impressive model. would have been more impressive in the day time and in dry weather. but still. really impressive. It was good to see a visual of what todd was talking and lecturing about. I dont have any pictures of it because it was raining so bad and night. I will have to go back on my own to get some pictures another time. After the model we went back to the hotel. I was able to take a bath and watch ELF on tv. Everything here is late, so all the christmas programs are on TV now. But it was in english and i love that movie, so i cant complain. in the morning we watched the View, which was also from december. then we left for the day.

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Photos

Dome of the Rock/Temple Mount
Our first stop was the Dome of the Rock/Temple Mount. The Dome of the Rock stands now where the temple would have stood in the days of Herod the Great and Jesus. The large courtyard area, which we are allowed in, is where the Temple Mount would have stood. Non-Muslims are not allowed in the Dome of the Rock. Most likely the Holy of Holies stood inside the Dome of the Rock.

Dome of the Rock
here is another view from the place where the Golden Gate stands. The Golden Gate is where Jesus will enter through for the second coming. Because of this the Muslims have sealed it up.

The Girls
This is most of the girls from the group. The courtyard which surrounds the Dome of the Rock would have been a courtyard during the time of Jesus as well. The Gentile Courtyard was the outermost courtyard in which anyone was allowed to be in.

Muslim men and Peter
These guys were so nice and funny. They were telling us all about the Dome of the Rock, and then Peter took a picture with them

The Steps to the Temple Mount
These are the steps which lead up to the Temple Mount on the southern side. These steps would have been ascended by Jewish people perparing to offer sacrifices to God. In preparation for these sacrifices the people would ascend up the steps and sing Psalms of Ascent, which can be found in Psalm 120-134. There are 15 psalms and 15 large steps up to the Temple Mount. Our group read each of the Psalms and ascended up to the Temple Mount one step at a time after reading each Psalm.

Another View
here is another view. you can see the walls of the Temple Mount in the front of the picture.

Comments

[morningglory]

elf/jerusalem dream
Wow, Kelly.. I googled 'elf and dome of the rock" just now and your blog came up. I had a dream on 2-9-07 that I was with my daughter and husband in a shop in the newer part of Jerusalem, and I noticed a hanging ornament of the dome of the rock, in the dream I turn it around to see the price, but it was an elf on the back side. The cost ended up being 4.00 dollars. Turning it back around it became the dome of the rock again. Personally I think that God is saying that there is a turning in Islam, the deception is being uncovered and the truth will be seen. What do you think? I am praying about our families trip to Jerusalem for real this year. Seek the Lord, He's the Best! MorningGlory- Minnesota mom