First Sabbath.

(I actually wrote this post last night, but then I fell asleep before I got around to posting it :) It is now 9:30 Sunday morning--our first 'free day'.)

“Our great grandfathers called it the Holy Sabbath.
Our grandfathers called it the Sabbath.
Our fathers called it Sunday
And now...we just call it the weekend.”

---Quote by David L. Herring (via John Bytheway.)

Today was my first Sabbath here in the Holy Land.

I really love calling it Sabbath.
I’m not totally sure why,
 I just feel like it has more reverence or something.

We had testimony meeting

in the auditorium that has huge windows overlooking the city 

directly behind the pulpit.

Talk about surreal.

Then we had gospel doctrine.
I thought about how intimidating it would be to teach gospel doctrine
to a class that has multiple religion professors that are scriptorians and pretty much geniuses.
(The guy teaching did a great job though, he clearly knew his stuff.)

After church I went with a group of people exploring!
First we walked to the Orson Hyde Memorial garden (it is BEAUTIFUL.)

Then we went to the Garden of Gethsemane (incredible.)

Me and my roommate Danielle at the Garden of Gethsemane.

And then to the Western Wall (We couldn’t take pictures since it was the sabbath. I thought that was really interesting.)
And then through the Old City back to the center!

Walking through the Old City!
(Amanda, left. Alyssa (roommate!), Right.) 

It was a great adventure!
I think I would have preferred staying in one place and just having some time
To think/write in my journal,
But the group I was with wanted to see it all!
It’s okay though,
I’m sure I’ll have plenty of time to relax in my favorite spots :)

Although I may be the only person that feels this way
I love that we are required to stay in Sabbath dress until after dinner.
I have always loved staying in church dress on Sunday as a constant reminder

that today is different than every other day of the week

and we should respect it by what we do and what we wear.

. . . It's just even better here because everyone else is required to stay dressed up as well!

Our first Sabbath adventure group!

ROOMATES!! I love them!!
(We didn't even plan on color coordinating...
That's just how in sync we are ;)) 

Well, I’m exhausted!
And I’m sure I’ll have a busy day tomorrow
(even though it’s actually our first day off!)

Little bit of Trivia:
-Last night I ate dinner with Richard Elliot.

5 points if you know who he is without googling it.

30 points if you know why he is currently here at the JC. 

:)