LAST DAY IN THE HOLY LAND!!

Well my journey through Jerusalem is halting to an end and it is quite a bittersweet thing for me to express. I leave in approximately 9 hours which is weird but exciting! As this is my last post while in the Holy Land, I wanted to leave my testimony as my final words. Last night we had a wonderful class program with the theme of "The Changed Life". The entire time I was sitting there, I tried to think about all the things I have learned since being here but it was a difficult feat to accomplish. I didn't succeed. There have been too many life-changing lessons that I have gained here that I can't even begin to number but I am so grateful for them all. One that has stuck out in my mind all day is the hand of God in my life and that no matter how much we try to plan our lives out perfectly the way we want, it always changes unexpectedly, usually for the better. I can't thank my Savior enough for all that he has done for me. I love the two lines in the third verse of "How Great Thou Art" where it reads: that on the cross, my burden glady bearing; He bled and died, to take away my sin. I have thought about the phrase "my burden gladly bearing" a lot this semester as I have sat in the Garden of Gethsemane and have visited the Garden Tomb many times. Although I have always believed these simple doctrines to be true and have never doubted any aspect of the gospel growing up, I have come to better understand the magnitude of the mission my Savior was foreordained to fulfill so that we may become perfect as our Father in Heaven and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I have more appreciation for the pain and suffering my Elder Brother had to bear for my many, many weaknesses and wrongdoings against my Father's children. The Savior of the World descended below all things so that he may know how to succor his children in their own Gethsemane. It was required of him to experience the withdrawal of the Father's spirit and suffer even the depths of hell. I am so eternally grateful for this knowledge and have come to crave a closer relationship with my Lord since I have literally walked in his footsteps and come to know his character and attributes better. I can't believe my time is finished here in the Holy Land but I have had the experience of a lifetime. My only hope is that I don't wake up one day missing Jerusalem because I haven't applied the incredible things I have learned here. At this very moment, I have absolutely no regrets and hope and pray it will stay that way. My final plea for you is to pray for the peace of Jerusalem so that the gospel may be brought to these amazing Muslims and Jews.

SCHOOL'S OUT!!

Well it has been a crazy busy week with a couple super fun field trips, studying, taking tests, more studying and a little bit of play time too! I am officially done with classes and studying until the Fall!! I'm sorry to everyone in Provo who haven't even begun taking finals yet and for all those in Idaho that have to start school on Monday. It's hard for me to be sympathetic when I'm completely and totally finished! It has been an incredible semester and the experience of a lifetime here in Jerusalem. I have learned more about my Savior Jesus Christ than I can possibly imagine. How grateful I am for all that I have learned and the unforgettable friendships I have made.

DOME OF THE ROCK!!

Well I was finally able to make it to the Dome of the Rock for the first time this semester (which is totally pathetic I know) but the timing never seemed to work out with our busy schedule and once it did, I was kicked out because I brought my scriptures since we were planning on going to the Garden Tomb afterward. The rude checkpoint guards were extremely unhelpful and would not let me leave them in their possession so I was super mad after that but have since repented and had a wonderful rest of my day. Even amongst all of that nonsense, I'm happy I did actually make it because it was one of the most gorgeous buildings I've ever seen in my life!! Pictures don't nearly do it justice. In the year 2000, non-Muslims were forbidden to enter the temple mount for the first time since 1967 because of some conflict arising. In 2006, it was reopened to non-Muslims which is the same year the Jerusalem Center was reopened which I am truly grateful for since I would have missed out on this unbelievable experience! The Dome of the Rock is such a fascinating building as it serves importance to four separate yet distinct religions in the world. For Muslims, The Dome is one of the holiest sites in Islam and is seen as its heart. This is the spot where, according to tradition, Muhammad ascended into heaven. For Jews, the location of the rock is believed to be the holiest spot on Earth since it was the site of the Holy of Holies during the time of the First and Second Temple Period. For Christians, Constantine's mother is believed to have built a small church nearby the spot where the Dome was later constructed. For Mormons, this site is an important place for the time of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. How amazing it is that one such awe-inspiring structure can be so significant for several purposes. If anyone ever gets the chance to visit Jerusalem, the Dome of the Rock is a must see!

So another week has flown by and it is exactly two weeks from tonight that I will be back in America! It’s crazy to think that my time here is coming to a close but don’t you worry, I am still exploring new and interesting places every day that I would never have known existed. Monday was another field trip day for us where we were able to visit five different Christian churches in the Old City. It was interesting to learn about the beliefs of various denominations and see the way they worship and live their lives. The Terra Sancta Church was beautiful as we got to meet with Father Angelo, a Franciscan Monk, who was kind enough to let us walk around his living quarters. This church used to be a hostel where Orson Hyde once lived when he came to dedicate the Holy Land for the gathering of the Jews. We were able to see a door in their tailor shop that had his name inscribed underneath the handle. It was way cool! The last place we visited was the St Mark’s Church which is claimed to be the site of John Mark’s home, one of the original twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Justina, the cutest lady with the squeakiest voice I’ve EVER heard, spoke about some crazy miracles that have occurred in her eight year stay in Jerusalem (she is originally from Iraq). She is an Armenian Christian and had such a lovable spirit about her that I couldn’t help but smile the entire time she was telling her stories. I got a picture with her so I can never forget that sweet face and the excitement she shared for her own faith. Underneath the church was the Upper Room (which is weird I know but whatever is older is hidden underground). This site is traditionally thought to be the place of the Last Supper and the First Church in Christiandom. There was such a powerful spirit in that room as we sang the sacred sacrament hymns. It was just like my first experience at the Garden Tomb long ago where I received a distinct witness that on the cross my Savior gladly bore my burdens, bled from every pore, and died to take away my sins. What a glorious blessing it is that my Savior and Redeemer rose again the third day from his borrowed tomb so that I can be resurrected like him one day if I remain worthy of the countless blessings God has in store for me. Since it was a special day for Mormons especially with it being the date of the organization of the Restored Church as well as Christ’s birthday and the day of his death, many of us visited the Garden Tomb and had the opportunity to spend time contemplating about the importance of that special day and sing hymns nonstop for about 45 minutes. If you can’t already tell, we LOVE to sing at whatever chance we get. Anyways, it was a wonderful way to end another awesome day in the Holy Land.

Rampart Wall Walk and PALM SUNDAY!

Today was way fun as I walked the entire wall of the Old City in the morning and got to see a completely different perspective of the amazing land that I am currently living in for a couple more weeks. We had a fun time taking tons of pictures while sweating the entire time in the blazing hot sun. It’s crazy to think that I could be freezing right now in Provo and that I am missing a superb snowboarding season for one winter but I honestly don’t mind. I wouldn’t trade this amazing experience in Jerusalem for anything! After that we tried the BEST hummus in the Holy Land as it was recommended by my Arabic teacher. We then met up with some other JC girls and ended our eventful morning doing some necessary shopping. It was a fun girl’s outing. As soon as I got back to the Center to eat my yummy sack lunch (serious exaggeration), it was time to leave for the HUMUNGOUS Palm Sunday celebration. Before today, I didn’t really know the significance of this important event; after today, I will never forget this incredible day as I observed hundreds of Christians holding green fronds around Jerusalem honoring Jesus Christ's Triumphal Entry. It was so cool to see these faithful saints worshiping in their own way. Although our beliefs vary some from each other, we were all united in strength and numbers for the same purpose. There were tons of different religious groups who were touring from all over the world and it was fun to see their enthusiasm as they rejoiced in singing praises to their Lord and King. I don’t know what I was doing at the time of Christ’s glorious entrance that first Palm Sunday but I know that I am here now for a specific purpose and I witnessed an amazing scene today. I pray that this coming Easter will be different from all the rest for the mere fact that I am residing in the very land where my Savior and Redeemer rose on the third day and was resurrected just like every “body” on this earth will in a future day. I challenge you all to take this Easter Sunday to ponder upon the miraculous life and necessary existence of Christ. What a wonderful blessing it is that he died for all of his children so that we might live. Let’s focus on the real reason for this special day and I believe we will all be greatly blessed.

SNOKELING IN EILAT!!

Yesterday we woke up bright and early at 5am to leave for Eilat which lies on the very southern tip of Israel. Although it was an optional activity, everyone except two people (they-who-must-not-be-named) came so it made for a way fun day at the beach. After a four-hour drive, we arrived at Coral Beach at around 10:30am to receive vital instruction about not harming the coral reef (“the heart of the ecosystem”) and about not stealing various objects from the natural environment. It was pretty windy when we got there so I had to get warm before I was tempted to even get close to the water. After some time of waiting for the sun to shine, I was all ready to get in the water with my snorkel gear and see life under the Red Sea. Although the clear blue water was pretty dang cold when I first jumped in, I became so fascinated with the various kinds of fish swimming around me and the amazing colorful reef that was floating under me that I was entertained for about an hour and a half. It was so COOL! I then laid out in the sun to get a nice midsummer tan and then did some serious people watching until we had to leave at 3pm. I had a glorious day exploring the water like Nemo and Dori and felt like I was amongst the creatures of the Sea. I'm just grateful it was such a warm day with some fun times laughing and talking with girls that I haven't associated with too much since they are always on a different bus and religion class than me. I can't believe my time is coming to an end soon! With the time I have left, I am doing ALL the activities possible so I can experience the unique and amazing spirit that resides in this Holy Land.

DAY 10 & 11 WESTERN GALILEE AND MEDITERRANEAN FIELD TRIP

This is my last post from Galilee so if you are just beginning to read about my absolutely AMAZING experience, start at Day 1 (just like always). So Wednesday was originally planned to be an all-day field trip in Western Galilee but all of us students were completely exhausted from our rigorous schedule for the past 9 days that our extremely generous teachers decided to make it half-day instead. We visited Akko first which was an important port city in the Canaanite, Old and New Testament, Roman, and Crusader eras. The apostle Paul stayed with Christian friends there en route to Jerusalem just before being arrested. We visited Hospitaller Fortress which was connected to the Romans in some way but I honestly don’t remember what was cool about it. We also went inside the most beautiful mosque with marble pillars that were from Herod’s palace at Caesarea. Lastly, we walked along the Mediterranean port. It was fun to jump on the rocks like a little child. I actually almost fell in which would have made for quite the adventure. The city was so peaceful and it was enjoyable to just explore on our own and not have to listen to constant instructions. Our last and final stop of the day (HOORAH!) was Beth Shearim which had a small memorial dedicated to tombs of various rabbis. Although there wasn’t much to see, we made the most of our short stop and had fun taking pictures inside the tombs (I’m pretty sure I laid in an occupied tomb once upon a time). After that, it was back to En Gev where I basked in the sun until our concluding class program. I was hoping to end on a spiritual note and take advantage of the incredible opportunity to be 10 feet away from the Sea of Galilee but things went a LOT different than I expected with Scripture Charades (I swear us Mormons are quite peculiar sometimes), people telling high school dating stories, and April Fool’s jokes being played on everyone. I left feeling frustrated so I decided it would be best to end my Galilee experience with a morning walk on the beach watching the sun rise over the horizon and spend some time reflecting on the lessons I gained as I spent 10 days following the route of my Savior’s ministry. When it was finally time to leave for home, it was definitely a bitter sweet moment. Jerusalem will always hold a special place in my heart since it has literally become my home away from home, but Galilee was an experience that will last for a lifetime. On our journey home, we stopped at another Roman city in Galilee called Sepphoris where the Jewish Mishnah or commentary on their “Bible” (I don’t want to complicate things so let’s just kept it at that). There really wasn’t much to see except more rocks and ruins and 5 different mosaics. We visited Mt Carmel next and read a story about Elijah the prophet since he supposedly lived there. Our last stop of the day was Templer’s Cemetery in Haifa. This site housed graves of 19th century LDS missionaries who served in the Holy Land. I had absolutely NO CLUE that missionaries ever served in the Middle East at all. Although their lives were cut short due to fatal diseases, it was cool to see the inscription on their headstones which read, “A missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” What an awe-inspiring testimony-building experience this entire trip was for me and I am so grateful for all the knowledge I gained about my Savior’s life and ministry. I pray that it may bless my life for future generations to come.

DAY 9 UPPER GALILEE FIELD TRIP

Today was a tiring day of getting on and off the bus about a hundred times as we visited four historically significant sites and stopped at every overlook imaginable to get the best view of the same valley just in case it may have changed from the last time we looked at it. Seriously though, it was ridiculous but I had a fun time. Our first site was Hazor which was an important city during the Canaanite Era that was taken over by the Israelites under the direction of mighty Joshua. It was cool to see the other half of our group there since we have been segregated all week. That was pretty much the coolest part of this place. Tel Dan came next and was amazingly green with flowing springs and the cutest little black Hebrew children roaming around with us. It was cool to see a Middle Bronze arched gateway built around the time of Abraham and see the idolatrous altar built by Jeroboam where the Golden Calf was worshipped. I don’t know if the animals were bigger back in the day or what, but the altar was GINORMOUS. Caesarea Philippi was our next visit where Christ pronounces to Peter that “upon this rock I will build my church.” In Greek, Peter means petros (small rock) and rock means petra (bedrock). Christ is the only sure and steady foundation of the Church but he needs our help in accepting and magnifying our callings to keep the church from falling apart. Our Savior could easily run the church by himself but what a privilege it is that he delegates to his children different duties because he trusts us and wants us to learn from our mistakes. Our last “official” stop of the day was Nimrod Fortress which was originally built by the Crusades, later destroyed then finally rebuilt by Muslim rulers. NEXT POST...WESTERN GALILEE!

DAY 7 and DAY 8 LOWER GALILEE and LOTS AND LOTS OF SUN!

Our first stop of our long, but interesting, day in Lower Galilee was Beth Shean which was a political and cultural center for the Romans once upon a time. We looked at old, humungous columns and ancient toilets which were just amazing and then climbed to the top of this hill for a better view of more archaic rocks and ruins. I’m not a huge history buff if you couldn’t already tell from my exhilarating explanation. I am more interested in the spiritual sites that have purpose and meaning to my eternal exaltation. Next we quickly visited Beth Alpha Synagogue to watch a cheesy video and look at a mosaic of Jewish symbols and signs of the zodiac. Gan Ha-Shelosha was our next stop where we got to go swimming in this HUMUNGOUS pool that was absolutely beautiful! The sun was shining, for the most part, so I attempted to get some color on my very pale sun-deprived legs and then we had to leave for Afula to get falafels and ice cream. The box lunches provided by the Kibbutz consist of two loaves of bread, one piece of fruit, and a gross wafer chocolate bar. I’m not into eating massive balls of fat and oil (“falafel”) but I was content with my dark chocolate ice cream bar. Our last two stops of the busy day were Nain, where Jesus Christ raised a widow’s son from the dead, and Mt Tabor which Christians have long since acclaimed to be the site of Christ’s Transfiguration. How amazing it is to sing hymns of praise and speak about these stories and events sitting in the actual places they occurred. These are the sites that really strengthen my testimony and motivate me to study my scriptures with greater purpose. Today was absolutely incredible, like every other day in this gorgeous city, as we had class all morning along the shores of the Sea of Galilee (aka the Sea of Chinneroth, Lake of Gennesaret, or Tiberias). Whichever name you so choose is morally and politically correct. Moving on...the rest of my afternoon from 1pm – 5:45pm was spent reading, writing, talking, and listening to my ipod on the beach in an attempt to finally get some decent sun on my legs. I succeeded to get some color back into them which was incredible and made me so happy! I got lost in my own little world today and imagined myself back in California soaking up the sun at San Clemente beach. It was a very relaxing, mellow, and perfect day to prepare me for my NEXT POST... UPPER GALILEE!

DAY 5 and DAY 6 FAMOUS FISH RESTAURANT and AMAZING CHURCH

New Testament class today was one of the most amazing religion classes I have EVER been in! It is amazing how much a teacher can cram in for a three hour class and how much I learned actually paying attention and trying hard to soak up everything I could. Although I have always felt that the New Testament is easier to read than the Old Testament, I am discovering new stories and insights that I have never noticed before. After a marathon of class time, we were off on a nature hike in the Jezreel Valley to see the beautiful green plains, colorful flowers, and an incredible waterfall. We had a guide with us to lead us away from the mines that were dispersed throughout the course of our path but the funniest part about it was that I didn’t see one dangerous zone the entire time. So kind of pointless in my opinion but I guess we wouldn’t have found the waterfall if he weren’t there so I should be more grateful. The water was WAY too cold for me to feel any temptation of getting in but there were some people from my group who did jump in and regretted it later as they were shivering the entire walk home; I was dry, happy, and loving life like always. Then it was off to a memorable adventure at the “Fish Restaurant” to devour the famous St Peter’s Fish (Tilapia). I know this is going to put you over the edge Mom but the fish was nasty oily, super bland, and not excitingly amazing. To ensure that we got the full experience, my roommate Emilie and I shared half a mini pizza and part of the fish. We had fun taking pictures with our dinner and made the most of our crazy escapade. We went for ice cream and shopping in Tiberias but since it was Shabbat, none of the stores were open except for one gelato stand that had the most incredible Thai coconut flavor in the world! It was ridiculously good. The following morning I slept in for the first time since I have been in Israel and boy was it the best thing that has ever happened to me. Well not quite but it was amazing not having to set any alarm and then relaxing the rest of the morning. We quickly visited the Jordan River Baptismal Site before church at 3:30pm. Even though there weren’t any baptisms going on, it was cool to visit the place. Then it was church overlooking the Sea of Galilee which was quite distracting but the messages shared through music and words were amazing and brought me to tears at times. It is going to be so hard to go back home and have sacrament meeting without the most unbelievable views in the world! I will actually have to look at the speaker and listen...lame. To conclude the night, the teachers hosted a fireside telling the stories about how they met and fell in love. It’s funny how we have been told that dating is off limits at the Jerusalem Center, yet there has been TONS of hooking up lately as “small town syndrome” has officially kicked in. Always juicy stuff going on in Jerusalem. NEXT POST...more field trips and SUN!!

DAY 3 and 4 INCREDIBLE CLASSES and GALILEAN FIELD TRIP

Yesterday was fairly uneventful with New Testament class for three hours in the morning; we had a 30 minute break halfway through so no worries. Although I greatly cherish Brother Wilson’s Old Testament class and thoroughly gained vast knowledge unknown to me before, I am enjoying the style of teaching of Brother Huff. He has already taught us so many insane facts about the four gospels that I would never have discovered on my own in this lifetime. I appreciate his amazing study of the New Testament which motivates me to feast upon the words of Christ daily. The rest of my beautiful day I spent studying the scriptures and watching the amazing sunset with my legit roommate Christine. It is so gorgeous here in Galilee and is SO green everywhere! Last semester here in Galilee, everything was brown and during spring/summer term, it was way hot so I am grateful I came when I did; it was meant to be. We also had Ancient Near East class last night which was torturous. There was no sleeping in the next day as my class was off on another field trip (half-day at least) to two sites that connect with Jewish history. The first site, Gamla, was a focal point during the First Revolt against Rome (66-72 AD). The steep hill where the city lies resembles a camel; hence the Hebrew/Arabic name gamal. We were the only tour group at this incredible city literally set on a hill so it was nice to explore the ruins and take pictures on high places that were overlooking the valley. There were vultures hovering over us the whole time but luckily they received no food on behalf of us. Thankfully, the last site of the day was Qazrin. I know that sounds horrible to say “thankfully” but it gets old being a tourist all the time. Moving on, this “Talmudic village” contains a restored rabbi’s house and a basilica synagogue. This town has long been abandoned since the 4th-8th century AD when the Talmud was being compiled. The rest of my afternoon, I did a minor amount of homework, took an incredible run along the shore, had a contemplative walk alone on the beach, got some sun, and have been getting caught up on my journal which I have successfully accomplished. NEXT POST...more three-hour classes and the FISH RESTAURANT.

DAY 2 SEA OF GALILEE FIELD TRIP

Today was amazing as we visited sites along the Sea of Galilee which provides the context for the base of the Savior’s Galilean Ministry where he taught profound messages and performed miraculous miracles (attempt at astounding alliteration). We were off at 7:30am sharp to catch our boat at exactly 7:45am leaving two of our few male members back at the hotel. Don’t worry though they made it just in time at the dock after being dropped off by our other teacher. I guess they weren’t kidding about that promptness thing were they. Anyways, it was extremely cold and windy this morning which for the first time in my life, didn’t frustrate or annoy me in the least bit. I was actually quite happy to experience the raging tempest that day as we sang “Master, the Tempest is Raging” and drifted (or should I say tossed and turned) across the actual sea where Christ calmed the billowing waters and caused his disciples to wonder, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41) Luckily we made it to the “blessed harbor and rested on the blissful shore.” We saw the Ginnosar Boat, excavated in 1986 after a fatal drought, which is believed to be similar to New Testament boats built at the time. Some people call it the “Jesus Boat” because He and His disciples used boats often for transportation, fishing, and even as a pulpit for preaching in large crowds. Next was the Mount of Beatitudes where the essence of Jesus’ expectations for His disciples was spoken and recorded as perhaps the most important text for defining the New Testament or Covenant in the Sermon on the Mount. The weather couldn’t decide what it wanted to do since it was cold and rainy and then the sun would shine brightly through the clouds. It seemed to be centered on our righteousness and spirituality; it was quite strange. I’m sorry to disappoint everyone but we didn’t actually sit on any mount. We sat in a fenced ruin of a 5th Century Byzantine church that has been completely renovated into a small amphitheater. I just had to throw that out there so you aren’t disappointed like I was when you all make your future trips to Galilee. The Latin beatus is the basis of the English “beatitude”, meaning to be fortunate, to be happy, or to be blessed (directly from the KJV footnote chapter 5, verse 3a). These specific blessings were given to Jesus’ disciples as “the blueprint of perfection” as stated by President Harold B. Lee. Although it is totally and completely impossible to become perfect in this life, we must always be striving to live the commandments of the Lord and continually seek to live righteously. We then visited two churches in Tabgha (meaning 7 springs if anyone cares) which honor, respectively, the loaves and fishes miracle and Peter’s mandate to “feed my sheep.” St Peter’s Primacy is a chapel built as a shrine to the resurrected Christ’s appearance to His apostles and where He shared a meal with them. In this church, the natural rock (on which the ancient meal allegedly occurred) functions as the mensis Christi or the “table of Christ.” We sang “All Creatures of Our God and King” to a fellow tour group who greatly appreciated our gesture. Last place, I promise. We crammed in so much in one day that it was absolutely exhausting and overwhelming. Capernaum was the base of Jesus’ Galilean ministry and was the perfect place to end an incredibly busy day. Although Peter was born in Bethsaida, he resided mostly in Capernaum. Jesus made Peter’s house his headquarters where he preached from its very door. Peter’s house, sometimes called “the house”, became Christianity’s first church. There are too many incredible miracles performed by Christ at Capernaum to recount so check them out in your good old Holy Bible. NEXT POST...classes along the beach and breath-taking views.

DAY 1 GALILEE FIELD TRIP

Here is the scoop on the first day of my unforgettable excursion to Galilee! We were supposed to leave bright and early at 6:30am but had a bit of a late start since the teachers were running around trying to finish up last minute things so this time, it wasn’t our fault. I was so exhausted from a very late night of packing (I’m such a procrastinator) and cleaning the apartment so we didn’t have to come home to a dirty home. Our first stop was Caesarea Maritima which is a beautiful city built by Herod the Great along the Mediterranean Sea and became Judea’s Roman capital after his death. Before Paul was taken hostage by the Romans, Caesarea was a missionary land mine for Philip, Peter, and Paul where they preached to many people and even baptized Cornelius, the Roman centurion. Pretty cool stuff. Next we stopped at Megiddo which Joshua defeated after which he gave the land to the Israelites. Brother Brown, our Academic Director, rambled on and on about some excavations that have occurred there and the process of some filming there that he was a part of and blah blah blah. Bless his heart, but I really didn’t have a care in the world about all of that. I wanted to learn more about the great and final conflict that is to happen at the End of Days and is referred to as the Battle of Armageddon. We ran out of time and had to move on which was frustrating but it was still so sweet to stand directly in the place where the battle is to blow out when Christ returns once again. Our last site was Nazareth where a majority of Jesus’ childhood was spent and where he announced his Messiahship during a synagogue service but the congregation rejected him so he left for Capernaum. It was amazing to sit in the “Nazareth Synagogue” (clever name, I know) and sing hymns that brought the spirit so strongly into the stone cold room. It was incredible to imagine the Savior standing at the head of the room declaring that he was the Son of God who was sent to save all his Heavenly Father’s children. It makes me sad to know that Jesus Christ, my Rock and my Redeemer was unwanted by those he loved so dearly. If the people only knew who this great figure standing before them really was, we may be reading a different story. NEXT POST...RAGING WATERS on the Sea of Galilee.