Bethlehem University visit with Dr. Musallam. Dr. Musallam teaches our Modern Near Eastern Studies class from the Palestinian perspective and he also teaches at Bethlehem University. Here are some of the boys after our lecture playing b-ball with some of the students. Sadly not one of our boys made a basket.
I really liked the visit to the University because we were able to see a documentary film by one of the faculty that won first place at the Dubai Film Festival recently called Memory of the Cactus (I think). We also had a panel of students that we were able to ask questions too and that was fun talking with them.
I really liked the visit to the University because we were able to see a documentary film by one of the faculty that won first place at the Dubai Film Festival recently called Memory of the Cactus (I think). We also had a panel of students that we were able to ask questions too and that was fun talking with them.
A scene of Bethlehem
We ate lunch in this tent type restaurant. It was a cool experience, though not the best pita and kabobs I've had so far. The highlight though was watching a nun in another group there, who looked like she was straight out of The Sound of Music, smoke the hookah, not once but TWICE as they passed it around! Here is our table:
A quaint falafel stand by Manger Square.
The Church of the Nativity. Where Jesus was actually born with 97% surety. This actually wasn't as amazing as I thought it would be. The church is beautiful inside and out, but there were a ton of people there. We got pushed through the manger area really fast, so I got a dumb blurry picture of the manger area.
The inside hall of the church.
The mural of the angel telling Joseph of Mary's divine pregnancy. Miriam and I got a picture in front of it and did you notice the angel's head is cut off? Thanks Jacob, thanks :)
The place of the manger - why does it look so much like a fireplace? This is my dumb, blurry picture of it that I got before I was hustled out.
The separation wall at the Bethlehem border crossing. There is a ton of graffiti on it. This was on the Bethlehem side.
I thought this was one of the coolest.
This was the best attempt to get a pic of this part of the wall where it had posted huge pics of what looked like crazy Jewish people.
The scene as we arrived at Shepherd's hill.
During our little program we sang hymns, mainly Christmas ones. It was pretty cold, but an amazing experience! I thought coming to Jerusalem I would have all of these amazing experiences as we visited the churches and the sites, but they all have so many people at them and are so commercialized I guess I never grasp or realize the full effect of where I am. As we sat on Shepherd's Hill though and sang Silent Night, in the quiet darkness, looking up at the stars tears came to my eyes as I did realize where I was. Sitting on a hill in between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and thinking of the shepherds and the joy they must have felt as they looked up and saw that beautiful star and realized that the Christ child was born and the prophecies were being fulfilled! What JOY!
This was at the end. Looking out at the scene with the lights of the Jewish settlements in the back. The stars were beautiful that night too! That night is one of my favorite memories so far!
p.s. I need a hair cut badly! 1st item of business upon returning home!
This post is definitely joyful and merry. This and Easter and Galilee and my birthday are pretty much my favorite memories I think. There's more favorites too I'm sure, just not remembering them. :) Hope you're enjoying all these commentos!
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