Happy Shabbat!

So today was our first Sabbath here. It's kind of different, because we observe the Sabbath on Saturday rather than Sunday. So we had church today which was super cool. We have it in the auditorium of the Jerusalem Center so we were overlooking the city of Jerusalem during church which was really cool. It was also really cool because a few of my professors from BYU were at church at the Jerusalem Center today!

After church today, we went and explored. We were trying to find the Garden of Gethsemane but got a little lost. Not surprising because I get lost everywhere I go. I am so glad that we aren't allowed to travel alone or I would definitely wander through the city and get super lost and probably never be able to come home.

This is proof that we were walking along the Mount of Olives, so we were actually on track to getting to the Garden of Gethsemane.

I'm sure we simply forgot to turn somewhere. We also took the dumbest route possible. Like I think we found the longest route and ensured we were always walking uphill. By the end of this I will be in such good shape. Actually they told us that because of the food and the fact that it's like all you can eat and delicious, everyone gains weight here. I do not see how this is possible because we're walking a million miles a day. You can be the judge of that when I come home. However, I will probably cry if you tell me that I am morbidly obese. So, let my mom do that. She is allowed to. No one else is though.

These are my roommates. It's a terrible picture of us, particularly me, because we had been walking for hours. However, you probably shouldn't expect to see any good pictures of me this entire summer. I think I'll always be gross and sweaty and whatever. Sorry, but I'm not actually sorry because I can't really help it. I am sorry however that I will not come back this summer engaged. Sorry to disappoint everyone.

Also Hayley, this message is only for you. Everyone else, skip to the next paragraph. The two girls on the left of the picture may or may not be our roommates in the fall. It's a 90% chance. They're great. You'll love them. Also if you're not reading my blog I'll be really offended. And I will probably not bring you a souvenir that equates to the greatness of the one you brought me. Also you're really bad at texting me lately. Also I miss you because no one here is as funny as you.

Now back to any other readers. It was interesting because

there are millions of tombs along the Mount of Olives. Well that is a slight exaggeration, but there are lots.And it's interesting because lots of people wanted to be buried there because according to scripture and Jewish tradition, the Mount of Olives is where the resurrection will begin. It's kind of prime real estate for the dead. Sorry if that's insensitive. Also if you don't believe me, read Zechariah 14:4.

Anyway here are a few more pictures from today. Also sorry my writing isn't clever and witty. I'll try to improve for next time. Or I'll simply just post millions of pictures instead of writing anything so I'm not a disappointment.