Ready, Set, GO!
After 2-1/2 years of waiting, we finally made it to Jerusalem to serve at the BYU Jerusalem Center. Our assignment is serving as the Music Couple in charge of leading the daily tours of the Center, hosting the Sunday evening community concerts, and directing the student choir (plus anything else the Center needs).
June 23rd, we loaded 5 LARGE suitcases, 2 carry-on suitcases and 2 personal pieces onto Kim Gardner's flatbed truck and off to the airport we went.
We had a remarkably smooth travel experience, first flying to JFK and then on to Tel Aviv. All flights were on time and thankfully all of our luggage arrived with us! It took 23 hours, door to door, from Provo to the Center.
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We were greeted by Brother Mark Earnshaw (of the medical and housing service couple) as we left customs. He drove us to the Center, about a 45-minute drive. It was 92 degrees--grateful for A/C! We had help to get all of our luggage to our apartment at the Center. As the Center is built on a hillside, there is only elevator service to the 5th floor (of 8). We live on the 4th floor. We have a lovely and modernized one-bedroom fully furnished apartment that has a beautiful view of the Old City, gorgeous sunsets, and a private patio (and, of course A/C!).
Our first Sabbath (Saturday) was wonderful. We attended church in the large auditorium at the Center that houses the large Marcussen pipe organ. A student has been called as the Branch organist so Jim just got to listen! Don't worry, he has since had opportunity to see and play the organ.
Many LDS tour groups stop by the Center for church services. Today, the auditorium was filled with about 325 people--only 120 of those were students and faculty. And this was a small group, they say! We were so happy to meet up with friends Tyler and Kiplin Griffin (from Springville) and Nicholas Chiang (from Palo Alto) who were visiting for the day.
Jim spent Sunday morning with the students and faculty in a walking tour of the Old City. Through the Orson Hyde Park, past the Garden of Gethsemane, Kidron Valley, to the fairly recently excavated City of David, a wet walk through Hezekiah's Tunnel, the Pool of Siloam, and the Western Wall (with Eric Huntsman as a guide).
Deanne went to the grocery store with the Earnshaws. There are several local markets, each one with a different perk--better produce, better service, better meats, etc. We needed to stock up the apartment with some regular food staples. $110 later and not much to show for it, we returned home. Food and supplies are expensive here. The only failure on the trip was buying buttermilk that I thought was just milk! Maybe the cafeteria here can use the rest of the bottle?
