PROVO

I'm taking a golf class this semester because I thought it would be a good idea. However I didn't know it was 4 days a week for an hour. It has been good though. For the class we have to go golfing at least 3 times through out the course of the semester. So today, My roommate and I pulled out the clubs and got our golf groove on. I won't lie, I'm pretty crappy at golfing. If i remember correctly, I lost multiple golf balls. But I am starting to get this technical game down. My biggest problem is driving. I can't seem to get the ball to go straight down the fairway; it always slices to the right.

 My other classes this semester are alright. I actually am really enjoying my business writing class. I already implement the things I have learned in it and it has been awesome!

Golf

I'm taking a golf class this semester because I thought it would be a good idea. However I didn't know it was 4 days a week for an hour. It has been good though. For the class we have to go golfing at least 3 times through out the course of the semester. So today, My roommate and I pulled out the clubs and got our golf groove on. I won't lie, I

The Climb

Okay so last weekend we decided to veer from the natural routine of watching a movie Friday night and, instead, prepared ourselves to hike Mount Timp. Word on the street is if you haven’t climbed this Mountain, you aren’t a true human. Therefore we climbed it. We didn’t just climb it, however. We climbed it in the middle of the night in hopes to see the sun rise from its hiding place while chilling on the summit. And that is exactly what we did.

This little venture was exhausting and mentally tiring. I found myself stranded on a random glacier, soaked by hidden water holes, separated from the group, and at a dead end of multiple trails.  Nevertheless, I did make it to the top and was able to see the beautiful sun rise from the east.  It was worth the climb most definitely. It is one of those things I am glad I did but will probably never do it again, at least not for awhile.  

This Semester's New Hobby

Who knew that Labor Day could bring a BYU student so much joy, not only for a day, but for many days to come? Maybe you do, I don't know. All I know is I have found a new interest that caught my attention faster than I can download an app on my Iphone 4. So what is this new interest that occupies my mind in class, at home, or during leisure time? Yes, you guessed it, Rock Climbing.  

Monday aka Labor Day, My brother and I took a small journey up American Fork Canyon to try our hand at rock climbing. He had been a couple times before and I was a complete novice. Also, he had never lead a climb before, so this was a first for both of us. The climb was great.  There is something about climbing that brings the man out of a person. Maybe its the strain on your muscles or the adrenaline that pumps through your veins when you are about to slip or can't figure out where to place your foot next, whatever it was, was awesome. So if you want to take a break from school, become a man, or connect with nature, rock climbing is one way to do so!

The Art of Blogging

It has been a long time since my last blog post and, quite frankly, I thought my blogging days were over. Once I returned from Jerusalem my desire to blog diminished. However, This fall I am enrolled in a business writing class and one of our assignments is to blog once a week. At first I was disheartened because blogging isn't my cup of tea. But I am beginning to warm up to the idea and its growing on me, slowly, but surely. The purpose of blogging, our Professor says, is to let us write about whatever we want and get practice developing our writing skills. More and more as I get farther in life with school and work, it becomes more apparent to me how vital it is to develop and acquire great communication skills. I am no Shakespeare but with practice and persistence by the end of this semester writing will hopefully be something I enjoy. 

Shalom Out Yis'rael!

 This will be my final post from Jerusalem to end the experience of a lifetime. As I have been thinking over the past few days and looking back on the experiences I have had this semester it almost seems fairytale-ish or a dream from which I don't want to wake. It truly has been a once in a lifetime experience that has changed me forever.  I have seen and walked the sites where Christ walked, healed, preached and blessed. I studied his words where he preached them and felt his love where he expressed and showed it to his disciples. I have experienced more than I deserve and have learned much from the holy sites, friends at the JC, the scriptures, the natives, exceptional professors, and from the wonderful example of Jesus Christ. Israel has become a part of me, it has sunken deep into my soul and will never be rooted out. O, Jerusalem I will never forget thee! Here are some pictures to recap the good times that were had in this blessed land.

Palm Sunday March. It was so cool to see the thousands of people who came to Jerusalem to celebrate the triumphal entry and the last week of Christ's life. 

Weirdest thing I have done in awhile.... float in the Dead Sea. The craziest phenomenon. I loved bobbing but be careful not to get the salt in your mouth or eyes, it stings like crazy. 

Dome of the Rock

My sanctuary in the Old City, the Western Wall. 

Old City Street!

Herodian Palace. One of my favorite pictures.

Sunset Club at its finest. Never has the sun had such devout fans. 

Pyramids!

At the finish line of the first marathon in Jerusalem. I  only ran the 4.2 k but it was still fun and totally worth it. 

Little Sabrina at Ein Gedi. She is a doll. I am going to miss her. 

Jordan with some Bedouin influence

I know this blog post is long past due but it is because I  had a problem uploading my pictures onto my computer. However this problem has been fixed because I just realized that I have an sd slot for my sd card on my computer... something I wish I would have known about 3 months ago. We returned form Jordan not too long ago and it was definitely a highlight of the Jerusalem experience. Of course it was no Galilee or Egypt but it was pretty cool and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We stayed there 3 nights and 4 days. The highlights of the trip were: Petra of course, royal tombs, hikes up rigorous mountains, park-our all over Jordan but mostly Petra, running to every site to assure that we got the most out of the experience, the monastery (tomb of Aretas the 4th), good food, royal suites, and best of all good company. Oh and we also had some sauna and Jacuzzi time at the hotel in Amman.

This here is the treasury. One might notice this particular tomb carving in a famous movie.  

This is the monastery, another tomb of an unknown important man. This fine structure can be found about an hour or so (if your walking) from the treasury.  We were able to go inside this tomb but then found out it was not allowed and had to get out. It was awesome though. 

This is right outside the royal tombs looking out across the canyon where the Nabateans once inhabited this rocky terrain. 

This is on our way up to the "High Place". I'm pretty sure this was the halfway point. There were a bunch of rock altars,  so we added to this wonderful scene by building our own. Those are the people that I hiked up with. It was such a fun hike and the weather was pristine. 

Not really sure about this one just thought that it was cool that someone carved this into the rock on top of the "High Place". 

Here we are on top of the high place after a treacherous hike. I snagged a shot while the others were taking a small breather. The view was quite wonderful.

Royal Tombs at Petra. 

I love the Shwarmas here. This is a shwarma shop located in Amman, not far from our hotel. 

we call this the "man grab" at the JC. This is one of many head carvings in the musuem at the Amman Citadel. 

 This is at the largest roman theater in the Middle East.  Standing next to me is Chelsea Jackson, one of the gems here at the JC, with some sweet dudes from Amman who wanted to jump into the picture. 

On our way back from Jordan we got to stop at the Jordan River and  have a little devotional.  It was really cool to be able to read the account of Christ's baptism here. So sweet!