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Time to Spare
The last students left for home early Thursday morning, March 19. The service couples were also asked to leave the Jerusalem Center because of the corona-virus and restrictions of the government. We are all sad to leave the members, the land and culture that we love. Hopefully, we will be able to return in a few months. In the meantime, the area presidency has asked that I continue to serve as the Jerusalem district president until we can return; or, until they call another president. Margaret has been asked to continue her work with humanitarian projects in the west bank and Israel. Photo by Dennis Brimhall Last Sabbath, we tried…
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Khan-al Ahmar Bedouin Camp
Political issues are never the focus of LDS Charities. But, often, poverty and hardship are the results of political decisions. Our recent visit to a local Bedouin camp reminded us of this, especially for this cultures in transition. Last Monday we visited an agency in Bethany that is helping Bedouin ladies become self-reliant. Ladies in the camp embroider clothing and items which are then sold in local shops. The BYU Jerusalem Center and the Church are helping to fund this worthwhile project and part of our assignment is to help coordinate the support from the church. Sawson operates a small gift shop near the tomb where Lazarus was raised from…
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Chronological Overview of the Holy Land – Latter Days
It is easy to lose track of historical documents and treasured events. By chance, I found this beautiful poem by Eliza R. Snow that she wrote after her visit to the Sea of Galilee. Her book of poems can be found at this link: https://archive.org/details/poemsreligioushi02snow/page/n5 At the Sea of Galilee I have stood on the shore of the beautiful sea, The renowned and immortalized Galilee, When t’was wrapp’d in repose, at eventide Like a royal queen in her conscious pride. No sound was astir – not a murmuring wave- Not a motion was see, but the tremulous lave, A gentle heave of the water’s crest- As the infant…
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Two good articles on Judaism
Is Judaism a nationality? What is the Jewish identity in the age of the Jewish Question? These two questions are the topics are the subject of two articles written in response to President Trump’s recently signed executive order to prohibit anti-Semitism. They are both worth reading. In June of this year I posted another question: Are You Jewish? It may also be worth reading as a reminder of the some of complexities surrounding the Jewish Questions. For the question Are You Jewish, click on this link: https://lifferthsinjerusalem.com/?p=566 Is Judaism a Nationality? Judaism is not a nationality Trump’s executive order will lead only to US Jews feeling unsafe and strangers in…
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Our Own Fun for Less with Lisa and Kristine
It was like Christmas morning. Lisa and Kristine surprised us with a visit and we spend 7 terrifically fun days. It turned out to be a blessing in many ways because Margaret’s brother Phil Swensen, passed away unexpectedly and Margaret was able to fly home with Lisa and Kristine to attend the funeral. Here is a summary, by day, of the fun we had! Friday 19 Aug 2019: Straight from the airport to the Western Wall to welcome the Sabbath. Then unpack and go to bed after a long flight! Saturday 31 August 2019 Attended Church at the BYU Center and then a visit to the Garden Tomb where…
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BYU Olive Press
Fall time. Time for harvest. Each Fall, the BYU students have the chance to pick the ripe olives on the trees near the BYU Center and then crush them for oil. Later, the pure olive oil is put into small bottles that can then be consecrated and used for priesthood blessings.
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District Conference
We were all very pleased with how district conference turned out. We had a little over 200 members attend conference plus several bus loads of tourists. We provided translation for Spanish, Russian, and Hebrew. We tried to stream the conference to about 40 members who could not attend because of employment or health. The music and talks were all exceptional. Liza, a young lady that was baptized about 8 months ago spoke and reported how much she loved meeting new friends on the recent youth conference and she ended bearing her testimony. It was inspiring to all. Basically, she only speaks Hebrew, so we asked Raquel Wilson, our newly called…
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Lehi Trek Youth Conference
In Centerville, we built hand cards for our trek. In Israel, they ride camels. All of our youth signed up for and went on our Lehi Trek. We had 19 young men and women attend and 10 adult leaders. The trek began at a Bedouin camp near Mitspe Ramon in the southern part of Israel. Bedouin staff prepared the vegetarian food on open camp fires, took care of the camels, and told a thousand stories about the desert. No one was in a hurry, it was called desert time: No watches, no cell phones, no complaining. Look at the starts, find the beauty in the sand, be thankful for water,…
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Gratitude
Establishing the Church in Israel has not been easy. Every step forward has come with faith and hard work. We remember with gratitude and give thanks to all who have helped in anyway. Major historical and political events have taken place in the Holy Land in the last 200 years that have opened the door for the Church to be established. How has the Church and members helped to build the Church in the Holy Land? Can you list 10 important events? The years listed below are a clue. Click on Toggle for the answers. Toggle 1841 Orson Hyde offers dedicatory prayer First apostle since days of old…
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Translations
We think it is difficult to communicate clearly in English. Wait until you have 4 people in a room and they all speak different languages: Russian, English, Spanish, and Hebrew. This is how it was in Be’er Sheva last week in church. The branch president, President Scott is in the States until the end of November. For the last two weeks, his only counselor, Brother Hilton, has also been gone. That gave me the opportunity to conduct the meetings and to be with the members in Be’er Sheva for the last two weeks. While in Be’er Sheva, I met with Anna in the rest home. Anna…