Joshua Fit the Battle...

All 79 of us!

McKenzie and Me with a camel looking over Jericho
Becca and Me.
All the girls in my bus before we went into the Monestary.

Every Monday, all the students are taken on a fieldtrip. This is an actual class that we have, and we have a study manual to fill out every time. It's pretty much the most incredible class ever given. Today we got to go to the West Bank and visit Jericho. The West Bank is usually completely off limits because it is so dangerout there, but it was an amazing place to go. First we went to the Tel es-Sultan which is the oldest and the lowest place on Earth. It was incredible! And while we were there, our bus teacher, Brother Huff, told us the history of the city like where Joshua was when he called down the walls. It was very interesting!

Afterwards, we went up switch-backs to the Quruntul Monastery which is nestled in the cliffs and the caves of the Mount of Temptation. It was about a mile hike, which is a lot when you have to wear long sleeves and hike in such hot weather. But the hike was well worth it, because the Monastery was amazing! It was very beautiful, and the ceilings and walls were made of the rock of the mountain. Also, I don't know if there could be a more amazing view. It was a view of the beautiful farm land of Jericho and the dramatic difference between that and the desert sands beyond them. It was stunning!
Then we went to where Herod's winter palace used to be in Jericho, which was not as impressive as the Monastery, but very interesting. Our last stop was overlooking the entire Jericho, and it was beautiful. Our buses joined here, and we all took pictures and sand Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho. It was our first time singing it all together, so it was a little rough, especially without a piano, but it was a neat experience. We then left and when we got home, everyone did their own thing till dinner and then a branch family home evening. All the branch was there, and each family had a table, and the students rotated from table to table to get some time with each family. The eventful part of the night was when we were at our Branch President's (President and Sister Allen) table, and they told me a harpist was comign to give a concert on Sunday. I got SO excited! I couldn't wait! Then they broke the news to me that we were going to be in Egypt. Yes, I am way excited for Egypt, but I so wanted to see a harp, and maybe play it for a second. Right away, I started crying. Yes, I am emotional. From then on through the rest of the night, I cried. My mom suggests that I am homesick...this is very possible. What a weird night to cry about missing the harp so much! Who thought I could miss practicing!?