Today, Bob and I went on a field trip with the BYU students, first to Ein Kerem, believed to be the birthplace of John the Baptist. This is a favorite place for both Bob
and myself. It is a quaint little town, with lots of trees and side streets, and a few cafes on the sidewalks where people eat and talk. We visited the monastery built on the spot where John the Baptist was born. We also visited the church of the Sisters of Zion. Once inside, the students sang again and it was especially beautiful. A lady visitor standing in the back asked when the Student Choir concert was at the BYU Jerusalem Center – she wanted to be sure to go because they are famous for their beautiful singing. It’s very peaceful in Ein Kerem, with beautiful views of the surrounding valley. This picture shows a vivid red Bougainvilla plant here (they also come in orange and purple-pink).After lunch in a Bedouin tent, we traveled to Bethlehem. 
Because now there’s a separation wall around Bethlehem, the city is guarded with checkpoints and soldiers. Once we passed thru the checkpoint, we noticed how filthy the city is with garbage thrown everywhere by the Palestinian Arabs. The Church of the Nativity is built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was born in a stable more than 2,000 years ago. The church is shared by various branches of Christianity – an Armenian church and the Greek Orthodox - each of which controls and jealously guards a part of the holy site. Once inside the church we passed a lot of icons, candles and incense as we climbed down a few steps to the “grotto” believed to be the manger place. It seemed very unreal, and actually quite disappointing. It really had lost its special meaning. This picture shows the entrance to the manger spot (under the ground floor of the church)
We then went to Shepherd’s Fields to eat our sack dinner and have a special Christmas class fireside under the stars. Looking up at the sky that night, we tried to imagine the “new star” that once shown from those very skies so long ago, announcing to the shepherds the Saviour’s birth.
Brother Ludlow, one of the professors, then told a story. About 1974, he took a large group of professors and families to the Holy Land in December, just after a big war skirmish in the area. Security was very tight at the airport, with soldiers surrounding the plane at gunpoint before the tour group could get off. Once they finally arrived in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, they were among throngs of people – maybe as many as 250,000!! Before they got off the bus Bro. Ludlow made sure everyone agreed to be back on the bus by 9:00 PM and encouraged them to spot familiar landmarks so they would know which bus was theirs when they returned. On the rooftops of the stores surrounding Manger Square were soldiers pointing their guns at the crowds. Because of the crowds, it took them a long time to wait in line to see the place where Jesus was born.
As it got close to 9:00 PM he began to make his way back to the bus. When he got on the bus he realized he was the last person on the bus! Everyone had returned early. Why? Because the experience was so different than what they had expected it to be. In fact, one father was so irate, he demanded his money back, and even demanded Bro. Ludlow find a plane that night so his family could return home and spend Christmas Eve back in the States. Bro. Ludlow tried to calm him down and asked the bus driver to take them to Shepherd’s Fields. Back in those days people got all dressed up, and on this night the women had high-heeled shoes, nylons, Sunday dresses, Dads had ties, etc. They sat down in the Fields, sang a few carols, and then he started talking to them. He said to them: Some of you are very disappointed that this experience was so unlike what you expected. Do you really think it’s so different? Think back on Mary and Joseph, as he tried to find a place for them to stay that night. The town was crammed with people milling around, just like you felt at Manger Square. They came to be taxed, they were partying, have a good time, caring for their animals, and no one really knew what was happening that special night when Christ was born – just like tonight.
On that special, first Christmas Eve so long ago, where were we? We were in Heaven, shouting for joy that it was finally time for Christ to come to earth. For 4,000 years we had seen our fellow spirit beings leave us and come to earth, but none of them had returned. We knew that once Jesus was born, then he could grow up, teach his Gospel, die on the cross, be resurrected, and therefore finally make it possible to be resurrected ourselves. We were so happy that this was beginning. Some of us may have even been in that Angelic chorus that announced His birth!!
The tour group sang many carols that night, and Bro. Ludlow began to feel the tension and disappointment soften. Once they all got on the bus to return to the hotel, the irate father grabbed the microphone and apologized to Bro. Ludlow and everyone else at his behavior that night. He said if Bro. Ludlow wanted to send him and his family back home on the next plane, that was fine with him, but he didn’t want any money back, and would even pay for it himself. He said the experience that night in the Fields had been worth every penny he had spent!!
Because now there’s a separation wall around Bethlehem, the city is guarded with checkpoints and soldiers. Once we passed thru the checkpoint, we noticed how filthy the city is with garbage thrown everywhere by the Palestinian Arabs. The Church of the Nativity is built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was born in a stable more than 2,000 years ago. The church is shared by various branches of Christianity – an Armenian church and the Greek Orthodox - each of which controls and jealously guards a part of the holy site. Once inside the church we passed a lot of icons, candles and incense as we climbed down a few steps to the “grotto” believed to be the manger place. It seemed very unreal, and actually quite disappointing. It really had lost its special meaning. This picture shows the entrance to the manger spot (under the ground floor of the church)We then went to Shepherd’s Fields to eat our sack dinner and have a special Christmas class fireside under the stars. Looking up at the sky that night, we tried to imagine the “new star” that once shown from those very skies so long ago, announcing to the shepherds the Saviour’s birth.
Brother Ludlow, one of the professors, then told a story. About 1974, he took a large group of professors and families to the Holy Land in December, just after a big war skirmish in the area. Security was very tight at the airport, with soldiers surrounding the plane at gunpoint before the tour group could get off. Once they finally arrived in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, they were among throngs of people – maybe as many as 250,000!! Before they got off the bus Bro. Ludlow made sure everyone agreed to be back on the bus by 9:00 PM and encouraged them to spot familiar landmarks so they would know which bus was theirs when they returned. On the rooftops of the stores surrounding Manger Square were soldiers pointing their guns at the crowds. Because of the crowds, it took them a long time to wait in line to see the place where Jesus was born.
As it got close to 9:00 PM he began to make his way back to the bus. When he got on the bus he realized he was the last person on the bus! Everyone had returned early. Why? Because the experience was so different than what they had expected it to be. In fact, one father was so irate, he demanded his money back, and even demanded Bro. Ludlow find a plane that night so his family could return home and spend Christmas Eve back in the States. Bro. Ludlow tried to calm him down and asked the bus driver to take them to Shepherd’s Fields. Back in those days people got all dressed up, and on this night the women had high-heeled shoes, nylons, Sunday dresses, Dads had ties, etc. They sat down in the Fields, sang a few carols, and then he started talking to them. He said to them: Some of you are very disappointed that this experience was so unlike what you expected. Do you really think it’s so different? Think back on Mary and Joseph, as he tried to find a place for them to stay that night. The town was crammed with people milling around, just like you felt at Manger Square. They came to be taxed, they were partying, have a good time, caring for their animals, and no one really knew what was happening that special night when Christ was born – just like tonight.
On that special, first Christmas Eve so long ago, where were we? We were in Heaven, shouting for joy that it was finally time for Christ to come to earth. For 4,000 years we had seen our fellow spirit beings leave us and come to earth, but none of them had returned. We knew that once Jesus was born, then he could grow up, teach his Gospel, die on the cross, be resurrected, and therefore finally make it possible to be resurrected ourselves. We were so happy that this was beginning. Some of us may have even been in that Angelic chorus that announced His birth!!
The tour group sang many carols that night, and Bro. Ludlow began to feel the tension and disappointment soften. Once they all got on the bus to return to the hotel, the irate father grabbed the microphone and apologized to Bro. Ludlow and everyone else at his behavior that night. He said if Bro. Ludlow wanted to send him and his family back home on the next plane, that was fine with him, but he didn’t want any money back, and would even pay for it himself. He said the experience that night in the Fields had been worth every penny he had spent!!
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