Palm Sunday

Sunday, March 16, 2008
Today is Palm Sunday and there were thousands of people from all over the world converging on Jerusalem to be part of the Palm Sunday procession. It began at Bethphage, the place in ancient Israel mentioned in the Bible as the place from which Jesus sent the disciples to find a donkey and a colt with her, upon which he would make his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, palm branches waving. It is near the Mount of Olives and the road to Jericho, very close to Bethany.

Dad and I joined the procession as it came down the Mt. of Olives, and back up the hill to Queen Anne's church - retracing some of Jesus’ ride. I couldn't believe how many different types of people we were among. This was one in Jerusalem we would be surrounded by throngs of people believing in Christ!!! People just kept coming and coming, for hours, sometimes singing. I'm so glad we participated in this.

YM/YW activity

February 29, 2008. Today was our 3rd District-wide YM/YW youth activity since we arrived in Israel. It was held in a member’s home in Tel Aviv. We met for dinner, afterwards some stayed to cut out and decorate sugar cookies while others went to the park a block away to play soccer. When they returned they helped with cookies or played board games. We had 14 youth and 10 adults! They really had a good time interacting and many youth said it was a lot of fun!

One of the boys in our branch lives in Ramala (the Palestinian area) and has difficulty ever coming to church because he goes to school on Saturdays (Shabot) instead of being able to come to church (on Shabot). He came to the party with us and connected with one of the BYU professor’s sons while playing soccer. Before the night was over, they were busy making arrangements to get together during the next few months. There was some good fellowshipping going on that night. This is the last youth activity we will be in Jerusalem for since we return home in just 6 weeks.

However, plans for another youth activity are going forward – they will meet in Jerusalem for a tour of some important sights during the last week of Christ’s life, followed by dinner in a member’s home, and ending with a Jeopardy game on 2008 New Era articles.