Yesterday came with an exceptional opportunity to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. Since 2000, these sites have been closed to non-Muslims and/or non-Palestinians, yet because of our status as students at St. George's College, we were treated as important guests, entering through a VIP gate and having a guide for our time there. We were Guests of the Waqf (the trust that owns the buildings).
Pictures cannot capture the beauty of these two buildings...every surface is decorated and everywhere you look you see something new. One surprise, written in Arabic at the top of the Dome of the Rock is a phrase similar to our Nicene Creed - "Jesus, who was born of Mary, died and lives again."
After our visit to these sites, we went to the City of David and Hezikiah's Tunnel. We took a twenty minute walk in the dark through ankle-deep, ice cold water. The tunnel was sized much better for Bryn than for me! You might think this was not a pleasant experience, but the cold water after many days of HOT Jerusalem was very refreshing. We all agreed we'd do it again.
Today we are off to the Israel Museum and Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum). Our time here is coming close to an end. We miss you all and send our love.
Peace,
Chris & Bryn
No comments:
Post a Comment