Day 9 - Tour of BYU Jerusalem Center

To view a 10-minutes video about the BYU Jerusalem Center, use this link:
http://ce.byu.edu/jc/hosting-video.cfm?v=jc-english

Isn't it beautiful???

Mom and I hiked there from the Orson Hyde Garden, and I was so excite when we finally arrived!  This is one thing I've looked forward to the most, attending church here and going through the tour here.

Now doesn't that remind you of the look and feel of Temple Square just  a little?  The beautiful gardens are a  a nice contrast to so much stone on the streets, sidewalks, and buildings in Jerusalem. 

This is the main auditorium where we hold Sacrament meeting for the Jerusalem branch.  Last week when we attended church here they had I believe seven LDS tour groups, an extra 250 people here!  Amy and her family sat so far back and high up that they could hardly hear a thing.  Mom and I sneaked a couple empty seats in the middle so we could soak this experience in.

Brother Whipple is the same nice gentleman who conducted the church service in the West Bank.  He was called her to be the organist for the Center. 

His wife Sister Whipple is a tour guide, conducts the choir, and helps arrange the once a week concerts they host of international guest choirs. They're from Provo.

A brave young man tourist from Germany.  So sweet.  How could he not feel the Spirit and warmth of the members here? 

An amazing view of Jerusalem from the front of the BYU Center.

Lovely rose gardens line all the levels, I've been told. There are eight floors, but the top one doesn't reach the level of the flowers.

Someone told me the gardens by the Center have every plant mentioned in the Bible.  I didn't realize there were many plants in there.  I'll have to check it out.

The BYU Jerusalem students get to use a real old-fashioned olive press at harvest time.

This presses the mashed olives and seeds using a weighted system and the cisterns in the front separate the water from the oil, one being higher than the other.

I had to see if I could lift the olive press to move it.  Turns out Brother Jackson was helping me.  Just a little.

The amazing front doors of the Center.

Here is the front of the Center with a tour group exiting.

As the tour group leaves the gates, Sister Whipple gives each of them the warmest, most loving farewell I'm sure they've gotten anywhere in Israel.  People can't help but feel the Spirit on this campus. She said people put their hands over their hearts not sure what they're feeling here, but the Mormons are not allowed to share our beliefs.  A big change for many members who have already served missions! We enjoyed sitting just inside the gate chatting with her until Amy pulled up to pick us up.  (Then we drove to return the rental car.)