Rober BYU Jerusalem Center - Arrival/First Week

In case you have not heard, Leah and I have been called to serve as volunteers in charge of hosting and music at the BYU Jerusalem Center for the next 18 months.  Leah will be the organist at the Center, and I will be part of a team leading tours three days each week.

About the BYU Jerusalem Center

The Jerusalem Center is home for a study abroad program for BYU students.  Approximately 90 students come here for a 15-week semester taking classes in Old Testament, New Testament, Arabic, Hebrew and Ancient Near East Studies.  Each week they take a local field trip in or near Jerusalem to see first-hand places they study in classes. During their stay they live at the Sea of Galilee for 10 days to learn and visit sites in that area.  They also have a 10-day foreign trip to either Greece, Egypt or Turkey and a four-day trip to Jordan to see Petra and Amman.  During our stay we will interface with five groups - that means learning 450 names!  On three days each week, the public is invited to tours. The highlight of the tour is a ten-minute organ concert by Leah on the beautiful pipe organ built especially for this building.  Church services are held on Saturday each week to align with the Jewish Sabbath.  On Sundays, we go to the downtown YMCA Building for Leah to play the Carillon bells.

Entrance to Center

Interior Pictures

Travel

After preparing for 6 months, we departed on July 17 at 8 am from San Clemente.  Eighteen months of possessions in 6 suitcases.

We were picked up at the Tel Aviv Airport by Jim and Deanne Welch, the couple we are replacing.  We arrived at our new home around 8 pm on Tuesday just in time for a beautiful sunset from the patio.  We were warmly welcomed by the new students and joined in their dance party celebrating the end of midterms that day.

Training and special visitors

We had six days of training with the Welch's. They were very thorough, organized, kind and patient while teaching us all our duties including the weekly visit to play to the Carillon in downtown.

We had two special visitors in Week 1. There was a fireside given by Sharon Eubank, a previous first counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency.  She now is the director Latter-day Saint Charities and covered ideas on how we can all participate to lift our fellow brothers and sisters.

On our first Sabbath Saturday church service, we were blessed to have Ronald J. Rasband, an Apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints address our congregation.  He and his wife Melanie plus four of their five children were traveling on a personal vacation to celebrate their 50th Anniversary.  He was kind enough to stay after for a meet and greet with the members in attendance.

Welch's Departure and our first tours

On Monday July 24, Jim and Deanne returned home to Provo and we are now beginning our service. 

Leah at the Organ

Children operating the olive crusher replica on a tour.

What a wonderful start.