The Temple Mount, Stitches, and Kind Service

When I came before as a student, I didn't do the Rampart Walk on the Walls of the Old City. After talking about it with Janny, she and I decided to take Sam and Ellie to do it in the early morning on Wednesday. But when I woke up that morning, a little late, and Seth said it was so hot already, we decided to do it another day. Instead, I was really excited that Seth agreed to take the family to the Temple Mount to the Dome of the Rock. It's  name to Muslim's is the Al-aqsa mosque.

I was very excited to go there because we have been trying to study the life of Christ and after his birth with the visit to Bethlehem, the next events of his recorded life are on the Temple Mount, both where he was met by Simeon, who was told he would see the Christ child before he died, and by the prophetess Deborah. Also where Jesus was found as a young boy teaching on theTemple Mount when his family had already started to return to Nazareth. So going to the Temple Mount was great timing. As we set off on our adventure we had misinformed ourselves of which gate to enter to get to the Temple Mount and we got really turned around trying to get around the outskirts of the old city. The Temple Mount is only open for a short time in the morning and an hour in the afternoon, so after getting lost and realizing we wouldn't make it in time, we decided to go to Omars for olive wood. Omar is a friend of the BYU students and has many beautiful pieces of olive wood art. Seth had bought a nativity from him years ago and I had brought a statue of the Savior carrying His sheep. Of coarse we were lost, and after I said a little prayer that we might find it, I looked up and saw a sign down the street that said Omars. Just then he was walking up the street when we pulled up and said, "Are you looking for Omars? I am he! Come in." He paid our parking and we spent the next hour at his shop admiring his work and spending way too much money. 

Jake was being his wild self and Omar was kind and took it in stride saying he had a 3 year old grandson as well. 

Here we all are after shopping at Omars. We asked where to get some food and he took us to the most awesome sandwich shop called Istanbul. It had awesome wraps and baguettes.

 

We also got directions from Omar how to get to the Temple Mount. Seth and I couldn't remember, we even drove up to Lions Gate and were told that only Muslims could enter the Temple Mount from this gate. We hurried over to Dung Gate were some little boys charged us to park in some free parking places. :) But it was close enough to the gate that we paid them off. We waited in line for a while and then enter the ramp taking us up over the Western Wall onto the Temple Mount. The guards sent me over to get a shawl on because I hadn't pulled mine out. Women had to be covered to go on the mount. Not their heads, but their arms and legs.  But we walked down this beautiful outdoor hallway along the mount that you can see Sam and Ellie on.

I have to admit that the Dome of the Rock took my breath away when we first walked up to it. It is so amazing. It is truly a sacred place for so many- Christians. Muslims, and Jews. It even more incredible up close and personal. I took individual picture of each of the kids in front of it, documenting the moment for them, even if their young minds forget. 

Even Seth's picture as well. He and the kids are walking in front of the entrance of the mosque, that only Muslims can enter.

Here's our darling Janny with us as well.

I loved these beautiful gazebo-like structures on the corners of the Temple Mount. And I love the darling people in them.

And look at these beautiful arched doors welcoming you onto the Mount. There are four little people in each archway, but the littlest one is hugging the pillar.

Here we are. Looking a bit chubby. :)

Jake was being so funny running up to these doors.

And this is the face that you get when you tell him to smile.

This is some of the beautiful mosaics in the arches.

It seems funny to see pictures of us just hanging out on the Temple Mount, but we stayed until they kicked us off.

Seth and The kids- minus one!

Here he is. The grumpy one. 

We all made it in. Even grumpy crazy Jake.

Jayne notices that the boys were sitting together and insisted on a picture. 

Here's the girls picture

Then this cute muslim lady asked to take a picture with the kids.

The the rest of the ladies joined in. 

It was 2:30 and all visitors were asked to leave the Temple Mount, so we got off quickly. It was afternoon and we were all tired and hot. Seth said we needed to find a place to sit and eat popsicles (which we have spent a fortune on, but they cure any whining that might go on, so we buy them daily). We exited into the Muslim quarter of the Old City and as we walked up Seth missed a step and fell. His sunglasses cut into his face above and below his eye (luckily missing his eye).  We put the whole Muslim quarter in a worry. Water, juice, and offers to call an ambulance. Seth got up and I knew he would need some stitches. I was obviously worried and trying to not have the kids worry and make sure Seth is okay and trying to get as quickly as we can to some care, and then suddenly Seth said,"Wait, where is the camera? We need to document this." So grateful for his sense of humor and calm demeanor. Nobody panic. Take a picture. But at every check point we came to, the guards all jumped to their feet - asking what happened and who they can help. Seth just kept saying we're okay. 

As we were walking out of the Old City, we remember that a friend we had meant at church on Sunday was a plastic surgeon. We called him and he said he would assess Seth. He ended up doing more than that, giving him 30 plus stitches. He did it beautifully and it was such a miracle to not have to deal with Urgent Care or the hospital. We are so grateful for his help.

The All Seeing Eye

The funny part is that, the last time Seth got stitches, was when he was here in Israel as a student and he was playing flies up in the Sea of Galilee and got an elbow to his eye and split it open. It was the other eye, so might as well get the other one done her as well (he 's so into plastic surgery). I will admit I could deal with a little less excitement, but I sure am grateful that when things fall apart, the wonderful support system of people that we have only meet once or twice whip into action helping us. I told my friend, I love being Mormon. Those are great people who know how to serve. Two families took our kids, another two helped Seth, and then another family fed us, made sure we can were okay and then sent us home. Phew! Another exciting day in Jerusalem.

Below was a documentation of Jake actually listening to what I said and him doing it. It was a moment to be recorded. I told him not to go down the stairs and he was waiting. I needed that.