Sunday, August 2, 2009

Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace)

Outside the Church in Gethsemane with Padre Augusto
What a day this was! I have to tell you about today. I already put this in my journal but I must share this day with you while it is yet fresh on the mind. Wow. Miracles and tender mercies always happen the day after a fast. Part of my fasting prayer was that I would have experiences in these last two weeks that would would satisfy me as having taken advantage of every minute I have left. So here we go...

I sent an email to Father Angelo, a Franciscan monk I met a week ago, to see if we would be able to sing in his church (Terra Sancta - near the church of the Holy Sepulcre.). This church is huge and has AMAZING acoustics. He sent me an email back with his cell number and a time to call him. He said that he was busy with masses most of the morning but we could meet up around noon. So we ventured out of the center in the morning and explored the whole Kidron Valley. I mean the whole thing...from the top where our road begins to the city of David. It was so cool. We saw a bunch of tombs, lots of Olive trees and gardens and passed underneath Orson Hyde Park entering into Gethsemane. We then went in to the Church of All Nations at Gethsemane. Our goal was to sing "Dona Nobis Pacem" in as many churches as we possibly could. So we went in to see how we would fare. On the way in I saw a friendly looking monk. I came back out of the church, saw him happily sitting there on one of the pillars. I asked him if he spoke English. "no english" I then asked: "Hablas Espanol o Italiano?" and he said Si los dos! (Yes both!) So I went on to ask him if it would be ok for us to sing this beautiful Latin Franciscan hymn in the church. He said "Claro!..but not right now...there is a service going on for another 30 min. Come back then and you sing for me..." So we walked to Mary's tomb which also had a service going on because it was Sunday. We also saw Judas' grotto (where they say he betrayed the Lord). After that we came back and sang Dona Nobis Pacem (which means Give Us Peace - significant to sing in a place like this) in the Church of All Nations. It was beautiful! The Acoustics were...wow.

He complimented us after and said "Dona Nobis Pacem. You did well, but the only thing I didn't like about it was that it was too short! I wanted to hear more!" And he asked us if we would sing for his mass on Thursday at 4. haha. So we said we would but that we would dress in nicer clothes for Thursday. I am way excited. So if the day ended there, it would have already been amazing, but no....it gets better. PS,...Mariah went to Tel Aviv today. I kind of wanted to go, but I feel like I can go to the beach in the US any time I want, but I wont always be in Jerusalem...and I am glad I stayed... though I'm sure Mariah had a blast! I had a feeling I should stay. So I did....Ok back to the story....

We went from there and continued on through the Kidron. We threw some rocks at Absalom's Pillar on the way up to the south eastern corner of the city. We entered the Western Wall complex and walked through the Jewish Quarter looking in a few shops and then met up with FAther Angelo at 12 noon. We then sang for him. He is a jolly little (yet chubby) Philipino Franciscan monk who was very excited to see us again and to hear us sing. He brought us into the Terrae Sancta Church which also has huge vaulted cielings and amazing acoustics and he said: Ok sing! We sang Dona Nobis Pacem again and it sounded wonderful. He liked it so much that he said Oh, I loved it. Please sing another. We said we didn't have any other catholic latin hymns prepared, but he said "well sing something else". So we opened the hymn book and sand "Nearer My God to Thee" but this time all the 8 students joined in and it was very beautiful. He had moist eyes at the end. He said, "thank you for that. I love that hymn even though it is protestant...it was so beautiful it made me cry".

Then he paused, and thought for a minute and said..."I want to show you something." He told us to wait there for a minute as if he were making sure the coast was clear). He checked something and came back. Then he brought the eight of us into this room deep within the Franciscan complex. He opened a door and said we don't really show this to people, but it is something very interesting and important to history. We entered into an old museum looking room that had a 30 foot ceiling and glass walls all displaying some artifact of sort. He explained that all of the things were from the 1100s to the 1700s and that they were robes of kings and priests, many of which were enlaced with gold lace and looked very old and very royal. Many very old crosses. And then He said, "I want to show you something that is very rare here in the holy land. It dates back to the 14th century. A Tifuna..." "It is the original book where the Gregorian Chants were written and sang from..." He then proceeded to open this large cupboard behind which were probably fifteen large books (probably 1.5 cubits by 2.5 cubits when closed).

Here is Father Angelo telling us about the book


He took out a smaller one on top and asked us to help him lift out the larger one. We arranged some chairs to place the large book on. We set it down on the chairs (it was really heavy). And then all just got goosebumps looking at it. It had a brass binding with crusader crosses engraved in it. We were just amazed that we could even look at it and touch the outside. Then...he just opened it up and began turning the gigantic pages made of Vellum. Each page was adorned with music and Latin songs that were the Gregorian Chants.



He said: "this book took a monk like me a lifetime to create". He then let us all turn the pages. Isaac tried to read the music but it was different because it was on four lines instead of five so he was a little stumped. This thing was bar-none the most beautiful piece of art work I have ever seen. This was Pre-Gutenberg and all the notes and words were written in by hand. The first letter of the first word of all the chants was remarkably immaculate. It was an art masterpiece and all of them were garnished with gold leaf! Lots of gold leaf. This was surely funded by royalty. He even let us touch the gold leaf! I was going nuts! If the internet wasn't so lame, I would show you pictures of all this because I took tons and video too. All in due time. Anyways. Just think of it. We were fiddling with a book that predates the Declaration of Independence by around 400 years! AHHH! Holy Smokes. Then came the cool part. He opened it up to a page where he pointed out and said: "look this is what you sang" and pointed in the book on the music where it said "Dona Nobis Pacem"!!!!!! It was one of those moments where we transcended time. 700 years vanished before our eyes. I thought of my favorite quote about books:

"The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man. Nothing else that he builds ever lasts. Monuments fall, nations perish, civilizations grow old and die out; and, after an era of darkness, new races build others. But in the world of books are volumes that have seen this happen again and again, and yet live on, still young, still as fresh as the day they were written, still telling men's hearts of the hearts of men centuries dead."

They still live on. It was an amazing experience to say the very least. It is hard to explain with words. I will tell you more in person, but it was an amazing day. And tonight I am going to listen to some Mozart and Brahms at a cello/viola/piano trio playing at our Jerusalem Center.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The Parable of the Pathway, the Pearl and the Pond

I thought of this while in the Garden of Gethsemane this Sabbath. I got to write a parable for my New Testament class and this is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy...

The kingdom of heaven is likened unto three men seeking treasure. There was a treasure of pearls in a pond at the end of a treacherous pathway. At the beginning of the pathway was a division. One led left the other right. The left was lit by other sources. The right path required that one bring light because it was not lit. A sign was posted in the dark at the division that read “this is the way” with an arrow pointing to the right.

The first man entered without his own light and did not see the sign to direct his path. Therefore, he took the path to the left lit by other sources. He took this path and was overtaken by evil men.

The second man enters and sees the sign because he had brought a light he had borrowed. He goes down the dark path. The path is very treacherous and narrow. On the way, he finds a pearl. When he finds this pearl, he rejoices thinking that he has found the treasure. As he inspects the pearl, he wonders if it really is the treasure he was seeking for. At this moment his light begins to fade and he runs in fear that he will have no light to reach the entrance with the his treasure. He barely reaches the place of division in time for his light to go out completely. He sees the trail that is lit by other sources and takes it. When on this path, he is overcome by evil men and looses the pearl. Believing that the one pearl was the only treasure, he loses hope for any future treasure to be found.

The third man enters with his own light and ample charge. He finds the pathway that is dark and takes it after seeing the sign’s direction. He finds the pearl in the pathway, yet he feels there must be something more. He continues in the path which becomes even more dark and treacherous, but because his lamp is powerful, he finds his way to the end of the pathway. There he sees a pond in which are found countless pearls deep within. The man rejoices at having found the treasure and begins to immerse himself to retrieve the treasure.
Please share the meanings that you think this could have. I already have my own, but I would be interested to know what you all think. If you can't comment on this blog, just send it to my email at hermanoproctor@gmail.com.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

LOVE



Throughout my journey here in the Holy Land, there has been a funny rule in which the students in the Jerusalem center program are encouraged not to become romantically involved with each other. I have often been frustrated with this rule/encouragement because I quite enjoy dating and communicating to girls that I am interested in them. Lately this has reminded me of something that one of my religion teachers at BYU taught us in a class about scripture study. He said this:


"Our relationship with the words of Christ determines our relationship with Christ Himself. And our relationship with Christ, determines our relationship with everyone else."


Think about it for a minute. I have been thinking about it the last few days and I often think about it when my scripture study is not at its best. When scriptures are neglected, I can feel it in my life and I can feel it in my relationships with others. I was talking to one of the girls here in the center about this and how one must have Christlike love or their relationship/marriage will never survive. The only way to succeed is having Charity or Christlike love for your spouse. I am not married, but it just seems to make sense.


In a seventeenth century book called The Temple, by George Herbert there is a poem called "Love" that I believe paints a picture of the power of the atonement and the love that Jesus Christ has for us all, and His power to forgive and His allowance for even the vilest of sinners.


-Love-

Green text: the sinner
Blue text: The Lord

"Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guiltie of dust and sinne.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lack'd anything.


A guest, I answer'd, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he.
I the unkinde, ungratefull? Ah my deare,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made these eyes but I?
Truth Lord, but I have marr'd them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, sayes Love, who bore the blame?
My deare, then I will serve.
You must sit down, sayes Love, and taste my meat:
So I did sit and eat.

I think of the vendors here who try to get me to come into their restaurants on the streets of the old city. The image of Jesus saying to me, "come in, eat!", and then I say, "oh I don't think I can afford that, I am not worthy to go into such a place; plus, I am all dirty and your restaurant is white and clean". Then He says, "Andy, don't you know? it's already paid for. Just come in and eat." Then I say back, "but of all people, me?" Then the Lord says, "You must sit down, and taste my meat." Then I sit and eat and taste of the unconditional love of Christ. We must sit and eat of His meat. If we do, all other relationships will be in order and we will not worry.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Shepherds why this Jubilee?


We went to Bethlehem earlier in the semester and tonight we finally went to Shepherds fields overlooking the little town of Bethlehem. We had a little Christmas in July. It was so wonderful. We all dressed up (pictures will come later with better internet connection), and sang Christmas songs and shared Christmas stories as the sun went down. On our way out we were blessed to see an actual shepherd watching over sheep on the slope. This was such a wonderfully vivid trip back in time. I loved it. I love this shepherd's face looking out over the sheep on the hill.

Red Sea / Gulf of Aqaba Snorkeling!

Here is the northern most tip of the Gulf of Aqaba
On the beach
Before the dive
Playing around off the dock

Here are the reefs. (so much more beautiful from under water)
Mariah making faces

Fishy
The Eilat Boardwalk
Looking south toward Saudi Arabia.

It was so nice to have a free day to go and swim and relax after a gruling week of finals.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Andyana Jones and the Last Crusade

This week was such an adventure in the land "beyond Jordan" in a country now called Jordan. It was really interesting to see an Arab country other than Egypt. I quite enjoyed my health condition there as well. Jordan is very Americanized especially in Amman, but there is so much that is fundamentally different. For example, they are a "United Kingdom" and therefore have a king. Pictures of this guy are EVERYWHERE but he is a really nice looking guy. I wish I could meet him because his smile (seen on every street and business and building) is very pleasant. Here is a list of places we went and things we did:



Mt. Nebo - hiked to the top (more of a hill than a mountain)
Shobat Castle - an impressive crusader castle

Windy from the top!

I was trying to have fun storming the castle! That's my best "storming the castle" look.

Mariah really didn't want Alex's face to be in the picture.

Savanah, Mariah and Candace

"I blow my nose at you, so-called Ah-thoor Keeng, you and all your
silly English K-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-niggits!"

Shobat Castle!


I don't know how they could have ever captured this fortress, but they did.

Wadi Musa - a city of hotels at the mouth of Petra

Me and some of the other JC kids playing soccer in the streets with some Jordanian kids at night. They beat us way bad, but it was way fun. It brought back the memories of Chile.

Petra - an amazing array of 8000 fascades in sandstone that are thousands of years old where Indiana Jones was filmed.



Jerash - An ancient Roman City. One of the Decapolis and one of the best preserved Roman ruins in the world.

This is one of the most beautiful flowers I have seen. It was just outside of the Hadrian's Arch.

Amman - the former Roman Philadelphia, the largest city in Jordan with 2 million people. All the houses are made of limestone so it is sometimes called "the white city". One of the Decapolis.

The Copper Scroll. This was in the museum on the citadel in the middle of Amman. This is one of Dead Sea Scrolls. It is one of the only evidences of the fact that ancient writers used metal for their records. Pretty awesome.

On top of the Citadel. This is where Uriah was sent in battle by David when he was put into the "hot parts" of the battle.

This was in the Royal Automobile museum. I didn't put any of the cool cars on here, but this was the funnest picture of them all. The King has had some pretty screamin cars. Wow. Youtube "bugatti" and watch it roar.

This is the royal mosque. It was huge and really pretty.

The white city of Amman, Jordan.

Bethabara - at the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. The lowest elevated place on earth.
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
(Matthew 3:16-17)


Here is a timelapse of a deconstruction of a rock stack in Petra.