Here in Jerusalem: Craig and Jana

Good Bye Jerusalem

2010-08-16T21:40:00.000-07:00

Going...

Gone!!

Good Bye Jerusalem--It has been an adventure. We enjoyed our last sunset, our last walk in the Old City, our last Arabic meal of pita, hummus and salads, our last fresh squeezed orange juice, our last bargaining deal, and our last visit to the Garden Tomb. We have seen the beauty of this land through all seasons. We have had a year of climbs, both spiritually and physically. We have "seized the day" and "embraced the sweat." We have had tears and laughs, up's and down's. We have learned to appreciate the "Call to Prayer" at 4:00 a.m. We have made many new friends--work colleages, students, Branch members, and locals. We have learned to love the people--Arabs and Israeli's, Jewish and Muslims. We have become more knowledgeable about their beliefs, customs, and circumstances. We have come to understand their aggressiveness and passion. We have walked where Jesus walked and come to know Him intimately and have felt deeply of His sacrifice for us. It has been a year that has changed us, and we will remember it for the rest of our lives. Jerulalem will be in our hearts forever. Now--homeward bound to see the family we love and have missed dearly. Good Bye Jerusalem--until next time.

Egypt

2010-06-02T00:38:00.000-07:00

2010-05-24T01:07:00.001-07:00

Trip to Jordan

2010-04-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

"Listen up Tanner--This is what it is all about."
Tanner gives a thumbs up to the Treasury in Petra

Funny camel.
Tanner is in awe at everything in Petra.
After the big hike this is what we found--the Monestary!
The Emmett family and Tanner.
Tanner and five year old Will have become quite the buddies.
A silouette jump shot--Tanner and the Emmett kids.
Amazing things to see in Petra.
Mom and Brooke in our twin-er shirts.
Roman ruins in Jerash
Tanner met some cute Palestinian girls.
Student shot with Tanner.
Dad, Mom, and Tanner at the Mosque in Amman. (a bit blurry)
Tanner with cute Sister Whipple, one of the service couples. She reminds us of Grandma.
Tanner at the Jordan River where Christ was baptized. What a great trip. (Sorry I got carried away with the pictures)

2010-03-26T10:15:00.001-07:00

Five sheet cakes, 100 people, PARTY!!!
Birthday kisses--and this wasn't the only one. How could it get any better!?

2010-03-22T00:44:00.001-07:00

Faculty field trip
The students are always doing "jumping photos." We decided the faculty needed to do a "jumping photo." so here we are jumping. We don't get quite as much air as the students.

2010-03-14T00:41:00.000-08:00

We have been to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem many times, and it is always crowded with people. It was crowded on this day, but I was determined to get a picture of me by the star, the place where they say Christ was laid when he was a baby. As a student was taking a picture, Craig jumped in the picture--a rare time when we get a picture of us together.

It's a great time of the year in Jerusalem

2010-02-21T08:09:00.000-08:00

It's a great time of the year in Jerusalem. Last semester when we went on field trips with the students, we would look out and only see brown. Now look!! It's green everywhere! It's cool and pleasant! It's wonderful.
Flowers in bloom -- (Dome of the Rock in background)
Poppies everywhere--
Stay like this forever--

Jericho Field Trip

2010-02-07T02:15:00.000-08:00

"...take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel..." (Joshua 4:5) Students placing their stones, to commemorate crossing the Jordan and going into Jericho.
Tel Jericho is where the Israelites conquest of the Holy Land took place--where the "walls came tumbling down."
A view of Jericho from Tel Jericho.
It never rains in Jericho! That's what we told the students as we headed out to our Jericho field trip from Jerusalem where it was pouring down rain. Guess what? It was raining in Jericho! We were there at an historic moment--rain in Jericho!

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Was it a dream?

2010-01-29T00:47:00.000-08:00

And here is the happy couple on Dec. 18 jumping for joy. We had a very fine day. But I have to keep looking at this picture, because I keep thinking, "Are they really married? Was it all a dream?" It doesn't seem real, because it all went too fast, and here we are back in Jerusalem moving on. And they are moving forward with their lives back in Utah. (Sigh)

Perfect Match

2010-01-24T00:51:00.000-08:00

We flew home from Jerusalem, to meet our soon to be new daughter in law and attend their wedding. This is what her and Colby were wearing the first time I met her. Ok--it didn't take much convincing that they were a perfect match.

A walk to the Old City

2009-12-02T04:41:00.000-08:00

I take a walk to the Old City. Mothers are strolling along with their children.

Would I like an orange/pomegranate juice drink? They could squeeze it for me right here.
I walk through Damascus Gate.
There's the bins and bins of gummies.
And a Jewish man coming down the steps.
And here are the Israeli soldiers with their guns. Wow--I am living in Jerusalem.

Thanksgiving is Israel

2009-12-02T04:15:00.000-08:00

We were in the Galilee for Thanksgiving. We stayed in a kubutz, which consists of many little cottages on the beach. The Sea of Galilee is beautiful and peaceful. On Wed. evening the place that fed us cooked us a Thanksgiving dinner. We walked into a room decorated with red, white, and blue balloons. Out came the waldorf salad, the baked potato, the sweet potatoes, the corn, and the rolls. But the most exciting part was when they turned out the lights and brought out the turkeys with sparklers in the top. Everyone cheered and clapped. Craig was able to carve the turkey for our table. We did miss the cranberry sauce and the pumpkin pie, but Thanksgiving in the Galilee was a once in a life time event.

Students in Jerusalem

2009-11-10T09:18:00.000-08:00

I made Texas Sheet cake the other night. Some students came knocking on our door and said, "We smell something." They came in and played "Settlers" with Tanner and ate all the cake. Nathan even licked the pan. They are fun to have around. They liven up our apartment!!

Western Wall in Jerusalem

2009-11-09T22:55:00.000-08:00

The Western Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is Judaisms most Holy site, because it is a remnant of the Herodian retaining wall that once enclosed and supported the Second Temple. It is like an open-air synagogue where Jews gather to pray, read scriptures, celebrate Bar and Bat Mitsvahs, and to welcome in the Sabbath. There is singing and dancing as they parade in. The women gather on the left side and the men on the right side.

Spices, Vegtables, and Bread

2009-11-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

How about some spices from Jerusalem (a creative tower of spices)...

or some vegtables (what a sweet lady)...

...and some bread (Yum...love the bread here).

Petra

2009-11-06T09:03:00.000-08:00

Our Jordan/Petra trip was amazing. After walking for a kilometer through a narrow gorge, it opened up into the city of Petra, which was inhabitated by the Nabataeans, an Arab people, 2000 years ago during the time of Christ. They lived here for over 400 years, carving their city into the sandstone cliffs, making temples, arched gateways, theaters, tombs, etc. and the most famous monument, The Treasury (pictured above). It truly is one of the New Wonders of the World.

District Youth Activity in Haifa

2009-10-01T05:46:00.000-07:00

Haifa
Tanner at the gravesite of LDS missionary
Baha'i Gardens
Playing games at the Becksteads apartment
Anteater game--save Tanner!
The youth of Israel

The Master Teacher

2009-09-21T04:36:00.000-07:00

Here he is--doing what he loves the most--teaching!! And what better way to do it--On the site. See that smile on his face, and the thumb is up. He is thinking, "This is the greatest thing ever." We are at the Sorek Valley--one of the five valleys of the Judean Shephelah. Sampson was reared in the Sorek Valley and this provides the setting for the Sampson narratives in the Book of Judges. Beth Shemesh, a fortified Israelite town in the Sorek Valley, was a safeguard for the valley against Philistine. When the Philistines suffered for possessing the Ark of the Covenant, they put it on a cart and directed the animals toward the city of Beth Shemesh. Fun stories to tell here.

Therapy and Stress Relievers

2009-09-11T01:32:00.000-07:00

Making homemade cinnamon rolls relieves some stress

Tanner getting some stress relief

I found some cookies and cream ice

cream. And a big bottle of coke has

become essential.
And see Eliza'a cute picture--that

makes us happy.

Putting a puzzel together is relaxing therapy

Driving in Jerusalem is quite the stressful ordeal. I take a deep breath, clench my fists to the steering wheel and head out. I say to myself, "I don't really want to do this." And then the thought comes back to haunt me-- the thing I always said to my kids--"You don't have to want to."

Traffic laws here, and signs, and signals are just a "suggestion" of how to drive. The light signals turn yellow before the red light AND before the green light--at which time everyone behind you starts honking. It is like they are trying to create a honking melody. Cars nudge into your lane at no warning. Scooters and people appear in front of you out of nowhere. You should never plan on going anywhere in a hurry, as the traffic is always busy. All cars have dents and scratches. (I wonder why) If you get lost, (which I have done often) there is no where to pull over to rest your mind and figure out where you are. You just keep going around and around listening to the honking melodies until at last you see the "Mt. Scopus" sign and you heave a sigh of relief because you know you are headed in the direction of "home"-- even if you never found where you wanted to go.

And if you are lucky and find where you wanted to go, don't shout "hur-ray" too fast because---Where do you park??!! " To lose yourself is to find yourself " is my new motto. I know the more I get lost, the more I will find my way around. It just has to happen.

In the meantime we need some "stress relievers and therapy."

Shopping in Jerusalem

2009-09-06T12:26:00.000-07:00

"Yuppie" Mall Grocery Store

Old City

Shopping in the Old City is amazing--street after street, alley after alley, winding here and there--shop after shop--and everything and anything to buy. And shop keeper after shop keeper yelling, "I make you a good deal. Come and look." There are people and language of every kind. You could wander for hours and get lost and when you find your way out and walk a little ways you can find yourself in the "Yuppie Mall"--a very fancy and up to date shopping plaza, with a brand new Gap store. Which do I like best? The Old City is definitely more interesting and where I have a yearning to go back to over and over. But I do like the clean bathrooms in the "Yuppie Mall."

And grocery shopping is another adventure. I miss the nice big parking lots and parking that don't cost money, the wide aisles to go up and down, baskets that you don't have to put a 5 sheckle in to use it. The other day I walked in a grocery store and a man sitting at the door said something to me in either Arabic or Hebrew. I didn't know what he was saying. Finally a lady behind me said, "He wants to search your bag." Ok--that is a new one too.

"Walking in the Footsteps of Peter, Andrew, and Philip"

2009-09-04T07:20:00.000-07:00

Bethsiada, located on shores of the Sea of Galilee, was the home to three of Jesus's apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip (possibly the home of Nathanael as well). As Iwalked along the cardo of the village I was reminded of Andrew's declaration to his brother Peter, "we have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ," (John 1:41). Not all knowledge is of equal value and to know that Jesus is the Christ is the greatest knowlege one can posses. I testify along with Andrew, "come with me, for I have found the Messiah."

"Running On Pure Oxgyen at 702 feet Below Sea Level"

2009-09-04T07:03:00.000-07:00

With sand beneath my feet and the wind in my (grey) hair I was running on what seemed like pure oxygen. I looked at my niffty garmin watch and it read -702 feet, I was on the shores of the

Sea of Galilee. I cranked up my speed to a 7:30 pace for the next mile. My heart rate was just over 100 beats a minute and I was not winded the least bit. I wasn't walking on water but it felt like I was running on pure air.

"Looking out my Back Door" The Dome of the Rock

2009-08-29T23:59:00.000-07:00

This is one of the three views "looking our my back door." Sounds like the title of a country western song. By the way I have yet to hear any good country music since our arrival-"Oh My ackin breakin heart." This is our view looking west. I keep trying to look over the top of the hill to see if I can Lindon, Utah. No luck as of yet. We live on Mt. Scopus one of three consecutive hills on the Mt. of Olives just east to Jerusalem. The word Scopus is Greek and means "overlook.' It was the overlook for the Romans (10th Legion) 70 AD and the latter the Babyaloninas). These conquoring empires used Mt. Scopus, where I live, as their overlook into the city of Jerusalem. From Mt. Scopus they planned their attack on the city. There have been days when I feel like I to am a Roman soldier wondering why I am in this distant forigen land. Yes, me and the Roman soldier we have one thing in common, we are both here to conquor Jerusalem. I keep you posted as who is winning the battle. Onward Christian Soldiers.

"Looking out my Back Door"

2009-08-29T23:47:00.000-07:00

This is one of three views out our back door onto our veranda. While I love the roses I would love to replace one or two with a couple of tomato plants. The closest tree is an olive tree with small green olives. I like to come out here in the morning and evening and eat my meals or read a chapter in a book. Since our apartment is the size of a craker-jacks-box the veranda is a great place to hangout.

"Eleven Muligan and One Fat Man:" Wasatch Back 2008 Relay

2008-06-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

Take a look at this. Kaitlyn has joined the ranks of the Manscill's awesomeness crazy running adventures. Congratulations are certainly in order as Kait and her team completed the 182 miles. Kait did her part by completeing her three running legs for the team.
She is seen here admiring her medal. It has been suggested, by Kait, that next year the Manscill's have a team with the whole family joining in. Who wants in??
Colby also ran the race, also on a different team. I only wish you could of all seen Colby running his second leg of the race. The leg was in Morgan and it was just past dusk. He had glow sticks on his neck, writs, and ankles. He was a running Christmas tress for shore.

"One Man Down:" Wasatch Back Relay 2008

2008-06-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

"One Man Down:" Wasatch Back Relay 2008
This past weekend I ran in the 182 mile relay from Logan to Park City, Utah. There were 12 men on my team titled, you guessed it "One Man Down." There were over 7000 runners on 580 teams competing to finish the race. The race began on Friday and concluded on Saturday afternoon or evening for most teams.
The 12 members on the team are divided in half with 6 in a vehical. The first 6 runners take a leg of the race and then turn it over to the the second team of 6 to run while the first six rest up for their next leg. Each runner runs three legs. Kevin Pinder and Randy Neilson were on my team. We completed the race in 22 hours.

Mysterious Sign Appears in Manscill Yard

2007-10-30T13:13:00.000-07:00

Braking News: A mysterious sign has shown up in the Manscill yard. It reads, "Here lies the last dog that popped in my yard."
Rather than call out the Lindon City animal control, which does not exist, a less threatening measure has been taken to deter neighborhood dogs from depositing their previous doggy meal on my picture perfect lawn. And you thought that dogs couldn't read.
Believe it or not I, Craig\Gramps Manscill, have been accused of disorderly conduct, posting the sign, by his said wife, Mrs. Jana perfect Manscill. I plead the fifth amendment, Aaron is this within my rights?

Fabulous Photos of Fall Family Home

2007-10-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

Do you notice the "burning bush" shrubs brilliant red color. No they are not on fire. Fall has come to quiet hamlet cal-de-sac in Lindon. Tempaturres are dipping into the low forties with an ocassional thirty now and then.
Did I hear you comment on the deep lust green color of the manacured Manscill lawn. Let' hear for Dad\Gramps. My secret is a 16-16-16 blend of the cheapest feritizer on the market. Call me if you want more details.

Caleb Scores: Please take a Bow

2007-10-30T12:29:00.000-07:00

Thought I would brag on Caleb. Did you know that he was a recipient of a recent award given by the BYU Business Department. Yes, he was! He was one of six people honored in a recent banquet, which i was a guest, that honored him for his creative entrepreneur business plan. In addition, he was awarded a scholarship, a rare possession for a Manscill prodigy, that covers his tuition for the coming school year. Let's hear it for Caleb. Caleb take a bow! PS James Endicot, Caleb's mentor, celebrates the moment in the photo.