the sea of Galilee!!!

Well i am glad to report to my faithful readers that i spent the last 11 days on a kibbutz in the Galilee. I stayed in a bungalo right on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, yes that is the very sea the Christ walked on at one point and calmed at another point. I was able to visit a million and one sites in the area where Christ spent most of his life. I visited Nazereth, Mount of Beattitudes, Capernaum, Caeseria Philippi, and possible mount of Transfiguration sites!!! My friends and i had bomb fires on the beach, swam in the sea, and kayaked the Jordan River. Most amazingly we were also able to study and ponder the teachings of the Savior where they originated from. I loved it so much and i feel that i was able to grow closer to my Savior and become a better person through the experience.
Two experiences stood out in the experience as a whole....first my jog to Hypos and secondly my visit to Nain.
First, i took some of my freetime on the last day in the Galilee to jog to some ancient ruins, a city called Hypos, that is fixed a top an overlook above the sea of Galilee. It took me some time to fog up the steep winding roads but i did not mind because the view atop the mount was beautiful...on the top of the "mountain" i was able to ponder my life and the Savior's life. I came away feeling more faithful than i have felt in some time...I know that God listens to our prayers and that he loves us...I know that the Lord will hear us and work with us to help us overcome our sins and shortcomings so that we can be better and one day return to live with him as eternal families. It is his work and his glory. After my time at the ruins I began my descent. As i jogged down the roads and looked down over the sea of Galilee, Jesus' hood, my ipod played Onward Christian Soldiers. It dawned on me that this was a neat experience and i began let out a few mighty yawps and whoops...as load as i could!!! The jog down was much easier and faster.
Second, I had a cool expeirence at a small modest church, different than most here, that celebrated the story of the widow of Nain. I learned insights from my professors regarding Jesus' compassion for this particular widow whos son had just died. Emotion ran through me as a thought about my mother who was widowed and i thought about the compassion the Savior had shown my family and me. I than was overcome with guilt for all the little miracles i had turned from by sinning, by laziness, by ingratitude, by selfishness and i resolved to be a better person for the Savior!!! I want to be clean and always show my God that i am willing to do what it takes to earn his mercy! I feel my heart changing...Let us all take it upon ourselves to walk a little straighter, to lengthen our stride, and to be just a little better.
Well i love you all...I know this is a more serious blog and i hope that is okay...know worries there are plenty of funny blogs ahead of us!
JOrdan Mulford

Tales from the Crypt

My dear friends i do not entitle this blog "tales of the crypt" because i or you are dead....no no no i am actually in good health....Great health. I entitled this blog in this manner because it is about my adventures in the land known as EGYPT!!! yes yes i know what you are thinking (intro Indiana Jones theme song)...you are thinking how did i ever survive in such a place! Answer: my amazingly amazing adventure skills. In all seriousness it was such a blast!! I rode Camels, i rode a sail boat up the Nile river, I stood inside the Great Pyramids, I walked the walkways of the Karnak and Luxor temples, and i even kissed the sphinx! Ha ha ha no i really did! I witnessed the marvels built by Rameses II and Tutmose III...It was amazing! I was awed by the golden mask of King Tut...and i hiked to the tippy top of Mount Sinai!!! I had so much fun with my friends as we saw sites all week from the scriptures and from Egyptian history. What a blast check out the pics....

Hello soldiers!!!

It has been some time since i blogged and i am so so so sorry for that my fellow friends...On the up side i have been keeping a journal!!!

Let me tell you about a few things that i have been doing here in the Holy Land!!!! First of all i have been visiting many holy sites and i love every minute of it...to name a few i have seen...where David slew Goliath, the walls of Jericho, where David saw Bathsheeba, where Christ ascended into heaven, where Christ healed the blind man with clay, the site of the temple of Solomon and Zerubbabel and Herod, HEzekiah's tunnel, Elder Holland's favorite place in the Holy Land, The mount of Olives, the mount of Offense, David's Palace in the city of David, Bethlehem, Garden Tomb, the fortifying cities of Israel, Gibeon where the sun stood still, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and many more!!!

It is pretty cool i will not lie....that list is so wussy and for that i am sorry for not staying on top of my blog....

WEll i love you all my friends,

JOrdan Mulford

Mustache Militia

Here i stand in the Holiest of Lands! I have stood in the presence of world wonders like the Nile and the Pyramids. I look out my bedroom window every morning and see the dome of the rock and the western wall. I sleep and awake to the Jerusalem call to prayer...I truly live in a land of magic carpet rides; it is a whole new world! How could i dare close my eyes? Such a beautiful place and yet i yearn for more!!! My heart it cries, "what a gaping hole there is in my left atrium...What is missing?!!!" I listen and i wonder and ponder. After many nights of resltess dreams and lost sleep due to the worry and need to fill my broken heart i have come to only one conclusion! I must join with the Mustache Militia!!! They have been signing volunteers here but a fortnight ago. I must sign my soul to a contract binding me to the growth of facial hair on my upper lip....this and only this will calm my troubled mind. In the carefully sculpted short stubble on my upper lip i will find peace...
If you too feel lost and alone....maybe your heart and soul cry out, "help us we need comfort!" consider the Mustache Militia. They are an elite group of substantial military prowess similar to that of the Navy Seals or the Green Berets...and yet they are more. It is truly a misconception that they are a symbol of burps and farts...wife beater t-shirts and Nascar. They are upper class gentleman with standards..."forks on the left and knives on the right," they order the uneducated. They are a symbol of all manhood. Raw Testosterone!!! They can simultaneously fold a man into a pretzel; Eat a nine course meal in a tux; and take a shower!
Think of the greats...Tom Selik...Chuck Norris...and Johnny Depp.
Mustache equals Peace!!!
cordially yours,
Jordan Mulford

The Wall

Well hello one and all...I know that i have not written as diligently as i need to do!!! I do have things to tell you though about this wonderful land we call Holy!! It is fantastic...I have visited many places and been witness to many examples of different religious beliefs...Let me tell you about one such occasion...There is a wall here known as the Wailing Wall this wall is held sacred by the Jewish people and they often are found worshipping at the wall. Jews will often pray at the wall and write written prayers and stick them into the cracks of the wall...when they pray they rock back and forth and read from the scriptures. They do this so that they can show the Lord that they are using their heart, might, mind and souls in their worship! After praying they back up slowly from the wall so as not to turn there backs on the Lord. I have also prayed at the wall and stuck my written prayer into the cracks that are all over in it.

Why is this wall so sacred you may ask. Well let me give you the brief synopsis. This is where the temple of Solomon stood before it was destroyed...than Zerubabel rebuilt his temple their. Finally Herod added onto the temple and made it a marvelous and magnificent place in his time.
This temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD. The Wall is what is left of the temple mount of Herod's temple. It is holy to the Jews as it is the last remnant of the temple that they have!

The other night i went to the temple to welcome in the Sabbath with my peers. The wall was transformed to a jovial party. When these guys say they are welcoming in the Sabbath they really do a bang up job!!! WE were dancing and singing and making merry! It was such a cool experience....people were in there nice clothes praying and worshipping together....It was so cool!!! Bottom line if you are the kind of person that is spiritual and at the same time loves to party it up...I have found the place for you!!!

Jerusalem!!!

Well hello my dear and faithful readers...I have found myself in the Holy Land....and all that i can say is WOW!!! It is amazing already...as i have witnessed the Muslim call to Prayer and the Christian worship at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and also watched the Orthodox Jews praying i have felt the spirit so strongly....The people are so devout!!! I walked throught he streets of the old city yesterday and i was in shock as i winded in and out of allyways and small streets with shops on every side...It was as if i went back in time to the time of Christ!!! I love this place and i promise to post pics and to keep you updated with more stories when i have more to say....