Camera Mount

Hello everyone,

I made it back from Israel/Palestine without any problems, it was a wonderful trip, thank you to all who helped. So, I'm in the process of buying video/photo equipment, this is to strengthen my portfolio and make sure I don't loose the skills that I already have. I have decided to buy the Canon t21, it's a DSLR that can shoot in full HD video and takes great photos (I hope, I still have to make enough to buy it). I have also just bought a new computer (a 13" macbook pro) along with the editing software I need, this is all very pricey, but I hope that it all pays off in the end. One thing that it really fun with film is trying to figure out how to keep the camera steady when moving, a DSLR has other interesting problems (it's not made for steady continues shooting, just one at a time), so I took an existing product and created a mount that really helps keep things steady. These things can be super expensive, but mine only cost $4!! Anywho, all is well.

Yes, that is my 'Flip' attached to the mount, it's all I have right now, so don't laugh.

This 'feature' is really nice with the DSLR, it makes it so you can still hold the camera with your right hand and the left side gives it nice stability.

BYU-Idaho Article

I had some time at the Center today, so I decided to write a small article for the newspaper at BYU-Idaho, I have no idea if it will make it in, but here it is, I hope you enjoy it.

Every day I open my eyes and the Holy City is there to greet them. The Dome of the Rock, the Mt. of Olives, and the Garden Tomb, unchanged from one year to the next, teach me lessons that can't be forgotten.
Each semester dozens of students from all walks of life leave the Idaho, Provo, and Hawaii campuses to study abroad in Jerusalem. There is no place quite like Jerusalem, it is an ancient city, a holy city. From my first moments here I realized this. I also came to understand that we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not the only ones in the world who feel strongly about what we believe. This became apparent to me my first morning here, when I was awakened at dawn by the call to prayer of the Muslims. It was shortly after this first experience that we ventured into the city, where we visited some of he most holy sites in this land; the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Western Wall, and the Dome of the Rock.
Although these sites are important and sacred to many people, I have found that it's the people that matter. I was able to feel the dedication of Christians worldwide when I participated in the Triumphal Entry and services on Easter Sunday, these are people with strong faith in Christ, they know the He is their Savior. I came to better understand the Jews one Friday night when I was able to welcome in the Sabbath with them at the Western Wall; it was there that I say their joy in being able to worship freely. I am touched when I think of the many Muslim bus drivers I've seen who pull out their prayer mats and pray each time we stop for a few moments, their dedication and faith had strengthened my own.
These lessons are not the only ones I have learned, the students I am with never cease to buoy me up and show me the way. One can imagine that after three and a half months of living in close proximity with 82 students that things could get silly, and they sometimes do. However, I cannot count the times I have rounded a corner here at our beloved center and seen one or two students reading the scriptures, praying, or writing in a journal, their insights and the examples amaze me. President Hinckley often told us that we, this generation, were good kids, my testimony of that has been strengthened because of the examples of my fellow students.
I can say that I have traveled the world after this expedience, I've seen from Egypt to the Galilee, and from Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea. But, I have learned on very important lesson; it doesn't matter where you are in this world, whether it be Rexburg or Jerusalem, if we look around us, we will find the good, our faith will grow. I am grateful for this experience, I am glad that I came, I am blessed to have rubbed shoulders with the wonderful people of this world who love God and love their fellow men, these are lessons I will never forget.

Random Pictures

So, here are some random pictures that I decided to put up. Hope you all enjoy them!

I was feeling artsy (yes me) the other day so I decided to make this piece, it kind of sums up what I feel about this experiance.

This is the sunset at Shephards Field, you can see why Christ loved this land.

This is the "Suk". The suk is the marketplace in West Jerusalem, it's lound and crazy, that's what makes it fun. I really wish we had markets in the states.

This crouch has become one of my trademarks in pictures. This is on top of a mountain in Jordan!

This is on top of the Jordanian mountains, it was all rock and beautiful.

So, the other day a few of us went out and met some new folks. The kid with the curly hair is named Matt, he's from the Chek Republic. We kept running into him at differnt sites, so we invited him to tag along. We even brought him to the center afterward to see it, he was a really neat kid. The only girl in the picture is Shonni. Shonni is an LDS girl from DC. She was in Isreal to pick up a pacient, she's an international nurse. She actually met us at the center in the morning and we spent the day showing her around, she was super cool and way nice. This day was one of my very favorites in Jerusalem.

This is Haifa, it's a nice city right on the coast.

This is the famous Dead Sea mud, it smelt like sulfer but was really fun.

For those of you who didn't know, I'm a rock in the water, the second I stop moving I sink straight to the bottom, so this picture is a mirical happening (and no, it's not because of how fat I've gotten here).

I think I should sent this picture to Chaco and entitle it "Chacos in Petra."

Catch Up

Just a quick update (I'm studying for finals tomarrow). Jordan was great, it was clean and was a neat country. Petra was amazing, there was way more there then I would have ever thought. The past little bit I have been having fun in the city and studying. Monday was a great day for me. I spent all day in city showing two people who had never seen it around, it was fun to feel their excitment, and they were great people. All in all life is good. I'll try to get some pictures up later. Chau!

Jordan Prep

Well,
this past week has been crazy, I'm exhausted. I don't think I've ever seen so many christians of different sects in my life, but the Holy weel was neat to see, there are a lot of devout people out there. This morning we're off to Jordan, I don't really know what to fully expect, it'll be fun. I'll post pictures and all when I get back. Happy late Easter!