So, I've been thinking that I need to add some of the more interesting experiences that I have been having here in Israel on to this blog to illustrate just a few of the fun things that life here in the Holy Land has to offer. I'll probably just end up copying and revamping them from a journal that I am keeping of my experiences here. Here's one from a while ago...

I was standing around with a few friends of mine outside in the student village one night before returning to our respective apartments when we were approached by a young man, also a student at Hebrew University (studying music composition or piano performance…something of that nature). His name was Gilad I believe. He approached and kind of asked if he could join us…somewhat a weird introduction, but we were all nice about it and started to talk to him. We then began talking more in-depth about ourselves- somewhat splitting into smaller groups of twos or threes as these things are want to do. So I talked with him a little, and he (having spent time in the US) asked if I was Mormon upon hearing that I was from Utah. I affirmed this and the conversation moved elsewhere upon my own promptings since I’m not supposed to talk of my religion (least of all with a Jewish Israeli). Then whole group conversation came back together again at that point and he was astounded somewhat to figure out that of all of us, he was the only Jew. Out of the people there, one of my friends was Protestant (Baptist) and the other couple were Roman Catholic. So then he, addressing the group as a whole, said, “ok, so we have Catholics, a Protestant, and a heretic!” I immediately guffawed because it was hilarious. He said it with a slight smile, indicating that he was aware somewhat of the theological controversies historically arising between all of us and even showing that he understood not only the Mormon position on some aspects of Christian doctrine, but the place of those doctrines in Christian history and the modern response from the Christian world to the Mormons. I wasn’t insulted at all, but rather thought it was great because it was the first time I had openly been called a heretic. Oddly enough, that never happened on my mission. I later asked my protestant friend if she viewed me as a heretic, and she said she didn’t. Nevertheless, it was an experience that all Mormons should have at least once.

Go Mormonism!