By JOANNE BUTTERFIEL
Whether they are standing in the Garden of Gethsemane, on top of the Mount of Olives or in the middle of the Holy Land, surrounded by sacred sites dating back to the time of Christ, married students grow and learn while spending time together in the Jerusalem Center study abroad program.
Each semester or term, married couples are given the opportunity to study together while attending the Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies. The center, sponsored by BYU, is located northeast of the Old City in Jerusalem.
Mark and Becky Fellows spent about two months in Jerusalem last spring. They had been married for 9 months and they said it was one of the best experiences they have had together.
'It was the one time in our lives we could be together every minute of the day,' said Mark, a senior from Las Vegas, Nev., majoring in international relations.
'The whole experience helps you grow as a couple,' said Becky, a graduate student from Salt Lake City. 'You can't put a price on it.'
'I would go back in a heartbeat,' she said. 'The best reasons to go over there are the incredible experiences you have and the knowledge you gain.'
While students are attending the Jerusalem Center, they have the opportunity to study topics such as the Old and New Testaments, ancient and modern Near Eastern Studies and foreign languages such as Hebrew and Arabic.
Students can also take field trips to sites in Jerusalem, the Sinai Peninsula and the Sea of Galilee.
Becky said one of her favorite experiences was a trip to the Mount of Beatitudes. While there, the students read the account of the Beatitudes from the New Testament and pondered how to become more Christlike.
Mark said the time spent on Mt. Sinai was a turning point for the group. 'We started getting to really know each other,' he said. 'It was one of the best experiences we had.'
The Fellows said there are advantages and disadvantages to studying at the Jerusalem Center as a married couple.
For instance, Mark and Becky were able to leave at night and spend time together, unlike single students who are not allowed to go out on dates.
There were some things, however, that they couldn't do, such as hold hands in the Old City.
'You had to really watch any public displays of affection, which wasn't really a problem for us,' Becky said.
The cost of attending the Jerusalem Center can be a burden on students. The Fellows said they received scholarships, used savings accounts and took out student loans to fund their trip.
Students should do whatever it takes to attend the Jerusalem Center, Becky said.
'It is absolutely worth it,' Mark said.
Larisa Grove, a sophomore from El Paso, Texas, majoring in family history, said she and her fiancee have decided they want to spend a semester in the Jerusalem Center soon after they are married.
Grove's fiancee, Greg Poulson, a junior from Redding, Calif., majoring in sports medicine, said they have thought a lot about being able to afford the trip but have decided the money will be well spent and the experience would be worth it.
'We have heard a lot about the learning and growth which takes place over at the Jerusalem Center, and we are excited to be a part of that experience,' Grove said.
An employee in the Jerusalem Center Provo Office said there is space for three couples to go each semester. She said both members of the couple need to be degree-seeking students attending a university on a full-time basis.
People who attend the Jerusalem Center generally need to be undergraduate students, but there have been a few occasions where one was an undergraduate and one was a graduate student, the employee said.
People interested in attending the Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies can contact the Jerusalem Center Provo Office in 309 HCEB or can call (801) 378-6017 or 1-800-872-5904.