The Wall

The Wall.  Known to Israelis as the Security Barrier.  Known to Palestinians as the Apartheid Wall.  Known to me as one of the most hideous scars in this ancient city and beautiful land.   From my location on Jerusalem-Hebron Road in Bethlehem, I can see it out the front windows of the Guest House and out my window on the back side of the Guest House.  It is one of the harsh realities of life in the West Bank, and something that I have faced, quite literally, since the day I arrived, but have chosen not to write about until now.  The Wall runs through Bethlehem and, when it was erected, cut off dozens of businesses and families from the rest of Bethlehem.  Not surprisingly, those businesses failed and an Israeli settlement is now being built in that area instead.

Down the street from me

Israel claims the Wall was built for security reasons, to stop suicide bombings during the Second Intifada in the early 2000’s.  I won’t take space here to argue whether or not the decline in suicide bombings can be directly attributed to the construction of the Wall. Arguments can easily be made both ways. Suffice it to say that Wall is not yet complete and it is quite possible to get around it if one is determined to do so.  Instead, I will talk about what the Wall is and what is means to Palestinian life.

Where the Wall is complete (like in and around Bethlehem and Jerusalem), it is 28 feet high.  The Berlin Wall was 11 feet high.  In many places it is extensive electrified fencing with 60 foot exclusion zones on either side. If the Wall were truly for security, it would run along the Green Line which marks the 1967 boundary between Israel and the West Bank and East Jerusalem and has been the starting point for negotiations in the peace process. Instead, 85 percent of the Wall runs inside the Green Line.   If it ran along the Green Line, it would be 200 miles long. Instead, its final proposed route is over 400 miles long and zigzags in and around Palestinian villages, agricultural land and water resources.  It divides some Palestinian towns right down the middle, separating farmers from their land, workers from their jobs and students from their schools.  Other towns are completely surrounded by it. When completed, the Wall will annex almost half of the West Bank into Israel, leaving Palestinians living in isolated ghettos with access between these areas strictly controlled by Israel.  In practice, this system is already in place.   As of February, there are 99 checkpoints in the West Bank and between the West Bank and Israel.  Palestinians are required to get a permit to enter Israel, and permits are most often denied.

What does this mean for Palestinian life?  For farmers cut off from their property, it means they cannot farm and will possibly lose their land due to Israel’s draconian Absentee Owner law which states that if farmland is left fallow for four years it becomes “state” land. The Wall enables Israel to take Palestinian land from its owners who, because of the Wall, cannot access it.  Palestinian agricultural products often can’t get to markets in Israel, or outside of Israel for that matter since Israel controls all borders.  Fruits and vegetables either rot or farmers give up because the available markets in the West Bank are glutted. Farmers then, for economic reasons, don’t farm their land and the Wall wins again. For Palestinians with work permits for Israel, it means arriving at crowded checkpoints by 5am, waiting for hours to get through, and making sure to get back before the checkpoint closes for the evening. 

Bethlehem checkpoint

Getting through a checkpoint can mean having all your belonging dumped out on the ground, being searched, harassed, humiliated, and detained and even denied entry.  People in need of urgent medical care after checkpoints have closed for the day are often denied entry to Israel for treatment.  Though it is hard to find complete numbers, in recent years dozens of people have died at checkpoints attempting to get medical care.  The same goes for women in labor.  Dozens of babies have been born at – and died at – checkpoints, along with their mothers.  I have Palestinian Christian friends in Bethlehem who have not been to the Holy Sites in Jerusalem, which is literally only a 15 minute drive, because they cannot get a permit.  With my American passport, I can easily pass through checkpoints.  My Palestinian friends with American passports cannot.  Their passport says they were born in Palestine so they are subjected to different rules than me.

The Palestinian village of Bil’in has organized weekly demonstrations since 2005 to protest

Protests in Bil'in

the construction of the Wall whose route separates the village from more than half of its agricultural land.  Another draconian Israeli military law states that a protest or even a procession of 10 or more people is illegal and the military is then allowed to forcefully disperse the protesters.  Israeli border guards in Bil’in regularly use stun grenades, tear gas and rubber coated bullets to disband these demonstrations, maiming and even killing peaceful Palestinian protesters. Very seldom, if ever, are perpetrators from the Israeli security forces held accountable for these injuries and deaths.

View from Wi'am

So, what does the Wall mean in Bethlehem?  Simply put, it is huge and ugly.  Vehicular traffic at the checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem is very slow moving during rush hour.  I can only imagine how much worse it is for the hundreds of Palestinians who stand in line for hours to pass through on foot, especially in the sweltering heat of summer.  The Wall snakes in and around greater Bethlehem and especially around the many illegal Israeli settlements built on hilltops surrounding Bethlehem, separating this Palestinian land from the West Bank.  The Wall contributes to high unemployment in Bethlehem and even higher employment throughout the rest of the West Bank. Israel controls all access to water in the West Bank so water is scarce in agricultural areas and expensive in Bethlehem where it has to be purchased. At Wi’am, a Christian ministry down the street from me that is right next to the wall, soldiers spray “skunk water” on Palestinian children playing in their playground. 

Note skunk water canyon above bush

In this beautiful, ancient city where Christ was born, the vile reality of Occupation stares residents and visitors alike in the face. It is ugly. It is harsh. It is oppressive.

Where is God in this place?  He is shown in the determination of Palestinians to live as normal a life as possible.  He is shown in the faces of parents who send their children to school for the same reason parents around the world do – so that they might have a better life.  He is shown in the steadfastness of Christians here who, at less than 2% of the population, are a faithful remnant of what used to be a large and vibrant community tracing their roots back to the day of Pentecost, literally, the “living stones”.   I stand in awe of their witness, their resolve, their hope. 

Mafraq, Jordan

Like me, you’ve probably never heard of Mafraq, Jordan before.  Mafraq is in the far northern part of Jordan, only a 30 minute drive to the border of Syria. Because of that proximity, over the last three years it has become a place of refuge for 100,000 Syrians fleeing from hostilities in their home country.  That is slightly less than the population of Clearwater, Florida, my hometown.  Mafraq already had 90,000 citizens so their population has essentially doubled in the past three years.  Most of these refugees live in the Zaatari refugee camp but many also live in dismal apartments and rented rooms in this city that is bursting at the seams.  There is also a new refugee community in Amman as Iraqi Christians from Mosul have fled the horror of ISIS, most with only the clothes on their back, many being traumatized by people who used to be their neighbors.  The Shepherd Society, the charitable arm of BBC, sent two serving teams to Jordan and I was part of the one to Mafraq.

The Alliance Church in Mafraq

The Alliance Church in Mafraq has jumped into action to respond to the crisis on their doorstep. They meet the most immediate needs of refugees by providing clothing, food, baby supplies and diapers.  They have started a small school in their church for first and second graders. Abby, a volunteer from the US, runs the school and the children are thriving under her care and tutelage. They adore her and are so happy to have a safe and carefree place to go.   The Church is completing construction on a community center that will open in January and provide a bigger space for the school as well as English language and skills training classes for the refugees. The Church also has a home visit ministry through which they develop relationships with refugee families.

Abby, her student, and his family

Our team had the opportunity to break into small group and participate in home visits.  In four days, I visited ten Syrian families.  I can hardly find the right words to describe these visits, but let me try a few….helpless, sorrowful, disheartened, humbled, gracious, encouraged, grateful. The stories of these families share a few common elements – most have lost husbands and sons.   Most have family still in Syria as well as Lebanon and Turkey and other countries.  Four of the ten families I met have children with various disabilities, some severe and life threatening.  Three of these four families each had two children with disabilities; each child was precious and so loved by their families.

Two brothers with special needs

All these families are in a state of limbo, waiting for some change to the situation so that they might return home.  Each family served us tea, lots and lots of tea, along with sweets or nuts or even popcorn in one home.  One family made us a sweet and a savory bread pastry. I have always known that Arab culture is one of great hospitality so I was not surprised by any of this, but was instead filled with humble gratitude at their generosity in the midst of poverty. Hospitality is second nature in this part of the world, regardless of your circumstances.

All of the families were met we either from Daraa, near the border, or Homs, a large city that was devastated in the first year of hostilities and which I visited with Peachtree in 2004.  I know (or knew) a family in Homs and worshiped at the Evangelical Church.  The Church was severely damaged by a falling shell and the family I knew has left, but at least I had this small connection to share.  I had visited their city back when it was beautiful and whole.  One mother told us the people of this church were the only ones who had offered them any support.  Another woman who lost her husband and her son told us she’d been crying all night but had her spirits lifted by our visit and felt God had sent us to minister just to her. 

Mother who lost a husband and son

All the families we met were Muslim.  All were so grateful for our presence with them, for our encouragement in the midst of their suffering, and especially for our prayers.  One mother even asked us to pray for her family because God answers the prayers of the Christians.

One thing I know for certain – I have no experience with true suffering, none whatsoever, especially to the degree that the Syrian and Iraqi people in Jordan face.  What do I say that can mean anything to them?  I cannot relate to such suffering.  I can only say I am sorry and I will pray for them, which I did then and will continue to do.  I invite you to pray with me for these refugees, and for a peaceful end to the chaos in Syria and Iraq.  If you would like to support the Shepherd Society’s ministry to refugees in Jordan, click here. 

Our team and church members

Extended family with 12 children

Cast of Characters

One of the best things about my time in Bethlehem has been the visitors that have come through the Guesthouse.  The very beginning weeks of my stay set a great tone for my stay.  Bethlehem Bible College’s Guesthouse can accommodate about 30 people, though it has not been close to that full since I have been here.  During the past eight weeks we’ve had between 5 and 18 guests most of the time including BBC volunteers like myself.  Part of the deal is that guests and volunteers get breakfast each morning so that has been the best opportunity to meet and chat with people. 

Until this past Monday our Guesthouse managers were Paul and Miriam from upstate New York.  They’ve been here since May and are part of the Bruderhof community, which I was completely unfamiliar with until I met them.  Founded in 1920 in Germany, the Bruderhof is an international communal movement of families and single men and women who seek to put into action Christ’s command to love God and neighbor.  

Paul and Miriam

Paul and Miriam picked me up at the airport, and have provided delicious breakfast and wonderful friendship for the past eight weeks.  They know the ropes here in Bethlehem including where to worship, how to use the bus, and what is the best place to get fresh fruit and vegetable (across the street!) They are two of the most humble people I’ve ever met; servants of Christ in the truest sense of the word.  Miriam has a wicked sense of humor and a twinkle in her eye, and Paul is always willing to share words of wisdom over Miriam’s delicious omelettes.  I may not see them until we meet again in heaven but they have been a vital part of my time here.

When I first arrived, two other “P’s” were here along with Paul…Palmer and Peter, soon followed by Patricia.  Palmer’s a Canadian with the Mennonite Church and to me he is a rock star.  He is close to my parents’ age yet he is here in Palestine, teaching in the college, sharing messages at Chapel and connecting with the locals, including a young friend named Mohammed whom he met at the Mosque right across the street.  Yes, Palmer has no qualms about entering the neighborhood Mosque in order to meet and befriend Muslims.  This is how you share the Gospel message, by building relationships with non-believers. Palmer also spent two weeks teaching at the College’s study center in Gaza.  Yes, you read that right…this incredible servant of God came here specifically to teach 12 BBC students who live in Gaza. Palmer also embodies a spirit of true servanthood, wherever and whenever and with whomever, that astounds and inspires me.  My first Saturday here I explored the Old City in Jerusalem with Palmer.  It was a day I will not forget.

Peter and his wife Patricia are lovely Brits from a town near Windsor.  Peter is a pastor that was here on Sabbatical and Patricia came to share her skills as a palliative care doctor with a local hospital. They became dear friends over many cups

Peter and Patricia

of tea, a few (quite a few, actually) dinners at local eateries and many lengthy discussions about Palestine and Israel.  At the same time Judi from Dallas was visiting for the second time this year.  Judi is a volleyball coach who founded a sport ministry that brings women’s volleyball teams on trips to build bridges of understanding through sports.  She came this fall to pour herself into one-on-one relationships she has with young local women who play volleyball.

We've had several visitors from the Seattle area (Lance, Jim and Ken from a Presbyterian Church I know) here to lead Celebrate Recovery workshops, as well as a seemingly endless array of lovely Brits, all of whom had visited Israel and Palestine previously and returned to learn more and better understand Palestine and Israel and the conflict.  As expected, many cups of tea were shared with these Brits as well!  Luke came from Chattanooga to use his training as a Physical Therapist to serve kids with special needs at the House of Hope down the street and Stephen came from California to pay one of his numerous visits to Gaza, providing much needed support and supplies.

Plannning team and other BBC friends

Some of my favorite days were when the planning committee for Christ at the Checkpoint, a huge conference that BBC organizes, was here for two days of meetings.  Wow, what a great opportunity to meet some global leaders who are truly making an impact for peace and reconciliation. They know so much about Israel and Palestine that just sitting at the breakfast table with them was a privilege.  I can now count these very cool people as my friends, too! 

Then there are the long-termers like me.  Beverley is from Canada and has lived and served in the Middle East for more than 30 years.  She knows the lay of the land in Israel and Palestine almost like a native.  She is here for several months teaching English and has been my guide to all things Bethlehem (most of which seem to involve walking up many hills). 

Beverley and Palmer

Beverley recently hosted a group of 11 women from her church and their delightful presence filled up the Guesthouse (and breakfast table) for two full weeks. Theodora arrived from Cincinnati three weeks after me and, though she has never been here before, heard the story of BBC and felt God was calling her to come and serve.  She also teaches English. Michael, an Egyptian-American, is a recent addition to the BBC staff.  He is the BBC Chaplain and is engaged to Grace, a local girl and BBC faculty member.  They will get married in the spring. Our most recent guests, from Germany, were here for six days simply to pray with and for the College as well as various ministries around Bethlehem.

As of today, we have only one guest so it is very quiet.  I miss the hubbub that goes on when there are guests coming and going so I hope some new people come soon.   Though, honestly, I have met so many new people over the breakfast table in recent weeks that I am a bit overwhelmed with names and faces and stories and places.  A few days of quiet will not be so bad either.  My time here is winding down and before long I will have my last meal at our breakfast table.  That hour each morning has been some of the richest parts of my days in Bethlehem.  I will be sad to see them come to an end.

Jerusalem Seethes

It was not my plan to post anymore about the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, but I am sure many of you are watching the news and seeing that there has been a great deal of unrest in Jerusalem.  Here is a brief (or not so brief) explanation about what exactly has been happening over the few weeks, as well as the preceding months, that has led us to this point.  Bear with me for this...as you should know by now, what goes on here is complicated. I apologize for any repetition from my last post but it is important to have a full picture of this conflict.

Sign at Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif

For decades, Jewish religious authorities have forbidden Jews from going onto the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.  This is the holiest site in Judaism and they believe the Holy of Holies was located there somewhere.  They do not want any Jews to accidentally step on the Holy of Holies since no one knows exactly where on the Temple Mount it was located.  This edict has largely been followed by the Jewish community. They can pray at the Western Wall but not on the Temple Mount.

The Temple Mount is known as the Haram al-Sharif to Muslims and is the third holiest site in Islam. The Muslim holy sites on the Temple Mount (Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque) are administered by an Islamic religious trust under Jordanian authority. This arrangement has also been in place for decades.

In more recent years, Jews have been visiting the Temple Mount in small numbers, but have been forbidden from praying, as are any visitors who aren't Muslim including tourists and pilgrims like me. Over the past year, and increasingly in recent months, Jewish religious extremists have insisted on visiting the Temple Mount more regularly, entering Al-Aqsa Mosque (where they believe the Holy of Holies was located) and even praying in the Mosque. These Jewish religious extremists are always accompanied by a significant force of Israeli police who allow them to go and keep the Muslim clerics in charge of this area from preventing their entry. 

This has angered Palestinians, especially since there are great restrictions on Palestinians going to the Temple Mount/ Haram al-Sharif to worship in their own holy sites.  Palestinian men under 50 are often forbidden access as are Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza since they need to have a permit to go to Jerusalem and permits are rarely granted. There is also fear among Palestinians that as Jewish religious extremists are given more and more access to the Al Aqsa Mosque, it becomes more likely that Israeli authorities will take it over and divide part of it into a temple for the Jewish community (which has already happened at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron).

Palestinians express their frustration in protests, which most often involves young men throwing stones, the only “weapon” readily available to them, at Israeli security forces.  However, over the last two weeks, in three separate incidents, Palestinian men have used their cars as weapon, driving them into crowds. Four Israelis were killed and many others injured.  All three Palestinian men have been killed by the police. Another Palestinian man shot and seriously wounded Yehuda Glick who is one of the Jewish religious extremists leading the move to force their way into Al Aqsa Mosque.  

The family homes of each of these Palestinian men will be demolished and their families will be left homeless. Other men in their families will very possibly be jailed, whether or not they had anything to do with the attack.

Also this week, Israeli police forced their way into As-Aqsa Mosque. When Muslim worshippers tried to block their access to the Mosque, the Israeli police assaulted them, firing tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets. In their holy place of worship.  And of course, the police stormed in carrying weapons and wearing shoes which is also a great affront to Muslim worshippers.

So, Palestinians continue to protest.  Israeli security forces continue to try to stop them with tear gas and rubber bullets.  Jewish religious extremists continue to force their own agenda on the Temple Mount/Haram Al-Sharif . Not surprisingly, Jerusalem is seething.  Add to that decades of neglect and abuse of the Palestinian community in East Jerusalem by the Israeli government and the continuous building of Jewish-only settlements in East Jerusalem, is it any wonder that Palestinians lash out?  

Israel publicly blames all this on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, but he has virtually no power or authority over Palestinians in East Jerusalem so this is absolute hogwash, to quote my daddy.  In short, Israel knows what buttons to push and they are pushing them.  It is tragic and unacceptable that these Palestinian men have attacked innocent civilians.  They have certainly paid for it, as they are dead, and their families will pay for it for years to come.  But it is also tragic and unacceptable for Israeli authorities to allow extremists in the Jewish community to force their way in Muslim holy sites at gunpoint, which is what has incited the unrest in the last three weeks.  There are many more layers to and reasons for these most recent events than this short explanation allows.  That is for another day.

Protests do spill over into the West Bank and Gaza with, yes, young Palestinian men throwing stones and Israeli security forces responding with tear gas and rubber bullets.  There have been some protests in and around Bethlehem but I am fine and safe and well.  My friends and colleagues at Bethlehem Bible College are used to it as part of life here.  That is the most tragic part of all.

Sacred Spaces

I find it hard to believe that I have been in Bethlehem for almost six weeks.  My time here is about half over and there is so much work still to be done and so many people I would like to meet. My heart is full of stories to tell but I have been overwhelmed with how to really share them – there is so much to say!  

So, here’s one that started a couple of weeks ago.Two dear Atlanta friends, Barbara and Fran Exley, were in Bethlehem for 5 days as part of a Israel/Palestine witness trip. They kindly allowed me to tag along to some of their visits and meetings (more about those in a later post).  One incredible opportunity presented itself as this group secured an invitation to visit Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.  Visitors are regularly allowed on the Temple Mount but very rarely are allowed inside these two Muslim shrines.  As a big history nerd, no way was I gonna pass this up!  Not only are these two of the holiest sites in Islam but they are incredibly beautiful historic sites. 

Dome of the Rock

Al Aqsa Mosque

Our guide was Muhammad (of course!) and both sites were as majestic as I expected. The Dome of the Rock (most recognizable as the one with the gold dome) was built in 691 and is one of oldest buildings in Islam and Jerusalem. It is built over the Foundation Stone, where Muslims believe Abraham was asked to sacrifice Ishmael (or Isaac, as Christians and Jews believe).  It is also believed to have been built on site of Second Temple that was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD.  Jews think the Holy of Holies was possibly located here so, in general, Jewish religious authorities have forbidden Jewish people from coming near it or even onto Temple Mount to avoid stepping foot on what might be the Holy of Holies. It is their holiest site and they pray to it from the Western Wall, as close as they can get without being on the Temple Mount.  The interior is stunning – every square inch is covered with richly colored tile and mosaics, much of it decorated with Arabic calligraphy.  Muhammad the guide was very enthusiastic about showing us every last detail.  One word kept going through my head…wow.

Interior of Dome of the Rock

Exterior of Dome of the Rock

Interior of Al Asqa Mosque

Al Aqsa Mosque was rebuilt in 1035 for third time after being destroyed by earthquakes and is the third holiest site in Islam. Unlike the Dome of the Rock which has twelve sides, Al Aqsa is more square and feels like a big church with no seating as rugs cover every square inch of the floor.  But, also it was very grand and beautiful.  As an American, I find it hard to grasp the concept of buildings being 1000+ years old.

Sadly, Al Aqsa Mosque is now the site of growing controversy and tension.  For decades the status quo has been that the Temple Mount is primarily for Muslims; others can visit, just not pray here.  In recent months, extremists from the Jewish community have been demanding, and receiving, increased access to Al Asqa Mosque for prayers.  This has provoked a backlash of protests from Muslims, naturally fearing that Israel has plans to change this status quo.  Protests have then led Israeli authorities to restrict access to the Temple Mount to women and men over 50 and last week they even closed the Temple Mount entirely for a day for the first time since 1967.  The Temple Mount should be a place of beauty and sacredness to so many, but more often is a battleground used to provoke and inflame.   

So what does all this mean for me as a Christian living here for this short season?  The holy sites are fascinating places to visit and remind me of the foundations of my faith, but Christ lives in me and not in the "dead stones" of these old places.  It is tragic to me that others don't see it the same way, that their faith relies so much on a place for expression.  But more importantly, I am witnessing injustice on a scale that makes me burn with anger at times and breaks my heart at others. But since I have prayed for my heart to be broken by the things that break the heart of God, I suppose I am getting an answer to my prayers.  Figuring out what to do with this is the hard thing.   That is a work in progress.

The Olive Harvest

          This is olive harvest season.  You’ve probably never given much thought to where olives come from but here, they are an essential part of the Palestinian culture. Olives have been grown and harvested here for thousands of years; some trees date back 4,000 years.  Because olive trees grow and produce fruit for thousands of years, are drought resistant, and grow in poor soil conditions, they have become symbolic of Palestinian continuity on the land as well as Palestinian resilience.  Some families have trees that have been passed down for centuries and they tend them with great care.  So, the olive harvest is often a family affair that recalls generations of forefathers and mothers who’ve harvested olives from the very same trees.  Olives account for 70% of fruit production in Palestine and around 80,000 families rely on the harvest as a main source of income.  Knowing I would be here during the olive harvest, I hoped that I would get to participate.

Olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane that is over 2000 years old.
The inside is hollow but note the smaller branches growing out of the old trunk.

As it turns out, one of my colleagues at Bethlehem Bible College has a handful of

Bucket #1 of my harvest

olives trees in her family garden (along with fig, apple, apricot, plum, and citrus trees).  Jihan is typical of a Palestinian family.  She shares a beautiful home with her husband, her son and her husband’s parents, and they provide a wonderful network of support for each other.  Jihan invited me over one Saturday to help with the olive harvest.  It took us most of the day to pick, pull, shake and collect olives from their three tress.  It was the most fun I have ever had doing anything that involves gardening!  In total, we harvested over 200 pounds of olives, about 45 pounds of which were mine.  Some will be pressed into oil and the rest will be pickled, all for use by the family.   

Maklouba

And, of course, this being Palestine, I was fed and fed!  Jihan’s mother-in-law made a traditional Palestinian dish called maklouba, literally “upside down”, which has rice, fried cauliflower, chicken and a variety of spices.  When finished, it is flipped over onto a plate and served with yogurt.  Of course, it was delicious and it took three cups of strong Arabic coffee for me to recover enough from my food coma to finish olive picking.  I was so touched by how this family just took me into their midst – I will be so sad to leave Jihan in a few short weeks but am grateful to have a family here to call my own.

But, many Palestinians do not find it so easy to harvest their olives. Since 1967, Israeli authorities have uprooted an estimated 2.5 million olive trees in the West Bank.  Trees are removed to build settlements, to build bypass highways to connect these settlements to Israel proper and to build the separation wall. This massive barrier winds in and out of the West Bank, intentionally separating Palestinians from their farmland and

Uprooted trees, Oct 10th

water sources.  Radical settlers have poisoned and uprooted Palestinian olive trees and attacked farmers, often with impunity. In fact, there have been at least four attacks by Jewish settlers on olive farmers, their trees and their harvests in just the last week.  What should be a joyous season of harvest, festivals and celebrations becomes instead a time of fear and hardship. Yet, many Palestinians find their strength in the land and in a shared sense of family and community that has endured for centuries.  They harvest their olives as best they can, as they have always done.  Just like their olive trees, they endure, hoping for a future free of occupation. To be able to share a small part of life here is an incredible privilege for me.

Tears and Celebration

     Last week started out with very sad news at Bethlehem Bible College.  One of their recent Media Program graduates passed away after battling cancer for the past year.  Based on the outpouring of grief, Ghaith Shomaly was obviously a beloved member of this community.  Of course, it is always tragic to lose someone who is so young and just beginning to live into their potential.  What makes this loss so poignant, at least to me, is that the Palestinian Christian community here already loses so many of its young people to emigration.  The Christian community in the Holy Land has shrunk from being 9% of the population in 1931 to less than 2% today. Bethlehem Bible College's mission is to prepare Christian leaders to serve Arab churches and society, with the hope that they will choose to stay here.

     But then the week ended on a high note. BBC had already scheduled an "Open Day" for Thursday (what I would call a "Fun Day") with classes cancelled and activities planned for students, staff and faculty. In spite of the sadness, they went ahead with Open Day which was planned around the theme "Where are we headed?" and focused on addressing the students' sense of hopelessness and despair. The day started by honoring Ghaith in Chapel, followed by sessions that discussed  how to set goals and overcome obstacles in order to reach your potential, how to keep Christ at the center of your life as well more light-hearted activities like building towers out of spaghetti noodles and marshmallows ...tallest tower wins!  (see mine below).   The day ended with a big celebration lunch and a much lighter mood.

The winning tower!

     A day of celebration continued into the evening with an invitation to an engagement party for the daughter of a BBC staff member.  Well...engagement party hardly scratches the surface.  To call it fantastic is an understatement. This "party" had about 300 guests, and the bride was fully decked out in a ball gown.  The bride and groom entered the party to such a fanfare that I thought I had perhaps stumbled into an Olympic medal ceremony.  Then came the blessings from the priests...five of them from the Orthodox church.  This was followed by their "first dance"...complete with what could only be called fiery cannons of sparklers lighting up the whole dance floor.  We were served candies in fancy wrappers, then cake, then champagne.  Then much like a wedding reception at home, once the cake and champagne was served, everyone lined up to greet the engaged couple and head home. Apparently, engagement parties such as this are quite common here, though I understand this one was grander than most.  The Palestinians are a people who love to celebrate good news and an engagement is good news, indeed.  I can only imagine what a wedding reception looks like!

Chocolate favors

The happy couple

Bethlehem

"I am living in Bethlehem, I am living in Bethlehem"...I keep repeating that  over and over because it hardly seems real.  I am living in the town where our Lord was born, the home of many Palestinian Christian friends I've met on previous visits, serving at Bethlehem Bible College (BBC), one of Peachtree's ministry partners.  What could be more perfect? I will be here until December, helping with fundraising and special projects.  BBC is the only evangelical college in the West Bank and is training the next generation of leaders for the church in Palestine and Israel.

 

Many of you no doubt think now might not be the best time to travel to this part of the world, and there is certainly some truth to that.  However, God does not call us to serve him only when it is convenient or safe or easy.  The Christians of Palestine live in difficult circumstances all the time...struggling under occupation as more and more members of their community chose to leave for an easier life elsewhere.  However, there is joy to be found here in the many opportunities to show God's love and make His name known. I can't imagine being anywhere else at the moment.

 

I am already treasuring my time here as the pace is slower. Time spent building relationships and savoring friendships is an important part of this culture which translates into many cups of delicious Arabic coffee! Please pray for the Christian community in Palestine, as well as throughout the Middle East.  While the persecution we see in Syria and Iraq is not present here, life is difficult for Christians in other ways. Please pray for my time here to be spent in a way that honors and glorifies God as well as hopefully contributes to this community.  God has blessed me so with this opportunity - I am to savoring every minute of it!