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.