Monday Update from Bethlehem
After breakfast on Monday, our team received a tour of the Bethlehem Bible College, meeting several of the students, faculty, and administration along the way. For those who wanted gifts from the Holy Land, we did most of that shopping in the BBC gift shop so that it also benefits the school and students.
We returned to East Jerusalem mid-morning to continue working at the East Jerusalem Church. We moved 8 of their oldest, most worn pews outside, sanded off the old finish, and restained them. We accomplished this much faster than they expected we would (thinking it would take all day). We had lunch on the grounds and were finished by early afternoon. So, we returned to the West Bank and had a few minutes to clean up before one of the BBC faculty members took us to a home inside one of the many Palestinian refugee camps within the West Bank.
After hunting through streets, a couple of U-turns, several narrow alleys and sharp hills (yes, Matthew was still driving!), we finally found the home we were looking for. This was a family which included the mom and dad (in their 60's), four sons and two daughters, plus all of their spouses and children--28 in all. The parents were moved to the refugee camp when the nation of Israel was created and have lived there since. One of their sons was with us, one was killed by an Israeli soldier during one of the Intafada's, and the other two sons are in an Israeli prison in the Negev (in the south).
Because their son was killed, their family's paperwork is marked as containing a martyr, which means their movement is limited even within the West Bank. We found this family to be very hospitable, genuinely pleased to have us visit them, very open and willing to answer any questions we had about their situation, why their sons were in prison, etc... We asked many questions about their view of us and the USA, the recent election, the peace process, possible solutions to the Palestinian desire for a land of their own, and even the various political parties within the Palestinian community (Hamas vs Fatah). They certainly did not fit the picture of the typical Palestinian family as normally portrayed in our media. They are Muslim, but we asked permission to pray for them and they readily agreed, so we prayed over their family before departing.
Alex & Brenda rejoined us and took us to the home of another Palestinian family who had prepared a literal feast for us. Besides some of the most deliciously spiced chicken we've ever had, it included squash and olive leaves hand-stuffed with spiced rice and beef--a Palestinian specialty. Afterward we had Turkish coffee and tea made with a homemade blend of spices. We finally concluded by singing a few choruses together downstairs where a small Christian church meets in their first floor each week.
Everyone is still sleeping reasonably well and everyone is healthy. We have one more day in this area before beginning our travels throughout the rest of the country. All is well and we and thankful for your continued prayers.
Blessings from the West Bank!
We returned to East Jerusalem mid-morning to continue working at the East Jerusalem Church. We moved 8 of their oldest, most worn pews outside, sanded off the old finish, and restained them. We accomplished this much faster than they expected we would (thinking it would take all day). We had lunch on the grounds and were finished by early afternoon. So, we returned to the West Bank and had a few minutes to clean up before one of the BBC faculty members took us to a home inside one of the many Palestinian refugee camps within the West Bank.
After hunting through streets, a couple of U-turns, several narrow alleys and sharp hills (yes, Matthew was still driving!), we finally found the home we were looking for. This was a family which included the mom and dad (in their 60's), four sons and two daughters, plus all of their spouses and children--28 in all. The parents were moved to the refugee camp when the nation of Israel was created and have lived there since. One of their sons was with us, one was killed by an Israeli soldier during one of the Intafada's, and the other two sons are in an Israeli prison in the Negev (in the south).
Because their son was killed, their family's paperwork is marked as containing a martyr, which means their movement is limited even within the West Bank. We found this family to be very hospitable, genuinely pleased to have us visit them, very open and willing to answer any questions we had about their situation, why their sons were in prison, etc... We asked many questions about their view of us and the USA, the recent election, the peace process, possible solutions to the Palestinian desire for a land of their own, and even the various political parties within the Palestinian community (Hamas vs Fatah). They certainly did not fit the picture of the typical Palestinian family as normally portrayed in our media. They are Muslim, but we asked permission to pray for them and they readily agreed, so we prayed over their family before departing.
Alex & Brenda rejoined us and took us to the home of another Palestinian family who had prepared a literal feast for us. Besides some of the most deliciously spiced chicken we've ever had, it included squash and olive leaves hand-stuffed with spiced rice and beef--a Palestinian specialty. Afterward we had Turkish coffee and tea made with a homemade blend of spices. We finally concluded by singing a few choruses together downstairs where a small Christian church meets in their first floor each week.
Everyone is still sleeping reasonably well and everyone is healthy. We have one more day in this area before beginning our travels throughout the rest of the country. All is well and we and thankful for your continued prayers.
Blessings from the West Bank!
posted by CUMC Team | 1:45 AM
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