It's been awhile

So,
it's been a crazy few days as we finished up our work at HCEF in Bethlehem so let me take some time to do catch-up.

After our wonderful time in Birzeit at the Senior Center, where we got the chance to eat with the residents of the Center and see the wonderful activities they get to partake in, we headed back to Bethlehem on Sunday evening. It was great getting to reflect on our time up in the northern West Bank and how the experience impacted different people. We immensely enjoyed seeing the ways that HCEF is working in the community up there, and we had many conversations that were filled with joy and hope. A truly great experience.

Monday morning we had an hour and a half to tour Bethlehem University and hear from a few students about their time and experience there. It is a remarkable institution given the makeup of the student body (it is 2/3 women and a majority Muslim...in a Catholic school) and number of students that graduate with flying colors. The students are very aware of the special nature of education, especially in a place like Palestine, and are fully committed to becoming a highly educated and skillful generation. Afterwards, Steve and Joe stayed to give guest lectures on finance and marketing, a wonderful experience for both of them. Tamara and Maia went back to the orphanage to work with the children there, and we nearly had to pry them all away from it when it was time to leave =) Bruce, Bob, Keith, and Gary went to help out with painting at a home being converted into a satellite building of Bethlehem University, so make sure you ask them to see the pictures of the railing and window guard-rail that they spent all that time painting with turquoise oil-based paint. Hilarious...and hard work. Janelle, Lisa S., Lana, and Will went to the Rehabilitation Center and Hospital. There was not much to be done, but it was a good experience to see the activities of the center and the care that was given to people with injuries and disabilities. Many of them turn around and work there when they are finished being treated. Gene and Lynn spent the day praying in and around the city. They said it was a great experience to ask for their eyes to be opened to everything around them. Lisa Beamer, unfortunately, wasn't feeling all that well and spent some time relaxing...much needed. (she is feeling better now)

Tuesday was our last work day in Bethlehem, and it was another long and action packed one! Many of us went to the same places, with Maia switching to the University with Steve and Joe, Will, Lisa S., and Janelle going to a wonderful children's home run by 5 Argentinian nuns, and Lisa joining the orphanage with Tamara. After work, Tamara, Lisa B., Bruce, Will, Gene and Lynn all went to visit a Palestinian refugee camp outside of Bethlehem. This was a group of people originally living in East Jerusalem prior to 1948, where they were removed from and placed in a makeshift tent camp. They never were able to return, and now live in a converted village that is 1/2 Km square and has a population of 12,000 people. It was truly a glimpse into immense suffering and homelessness. Even though many of them were raised there (there are 7,000 children) they see their home as their original village and still identify as refugees. Powerful. When the day was over, we all headed out for a WONDERFUL evening of dinner and dancing at a local tent restaurant. It was a great chance to spend one last evening with the fantastic and caring people of HCEF, and we relished the opportunity to have a night of celebrating. The staff, guides, and drivers were so receptive and hospitable to us. We loved getting to hear their stories and learn from them. We loved learning from them, and most of all we loved partnering with them. It is so encouraging to know there is an organization committed to doing these kinds of things.

This morning we got up and headed out for a long day of travelling. Here we go: first we headed to the Benedictine church on the site of Christ appearing to the men on the Road to Emmaus. We then headed down to Tel-Aviv on the Coastal Plain before heading north-east to Nazareth. We went to both Churches of the Annunciation (the smaller Greek Orthodox one and the large Roman Catholic church built on the traditional site of Christ's house) as well as a first century Synagogue that quite possibly would have been the one Christ attended and read the scroll from (before being taken up on top of the cliffs to the south and the people attempting to throw him off). After this we went east in the huge Jezreel Valley and drove to the top of Mt. Tabor...the traditional site of the Transfiguration. There is a church up there on top of ancient Byzantine and Crusader era ruins. The view was slightly obstructed due to the haze, but nonetheless it was a beautiful mountain covered in trees.

Now we are spending one evening in Nazareth before heading out tomorrow for Cana, many Sea of Galilee sights, a boat ride, and an evening in Jerusalem. We're trooping along.

Thanks for everyone's support!