EAPPI Standing in Solidarity with the Home of Peace
Home of Peace received a grant and built in
Bethlehem in order to help Palestinians who, because of the rules of the
occupation, remain cut off from the other works of the Sisters of St Elizabeth
that are in Jerusalem.
At the Home of Peace I met Sister Rafaela. now in her 80’s. The day we met she just returned from a visit
with a destitute family.
Thorough the
Home of Peace she can provide for some of the physical needs in the
community. The needs exceed the
resources.
Her quote below comes from an article from PNN Palestine
News Network.
“I came here with one
purpose only, to be a missionary,” she said. Since arriving in 1961 with the
Sisters of St. Elizabeth, Sister Rafaela says she has seen a steady decrease of
not only Palestinian Christians as a demographic, but also in their standard of
living as well as the opportunity to be able to make a livelihood both in
Palestine and Israel. In the end it is the children who are the real victims of
this hopelessness.”
This beautiful new facility is an orphanage and a
place where children can come after school for a meal and help with their
homework. This facility includes classrooms
and a computer lab. As you can see,
there is space for more computers.
The same article from PNN Palestine News Network quoted
Sister Rafael saying the following.
“Sister
Rafeala believes the way to grow back the Christian community in the West Bank
and throughout the Holy Land means giving children the chance to learn that
very faith, grow in it, and learn in it and from it.”
As I was leaving Sister Krispina and some of the children greeted
visitors, as two buses of Polish tourists arrived.
We said a quick goodbye in English, she switched her speaking to Polish as she rushed in to help host the visitors.
Consider Your Call, if you can help, contact via email: homeofpeace.bethlehem@gmail.com.
