Across the Jordan and Return

Bethlehem Bible College's Shepherd Society Outreach

I had a special blessing being allowed to travel with an Outreach team from The Shepherd Society, Advance Project # 3020439.

On the journey to and from Mafraq, Jordan, we saw many interesting sights.  

There is even a Mc Donald's in Northern Israel.

Mafraq continues to expand due to the continued influx of Syrian Refugees.  The church is also expanding to better serve the refugees. The third floor new sanctuary is under construction.

This view is from the soon to be 4th floor community center.

The congregation and many internationals are serving the extreme needs of the refugees.

A special blessing for me was joining in the prayer meeting at Haifa's house with the women of the congregation

I went with others on distributions.
Needed household goods are provided to the Syrian refugees who have none.    

I was blessed to visit homes. What a joy it was to see the families respond to the visits, how wonderful that all but two of the outreach team spoke the same language.  Even without knowing what was said, I could see the joy, hear the laughter and sense the comfort the visits gave the refugees.

An American Thanksgiving

I accepted an invitation from Rev Alex and Brenda Awad's church for an American Thanksgiving Dinner.

There were several people there experiencing Thanksgiving Dinner and all the trimmings for the first time.

A congregation member, sitting at the table with me,  told the history of the first Thanksgiving.  His family roots go back to the Mayflower.

Desert, my favorite part of the meal!

!

Staying Busy at Hope Secondary School

English enrichment lessons with four students was FUN.  The students really work hard to improve their English.

We have received an unusual amount of rain.  Water came into the building from a door near my room and then into my room.

With the help of Mohammed and Mahmoud, we discovered that the drain on the deck was plugged.  With their help, we remedied the situation and cleaned up the mess.

It is starting to look like Christmas at Hope School.  

Today I had the privileged representing  Hope School at the Christmas Market in Old Town Jerusalem at the Lutheran Church.  We sold various hand made items on behalf of the school.  It was fun seeing the children enjoying their traditional skinny Santa.

If you are thinking of an alternative Christmas giving, please consider Hope Secondary School.  It is an Advance Project (number 12018A) through the General Board of Global Ministries, www.umcmission.org. When donations are processed through this web site, 100% of the donation goes to the project and the donation is tax deductible.

Please Continue to Pray for a 

Just Peace in the Land of Christ's Birth!

Office, Classes and One on One Enrichment

Classes for 82 Secondary Students

It is a joy for me to serve at Hope Secondary School.  My days are very full.  Most days I serve in the development office, office work, my comfort zone.  

On some occasions I serve with students in the classrooms and as needed for special events.

At morning break time, the students rush out and go across the parking lot to the canteen.  They are served sandwiches and snacks daily.

It is still nice enough weather here for the students to sit in the garden enjoying their snacks.

After school each day, I am involved with students for individual English enrichment.

Olives Available Daily

A few weeks before I arrived, students were involved in the olive harvest on the campus.  I am enjoying all the olives available at meals and for nibbling.

Giving Tuesday

It was fun to watch this picture being taken.  Rev. Kristen Brown, the Methodist Liaison, took the photos of the Advance Projects and has posted them to the Methodist Liaison Facebook page.

Please consider a donation for the needs of these deserving students.  Donations can be sent to www.umcmission.org.   The donations are tax deductible and 100% goes to the project.  Use the project number 12018A.

Your Opportunity to Serve at Hope School

 Please Pray for a Just Peace in the Middle East

Grand Traverse District UMW Connects with Palestinians

Grand Traverse District UMW

To the right is the new leadership team of the Grand Traverse District United Methodist Women.  The photo was taken at the annual meeting in Cadillac, MI.  The annual meeting included an in-gathering of medical supplies and vitamins for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. 

After the meeting, the products were sorted and packed for their long trip. 

With the help of Rev. Kristen Brown, the suitcase filled with the products was delivered to the Shepherd Society at Bethlehem Bible College.

Check out how beautiful the flowers are in Palestine at the Bethlehem Bible College, even though it is November.







The Shepherd Society reaches out with humanitarian aid to the Palestinian communities suffering from the occupation of the West Bank and the military assault in Gaza.  They were delighted with the donations of needed humanitarian supplies.

The Shepherd Society is an Advance Project of the General Board of Global Ministries.  Tax free donations may be made through the web site, www.umcmisson.org.  Use the project number #3020439.  

Donations are needed and accepted any time.  

However, December 2 is designated as a special Giving Tuesday.

                               

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR A JUST PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Call to Action!

Settling In

With the help of Rev. Kristen Brown, Methodist Liaison from the Jerusalem Methodist Office, I am settling in at Hope Secondary School, Beit Jala, Palestine.  Please check out their web page at www.hopeschoolbeitjala.com.

Serving 

I will be serving in the office, my comfort zone, in the kitchen and doing some one on one English enrichment activities.  Going on field trips with the students was a lot of fun.

Hope Secondary School is one of the Advance Projects identified by the United Methodist missionaries in the Holy Lands.  There are 82 students currently, 22 are boarders.  None of these secondary students would be obtaining an education without Hope Secondary School.

Learning

God Blessed me with the opportunity to attend the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit at Bethlehem Bible College.  I learned from the speakers and Videos.  I know this was a gift from God, to equip me as I join the West Michigan Conference United Methodist Women leadership team as social action coordinator.

Garden Dedication

Through the help of the Quakers, a garden has been completed and was dedicated on November 1, 2014.  

This garden was in process when a VIM team was here to serve earlier this year.

It was fun to be part of the celebration, even if the program was in Arabic. 

Needs: Material and Spiritual

If any of your churches, UMW units, or families are considering alternative Christmas giving, please consider the extreme need here in the West Bank at Hope Secondary School Beit Jala, Palestine.  Donations may be directed through General Board of Global Ministries web site www.umcmission.org the Hope Secondary School Advance Project number is  12018A

Please let others know about this ministry that educates the disadvantaged youth from the West Bank. 

Prayers are needed!  All of the students need your prayers.  I am trying to learn their names this week, I need prayers too.  The 22 youth that I now live and eat with, have a special place in my heart and I hope in your prayers.

Prayer before Meals

September News

Randie’s Rejoicings

Being home has its beauty and business!  Now the tinge of color and birds are flocking signaling a gorgeous fall and not, in my opinion, a wonderful winter. 

It was my joy to have Palestinian Christian visit from Jerusalem.  They spoke and helped at my church, Christ UMC in Traverse City. 

They accompanied me to the UM-GBGM conference “Walking with Palestinian Christians.”  

Much of what we saw and did at the conference is available at the following web site until November 1: http://ginghamsburg.org/grow/ministries/books-conferences/palestinian-christian-conference.

The Kairos Series

I invite you to a Kairos Series via the press release below.

Central and Christ United Methodist churches invite you to attend the five week Kairos Series on Sundays at 5:30 starting September 14, 2014. The location is Christ UMC, 1249 Three Mile South.

Learn the Palestinian Christian’s perspective from the Holy Land as we studying their booklet, Kairos Palestine a Moment of Truth: Faith, Hope, and Love- a Confession of Faith and a Call to Action from Palestinian Christians.  Study booklets are provided free of charge.  The title for week 1 is "What Is Kairos".

More information is available at www.tcchrist.com.  

What Would Love Do?

As I make plans for the rest of 2014 and into 2015, I am praising God for the promise of Wisdom.  I am asking myself what would love do.  Our Scripture tells us to be forward thinking people; God is in our tomorrows as we press on. 

Concepts coming to the “front burner” for me in answer to where God’s love would have me serve include immigration reform, refugee assistance, interfaith understandings, peace, justice, and non-violent life style advocacy. 

Let’s pray for each other as God’s light of Love focuses our attention on our individual calls.

Lord willing, a trip to Africa is in my future.  I will be accompanying my sister, Donna, to Ethiopia.  Donna is a missionary linguist, now retired after spending 30 years in Africa.  The Bible she helped create in a tribal langue, Bunna, will be dedicated.  The date is not set yet, so neither is the date set for my next Individual Volunteer in Mission assignment.   

Items of Interest

In addition to the links already mentioned, the following items may be of interest to you.

World Council of Churches  http://www.oikoumene.org/en

9/21/2014 International Day of Prayer for Peace

9/21 – 9/27 World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel

            Many resources are available at this web page

Veterans for Peace Northern Michigan www.vfp50.org

A day of peace activities are planned for Saturday, September 20, by this local chapter, including a panel discussion on peace at Central United Methodist Church 11: am-1: pm.

Advance Projects  www.umcmission.org

How to donation to projects identified by our missionaries in Palestine Israel is available at the above web site.  The Shepherd Society of Bethlehem Bible College is a way to donate directly to the people of Gaza.  When donating to the Shepherd Society, use Advance Project # 3020439.  Also, note “for the people of Gaza” in the “In Honor of Section.”  One hundred percent of the donation goes to the cause, administrative fees are paid for by the United Methodist Church.

Love and Prayers,

Randie

International Day of Peace

To mark the 30th anniversary of the General Assembly Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace, the theme of this year’s International Day of Peace is the “Right of Peoples to Peace”. This anniversary offers a unique opportunity to reaffirm the United Nations commitment to the purposes and principles upon which the Organization was founded. The Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace recognizes that the promotion of peace is vital for the full enjoyment of all human rights.

The General Board of Church & Society of the United Methodist Church states their commitment to “A world community that is a fellowship of persons who honestly love one another.”  The board further states “In order to create such a world, we believe that there should be justice and peace in every nation and respect for all people living within a nation’s borders.  To ensure international justice, and a secure world community, we endorse the United Nations, its related bodies, Ithe International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court as the best instruments for pursuing peace and justice on a global scale (Social Principles #165.)”

IN TRAVERSE CITY, CELEBRATING SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

The Veterans for Peace Chapter 50 in Traverse City will be celebrating on Saturday, September 20, 2014.  They have several activities planned from 8:am – 9 pm.  The listing of activities and their starting times can be found on their web site: www.vfp50.org.

LETS USE THIS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE TO

CONSIDER OUR CALL TO PEACE.

Encouragement and Strengthening

News

As I read the news about the Gaza Siege, the deaths and trauma of the civil society grieves my heart.  I share the frustration when ceasefires are broken.  I am concerned when my government’s policies do not reflect our commitment to law and justice.

All of Abraham’s children are to work for righteousness and justice. (Genesis 18:19)  May the following thoughts encourage us and strengthen us to work for justice for all God’s children.

Emailed to me 2 25 2014

Verse of the Day
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances. I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word. Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your ordinances.

- Psalm 119:105-108

Voice of the Day
"I wish I could say that racism and prejudice were only distant memories. We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred, and the mistrust ... We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better."

-Thurgood Marshall

Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children. Give us calm strength and patient wisdom to reach out to those who are most in need, for those who are homeless and in poverty, for those who for whatever reason cannot enjoy the joyful life that children ought to experience.

- Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer

A Day of Action-

Day of Action-Justice and Hope!

This is a call for action today for those suffering from violence.  Because of the power of the United States, our government’s actions influence the world and the life and death of its people. 

I have contacted my elected officials and plan to call them all today.  I will be encouraging them to consider God’s justice in their decisions.

Scripture:  Matthew 12:17-21

Today’s reading from the United Methodist Women’s Prayer Calendar applies!

“This was fulfilled what was spoken (of Jesus) through the prophet Isaiah:

            ‘Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight;

            I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

            He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.

            A bruised reed he will not break and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,

            till he leads justice to victory.

            In his name, the nations will put their hope.´”

Will Be Blessed If- -Genesis 18:19

A reflection from Alex Awad, a United Methodist Missionary in Bethlehem, brought the truth of this verse to me.  God chose Abraham “so that” he would direct his children and household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, “so that” the Lord could bring what he had promised. 

Genesis 18:19

“For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised.”

LET’S PRAY AND ACT FOR GOD’S PEACE IN THE WORLD

Prayers Needed - Action Required

A Quote Dr. Cornel West

Let us not be deceived – the Israeli massacre of innocent Palestinians, especially the precious children, is a crime against humanity! The rockets of Hamas indeed are morally wrong and politically ineffective – but these crimes pale in the face of the U.S. supported Israeli slaughters of innocent civilians. There is much blood on the hands of Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Obama and Hamas. We all are complacent with this bloodshed if we do not raise our voices to condemn all crimes and all forms of terrorism. We must never forget a precious Palestinian baby has the same value as a precious Jewish baby.

A Leak

Obama Sending 2,000 Troops to Gaza Strip (Headline From National Report 7 21 14)

Documents leaked on the Internet on Monday revealed that President Barack Obama has asked the Pentagon to ready approximately 2,000 combat-ready soldiers for a possible deployment to the Gaza Strip, to aid Israel in their fight against Hamas and the Palestinians. - See more at: http://nationalreport.net/obama-sending-2000-troops-gaza-strip/#sthash.p6LWJOmt.dpuf

Freedom

American Historical Perspective

The 4^th of July is a day Americans celebrate freedom. 

I came across an important quote form Horace Greeley, an American newspaper editor who lived and worked 1811-1872. 

His quote reminds us of the importance of our faith and its relationship to freedom.

“It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people.  The principles of Bible are the groundwork of human freedom.”

Christ Followers

Galatians 5:1, gives us more thoughts to ponder about freedom.  “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm.”  Galatians 5:13, we are free to serve one another humbly in love.

Ephesians 3:12 reminds us that our power to live and act comes because “in Christ and through faith in Christ we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” 

God has and is acting for the good of all creation.  May we be part of extending God’s Love into our circumstances.

"Do you still not understand?" Jesus.

The world’s news tells of the suffering of people God loves! 

Jesus often had to say to his disciples, "Do you still not understand?” 

Are we hearing those same words today from Jesus?

Thoughts on Faith  

I gained an important insight from a book I recently read, Faith in the Face of Empire the Bible through Palestinian Eyes, By Mitri Raheb, a local pastor in Bethlehem.  In the book he states, “Faith is the key to dismantling the empire.”

As we look around us, we see actions that do not reflect God’s goodness.  The world needs God’s Good News!  Let us let our faith and understanding of Christ’s teaching guide our actions.

Holding the Light 

As we stand in our circumstances let us hold high God’s Love, freedom and light for all to see.