ON THE HOME FRONT
I have already been home for three very busy months. I continue to make presentations about EAPPI
(www.eappi-us.org) and my mission
ministry as an Individual Volunteer in Missions (IVIM) with the General Board
of Global Ministries (www.umcmission.org).
ON THE GROUND IN PALESTINE
Palestinians, Christians and Muslims, continue to suffer
from the occupation.
Freedom of movement is denied as Palestinians face checkpoints every morning on their way to work.
Palestinian lands are being confiscated for the separation
barrier, settlements and Israeli only roads.
Palestinian roads are blocked, causing added travel time.
Palestinian Christians collaborated in 2009, in writing Kairos Palestine a Moment Of Truth, Faith, Hope and Love - a Confession of Faith and Call to Action from Palestinian Christians.
A lot more information can be obtained from Kairos Palestine offices in Bethlehem, (http://www.kairospalestine.ps/)
Sabeel is Arabic for “the way” and is an organization in
Jerusalem for the voice of the Palestinian Christians. A copy of the Kairos Palestine document can
be ordered through a US chapter, Friends of Sabeel North America at www.fosna.org.
A link to the Kairos Palestine document is available through
the United Methodist response at www.kairosresponse.org.
BOYCOTT DIVESTMENT SANCTION (BDS)
A movement similar to the one that launched South African’s freedom from
apartheid has been launched around the world.
BDS is “big news” around the world, even as its coverage might have not
been part of our reading here.
In July the news in Europe reported: “The European Union will take
a tougher stance against Israel beginning Friday, enforcing new guidelines that
direct the bloc’s 28 member nations not to award any funding, grants,
scholarships or prizes to entities in Jewish settlements in the Golan Heights,
the West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to a communique released Tuesday.”
The Palestinian Christians state in their document (section
4.2.6 in part), “…We understand this (BDS)
to integrate the logic of peaceful
resistance. … is not revenge but rather to put an end to the existing evil,
liberating both the perpetrators and victims of injustice.. The aim is to free
both peoples..bringing both to justice and reconciliation.”
More information is available at the three web sites in the
prior section. Allow the Holy Spirit to
guide your call to action.
MY TRAVEL PRIOR TO NEXT ASSIGNMENT
Prior to leaving on my next assignment, I am having the joy
of visiting friends and family. My
journey includes, MI, IN, GA, FL, and WA.
Then after Christmas, I have the hope of flying to my next assignment.
NEXT ASSIGNMENT
Prayers of discernment are needed for the United Methodist
Missionaries, Liaisons to the Holy Land, as my next IVIM placement is being
facilitated. In God’s will, I anticipate
being out of country January through May 2014.
God has blessed me with a couple to live in and care for my house until
I return next June.
CONTINUING OUR MISSION TOGETHER
I ask you to consider an alternative giving this Christmas for
the Children in Bethlehem, The children in the town of the first
Christmas. I have attached a list of
United Methodist Advance Projects that you might want to consider. I have also attached a listing of web sites
that I have found helpful for understanding the Middle East, from different
perspectives.
Through our prayers and this blog, we will
stay connected as we serve together.
