New Use for Stones

EAPPI Standing in Solidarity 

with the Village of Al Khadr

Summer Day Camps

Special summer activities for children occur across Palestine.  The camp we attended provides special activities for over 120 children from Al Khadr.  These activities were held in a stadium built in 2007 with money from the Palestinian Authority. 

The face painting so popular at festivals in US, was popular here too.  





It was fun seeing the little ones enjoy running on the artificial grass of the stadium.

A Good Use of Stones

My teammate Aaron was invited to share his juggling skills at this summer camp in Al Khadr.

Of course, the military showed up with their guns in hand at the edge of the parking lot.

Why would the military need to be in the parking lot of a stadium filled with 120 children?

How many assault rifles should a child have to walk past in a day?


Needing things to juggle with, we went with the staff to pick up stones at the edge of the parking lot too.  Aaron used his Hebrew language skills to explain to the soldiers why we were gathering stones.  They seemed OK with this new use for stones.

Parading with Purpose

The final activity of the day for the children was a parade. 

The parade was to remember those who are in Israeli jails.  Being in jail without being charged is common.  The legal system is in need of much reform to be a just system. 

Some of the participants had made handmade signs that told about the prisoner issues.  Others held pictures of prisoners.

There was marching, singing and many flags waving.  There were special performances once the parade arrived at the center of town. 

Palestinian Hospitality

After the parade, we were treated to a wonderful lunch with the teachers from the day school.  Then we had coffee at one of their homes.  I was able to hold a very young Palestinian, ten days old. 

So much potential, so much to hope for!

Solidarity with Palestinian Farmers

Everything Legal in Hebrew

Later in the afternoon, we met with one of our local contacts and a farmer.  This farmer has been denied access to his land.  He has taken the issue to court and has legal paperwork.  Of course, all legal paperwork is in Hebrew.  Fortunately, a teammate knows Hebrew and so did the local contact in this village. 

Together with the local contact, we went to access this farmers land via a settlement that the farmland is near.  Although we did not successfully reach the farmer's land, an important step was taken toward getting the farmer back on his land.  The farmer now has the number to call and will be doing the required follow up. 

A Walk, a Climb, a Jump and a Fall

On the way back from the settlement, we walked down into a valley and then up to some trees.  

As I climbed up to the trees, I thought of the quote I had read earlier, “It is the bumps in the paths of life that allow us to climb the mountain; a smooth mountain cannot be climbed.” 
The outcropping of stone allowed me places to step into and grab as I climbed. 

Fruits and nuts were gathered and consumed.  I wish you could all have experienced the eating of fresh treats off the trees of Palestine.

Coming down Aaron gave me a hand, yet my decision to jump the last three feet resulted in my second fall in Palestine.  When a 70-year-old falls in the fields of Palestine, angels are on duty protecting their bones.

I praise God for the privilege of being in Palestine/Israel, involved in the pursuit of peace and justice for those who continue to experience violation of their rights.

Pray and Take Action for a Just Peace in the Middle East!

Finding News While Walking to Chuch

World's Largest Oil Painting

As I walked to church I came across the huge oil painting.  I had heard that it was displayed on Manger Square and was glad to be able to photo it and share it with you.

I tried to take a photo of the whole thing and then of each of the sides where there were numerous small symbols and pictures.  I know you can increase the size of this page to see all.

Later I found the news article  on the Palestine News Network site (PNN.)and copied parts below.

The activities of unveiling the World's largest oil painting by the Palestinian artist Dr. Jamal Badwan, launched Thursday morning in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The painting is expected to enter the Guinness Book of Records and to break the previous record, held by Dutch artist for a 210-square-meter oil painting.  The painting, twenty meters long and fifteen meters wide holds the idea of equality of all people in the world.  It's worth mentioning, that the painting has cost the artist, four years of time, about $ 65,000 in cash and half a tone of oils.  The painting will tour the world, starting from Bethlehem.  

Ukrain-based Palestinian artist Dr. Jamal Badwan, expressed his overwhelming pleasure to visit Palestine and to having the opportunity to display his painting in his original country.

He added that the painting was inspired by Noah's Ark. He painted the earth surrounded by people of all ethnicities, panicking as a huge flood approaches. They are led to safety by a dove through Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and a famous Kiev church.

He told PNN, "As Palestinian living in Diaspora, and witnessing the suffering of my people with the Israeli occupation and the bad economic situation, I decided to work on a painting that grabs the world's attention."   The painting also holds a message to the world confirming that we {Palestinian people} are peaceful and not terrorists. A people that love life and yearn to live in peace," Badwan concluded..

Worshiping at House of Bread Church

It is always a challenge finding churches for the first time.  Especially small ones like the House of Bread Church.  Via email the pastor made sure I had directions.   When he said a small wall sign by the door, it was truly a small sign.  

This congregation was welcoming.  The song leader who also gave the message updated me in English so I would know the theme of the song.  Grace, with me in the picture, was the English translator for the message.  She did a wonderful job!

 A message based in part on the story of Joseph who endured much, but in all God was with him and God 

meant it for good.

This was truly a message of hope for these believers who are facing human right violations on a daily basis.

There are many discussions about contextualization of theological truths.  It made me feel real good seeing, on a small shelf at the front of the church, a Jesus holding a Palestinian flag.  This is a reminder that Jesus is suffering with the Palestinians who suffer.  I am sure Jesus is talking to the Father about what He sees happening here in Palestine.

Pray for a Just Peace in the Middle East

Walking the Psalms

A Placement Visit

EAPPI gives us the chance to visit two other placements while we are on assignment.  On June 18, 19 and 20 I visited the South Hebron Hills team whose apartment is in Yatta (a city of 100,000) but their work is in the surrounding, mostly shepherding, villages. 

Living the Psalms

My time in this placement visit was a welcomed change from peeping horns of Bethlehem Taxis.  Being in this open country, seeing people live like I have imagined people in the Bible living caused some insightful pondering as I walked the hills.

Jesus talked about the door of a sheep pen

Water and Life

Baking Bread in the ground in a cave

Standing in Solidarity with Shepherds

One of the important tasks of the South Hebron Hills team is providing protective presence for the shepherds.  Settlements, illegal under international law, continue to be built in many places even when newscasts indicate they are not.  Shepherds experience violence from settlers.  There are many reports available on settler violence.  It is terrible for Palestinians to live in fear of their lives at every turn. 
These ideological settlers state that God gave all the land to them.  They act in many ways to intimidate, injure and force the residents off their farms and lands.  Settlers are always armed and the army accompanies and supports all their actions.  It appears they have no laws.  Their actions would be crimes if committed in the United States.

Access to Grazing Land

Our first assignment each morning was to meet shepherds and walk with them.  The grass is better in the valley, but the settlers have claimed part of the land.  Settlers attack the shepherd on their own land if in the settler’s opinion they are getting too close to the settlement.  When internationals walk with the shepherd and sheep, the settlers are less likely to cause harm.  Our presence allowed the sheep to walk safely this close to a settlement.

In this very hot hilly area, sheep walk greater distances for grazing because of settler violence.

 

Up and Down These Hills is NOT an Easy Walk

A Toilet and an Arrest

With the help of an international aid organization, a shepherd had a new toilet placed on his property, there are no sewer options for these Palestinians.  A member of a nearby settlement decided it was an eyesore to their neighborhood, and called the authorities.  Before it was over, the toilet was confiscated and the shepherd arrested.

The day we visited, he had just returned after three days in jail.  He had been convicted, but I am not sure what the charges stated.  Even though he had not done anything wrong, he had to pay a fine.  The shepherd’s English speaking son said it is all so sad, but he used the term “hilarious” that a toilet on one’s personal property caused so much trouble.  He said he would be crying all the time if he could not look at it as hilarious and ridiculous.

What he finds distressing is that the children have seen and will see again, demolitions of their homes.  Many homes in this village are under demolition orders.  As settlements expand, the land nearby is confiscated via demolition orders.

Access to Education

In South Hebron Hills, one of the areas requires a UN Jeep to get the children safely through Israeli areas in order for them to get their education.

Pray for Safety for the Shepherds, 

Their Children and the Sheep!

Worship Prayer and Resistance

EAPPI Standing in Solidarity with the

 Christian Community in Palestine

It is my joy to continue to worship and stand in solidarity with Palestinian Christians.  After receiving good directions from the pastor via email, I walked less than 25 minutes and found the Baraka Presbyterian Bible Church of Bethlehem. 

I knew I would like this place when I saw their guard turtle yard decoration.  I collect turtles and I too have a guard turtle at my house. 

As we worshiped together, the singing was in Arabic, but an English-speaking person translated the sermon as I listened via an earpiece.  I now understand the joy of hearing the Scripture in my “mother tongue.” 

The congregation was welcoming.  In a conversation, I discovered that the brother and sister in law of the pastor work at Hope College in Holland Michigan.  It is a small world; God’s family is everywhere!

What a privileges God has allowed me to experience during my weeks here.  Worshiping with many different congregations is a weekly highlight. 

We have stood with others in hope as we celebrating mass, resisting the confiscation of church property taken in order to build the wall.

We end each busy week on Friday with a walk and prayer at the wall.  The memory of the faithful walking and praying at the wall will always be with me. 

Pray for a JUST peace in the Middle East!

BADIL

We spent an afternoon at BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights.  The power point presentation was very informative about the issues facing Palestinian Refugees. 

The BADIL websites are a wealth of information and includes electronic copies of all the publications.  This first one www.badil.org contains the legal background of the refugee issues. 

I did not take photos on this afternoon, but BADIL’s second web site, www.ongoingnakba.org has many video clips and photos.

We can use these web sites to obtain informative fact-sheets, power point presentations and helpful advocacy tools as we put actions to our prayers for a JUST peace. 

Using this information, we will have accurate articles and letters to the editors for our local media.  We will be able to depict adequately Palestinian refugees and their rights under international law, including their right of return. 

Midterm Activities

Midterm Orientation

Midterm Orientation is a week away from our placements for further training and awareness building.  We were involved in a number of activities and exposed to a variety of perspectives.

Morning Reflections

Each morning the group gathers for reflection.  A different placement team leads the reflections each day.  This time together gives us an opportunity to reflect on our experiences, learn, and share from the reflections of others.

Training and Activities In Jerusalem 

Parts of Jerusalem are beautiful.  It is evident that the water shortage belongs to the Palestinians, caused by Israeli policy.

In between sessions I walked to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to pick up some maps.

On the way back I stopped in at a Christian book store.  It is operated by a couple through Church School Service.  Laura in the picture, is the grown child of missionaries to the Middle East.

Nader EAPPI’s Advocacy Officer

EAPPI provided an excellent training on how to prepare for the next phase of our assignment, advocacy when we get back to our countries.

Sergio Yahni

An Israeli, Sergio Yahni, gave us an analysis of Israeli society.  He who works for the Alternative Information Center (AIC), an organization jointly run by Israelis and Palestinians in Beit Sahour. 

Yusef Daher

Yusef Daher is one of the Palestinians that are promoting nonviolent actions.  His office is in the Christian Quarter of the old city.  He explained the background for the creation of Kairos Palestine document. 

For him, Kairos Palestine was a defining moment, and one that gave him hope for the future.  In an article by Paul Adrian Raymond he said, “I feel that we are seeing a re-awakening among Palestinian Christians, and Western Christians are starting to listen to us.”

United States Consulate

While in Jerusalem, I had the opportunity to meet with three members of the US Consulate.  A US citizen, Palestinian was in the meeting with me.  It was an opportunity to tell what I have seen and heard. 

I came away from these meetings knowing how each of us interacts with our elected officials will determine the actions taken by our government in Palestine-Israel. 

We were transported via bus to many of the places of interest.   

Bob Lang of Efrat Settlement

Bob Lang, a settler in the Efrat Settlement, hosted our group. In his home, we heard his personal story.  He is proud of his settlement community with its lovely yards and flowers.  His home is beautiful.  He explained that the homes in this settlement sell for $250,000 and up.  Pride of home, family and community were evident, unacknowledged was the fact that all settlements are illegal under international law. 

Sderot

Sderot is a community a wall away from the Gaza Strip. 

Roni Keider

In Sderot we listened to Roni Keider who gave us an explanation of her life, and the history of her community.  

She indicated that Sderot started as an agriculture community each family receiving land to farm. 

Not discussed, were the Palestinian farmers who in 1948 were forced from this very land.  They are now living in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

She explained her individual work befriending individual Palestinians through an organization she founded, The Other Voice.  She assists Palestinians who are lucky enough to get permits to cross over because of extreme health conditions.  She said she also friends in Gaza that are Palestinians.

On to Haifa

Two nights were spent in the beautiful Stella Maris Convent in Haifa.

I enjoyed browsing in part of their library.    

Having our morning reflections on their patio was a grand experience

Mossawa

In Haifa we listened to a representative of Mossawa, www.mossawacenter.org.  It is an Israeli organization working on behalf of the Arab citizens of Israel.  She told of the many acts of discrimination experienced by Arab Israeli Citizens.  This is one of the organizations that the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries has open for placement of Individual Volunteers in Missions. 

Ruth Hiller

We also heard Ruth Hiller speak about the demilitarization of Israel Society.  She explained the struggles and changes her family went through when one of her teenage sons announced he was not going into the military.  She has established an organization, New Profile.  New Profile has a web site, www.newprofile.org/english.  An interesting interview with Ruth Hiller can be found at www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org.

Lunch at the German Colony

We had lunch in the German Colony and enjoyed seeing a world heritage site, the Baha’i Garden.  This terrace of the Baha’i faith, also known as the Hanging Gardens of Haifa, is gardens around the Shrine of the Ba’b on Mount Carmel in Haifa. 

Women in Black Israel

We arrived back in Jerusalem in time to attend the Women in Black Demonstration.  This is held every Friday at 1: PM.  This particular afternoon was special because it was the 25^th anniversary of the first demonstration.  Over the past years thousands have seen saw the Women in Black.  Sometimes their presence provoked reactions from passers-by on foot and in vehicles.  Some of whom heckled and abused them.  Sometimes using sexualized terms (“whores”) and for their politics (“traitors”.)  Their policy was not to shout back but to maintain silence.

At Women in Black vigils, women carry placards saying, “End the Occupation” and closely related messages.  These demonstrations are nonviolent.  This is the only demonstration in which EAPPI EA's can take an active part.  Usually at demonstrations, we are only standing in solidarity.

During the course of the demonstration, I had a wonderful conversation with the Israeli women in black next to me.

She smiled, but did not want to be in the picture.  Nice use of a hat.  Our conversation continued and we will remain in contact.

Kehilat Yedidya Synagogue

In the evening, Dr. Debborah Weissman, a member of the congregation, introduced us to aspects of the worship service that we were there to attend .  They provided a booklet in English of the words they were singing in Hebrew.  I enjoyed reading along; and recognized many of the Psalms. 

After the service, we went in groups of two for a Shabbat Dinner with members of the congregation.  Because Shabbat had started, no mechanical items may be used, we had to walk to the home of our host.  Also, for that reason I do not have pictures of this experience.