This was one heavy day. It was a day when the walls, a church, and people spoke to us. And we tried to listen.
First stop was Efrat Settlement outside of Bethlehem where Ardie Geldman shared the narrative of an Israeli settler. Ardie was born and raised in Chicago and moved to Israel after graduating from college.
Next, we drove into Bethlehem to visit the wall which separates Israel and Palestine. The wall itself speaks volumes.
Then we visited Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem and heard from Rev. Victor Makari, a PCUSA minister who works with the Lutherans and Episcopalians in their justice and reconciliation work. He is appointed to this position by the PCUSA national office in Louisville.
Finally, we had the honor of visiting the Ibda’a Cultural Center at Deihesheh Refugee Camp. We met with Hamzeh Abedrabbu who told us about his personal refugee experience and then gave us a tour of the camp.
There is a lot to process today. We are tired and full and ready for another great day tomorrow. I leave you with this. Our tour guide, George Filmon, told us this during a meeting with him, Tyler, and May Zawahreh that he has never done a tour like this one. He said that we are not just interested in visiting the sites, but that we are wanting to engage the narratives that exist in the land, and that we are seeing the people for who they are. Then he said, “This is what it means to be Christian. This is what Jesus was about. This is a real pilgrimage.” This is what we are hear to do. This is what we hope to continue to do when we get home. This is an incredibly humbling thing for someone to say about us.
Thank you for your prayers. They are supporting us along the way. Peace! Salaam! Shalom!
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