The past few days...

Over the last couple days we have had the opportunity to see how a couple different programs are running especially for Palestinians with special needs.

The first place is called Al Basma and it is located in Biet Sahour (the city we live in). They take in people with moderate intellectual disabilities and teach them how to do some different skills, like weaving, paper making, and other crafts. Here in Palestine, there is a large need for programs like these because often people with disabilities are thought of as bringing shame to the family, so they get locked up and hidden or abandoned. In teaching them how to do these skills, they can generate income, and most importantly they gain self esteem when they see that they can do something for themselves.

We also volunteered at Jemima, a Dutch program that is similar, but also has full time housing for people with disabilities, located in Biet Jala. It is an amazing and much needed ministry. We have so much respect for the people who give their lives to helping people here who cannot do things by themselves.

This is very different work from our office work in Musalaha, and I think it will be a stretching experience for all of us.

And this weekend we are off to Nazareth on Saturday and Galilee on Sunday!

God Bless,

Mia

You Know You Live in Palestine When...

You Know You Live in Palestine When...

...every other day is a holiday.
...police always drive with their lights on.
...the bathroom light switch is always outside the bathroom.
...garbage day means setting the dumpster on fire.
...camels and donkeys are legitimate forms of transportation.
...you can't flush toilet paper.
...following traffic laws is optional.
...the mullet is a fashionable hairstyle for young men.
...the goat path is a reliable form of navigation.
...the movie Titanic lives forever. And my heart will go on and on and on...
...the only time you wear a seat belt is when you drive into Jerusalem. And promptly remove it upon passing through the checkpoint back into the West Bank.
...computer software costs 10 shekels and DVD's are only 5. You just have to wait a minute while the shop owner burns you a copy.
...traffic stops to wait for sheep to cross the street.
...you pause in conversation to wait for the sound of an F-16 to pass.
...the most common cold drink is glorified Kool-Aid with pulp.
...you never pay for a service until it's finished, or whenever you catch up with the serviceman again.
...you use bright headlights only to flash at oncoming traffic.
...the truck playing cheesy music and driving up and down the street is not the ice cream man, he's the gas man.

Musalaha Women's Conference!

Today at Musalaha, Adrianna and I wrote this short write up about the women's conference we attended for Musalaha's newsletter. 

This past weekend, fifty women from all over Israel and Palestine gathered together in Nahariya (a city on the coast of Northern Israel near Lebanon) for a conference which focused on "remembering rightly". Some of them drove hours to meet and be in fellowship with other believers desiring reconciliation. We had a warm welcome from all the women on the bus to the conference, and saw the joy they had when they saw each other as well. The first night was focused on getting to know each other and breaking the ice, and on Saturday morning we got right down to business. We experienced a lively worship session in Hebrew, Arabic, and English. Some of the ladies got up and danced together, not caring if they were thirty or eighty years old! It was a blessing to see how excited they were to worship God and how open they were to hear what God was saying through the devotions and the speakers. The speakers, Maala and Shadia, both shared about how important it is to remember the past but to remember it fairly and to look for God’s redemption even in the most difficult experiences. We learned that the point where you are hurt is the point where God can enter in. The women then separated into small discussion groups to talk openly about what they were feeling or painful memories they wanted to share. These discussions gave both the Israelis and Palestinians a chance to see each other’s point of view, enter into each other’s pain, and invite God into their memories and experiences. Please continue to pray that God will be working in these women’s hearts as they become vulnerable to each other and work towards reconciliation.

Adrianna & Mia

The Girls are Gone!

Today we finished the work week at Musalaha by saying our farwells to Mia and Adrianna. I am so glad they get to experience some of Musalaha's work first hand at the conference. Because Shabbat (Sabbath) started at sundown today work ended early for Luke and myself, giving us time to look around Jerusalem. It is still hard to comprehend the fact I'm walking the same road (the via Dolorosa) that Jesus stumbled down with the cross. I am awe of this historical area. We have been meeting so many amazing people. Last night we experienced a Arab worship concert. The music is very uplifting and has a great beat. Many people were dancing; even though I could not understand a word they were singing I felt the peace of God filling the room. It was great seeing Palestinians and Israelis singing side by side praising the same savior. I am appreciating this experience so much already. It's hard to believe a week has already past.
Timothy

Some Pictures from Jerusalem!

It is so hard to believe we were in Old City Jerusalem for the first time today!

Here's some of the highlights:

The markets

The Dome of the Rock

The Western Wall

The Mount of Olives

"Jerusalem is a wonderful place full of magic and beauty!"-Mia

I could not agree with you more Mia. Musalaha had us run an errand with the volunteer coordinator John in downtown Jerusalem today. We spend a lot of our time probably looking like tourists as we were in awe of all the newness around us. The Old City is absolutely amazing... I can hardly wait to get lost in it! We went and prayed at the Wailing Wall and walked down the Villa Delarosa.It is hard to imagine how many years of history there are and that we are walking on the same stones that Jesus did.

I am also enjoying the time that we spend at Musalaha. The people there are so friendly, and they have made us feel so at home. This weekend Mia and I have been asked to go on a women's conference with the female employees of the office. There will be Palestinian Christians, Israelis, and Messianic Jews all represented at the retreat, and the focus of the weekend will be dialog between the women in hopes that there will be further reconciliation between them. I am so excited to see the frontline work of Musalaha... please pray for God's hand to be at work in this event!

Today is Christmas for our Orthodox family, so I feel like I should say Merry Christmas to all you, even though the season is passed in all your minds. It is amazing to be in places like Manger Square and the Shepherds Fields during this holiday... reminders of fun blessings that God has given us as a team.

Thank you all for your  prayers!

Shalom! Saalam!

Adrianna