Blogs from West Bank, Israel, Middle East - page 7

On the next day, the group of us from the hostel headed out to the West Bank. There were two Brits and two Americans. We took a sherut to the Bethlehem checkpoint, and as usual, it was unclear what to do in crossing into the West Bank at the checkpoint. After we crossed through, we were accosted by Palestinian drivers wanting to show us around the West Bank. We began to walk away, and finally a decent driver talked with us, and offered us a good price to go to Hebron and Bethlehem. The driver ultimately was what made the trip to the West Bank so successful. Our first stop in the West Bank was the “security wall” that Israel erected in order to supposedly protect itself from the people living in the West Bank. On ... read more

So today I went to Bethlehem and visited the Holy Land Trust. First I just want to say that I really love Bethlehem. It’s an awesome city, and I love the atmosphere. The people are so nice and friendly. The history behind the city is amazing. I wish that I didn’t live so far away so I could visit more often. It was awesome to see so much of the group again too. The guys from Ramallah were there along which was really great because I haven’t seen them since the first weekend they came to Tel Aviv. We all went to lunch at a great restaurant right off the Nativity Square. During lunch we talked to the supervisor from the Holy Land Trust. He told us why the organization was created and what they do. ... read more

Saturday March 5 We left Tiberias at 8:00 am this morning. We are heading south to the Dead Sea. Mediddo, one of the oldest ruins in Israel. Megiddo was the site of many battles and at least twenty five different civilizations. Most of the ruins were not discovered until 1925 by the university of Chicago. The site was very valuable to who ever controlled the site. Christian tradition identifies Megiddo as Armageddon-Revelations 16:16. Harold Spring bubbles up from the Gideon cave at the foot of the Gil boa. This was the site, where GIdeon's soldiers tried and selected for the war against the Midianites. See Judges 7:1,7:16-17,6-7. Our last stop before lunch was at Bet She an national park. The city was home to 30,000 to 40,000 people. The city was destroyed by the Assyrian king ... read more

From the Arab bus station in East Jerusalem, just off Damascus Gate, I hop on bus number 21 to Bethlehem. My guidebook revealed to me that this way, I won't have to pass an Israeli checkpoint. It will make me feel a bit more subversive. It's also cheaper, for I won't have to take a taxi after the checkpoint to the centre of Bethlehem. I sit down next to an Arab boy, and ask him: "Is it ok?" and he answers "It's ok". He thinks for a moment, watching me from the corner of his eye, then finally asks, albeit a bit haltingly: "How are you?" -"I'm good", I reply with a big smile, "Thank you. And how are you?" He smiles in acknowledgment. "Where you go?" -"Bethlehem. What about you?" "Hebron." After about 45 minutes, ... read more

Stories from Palestine, Australia, South Africa and Asia. The trip turns to conference presentations on the themes: - hope - leadership - vision At the innocent age of 11, Chelsea from Australia was encouraged to ask - what can you do for another? She visited a home for the aged and asked what colors they like. Knowing that she liked to paint pictures, she thought maybe her art would brighten their rooms. After a couple weeks of taking over the living room floor with her creations, Chelsea delivered her treasures to the eager recipients. Now, Chelsea's class all want to share their gifts (music, drama, etc.) with others. Hope. Leadership. Vision. The story made me ask myself, how am I using my gifts to bring hope, inspire leadership and enable others to see new possibilities?... read more