Seeking peace in the Holy Land (trip blog – part 2)
Continued from part 1
I made it from the airport to Bethlehem in just over an hour. The first thing I was blown away by was just how mountainous the Jerusalem/Bethlehem area is. There are no rolling bills or valleys; these are rugged, terraced, limestone cliffs jutting up from deep valleys. People in Biblical times would’ve needed to be hearty hikers indeed to navigate this landscape. And imagining Joseph and his young pregnant bride-to-be having to come here all the way from Nazareth up north only to find there wasn’t any room for them in the family guest house…it’s incredible that of all the ways God could’ve chosen to enter into the world, he chose that one.
My hotel has a bit of confusion at check-in, but only because the travel agency who booked my room booked it under “Disciple Dojo” instead of my name. But we got it figured out and I was so glad to make it to my room after such a long trip!
After a much needed shower, I headed over to the conference which was already in session. There were over 600 delegates in attendance from all over the world. I found a spot in the back and listened as Vera Baboun, the mayor of Bethlehem (who some might be surprised to learn is a Christian woman) welcomed us all and spoke about the irony of the birthplace of the one who claimed to be the Gate (John 10:9) unto salvation now itself being surrounded by a gate of discrimination–the Separation Wall that surrounds and cuts through the city of Bethlehem which was built by the Israeli military in the wake of suicide bombings during the 2nd Intifada a few years back. It is an ongoing source of suffering for the people of Bethlehem, as it cuts them off from their livelihood and has driven out many of the businesses and jobs in the city.
After Mayor Baboun’s speech, Dr. Jack Sara, President of Bethlehem Bible College (and fellow GCTS alumn, I later found out!) spoke to us about the evangelical presence of Bethlehem Bible College not only in Bethlehem, but up north in Nazareth as well as in Gaza. He shared how many indigenous Christians in the West Bank are leaving because of the hardship that the Occupation and Separation Wall have generated (rather than because of Islamic persecution, as some in the west mistakenly believe), but that BBC was committed to remaining in the hardship and raising up a generation of evangelical leaders in the midst of it all in order to be light in the darkness.
After Dr. Sara’s talk, an artistic group from Bethlehem performed a musical dance piece depicting the spirit of life, love and joy that remains, despite living under military occupation conditions. It was incredibly well done, incorporating dance, painting, drama and film elements.
The evening concluded and I joined my friend Paul for dinner at the conference hotel dining room. It was a buffet of middle eastern food…and it was amazing! I’ve never had authentic middle east cuisine before, but I am definitely a fan now! Meats, fresh vegetables, different types of hummus, fruit and warm pita bread…aaaaghhh… I’m doing a Homer Simpson just thinking about it!
After dinner, I say goodnight to the folks at my table and head back to my hotel. It’s only a 5 minute walk around the corner from the conference center. But while walking I have time to reflect on all that I’ve seen so far on this, my first day in the Holy Land.
Honestly, I haven’t felt this emotionally overwhelmed since my first time in India. I’m on the verge of tears as I walk the streets of Bethlehem but I can’t pinpoint exactly why. Is it spiritual warfare? Is it exhaustion from travel? Is it seeing the conditions my brothers and sisters in Christ have to live under every day? Is it all of the above?
One thing remains in the forefront of my mind: This wall that I’m walking in the shadow of and which surrounds and cuts into this city is hideous. I can’t fathom anyone having to live on this side of it for any length of time ever being able to defend its existence.
My hope and prayer is that through the work of followers of Jesus on both sides (Israeli and Palestinian together in unity), this wall will go the way of the smaller version that stood for so long in Berlin. And in place of the wall, bridges of peace, respect and cooperation will be built between two peoples, the majority of whom love for an end to the hatred and fear that has dominated their land for decades.
To be continued…
ps: My friend and fellow blogger, Kurt Willems, was also in Bethlehem the week before I arrived. He’s written his own reflections on the wall and the situation as he experienced it himself which I recommend reading HERE.
Categories: Blog, Global, Ministry, Political/Social issues
[…] [continued from part 2] […]
by Disciple Dojo – JMSmith.org » Seeking peace in the Holy Land (trip blog – part 3) on Mar 28, 2014 at 9:03 pm