Christmas!

Grace and peace to everyone back home during this Holiday season!  I hope everyone has been enjoying a wonderful Advent season, and that the preparations for welcoming friends and family are going well.  The past few weeks have been extremely busy here, and will get even busier in the coming week.  School is slowing down for us as we approach the end of the semester, final exams, and preparing for a two week vacation.  Although we do not have snow on the ground here or the common traditions celebrated every year in America, I have been so happy to have taken part in so many traditional festivities here already.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to take part in several holiday events that I have either never done before, or it had been a long time since I have done the holiday activities.  This past Friday several of the other volunteers and me had a white elephant Christmas party.  I am not sure if this is what it is officially called, but it is when you buy a cheap funny, yet useful gift and one by one everyone randomly selects a gift.  I can not recall ever doing anything like this before, but have always wanted to and I had so much fun!  On Saturday we went to a Christmas parade in Beit Sahor (Same area as Bethlehem) and watched a tree lighting ceremony which was hosted by the Prime Minister!  We had a great time singing carols after the lights were turned on, and just being there with so many people singing in English and Arabic.  On Sunday after church we practiced a song that several of us from the Redeemer Church will sing on Christmas Eve at Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem!  I also had a wonderful meal Sunday night with some friends of mine at the Catholic Church near my house.  This week is also packed with Christmas celebrations and preparations for the coming of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.

All of these activities are wonderful regardless of what we do, and where we do it because the fellowship we share with our friends during this time is invaluable.  The traditions we celebrate every year during the holidays are so special to us because of the memories that we have made, and also the joy of sharing those memories with old and new friends.  Sure, we will likely not have a white Christmas with super cold temperatures, the free coffee at most gas stations on Christmas and Christmas Eve, but we will forever carry those cherished memories with us wherever we go in life.  One of the most wonderful things that I have discovered this Holiday season is how important it is to share our traditions with each other, and through our exchanges we can catch a glimpse into someone else’s life at such a level that we can begin to reveal a meaning of Christmas that is far deeper than the superficial things we often think about.  The Christmas tree that we put up in my house in Beit Jala does not have lights, or ornaments from when I was a baby, but it does have ornament like objects on the tree such as necklaces, sunglasses, and other random things. 

We value the traditions that we always do year in and year out because of that warm feeling we get inside when we do them, and how happy we were during those wonderful times.  Christmas time is when we celebrate and remember the wonderful gift of Christ’s birth on this Earth not in some five star hotel, or with surgeons ready to care for the child…rather born in a cave outside of the town because there were no rooms available anywhere.  The first people to lay witness to this wonderful birth were shepherds, those who were outsiders to the town and lived a simple life.  We must look to the simple things during this wonderful time of the year, to look around and see the beautifulness of things for how they are without the glitter and glam.  The simple things such as spending time with those you care about is the most valuable gift to give at this time of year.  No matter what nationality you are, what language you speak, there is one thing that remains true and that is to be with others that you care about during the festive times of the year.  The thing that we are most concerned about for the coming holidays is how we are going to get together and hang out during our vacation.  Being together with friends is the best gift that I could ever ask for and receive, because in our time together we unwrap the gifts found deep within each other that we would never be able to see by our self. 

I want to thank all of those who have sent me letters, emails, and your prayers.  All of your warm gifts during this time of the year are especially wonderful, and I pray that your Christmas be blessed with happiness, good health, and joy as we enter into a new year with new hopes and new aspirations.  May God bless you all, and I look forward to sharing my stories and pictures with you as you continue to accompany me on this life changing journey.  MerRy ChrIsTmAs and a HaPpy NeW YeAr!!!!

Salaam,

David   

How to show we are Thankful

Happy Eid al-Adha and Thanksgiving to everyone back home!  Two weeks ago we celebrated the Eid al-Adha Holiday here in the Holy Land which is a time when Muslim pilgrims go on the Hajj, donate food to the poor, have a feast with family and friends, and everyone goes on vacation.  This vacation ranges from going to exotic places in Israel and Palestine to visiting with family and friends close to home.  A time of fellowship, spending time with friends, and being so thankful for the things that we have in life.  All of this is all the more powerful because of it falling near the same time as the American holiday of Thanksgiving.  I guess what I am experiencing in my 3^rd month here in the Holy Land is a compilation of so many different emotions encompassing both frustration and happiness when I am reflecting on the things that I am thankful for, and take for granted.

There is no question that writing blog entries is becoming harder and harder to do, and it is not because I do not have enough to talk about.  I am becoming more aware of a new sense of being after three months of gradually peeling through the countless layers, and constantly being made aware of so many new stories that are reshaping my personal feelings.  I just find everything so fascinating about my daily life now.  The honeymoon period has been over for quite some time now, and the absolute reality that this is my new home for the next eight months puts things into perspective more than it did before.  I am valuing the friendships I have made here with a new level of appreciation, because these are the people that are going to continue to accompany me through this journey full of new discoveries.  Some of these new discoveries are simply new ways of looking at a situation with a clear lens, untainted, and willing to see the whole picture.  There is also a new awareness of things that have been right in front of me that I have simply overlooked for no good reason.  All of these different thoughts have been going through my mind as I am working through my own discernment for how to best be a faithful steward to accompaniment in the coming months, as well as how to take these experiences with me in my future.  An interesting thing is also happening with my discernment, because the experiences I am having here seem to be turning on more street lamps on the highway of my discernment to a path that has always been there but ignored. 

Some of the experiences that have been especially special to me these past few weeks have been the great friendships I am forming at my placement and in the surrounding community.  Whether these experiences are at school singing Christmas hymns with the children or sharing Thanksgiving with International friends at the Mount of Olives there are always opportunities to become a part of the greater community in the world.  I have found that with every new person I meet here, I become more aware of the Global community and how important it is to become more active in it.  I am just so incredibly thankful for the people I have met here, and how they have been such a guiding light for my own faith journey.  This goes far beyond reading Biblical texts where they supposedly happened, but knowing that Christ always reached out to those who were oppressed, and looked down upon to empower those who were oppressed to live a new life in him and with him so that good might overcome the evil in this world.

I recently read a wonderful text by The Buddha that read:

“The thought manifests as the word; the word manifests as the deed; the deed develops into habit; and habit hardens into character.  So watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love born out of concern for all things.”  -- The Buddha

I think one of the reasons this stood out to me is because I am trying to become more globally conscious of the things occurring around me.  In addition to this, I want to be sure that I am always mindful of where I started at the beginning of this journey here in the Holy Land so that when I return to the States I can be a good messenger to tell the stories about the people I have met here, and how telling others about my stories will make a difference.  Maybe not a headline in a newspaper, or a highlight on the five o clock news, but the story about the familiar faces at the checkpoint, that taxi driver who always greets you with a smile, or the countless friendships that will never be forgotten be in someone’s mind before they go to bed at night so that maybe…just maybe…the walls of injustice may be broken down for good. 

Salaam dayman,

David

A Day in the Life Abroad

November 2, 2010

Happy Halloween, Reformation Day, and cool weather for the wonderful month of November!  I am going to change up my subject matter a little bit for this entry and give you a glimpse of a common day and week for me here in Palestine.  Of course sometimes I have more and less to do throughout the week, but this should give a good framework for you all. 

The Morning 7:30am-12:00pm

I usually set my alarm for about 7:30am, and hit snooze only once before getting up.  I brush my teeth, and then take 5 or 10 minutes to sit and listen to two or three songs on my iTunes.  I always let it play by random, and usually the music sets a pretty good mood  to the day for me.  Listening to the music is also a great time for me to just relax and not think about anything, which is great for me to clear my mind for a new day.  I leave my place at around 7:50am to get to school by 8:00am.  Most days I work in the office throughout the morning, and help with whatever the teachers need assistance with.  Often this is making copies, helping prepare tests, and anything really.  Today I was busy writing letters for the kindergartener’s to copy in their workbooks, and copied various papers for the teachers.  Some of the classes I have during this time are; Religion with 5^th graders, English with 9^th graders, or 11^th grade English.  10:00am comes quickly, and we have a coffee break where we all sit and have some Arabic coffee (which is amazing).  After our coffee break, I usually have my English classes with the 10^th and 11^th graders.  On Thursdays I have music class with the 5^th graders, and this is always full of energy.  Last Thursday we actually sang The First Noel (that’s right, a Christmas Carol already) in English and Arabic. 

The Afternoon 12:00pm-5:00pm

There is another break at 12:00pm, only for 20 minutes, but gives a chance for the kids to run around outside and burn off some energy.  Usually the afternoon for me is spent playing sports with the students outside.  I play football (soccer) with the 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th graders, and sometimes we do other activities like ping-pong.  They are definitely always full of energy, and enjoy playing with me even though I have lost much of my soccer skills.  On some days I also teach English in the afternoon, and help with whatever needs done around the school.  Some of the random things I did in the office today included making Christmas cards, copying papers, and proofreading speeches for the English classes.  Whatever downtime I have during the school day I usually spend studying my Arabic and practicing it with whoever is in the office or teacher’s lounge.  The school day then wraps up around 2:20pm, and I almost always stop at the little snack shop by the school to get a falafel sandwich or a meat sandwich.  There is also a corner store on my way home that I stop to grab snacks, drinks, and eggs.  If I want to get other groceries or some fresh vegetables I just walk 10 minutes into the center of Ramallah and get everything there.  After that I usually go home, check email, and unwind a bit from the day.  Then, around 4:30pm or so I make something for dinner and eat around 5:00pm or so. 

The Evening 5:00pm-9:00pm

After dinner I sometimes skype with family back home, Facebook chat with friends, or watch a little bit of TV.  Around 6:30pm or 7:00pm I usually get a call from one of my friend’s here and we go to our favorite restaurant/café and have a drink and socialize for a bit.  Tuesday nights I have a young adult church group that I will be attending more in the coming weeks, and every Wednesday I have my choir practice from 7:30pm-9:30pm.  The nights usually go by quickly, and I try to get to bed by 11:00pm, but usually check email again and then go to bed shortly there after.

The Weekend: Thursday-Sunday

Thursday nights are similar to how we would spend a Friday or Saturday night in America.  In Ramallah, everyone gets together with their friends and goes out to one of the cafés, bars, or over to a friend’s house for a big dinner party.  There is nothing open on Fridays, but traffic is usually non existent which is nice because I usually leave Friday morning for Bethlehem for Arabic lessons.  The total travel time from my flat in Ramallah to Bethlehem is usually about an hour and a half, but sometimes it can be longer depending on the checkpoints.  If we have plans scheduled for Saturday or Sunday I usually stay until Sunday afternoon in Bethlehem and then go back to my place in Ramallah, or go to church in Jerusalem and leave from there back home.

This is a little snippet into what a typical week would look like, but because of the Holidays coming up in the next two months everything will be more hectic, but more fun at the same time.  I hope everyone back home is doing well as the weather is getting much colder with frosts overnight, and even snow showers…because I am enjoying the 60 degree weather we are having here ;) ! 

 

Salaam,

David 

Living Life to its Fullest

October 26, 2010

Just a couple of weeks ago 5 years ago I embarked on my first service trip.  That trip was to the Gulf Coast in Ocean Springs, Mississippi with several members from my church, and my family.  I can still remember clearly the drive down Interstate 81 through the Smokey Mountains, and the beautiful fall foliage.  The work we did there in Mississippi post Katrina forever changed my life.  I was exposed to an entirely new world in that one week along the Gulf Coast that has been heavy on my mind these past few weeks.  So much of who I am today is shaped from that time I spent there along the Gulf Coast cleaning and listening to others stories.  Quite frankly, I do not know if I would be here in the Holy Land today if it was not for that trip.  There are so many things that have fallen in place for me throughout the past five years, which I know God is guiding me on such a journey that will be instrumental in my future. 

Recently I read a post made by the YAGM webpage on Facebook, and have been thinking about this quote that was posted…

"Our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic self-hood, whether or not it conforms to some image of who we ought to be. As we do so, we will not only find the joy that every human being seeks--we will also find our path of authentic service in the world." --Parker Palmer

This journey that started only two months ago has transformed me already in so many ways, and writing this entry has been a multiple day endeavor.  There is no doubt that there are some times when everything seems so clear, and then the times when the fog will never lift.  The fog has settled in this week for me, and every thought is just one flowing indistinguishable idea.  I feel a heavy weight on me on trying to figure out official plans for the coming year, where I will go, what I am going to do, and how to describe this place.  I have been trying to think about what questions people may have back home for me, and how to formulate my blog entries in a way that can explain my daily life here. 

This is when I look to the quote I mentioned above, and truly know that I am growing into my own authentic self-hood which is unveiling so many things to me.  I feel so fortunate that my journey of service work with others coincided so well with my call to Seminary.  The two paths were running parallel for a little bit, but I quickly realized that there was no escaping a call to ministry.  I always find it interesting that the perception of someone going to Seminary is some idealized individual that seems to have everything going for them, and the idea that a person has to be perfect or strive to be.  No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes in life which makes us all human, and although this image does not conform to some image that people may want to see, it is the image that we need to live by.  We are flawed, but that is what makes us strive to be better.  Knowing that we will never be perfect, but will work towards a better way of life. 

There is just a sense of knowing when something is right, and that what you are doing is what’s supposed to be.  I have been thinking a lot about the fall season back home, cooler temperatures, great baked food, and the advent of the holiday season.  The reason why this has been on my mind the past few days is because today I taught two classes about Halloween, traditions with the holiday, and decorating for the fall season.  This is such an exciting time of year, and telling the students about this today was taking me back to recent memories of fall at Susquehanna.  Thinking about all of the things from past fall seasons back at home made me realize how well all of those experiences have prepared me for being here in Palestine.  My exposure to all of the different activities and customs for this time of year here in Palestine has been amazing also.  Yes, of course this is completely different then picking pumpkins, tying together corn stocks, or being able to wear jeans, a sweatshirt, and flip-flops and be comfortable, it is extraordinary in so many ways.  I mean this past Saturday we picked olives on the Mount of Olives and could see all of Jerusalem from the one side, and on a clear day see the Dead Sea and Jordan on the other side of the Mount.  Doing things like this is boggling my mind more and more.  I guess initially I was just like wow, this is so incredible…but now I am blown away by the role that I have here in the coming year. 

There is such an important role that I have being here, and I think I am beginning to realize this.  This opportunity is one that is beyond any of my wildest dreams growing up, and now that it is here I am beginning to see what I need to be…not do.  I have mentioned the role of being in most of my posts, but I think I know where to look to see how I need to be.  Sure we can all run on the adrenaline at first to be able to do whatever, or just be in the situation that you are in and soak everything in that you can but a greater sense of being seems to come from knowing that whatever I am doing or being, someone is looking to see not only what my reaction is, but how I am reacting.  Attitude, charisma, and enthusiasm are all a part of “growing into our own authentic self-hood.”  How can we grow into an authentic self-hood without being completely exposed to others, showing them your true self, not being afraid of what they think…because this could destroy a person’s heart and soul if they take it to hard.  I find this idea of being completely open to others is the way to earning someone’s trust, because if I expose my personality to scrutiny then, I am proving to others that I am not afraid to show others who I am and that we can share anything. 

I guess I have been doing a lot of self reflection over this blog post, and not as much about what I am doing but there just comes a point where things have to be put down into words so that they are not weighing down anymore.  I definitely believe this is part of the journey when a person is living in a completely new culture, lifestyle, and overall view of existence in this world. 

The routines of the past few weeks have been a blessing for me to start processing all of these thoughts.  One of these routines is taking five or so minutes in the morning before school to listen to two songs at random on my iTunes, and use that time to just do nothing.  Those few minutes are what center me for the coming day, and even though I never did this in the past I have found that time to be my mine, and mine alone which is quite nice considering I can listen to English to start my day.  Another great time that I have found for self-reflection has been my drives to and from Bethlehem on the weekends.  The journey is long, bumpy, and fast paced, but I just switch over my thinking to a nice slow paced train of thought free of worry and just focused on being in the now, and loving every minute of it.

Life is such a beautiful thing, and my wish for everyone is to do what you are passionate about.  Do not avoid doing something thinking that you will do it sometime in the future, because to be honest life flies by and there might not be another chance.  Live life with no regrets, and if some come along the way know that they have made you that much stronger for the future because you persevered.  May the peace of God be with you always, throughout the coming months and may God be with you with whatever confrontation you have in you life.

Salaam Always,

David      

The Fruits of our Work

October 10, 2010

So, today was without a doubt one of the best days I have had here and now it is time to try to articulate it here haha.  Here it goes!

I had to wake up a bit early (around 6:30am) to allow enough time to make it to Ramallah by 10:30am for church which was a bit of a struggle to say the least.  The drive this morning on the taxi (aka…service and container) was very different then the past few trips I have made.  The cool morning air was very refreshing walking to the Bethlehem bus station, and the visibility this morning of the surrounding countryside was breathtaking!  One of my friends pointed out that the way the taxi goes to Ramallah is likely similar to the route that Mary and Joseph made to Bethlehem, and this journey is one that is difficult enough in a vehicle.  The huge hills that they would have crossed over, the rocky terrain and the unpredictable weather would have been unreal for them to endure.  One of the most beautiful things about the journey is how much you can see on a clear day.  This morning, I could see the Jordanian mountains and the Mount of Olives at the same time!  One of the most amazing, and depressing things about being here is how close all of these different places are, but because of checkpoints everywhere, walls, fences, and other boundaries travel takes hours longer than necessary.  I find it so hard to believe that everything is so close together.  When I read the Bible before coming here I thought of these places being so far apart, but in reality several areas can be seen at one place on top of some of these hills.  I can not help but think, “so close, but yet so far,” because after living here I believe the saying had to have come from this region for sure. 

Today after church, one of the teachers’s at my school picked me up and took me to his village.  This experience was one that I will forever remember and cherish as being so enlightening for me.  The funny thing was that it was not what was being said that was so profound, rather the silence that we had sitting under the olive trees that we picked from and just admiring the surrounding hillsides, caves, and the shepherds tending their sheep.  The serenity of those moments just opened my eyes to the pure beauty of this land here in Palestine.  Sitting there on the hillside and walking around the teacher’s house picking olives off the trees was just amazing, and I felt so privileged to take part in this tradition because olives are the heart and soul of agriculture, sustenance, and much more here in Palestine.  The olive picking season is a wonderful time of the year as the maintenance and care that was given to these trees is now yielding a new life source for the coming months.  These small olives mean so much to the lives of every Palestinian family, and I feel like I have a much better understanding of this now.  I am sure this task of picking olives may seem mundane to some people, but I feel like I was deeply involved with a very historical aspect of Palestinian culture today that everyone needs to know about.

While traveling through these different areas of Palestine I am a witness to some of the most cherished land in the world to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, but the time I spend in community with the people who live here is often more real to me then visiting some of these historical sights.  Of course being at Nativity Church, the Holy Sepulchre, and the Mount of Olives are forever going to be in my mind as life changing moments for me, but the people I have met have already changed me in so many ways.  Their perseverance keeps these stories alive so that we may come to this land and understand what we are looking at and experiencing, and we have the responsibility to tell their stories to everyone we meet when we return from our journey.

May we all be good shepherds of faith as we enter new places in our lives, so that we may be open to everyone regardless of their beliefs, and simply see everyone as our brothers and sisters in faith.  May the peace of God be with you all!

Peace always,

David

The Season is a Changing

October 9, 2010

First off, happy October to everyone back home!  I am sure the leaves are looking beautiful, and everyone is excited to wear their jeans, sweatshirts, and flip-flops…haha.  The weather here is finally getting a bit cooler, which is amazing and we will start to get some rain soon!  There is still a few weeks left for swimming in the Mediterranean or Dead Sea, but the cooler weather is a much needed blessing right now.  I find everything very ironic right now that the season is changing, because as the season is changing…I am seeing big changes in myself. 

The changes that are occurring in my thought process are rather a change of my perception of life.  For instance, today I talked to one of my friends about how excited I am for the fall and winter season and especially Christmas.  In our discussion we talked about what church we were going to go to on Christmas Eve and what sleeping arrangements we can make so we can all be together.  The most interesting thing was that I did not even think about how we can get Christmas presents to where we were going, or how much food we would need for everyone.  The one thing going through my head was making sure we could all be able to be together for the Holiday.  The traditions of exchanging presents, the perfect holiday meal, and many other activities are important to remembering others that are not with us anymore, but when the resources are not available to do these extravagant things we know that our friends and family are what make these traditions come alive.  Although the presence of all the YAGM’s will be missed at their homes as the holidays come upon us, know that those times spent with family and friends at home are making us very strong as we share our loving kindness with the new people in our lives in our respective country placements.

I always have to laugh that it takes going so far away from what you know and are comfortable with, to be a witness to the simple things in life that truly make all the difference in the world.  The simple things in life are what keep us going, keep us comfortable in foreign areas, and bring us back to the wonderful untarnished things in life.  Part of my journey this year is to live simply and yes that means monetary simplicity but I believe simple living is far more than this.  My mindset has changed to a more “being” style of living, rather than focused on “doing”.  I have mentioned this several times before in my blog, but I do feel like this operation of living is a strong guiding force for me right now.  In any type of service work, a volunteer wants something tangible to show the supporters of their journey, but the impact that we hope to have on the people in our community is something that requires time to build and will likely never have a finished tangible product to show others.  In some of my first service trips that I did with hurricane Katrina clean-up I was happy to do the mucking out, but even happier when we were able to get a lot of houses done in a couple days.  I gradually became more aware of the importance of sharing in the journey with the others that I am serving.  The tangible forms of completion that we want to show others is very good, but the life stories that people tell you will affect those back home in a different way.  This is not to say that it is worse, or better, rather a new perspective of thought that is introspective in a way that goes beyond the dimensions of a new clean house.  Those houses are just that, houses, but the people that live in them and their stories tells us about their home.  A person’s home is wherever they are in community with those that they love and care for, and can always have a person they can rely on when in trouble.  My home, away from home here in Palestine has become such a comfortable place where everything just feels right, and the people I have met make this process so much easier and more fun. 

Family is the source of all worth here in Palestine, and their religious belief does not make this any different because of the importance that family has in this region.  A Palestinian home is the grandparents, aunts and uncles, mother and father, and children all living in one house or at least relatively close to one another.  This has made me think of the way how we live in America, and yes it is very different, but we all come together as one when we want and need to.  The close network that families have here in Palestine is quite amazing to be a part of whenever entering a friend’s home, and I am looking forward to implementing this rare unconditional warm hospitality in my own life when I return to the States.  There is just something to how Palestinians go head over heals to make sure that you are happy, comfortable, and most importantly well fed.  Another aspect of Palestinian homes is that they are built to be unfinished on the top so that if the family continues to grow, they will simply add on to the top.  I love this also because it is a great symbol of hope for the future, and that the future is never closed off. 

Over the past few weeks I have been able to sit in on several tour groups that came to Ramallah, and actually did a little bit of tour guiding myself on our way to Bethlehem.  The funny thing was that through those trips I also found myself meeting so many people that are very familiar with where I am from in Pennsylvania, and know about Susquehanna University.  In America everyone jokes how small the Lutheran world is, and let me tell you it gets even smaller when you travel outside of the country.  I can not believe how many people I have met that have lived in York PA at one time in their life, or have traveled through the area.  Each time I meet a new tour group we go through the normal where you are from, what are you doing here, and each time now I want to say that most of the time I am not “doing” rather just being in the moment of whatever situation is in front of me.  My times spent with these different groups with people from places like Norway, Australia, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, the States, and many other places has been so enlightening to hear their questions and see the response of my new friends at the School of Hope.  These tour groups come in for a week or two, and are full of so many questions about the area here and I can clearly remember feeling the same way when I also first arrived.  Now, there seems to be a sense of knowing that I do not know anything, and each week here shows me how many layers there are to the conflict here in the Holy Land.

The holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and many others that are only a couple months away are going to be here before we know it.  This time of joining with family, friends, and loved ones will be a wonderful time that we will rejoice for everything that we have, and enjoy everyday.  As these great times approach us, I ask that we keep in our prayers all the people in the world that daily deal with oppression, strife, and a constant reminder of the barriers that prevent them from doing many activities that they would love to do.  I would also like to thank all of those following my blog, and the prayers that are felt here everyday!

Peace Salaam Shalom,

David

We Keep Marching On

September 26, 2010

There are several situations that we encounter in our lives that can be seen as universal human traits.  The fact is that although my Arabic is not good at all, there are so many ways that we communicate with each other that we know what the other person is saying.  Our inflection, mannerisms, hand movement, facial expressions, and anything else can be used to communicate with one another.  Now that I have been here for over a month now, I know how to go through the ins and outs of daily communication, but there is definitely far more to be learned concerning what it is like to really live here, communicate, and commute through the West Bank, Israel, and other areas of the “Holy Land”.

The past ten days have really been jammed pack of excursions through our continuing education with our in country orientation, and random trips with friends who invite me to travel with them for an hour or two on the weekends.  I had that great privilege last weekend to go to an Eastern Orthodox wedding where my new friend’s sister was getting married.  I have put some pictures on Facebook from the wedding, but they do not give the festivities the proper excitement of that entire weekend.  Weddings here are not overly concerned with trying to save money, because Palestinians treat the celebration of marriage in an entirely different way than Americans and definitely one aspect is making sure the guests are blown away by all aspects of the wedding.  Even with all of the lavish restaurants that we went to, and the great meals we had, one thing remained the focus of the celebration…the couple to be married and everyone who was connected to the family.  I had only been here for a couple weeks, and at the wedding I felt so welcomed into this family that I felt like I had been a part of a celebration with someone that I had known for many years.  There were many times during the dancing, and ceremonial traditions that I had no idea what was going on (especially the ceremony at the church which was entirely in Arabic) but I could feel so connected with everyone that was there.  The motto of “being” has been present every single day here in Palestine, and I have really enjoyed not worrying about what to “do,” instead become a part of the community I was in and just live.

My time during High School was full of sports year-round, and through those experiences I learned how important those companionships were to me and how I was strengthened not only physically, but also socially to being in community with others.  The past few weeks at school I have been playing football (soccer) with the 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th graders, and although my Arabic is still very rough, there is one goal in mind when playing, to help each other succeed and this can be done without words.  Now whenever I see the kids in town or in between classes they are very excited to see me and during class they seem to take a great interest in how I am enjoying myself at the school which is really nice.  The kids, along with the faculty at the school have really helped me feel comfortable in my volunteer role and I am extremely pleased to be working with them over this coming time here in Ramallah.

Yesterday was also a very exciting, and tiring day of many activities including an amazing time at En Getti and swimming in the Dead Sea.  Traveling through these rolling hills really made me think about the bedewins and others that live in this arid desert.  Of course the caves and everything else was super cool and exciting, but I really believe that I reached a point on the drive back when the whole situation of this Land and the people of both Palestine and Israel are interacting together.  I can not comment on particulars, mainly because I am still finding it hard to articulate myself in a way to fully cover the conflict.  This wording will come in time, and when it does I will share it with you all. 

I think the biggest thing for me is that we are all people of God, and that the differences we nit pick with each other cause such great divides among us that we can not see the love and joy in others.  Sure we speak different languages and have different skin tones, but why not use this opportunity of differences to find the similarities.  Someone that I met at the beginning of my trip told me that a person could come here for a week or two, go back home and write a novel about what they saw.  Another person could come here for a couple months and write a long newsletter about what they saw.  A person who stays here for more than half a year and beyond could maybe write a page or two about what they experienced.  I really like this thought process because as soon as I arrived I felt like I was writing about everything I saw.  Now my personal journal entries are becoming more spaced out over a couple of days between entries.  I am not worried about not having enough to write about or talk about, but my point from that example is that basically being here longer opens your eyes to more and more, and trying to get a grasp on what is going on is difficult to say the least.  I will still chronicle the little things of my journey, but through this year the people that I will think about while telling heart wrenching stories will likely be people who are my friends, and people who I deeply care for.    

The difficulties of the area do not overshadow the great number of friends that I have made here in Ramallah, both Palestinians and internationals.  They have been so welcoming, and as we continue to bond I will always remember the great friends and family I have supporting me back home.  I thank you all, and I am looking forward to celebrating this great fall season with you all!!!

Peace Salaam Shalom,

David

Seeing the Light in Others

September 16, 2010

Well, I am about three weeks into my journey now and it definitely feels like I have been here for a lot longer.  I am truly living a blessed life right now that is full of so many opportunities to be a witness to God’s creation.  This week at school has been full of so much activity that I can not believe that my second week is over.  Now I am just having a hard time trying to pinpoint things from the past week to focus on.  My thought process writing this blog entry is a testament to how scrambled my brain is in trying to process everything that is happening. 

Every week there is a young adult group at the Lutheran Church of Hope, and I have been to the past two meetings.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the conversations I have had at the past few meetings, and can not wait for upcoming meetings.  The Pastor at the church has been a great guide for me on my journey, and his stories and openness have truly opened my eyes to different things occurring here in Palestine, and the United States.  This unique perspective of the world is so refreshing and thought provoking, because although we may study cross cultural views we never really understand until hearing it firsthand.  The thought of looking at the United States from a Palestinian view is something that I have thought about before, but could never put a face to the reality.  Becoming a part of a new community is so much more than going to special events in the community or learning the language, it is the process of taking on a fresh new perspective with a new set of eyes that have not been tainted by other’s opinions.  This is one of many new thought processes that I will go through this coming year, and I hope that somehow I will be able to articulate this new lens that I developed in a way that can make a positive difference for others. 

I am already seeing how the relationships that I am forming are changing me.  The students are so interested in everything about me, even my name.  After playing some soccer with the students I fully realize some of them are very good, and definitely better than me but they are just so excited for me to play with them regardless of my skill level.  Today for instance I was able to participate in a lot of classes, and the music class especially touched me today.  The teacher started singing, and then the kids followed in singing and then a great clapping combination with the song.  I could not understand any of the song, but the spirit was so alive in that classroom that I could not believe these were 5^th graders.  The cohesiveness of the 32 kids in the classroom when the music started was truly amazing to witness, and spoke mountains to how music touches everyone in some form or another. 

Everything has really fallen into place here so far, and if there was a delay in plans something positive always came from the experience.  I guess my point is that the future is not worth worrying about, because with the right people and community we will always be in trustworthy company.  I am definitely a person that has always worried about everything, and even in these first few weeks I have found a new sense of calm and peacefulness that opens me to living without worrying about everything.  I have a feeling that this view is because Palestinians deal with things on a daily basis that many people would just throw up their hands and give up, but yet they live so closely with their friends and family that as long as that is present everything else will fall in place.  The amount of support and love that I have felt from the community here and from home is probably why I feel like I do not have to worry about everything anymore.  I encourage others to look around your community of friends and family, and see the strength and compassion expressed by them and use that support to live your life more fully and confidently.

Peace Salaam Shalom,

David          

School has Started!

September 10, 2010
The first week of classes is in the books now, and we already have an extended vacation because of many religious holidays occurring at once. Ramadan is coming to an end now, and the feast days are upon us at the same time as the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashana) this weekend. This has definitely been quite an experience to have these two major High Holy days on the same weekend, but also means that everyone will want to travel in and out of Jerusalem to worship and pray at their respective Holy places. I experienced a little bit of this chaos when I traveled from Ramallah south to Bethlehem two days ago. Mind you that I have only done this trip once before by myself, and when I arrived at the Ramallah bus station there were mobs of people just waiting to go south for the holiday…just like me. I without a doubt looked like a confusing tourist standing there, and after asking some people where the Bethlehem taxis were a group of guys my age came up to me and after they found out I wanted to go to Bethlehem they told me to follow them. Needless to say I was not sure what to do, but I decided to follow them and attempt to make it to Bethlehem that evening. I then realized that we were trying to hail a taxi before it got to the bus station, and was trying hard to keep up with them as they weaved in and out of the stopped traffic. Finally after loosing one of the guys who found a last seat on a taxi, another taxi pulled up next to me and asked where I was going and after I said Bethlehem I hopped right onboard.

My trip to Bethlehem by taxi is also called taking the “container” which is basically a mini van taxi. This taxi is able to pass by the Kalandia checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem, and the 300 checkpoint between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The taxi is about 18 shekels, which is a little more expensive then taking the buses but also saves a fair amount of time. The ride on the container is a bumpy, up and down hill journey through the Judean wilderness, but I love it each and every time.

The people onboard the container for this trip was 4 guys around my age, and we had the greatest time getting to know each other. All of them spoke English quite well, and we talked about everything from sports, to where I am from, and religion. The unconditional friendship that they showed to me on that hour drive to Bethlehem carried on after we arrived at the bus station. Two of the guys were going to a different area of Bethlehem, but one of the other guys accompanied me to babaskot in Beit Jala. The custom here is that everyone seems to cover your expenses for whatever you are doing after befriending them, and this was definitely the case for the taxi ride to babaskot (a central location that leads to my home in Beit Jala). We all exchanged numbers so that we could possibly meet up at another time in this coming year, and hopefully we will.

This kindness and love to your neighbor is everyday here living in Palestine. Just last night we struck up conversation with a taxi driver outside of the 300 checkpoint (Bethlehem checkpoint has many nicknames) and another man that has a little convenient store invited us in for tea and café. This kindheartedness that we have been shown wherever we go here is something that I love greatly, but at the same time I think back to the States and how we treat foreigners. If we were walking on the street in our hometown, and someone looked lost we would probably not go up and ask them if they needed help, they would have to try to confront us in order for us to help them. Our great country of Freedom and independence leads some of us to live lives separate from others, where we avoid too much connection to our fellow neighbors. The fact of life here in Palestine is that family, friends, and their fellow neighbor is central to the way of life here. The great adversity and conflict that Palestinians face everyday is something that is present, but the love and friendship they have with family and friends is something that is worth more than noting, it is necessary to replicate in our own lives. Loving our neighbor has been the topic of many conversations among the six of us here volunteering in Palestine, and I encourage everyone back home to explore how they approach living in community with one another and loving their neighbor.

Once again I thank you all for the wonderful support and love that you are sharing with me over this coming year, and if you ever have more specific questions about anything email me at Kingsborough@susqu.edu. May God’s peace be with you all!


In Christ,
David

The First Week

September 3rd 2010
The hardest question for me to answer right now is how to articulate what I have experienced over the past week. The growth of a person occurs at so many levels when they are totally immersed in another culture where the language barrier exists, but the layers of the onion are yet to be uncovered. I find it funny how this past week has truly felt like a month already, but I really can not believe that I am living in the Holy Land.

First off I want to apologize for not posting an entry for quite some time now. I had some problems with maintaining an internet connection, but I will have access on a more consistent basis soon. The flight to Tel Aviv was filled with exhaustion from all of the traveling, and a high level of excitement that was draining. All of this excitement led to the drive to our first place of residence at Teleta Chumi. This was our home-base for the first week of orientation which was very close to Martin and Suzanne Shoffner (our in country Coordinators). Each day we experienced a different aspect of the culture in the Bethlehem and Jerusalem areas. We visited the Church of the Nativity, Shepherd’s Field, the Holy Sepulchre, and several other sites. The visits to these sights were amazing to see the sights that I have always read about in the Bible. My reaction afterwards was one that I was not expecting. Frustration, confusion, and sadness. I did not know the extent to which the different sects of Christianity such as the Eastern Orthodox Church, Armenian Church, Roman Catholic, and several others fight over the control of each Holy sight. Not only are there divisions between Christianity, Judaism, and Muslim, but also within each religion itself.

Although it has only been a week, there is a deep compassion I feel for this region. I am always inspired greatly by exploring historical places, but the Holy Land is definitely a bit of an exception as being one of the most religiously significant regions of the world. This new and exciting place is my new home, and just the concept of that is throwing me back right now. For instance, today (September 3, 2010) Luke, Sarah, Janelle, and I met up in Nativity Square to have falafels for lunch and right across the street was Nativity Church. Afterwards we walked around to some of the surrounding shops and met a very kind man who invited us to have tea with him at his shop simply out of the openness of his heart.

Adjusting to a new home is very hard to do when you are separated from everything that you know, but similar to my past international service experiences the surrounding community embraces everything about who I am, and that support is not measurable. The kindness and compassion that the people in my community are sharing with me shows me that Christ works through so many outlets that one must always be ready for anything. The support, prayers, and love that I have been receiving from home are amazing and I continue to keep you all in my heart and prayers. School is starting up for me this week and I am extremely excited to see what they are going to have me do, and can not wait to fill everyone in on how it went.

In Christ,

David

The Journey Begins...

Well, here we go!  The journey is about to begin, and the anxious feelings are starting to stir up wonderful emotions.  The week of orientation has been a wonderful growing experience where I was able to connect with all of the other YAGM and share our stories and angst about the coming year.  The bonds that we have made during this past week will continue to carry us through the coming year, and further strengthen relationships with each other when we return and share our stories.  I am just finding it hard to believe how we are finally leaving.  The process has been full of several surprises, but through each surprise I was able to grow and I can not even imagine how much I will grow in the coming year.

My thoughts and prayers are also going out to my family and friends who will be following my journey through this blog and other networking sites.  Just know that I am extremely happy to be sharing this journey with you all, and look forward to communicating what I expereinced upon my return.  I know that the task of telling my story is going to be difficult to articulate in a two minute synopsis, but I hope sharing the journey through the blog and newsletters will help communicate what is going on in my life.  The next time I make posts on the blog will be when I am in Jerusalem, so until then God’s peace.