Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Every day, we hold devotions as a way to reflect on the day. We have found that we need to do a summary of the day, because the schedule is so eventful and fruitful. Here’s a snapshot of the learning and service we’re doing:

Our morning began when Rana and Nuha (sisters) met with us during breakfast to share about Dar Al’Kalima College. Dr. Nuha is the Dean of the College, and she told us about the importance of the college in building empowerment and hope among its students.  The Diyar Consortium (which includes Christmas Lutheran, Dar Al’Kalima PreK-Grade 12 school and college, Health and Wellness Center, and Cultural Center) has provided outreach to at least 60,000 people in the last year. Students at the college learn ceramics, music, art, and tourism as well as other offerings. The college is currently working on getting accreditation for the only drama and acting degree program in Palestine.

Post-breakfast, we headed to Dar Al’Kalima’s new building site where work is well underway. We got a tour and helped with a gardening project, weeding one of the school’s green places. Because of the climate and the political situation, it is highly unusual to find any green spaces. Parks and yards are not commonplace. As we weeded we all commented on how different the soil and earth was. The plants were seemingly prickly and hard to remove, but they didn’t seem to root the way they do in Minnesota. While working, several Palestinian youth watched us and then came to help us remove weeds. It was such a pleasure working alongside them. As is common in Palestine, hospitality was provided to us with lunch and drinks.

In the afternoon, we toured important sites mentioned in both the New and Old Testaments. Our first stop was Herodian, one of King Herod’s fortresses. The most impressive thing about these ruins was the deep cisterns and complicated systems that were designed to bring water to the city. We were able to walk down into them, literally in the earth, to see the impressive magnitude of the water. Following the Herodian, we went to Shepherd’s Field to see one the caves where Jesus may have been born. (It wasn’t actually an inn!) We then made our way to the Church of the Nativity to see the oldest practicing church of the world. This is the main place where people believe Jesus was born. The church was packed with visitors from all over the world—representatives of countries like India, China, Germany, the United States, Italy, and Spain among many others. The power of Christ draws people from everywhere.

(Emily Strand)