This morning we found ourselves in the West Bank in Bethlehem visiting the Church of the Nativity. Underneath this famous church, in a grotto now lined with tapestries and adorned with lanterns and incense and a sense of awe, is the spot where Jesus was born. It is marked with an impressive 14-pointed silver star.
As odd as this might sound, our guide through the structures was a Palestinian Muslim named Nasser who had attended Bethlehem Bible College. He was knowledgeable and personable and full of respectful wonder for the historical significance of the event that had happened in his hometown.
Later we visited that very college and were warmly welcomed by its Palestinian Christian president. He provided insights for us about the generations of his family who had lived in Bethlehem, how he came to found this institution, and what life is like now under Israeli military occupation.
As we left Bethlehem and the West Bank, our bus was searched by an armed guard as we passed through a checkpoint at the infamous wall created by Israel to mark the boundary from Palestine. As an American tour group we had nothing to fear, but we sadly reflected on the impact of this apartheid-like restrictiveness on the residents.
And then we saw actual 'shepherds abiding in their fields, watching their flock' - just what one would expect to see where Christmas all began, right?
Ah, what sense to make of all of this?!! When we got back, we worked hard on solving world peace over our wine before dinner.
 |
| The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem |
Later we visited that very college and were warmly welcomed by its Palestinian Christian president. He provided insights for us about the generations of his family who had lived in Bethlehem, how he came to found this institution, and what life is like now under Israeli military occupation.
As we left Bethlehem and the West Bank, our bus was searched by an armed guard as we passed through a checkpoint at the infamous wall created by Israel to mark the boundary from Palestine. As an American tour group we had nothing to fear, but we sadly reflected on the impact of this apartheid-like restrictiveness on the residents.
And then we saw actual 'shepherds abiding in their fields, watching their flock' - just what one would expect to see where Christmas all began, right?
Ah, what sense to make of all of this?!! When we got back, we worked hard on solving world peace over our wine before dinner.
| Kellun, Penny, Harry, Linda, Reathel, Holly, & Rachel |
