From the Streets of Bethlehem and the Local Internet Cafe

This is my second day in Bethlehem. I met with my friend Christie Reiners, who lives in the city six months a year. She is from California and is supp0rted by her Pesbyterian congregation there. She visited our church this summer and spoke to some members who are contemplating a trip to the Holy Land in the coming year. Christie knows everyone, it seems in this city, and that fact is verified as we seem to be greeted warmly by some one every where we go. As I mentioned, this particular trip, my fifth entry in four years, was quite different from previous trips. I always come to learn. This time I was opened to some new experiences, and Christie's contacts here were an excellent place to begin.

Just today, we visited the Captain of the Palestinian Tourist Police force who is also is a member of one of the largest families in the nearby village of Beit Javar, a center for quarrying exceptional Palestinian Stone. The Quarry has the potential to fuel a stagnant and captive economy when the walls finally come down. The potential take over by a local settlement though is a real threat, thereby preventing any real chance that the Palestinian people can have a vital economy, much less a future. Christie, through the young man I met and others, are trying to call attention to the plight of the workers here through union groups in the States. It is they, who could truly identify with the plight of the quarry workers here, she believes. Last night, we met with a Palestinian film maker who is planning to do a story on the stone workers and the potential problems they face in developing a badly needed industry. The ramifications of such growth would have immediate effect on some 150,000 Palestinians and their families.

We also walked down from the church of Nativity to visit Zougby Zougby at the Wi'am Center (Cordial or Civility) which is a conflict resolution center that provides training of woman and youth in the area. In the tradition of Arab hospitality, we drank our fifth glass of tea for the day, and heard about the work of his center. He also shared some hommus and filaphel before we returned to Naivity Square and a visit with a wood carver friend of mine who was crafting some gifts for me at home. We then walked across the city to meet with a family who house a center in their home to deal with the needs of some 15 handicapped children who receive no services from the schools nor community. The family provides and individualized educational experience for them on a daily basis. Most are from the nearby Refugee camps. We had tea and a local desert together as we heard Waffa share her family story and the need for support for their selfless act of humanity.

I walked back to hotel, again filled with amazement with the persistence of the Palestinian people, despite the windy, rainy cold day amidst the shadow of the walls of occupation. Tomorrow is another day.