Today is a new day in many ways. After a stimulating discussion with Daoud and other FOTONNA friends last Thursday during our steering committee meeting, we all realized at some point, that we beginning to develop a new mission for our work together, or perhaps had just reached a new phase of the old vision of supporting TON in becoming more self sufficient. When I have the opportunity to provide an orientation to the Interfaith Peace Builders group this morning at the farm just south of Bethlehem, I will do so with new lenses. I look forward to seeing the group today as some of my oldest and lasting friendships will be present there along with some new ones.
The discovery is that Fotonna has worked with the the Nasser Family Farm/Tent of Nations project in its first phase of maintaining ownership of the land, and establishing an infrastructure which will enable them to move to forward in time when people can fulfill dream of the father of Daoud for a place where people could encounter one another. The court battle is far from over, but there is recognition there is obviously recognition by Isaeli authorities of the fact that the Nassar family farm has strong, legal evidence for their ownership of the land which cannot not be denied. Secondly, the farm is almost totally self sufficient in that it has the capability to provide for its needs of electricity and water.
The second phase which has been active from the very beginning includes providing opporunities for understanding and learning. With the Israeli authority denying permits for building new structures on the Nassar land, the farm has been a place for "a school or schools without walls" through offering of summer programs for youth, horticultural training for young farmers, and for courses at the Women's Center in the village. Thousands of international volunteers and visitors have also come on the land through out the year and brought their expertise and skills to the land.
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The third phase includes all the activities of the previous phases, formalized within buildings and spaces for a more formal Education/Peace and Justice Center located on the farm. That day will come when the occupation ends and the new sites are approved/
What this means is that Tent of Nations moves towards a more active program of education for all, including the invitation for more Israelis to become partners
in this effort. Friends of Tent of Nations may shift its efforts to provide support for developing infrastructure as it has, to seeking grants which might provide
support of a Multicultural Peace and Justice Center, right here in River City! Or, at least on this lovely hill top which I will see in just a few hours, a place where people have a chance to be transformed by their experiences together. BP
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