Reflections on the 2011 Tour

On a whole, this trip as all I have travelled on, was unique and maybe the most satisfying of all. The highlights included:

Being with the Nassars of Bethlehem and on the farm, the Hallouns of Isfiye, the Awads of Beit Sohour and Jados of Ramallah

Traveling with the Interfaith Peacebuilders delegation and introducing friends to the Tent of Nations there on the Farm

Traveling to the Galilee and cycling a portion around the Sea

Witnessing and experiencing a new phase in the development of the Tent of Nations Project on the land with friends

Spending an afternoon on the Kibbutz Metzer with Dov Avital and hearing of hope for co-existence with his neighbors

Enjoying the relationships with the staff at the Grand Hotel in Bethlehem, meeting PCUSA staff and attending worship with
the Nassars at the Lutheran center, and spending time with my favorite little town- Bethlehem

Sharing the beautiful moon on the Farm with friends and new friends around the campfire.

The Stresses were few but present for me:

Going through the Checkpoint in Bethlehem and seeing the indignity once again Palestinians experience while feeling uncomfortable about the cordiality of the soldiers to an American with a passport

Contrasting the rich abundance and "relative freedom" between persons living in Israel and those living in the occupied territories

Traveling logistics of currency, sleeping space, food acquisition, bodily needs, cell phone maintenance, passport ID, camera care and not having a place as a base/having freedom to take advantages of new opportunities and new stories on the other hand

Possible themes:

"Playing the harp on the road to the Carmelite Monastery at Maraka"

"Contrasting life in Israel and in Palestine"

"Traveling along the way from Tiberius to Capernaum by Bicycle"

"Seeing the tip of the Iceberg of non-violent resistance to the occupation on the farm"

"The Arab and Israeli hospitality of strangers and families for the traveler"

"Pre occupation of the occupation"

"Friends 'seeing' for themselves and being changed by the experience forever"


I thank God, friends, my church community, my hosts and most of all my family
for support on this journey that continues to nurture each time I travel and to remind me of
the beauty of life in the midst of darkness.

bp