Another birthday for our group, this time it's a morning toast for Carol Woltjer!
From now on we're staying pretty close to our home base at the Notre Dame Center just outside the New Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem. This morning, we drove into the West Bank to the Bethlehem area. Our first stop was one more visit to Herod the Great—his grand fortress/palace called Herodium. We saw the remains of his palace, and from the height of the ruins we could see Bethlehem, once "a little town" but today a sizable city. Herod meant to be remembered for his great buildings and possessions; he was so paranoid he even had little baby boys killed in Bethlehem in fear one might be another "King of the Jews." Pastor Bill had us read stories from the Bible that took place at or near Bethlehem and we read accounts both joyous and horrific. Ultimately, the story of Bethlehem is our story, full of happiness and sadness—but coming together in the world-changing birth of Jesus in the area in which we stood.
A lesson on the top of the Herodium.
Descending into the Bar Kochba Tunnels, underneath the Herodium.
Before we continued the Christmas story, we stopped at another place of joy, the Al-Basma Center for young Palestinian people with disabilities. As we entered the courtyard, we could hear music and dancing. It was Mother's Day at the center, with the mothers of students at Al-Basma taking in music, dance and short plays featuring their beloved children. Our tour group added to the celebration, and we were invited to take in the program—and even join the dance!
Taking in the delightful skits at the Al-Basma Center...
...and we even joined the dancing!
The director of the center had been the press secretary for Libya's dictator Moammar Ghadafi, but fled that country to come home to Bethlehem where he soon felt called to lead Al-Basma. What a wonderful ministry! We were humbled by the tour of the small center, as the young people worked gladly on numerous crafts that could be sold for their support, including impressive loom work by some of the young men. We left with full hearts and the knowledge that the hands of Jesus were active today in the place of his birth.
And then, on to a shepherd's cave in a corner of the city, near the place where scripture tells of a marvelous birth. Pastor Bill showed us a cave that is one of a number in the area, and it is in such a place where our Lord was born and placed in a manger (stone, by the way, not wood).
Will we tell the story of Jesus with accuracy and great joy as the shepherds did or will we keep quiet—or even live a lie as did the Roman soldiers who were eyewitnesses to the Resurrection, yet took money to spread falsehoods? Another key reflection on our pilgrimage.
The Shepherds' Cave
Teaching about a special birth in a special place.
We made a quick stop for some olive wood purchasing at a Palestinian Christian business. While there, we noticed a section of the newly built dividing wall built by the Israeli government through this Bethlehem neighborhood, often marked by angry graffiti and pleas for peace side by side. Yet another reminder of the reconciliation that eludes our world.
The dividing wall goes through a Bethlehem neighborhood.
Coming back to Notre Dame a bit earlier than usual, we got to explore the Old City on our own for a time. Loni and I had the delight to meet two Calvin alumni who study and work in the area—Keith Blystra (studying in Jerusalem with wife Laura and two daughters) and Michael Valk (teaching English at a school in Bethlehem). They are bright, enthusiastic Calvin grads doing God's work in God's world. May they be blessed in their endeavors in this wonderful yet challenging place. ~ Mike
An Old City street.
Mike and Loni Van Denend with Calvin grads
Keith Blystra and Michael Valk at the Notre Dame Center.
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