Gaza - Erez Crossing Photos

The wall surrounding Gaza, Palestine - stretching into the distance.

Sue and a Palestinian women waiting at the checkpoint for permission to enter into Gaza.

Aaron returning from a Palestinian family's tent. They were camped out at Erez Crossing. Sue heard they were out of water so we gave them some of ours. They had several small children including an infant.

Gazan families with supplies trying to get in.

Aaron with John who just returned from Gaza.

Gaza, Palestine

About 2 weeks ago, we had two guests, Sue and Rev. John, from England staying here at Bethlehem Bible College. John is a pastor and chairman of a Christian charity in England. Sue used to be a teacher, but now works at the charity. They were coming here with the hopes of bringing much needed supplies to a Christian School that they sponsor. It is the only Christian school that they know of in Gaza. They had also wanted to visit some people there to find out their situation and the needs that they have. We were their transportation to and from Gaza.

It takes a little over an hour from Bethlehem to Gaza, driving on Israeli-only roads. On our way there we passed, Sederot, a town that Hamas has launched several rockets into. John and Sue have been to this town and have seen the pile of rockets stacked against the back wall of the police station. Sue commented about how horrible it must be to live with the fear that rockets, which could potentially cause damage or death, are being blindly launched into your town. We knew that no matter what devastating things John and Sue saw in Gaza that may have been caused by the Israeli government (e.g. atrocious living conditions due to the restrictions of foreign aid not being allowed in for months leading up to the rockets from Hamas and ultimately the war), nothing gives Hamas the excuse to commit violent atrocities against the neighboring villages of Israel.

After driving a few more miles past Sederot, we arrived early Sunday morning at the Erez Crossing into Gaza which is Israeli controlled. John and Sue walked up to the outside checkpoint and, after several minutes had passed, were informed that John was allowed in but Sue was not. She, of course, was very disappointed that she had traveled so far and would not be seeing her friends in Gaza, the children at the school, observing and training the teachers, or bringing in much needed supplies. She was also baffled as to why he was allowed in and she was not. After all, they did both have previous permission from the Israeli government and had entered in on several occasions to Gaza during her previous visits in the past few months. They both submitted the same applications at the same time to obtain renewal of their permission. Not giving up hope, she asked if there is anyone that she can speak with who could approve her entry. She was given the number of an Israeli official and was told to call him. John then spoke to an Israeli soldier who offered to go into the building to talk to his superiors to see if they would grant her permission. John stayed back with Sue to help contact the Israeli official since he had spoken personally with him a few times. We also waited there with Sue because if she could not get in, then she would be returning to Bethlehem with us along with her luggage full of supplies (John already had a full bag).

After several unsuccessful attempts to reach anyone who could make a difference in the situation, an older man (with sagging black jeans and a black t-shirt on that barely covered his mid-section) came up to us and tasked if we spoke Hebrew. We said no, so he proceeded through broken English to ask us what the problem was. We weren’t sure what he wanted, but Sue went ahead and explained the situation to him, at which point, he kindly offered to help. He said he would try to call some contacts that he had. He went to his car and, after a few phone calls; a higher ranked Israeli soldier came to the gate. He was respectful, but in the end, he could not grant permission. We appreciated the soldier’s efforts as well as those of this unknown man.

Come to find out, this helpful stranger’s name was Booma; he was an off-duty Israeli police who was waiting there for a Palestinian Muslim family. The young boy (about 4 years) in the family had leukemia. Booma was trying to get him, his mom, and his older brother out of Gaza to an Israeli hospital so his older brother can give him a bone marrow transplant (since he was a match). We don’t know Booma’s whole story, but he did tell us that he comes to the Erez Crossing seeking permission from both the Israeli government as well as the Palestinian government (which in Gaza, it is Hamas) to bring children out of Gaza into Israel for medical treatment. He also tries to take the Gazan children for a school field trip to see the sights and get their minds off of their loss and devastation. He wants to just to get them out of a poverty stricken war zone even if only for a week or two. He told us that after some effort, he had received permission from the Israeli authorities for the field trips, but that Hamas had not yet granted approval for these children to leave even for a short while.

Hamas had just finally allowed this young boy to leave for medical treatment after much persuasion on Booma’s part. We were fortunate to be there to see Booma with a smile on his face run to greet this little sick boy as he came through the checkpoint clinging to his mom’s side and his big brothers hand. It was a great joy to witness this demonstration of love that crossed the lines of race and religion. Booma is a Jew, but with the best English he knew and while fighting back tears, he shared with us how he wants to still believe in God “but just can’t.” He told us that God doesn’t love him because he let his (Booma’s) son die. He pointed toward the checkpoint and Gaza and said that “none of this is good – fighting between Israel and Palestine – what do we get from it – many die.” At this point, the tears welling up in his eyes were even more noticeable, his face became red, and after a few second to regain his composure, he said “my son was killed.” We don’t know why or how his son’s life was taken or even if it was related to the conflict, but our hearts went out to this man who was trying so hard to help another man’s son while grieving the loss of his own.

He was pressed for time and had to leave after but we were able to express our sorrow for the loss of his son, as well as, to assure the man that God does still loves him and will not forget him. Before he left, he said that he was sorry he couldn’t help, that he hopes Sue will be able to get in, and that maybe one day we can help give him faith. We thanked him deeply for his sincere efforts, told him that he is doing great work here, and that we would be praying for him. He thanked us and walked away. I was on the verge of tears as I watched him get in his car; and I wondered if I would ever meet this kind stranger again who from his appearance didn’t seem to care what people thought about him and only cared for helping others. I hoped that I would get to see him again, if only to give him a hug. We do pray for Booma, for his work with the Gaza children, for his family, and for his heart – that Jesus would heal his broken heart and restore his faith. He seemed to genuinely want to have faith. Although we may never be able to take him up on his offer to help him find his faith, we pray that someone will.

At this time, we had been there a couple of hours and the first guard that John spoke with who went up to talk to his superiors came back down and informed Sue that she still didn’t have permission. We attempted once more to have the security lady at the crossing to check for permission. Sue still had none so John proceeded into Gaza with his suitcase while Sue, fighting the urge to cry, returned to Bethlehem with hers. Sue tried several times throughout the next few days to get permission, but to no avail. She did keep calling over and over until she left; but even though everyone was cordial, it was same story with each person she spoke to – someone was waiting on someone else to give permission.

Needless to say, we were all eager to hear John’s report of Gaza when we went to pick him up at the end of his stay. He said that the effects of the war were disturbing to say the least. A premeditated air, land, and sea assault on Gaza wiped out large areas to rubble reducing it to nothing. Livestock appeared to have been deliberately shot. He counted at least 24 cows dead in a field on a farm. Businesses had been destroyed and orchard groves had been plowed down. Neither of them were demolished by bombs, but by what seemed to be tanks purposely leaving them unusable. Some project that 35-60% of the agriculture industry was damaged.

According to John’s opinion, the war was unnecessary, devastating, and ineffective. Even after the war was over, Israel was still not letting much needed life-saving resources in (from what he could tell and from what had been reported). The UNRWA has stated that their supplies for the schools (e.g. paper, books, etc.) have also been refused entry. It is estimated that over 70,000 Palestinians are now homeless due to the Israeli air strikes. John said that people (families including small children) are living in make-shift tents, if anything at all. Most are still without food, water, shelter, electricity, medical treatment and other basic human needs. A large sign hanging up on the Israeli side of the Erez Crossing says that a “regional medical clinic for the people of Gaza” has been provided. However, according to John there was absolutely nothing on the other side or inside the check point area. John’s assessment was that there was a greater evil in making something bad appear good. In his opinion, the atrocity of insufficient care for rehabilitation of the areas destroyed or damaged is worse than the sins committed during the war.

For many months before the war, Israel had Gaza under siege – blockading it from essential supplies. This had created, according to numerous relief organizations, “catastrophic” humanitarian conditions. Christian Aid stated that Israel was using food and medicine as weapons against Gaza's 1.5 million men, women, and children. Over three-quarters of the people in Gaza are already refugees that were displaced from their homes in what is now Israel. Gaza has been referred to as an open-air prison. The war has been described as shooting fish in an over-crowded barrel since the refugee camps in Gaza strip have one of the highest population densities in the world. One doctor explained it as bombing in a cage – since they are completely surrounded by wall with no way out due to Israel’s sanctions. In three weeks Israeli forces killed over a 1,000 Palestinians – many of them women and hundreds were children – and injured over 5,000 men, women, and children. Palestinians killed around 10 Israelis during this time which makes it roughly 100 eyes for 1 eye.

We believe that no lives (Israeli or Palestinian) should be taken. Obviously, not all Israelis believe that what their government is doing or has done is right. Many Jews around the world are also speaking out against the actions of Israel. Since Israel call itself “a Jewish state” some Jews are afraid that Israel’s misrepresentation of them are causing many to view Jews from all over in a bad light. Of course though, not all Jews everywhere or even here in Israel for that matter agree with the Israeli government.

Our friends, David and Joseph – both are Christians from Gaza – are not allowed into Gaza to see their family. Joseph has 3 younger sisters still there with the youngest only 9. He hasn’t been able to see his family for almost a year and a half now even though they live so close. Imagine not being allowed to see your family for so long especially after being extremely concerned for their safety through such a brutal war. If Israel does allow them into Gaza, they would be stuck there – not allowed back out to return to Bethlehem to finish their theological education at BBC. Despite the conflict with Israel, Joseph and David constantly worry about their family because of the Hamas government and the other militant Islamic groups there. Hamas will cut your hand and/or leg off if they think you stole something. They will shoot you in the arm or leg randomly. The militant Islamic groups will kill you as a Christian if they feel you are a threat to them.

Over a year ago, a 26-year-old Christian man, named Rami, who worked with the Bible Society, was martyred for his faith at the hands of and radical violent Islamic group. He was kidnapped outside the only Christian bookstore in Gaza (where he worked). After being beaten, stabbed, and shot, he was left dead near the bookstore. Many believe it to be because he would witness to Islamic leaders of many different militant groups. Some claim it was Hamas that killed him while others say it was another militant faction of Islam (which there are many). Rev. John told us that he has had a meeting with the leaders of Hamas. They explained to John that they don’t have problems with the Christians and that they didn’t kill that man. Regardless of who did it, Rami left behind a wife, Pauline (who was pregnant at the time), and two small children. Pauline and their 3 children are all here in Bethlehem now. We have been to the church that this man’s family attends. Pauline is also is taking English classes here at the college.

Joseph and David’s pastor as well as a few others here in Bethlehem had to flee from Gaza after this man was killed because they were also on a ‘most-wanted’ list. They too have been sharing the gospel of Christ to Islamic leaders. Joseph says that his family in Gaza just goes to school, to work, and home – nothing else because they are afraid. We have met several others from Gaza who stories are similar – fear from all sides. Persecution from the Palestinian government in Gaza which is Hamas, oppression from the Israeli government, and possible death from the Islamic Militant groups especially if you are a Christian.

Our prayer is that those suffering in Gaza will have relief from it all – that Israel will allow all aid into Gaza so that the Gazans may try to salvage what little remains; and that Hamas and other Islamic militant groups will let the people of Gaza rebuild their lives in peace without fear.

The Challenge of Purpose

What are we doing here? What are we, Aaron and Misty, doing here in Bethlehem? And, more specifically, what are we doing here that the locals can’t do? Aaron and I have asked ourselves this question on many occasions, and many have asked it of us. Can they not drive cars? Can they not clean rooms? Can they not tell someone about Jesus? Yes, they can (and better than us in some situations). So what are we doing here?

Well, there are a few areas where they desperately need us. These needs drove our passion to come to Bethlehem and continue feed our desire to be here. Although we don’t completely understand the magnitude of our ministry and of their needs, every passing day that we are here we realize more and more the importance of God’s calling in our lives to come to Palestine.

Our presence – just our being here is an encouragement to natives that they, the Palestinian people, are not forgotten and that, specifically, the Palestinian Christians are a part of the global body of Christ –that they are loved equally and unconditionally by other Christians. We are their contact to the outside world. We are a representative of America, of American Christians, and most importantly of Jesus Christ. We pray that by taking the time and effort to just come, be with them, hear to their life stories, and let them know that we care enough to live and struggle with them that they will feel loved, encouraged and listened to.

Our passport – where Palestinians have no freedom, we as American passport holders do (most of the time). Palestinians cannot leave certain areas of Palestine without specific and hard to obtain written permission from the Israeli government and with that, they still might not be allowed out. They don’t have the rights afforded to them that we have in America or even those rights that we, as Americans, have here in Israel. Therefore, due to restrictions, the Bible College’s mail remains uncollected if there is not a person with legal permission to go to Jerusalem and retrieve it, leaving many Palestinians and volunteers feeling cut-off from the rest of the world and lonely. This is especially true when packages from their friends and family get sent back because they sat at the post office for so long (which happened to our good friend just before we arrived). Incoming and outgoing mail is also the life-line of the college and helps keep it up and running – training Arabic speaking leaders and ministering to the local people.

Our persuasion – we, as Americans, have much persuasion back in the states; and our country, the United States of America, has much persuasion in the world. This may be the most important reason that we are here. We have connections that the Palestinians don’t. We have resources that they don’t. We have influences that they don’t. Ultimately, we have the ability to raise the awareness of the dire situation here in Palestine while they don’t have that same capacity. We are your eyes and ears here in Palestine. You know us and trust us. You know our hearts and desires. You know our love for the Lord and for all others. We have established relationships with you, our friends and family, all of whom can make a difference. We are the voice of the Palestinians in a country (America) where they have none. We can tell the untold story of the plight of the Palestinians to a country (America) that has not heard.

Although, America has, in the past as a whole, not heard the voices of the Palestinians nor really cared about their plight, we know that many of you, Americans and others, do care or would care if you just knew. We assure many of the Palestinians we speak to that we have friends and family who have wonderful hearts and would help carry their burdens with them (but they just need to know).

There is such hatred here and sadly, it is also within the Christian church as well. Not just between, the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Roman Catholics whose priests get in physical fights if the other steps a centimeter onto their side of the church (we saw Greek Orthodox at the Armenian Christmas making sure no one stepped onto their side and vice versa) but also between ‘Evangelicals’ in America and around the world. Many ‘Evangelicals’ have ignorantly overlooked the Palestinian Christians and tragically, in some cases, have blatantly overlooked them.

How can a divided church unite a divided land? How can Christians fulfill the two greatest commandments – first to love God and second to love others (Matt. 22:37-39) when they are too busy hating even their own brothers and sisters in Christ because of theological differences in the non-essentials of faith? Even with discrepancies in the essentials of faith, there should be no hate – only distinction and dialogue. A quote we live by: "In the essentials – Unity, in the non-essentials – Liberty, in all things – Charity. Truth in Love" – this is what we strive for. This is what transforms hearts and minds.

Aaron and I often feel discouraged and find it hard to take comfort in the good that many people from all races and religions are doing. Although many Israelis, soldiers, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Americans, Secularists and others are standing up to these injustices, it is still sometimes very difficult to be hopeful about the outcome and we haven’t even experienced the half of it. We learn daily from our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Christ what it really means to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Aaron and I have never had to love any enemies of that magnitude. We don’t completely understand praying faithfully for those who persecute us because we have never experienced such great persecution. Even now, though Aaron and I fight many frustrations and sometimes a little bitterness and resentment, we are free to return home to safety, security, and ‘easy’ living at any time while Palestinians are not.

Palestinian Christians (especially if they have come from a Muslim background) are in danger of losing their life (physically) by the Muslim government. Yet, they have already lost their life (freedoms) due to the injustices thrust upon them by the Israeli government. How can Palestinian Christians here keep their hope and their optimism when they face opposition and persecution from all sides (Israel, Muslim, Jews – Zionist or not, and even Christians – Evangelicals, protestants, orthodox, catholic, as well as Zionists) with no way out? Leaving is not an option for many of them because it is not the answer.

The solution is to stop the injustice on all sides and to hold those accountable who have committed these atrocities. There is hope. It is the one and only true hope for ‘Peace in the Middle East’ and it is solely found in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. We can certainly understand though why many Christians do chose to leave if they can, and that may indeed be what God has called them to do. But if all Christians left Bethlehem and Palestine, then there would be none left. The light of the Lord would completely burn out in the city where the light was born.

Aaron and I sadly were ignorant to the entire situation in Palestine up until a year or so ago when we heard Bishara Awad, the president of Bethlehem Bible College, speak at Denver Seminary about the Palestinian Christians in this area. It was only after this that we began to research the situation here rather than just believe what the media has said, what our government has said, and yes, even what some pastors have said. It was then, after developing a heart for the people that we decided to come.

One way our heart has softened toward all people is by coming to realize the truth of what Brother Andrew has stated in his book Light Force: "there are no terrorists – only people who need Jesus". This is what we remember when we see Muslims ‘terrorizing’ Israelis, when we see Israelis ‘terrorizing’ Palestinians, and even when we see Christians ‘terrorizing’ other Christians. All need Jesus. Certainly, some of these Christians may know Christ but they haven’t embraced Him. They need to know Him, His teachings, and His commands in a deeper way. We need to not dehumanize the ‘enemy’ but realize that they are people too who are sadly missing out on the love, joy, and freedom found in Christ Jesus. They are (as we all are) “Created…in God’s image. Loved…by God’s Grace. Called…for God’s purpose”. This is what changes lives.

Aaron and I have been inundated with new information, people, and places. We are overwhelmed by the gravity of the circumstances. We have mulled over how we are going to accurately and effectively relate all of this to our friends and family while still being compassionate to all those involved (or not involved). What we have heard and seen has kept us up at night and woke us up in the morning. Our thoughts are haunted by many questions and we struggle with the answers or lack thereof. Our faith is challenged by these questions. Our trust in Christians is challenged by the answers that they have for these questions. Our love for our enemies as well as our prayer life is challenged with the reality of the political, religious, economical, and ethical situation in this land which has created these questions.

Before we left we had some idea of what our mission would be to the Palestinians, but we really couldn’t grasp the full understanding until we came. Hearing is informational but seeing is transformational. It is our prayer that we may (all of us) not be conformed to this world but to continually be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we may be able to determine what the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God is. (Romans 12:2) Amen.

Bethlehem Bible College - Living Lights

This is an informational/promotional video about Bethlehem Bible College and their ministries here in Palestine.

The people you meet in this video (i.e. the president of BBC) and the places you see (i.e. the cafeteria) are the same people and places that we see everyday.

The Wall

These are all photos that we took one day while walking in Bethlehem around the wall.


Where's Aaron? Hint: below the guard tower


It doesn't work!

Yeah, me too!

The Cross and the Checkpoint

Need I say more?

Even though some of these photos are humorous, please keep in mind that life imprisoned behind this segregation wall is not. Please pray for all involved in this situation (Israelis, Palestinians, Refugees and others).

The Forgotten Church

This past Saturday was exactly one month since the day we arrived here in Palestine but to celebrate our three week mark (the Saturday before) we had our first ‘day off’. Atallah, the Dean of Administration at BBC, asked us if we want to accompany him (as part of Tabitha Ministries) to visit some people in the northern West Bank area of Jenin (an area that has seen much violence and devestation). What was going to make this day even more interesting was that his car was plated with West Bank tags. Explanation: there are different color license plates for Israel and the West Bank. White license plates are for vehicles that are only allowed to travel within the West Bank areas and on the roads that connect these areas (that is if Israeli soldiers allow the vehicle to pass through the checkpoint at all). Yellow license plates are Israeli plates and are allowed to travel not only in Israel but also throughout the West Bank to areas where there are Jewish settlements.

At 8 am, we slipped out the door to meet Atallah. We did not have the Israeli plates and therefore couldn’t take the short way to Jerusalem (15 min or so), but had to take the long way around for about 45 minutes to get to Jerusalem (the eastern side of Jerusalem) and then back north toward Ramallah. During this part of the drive eastward we were admiring the scenery, even though it was a foggy day, and then Misty noticed that there is even a little river going through this desert like valley. Atallah, chuckled and said, “That is not a river. That is sewage from Jerusalem.” Yes, open and heavily flowing sewage was let from Jerusalem through the West Bank Palestinian territories without even being in a contained pipe.

Not much longer we noticed that acres of trees had been cut down at the base. These fields of trees were olive trees that the Palestinians owned, but Jewish settlers came and basically mowed them down. However, if the trees were still standing and producing olives, they would remain unharvested because the Israelis control the Palestinian movement even to their agricultural fields. Even more, if they are harvested, there is not a market to sell them in, especially when they cannot to be taken into Israel or even sometimes to other Palestinian areas since Israel retains overall power of the infrastructure in most of the West Bank and Gaza. Infrastructure is the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise (i.e. roads, water, electricity, air and sea travel, etc). Roadblocks, checkpoints, and Israeli-only streets impede access and in some cases completely inhibit access, to basic social services, health care, food, water, and a stable economy (a free-market).

We also noticed that many Bedouins (desert-dwellers) had traded in their tents for 3-sided metal shacks since the Israeli occupation of Palestine greatly restricts their nomadic lifestyle. Another thing we saw was that the large grey wall which completely surrounds some Palestinian cities and is being built to encompass the entire Palestinian territory was constructed way up on a distant hill but yet Israel has erected another barbed wire fence closer to the road marking the site of the future wall and taking all of the land in between as well. The wall where it is now already violates many internationally recognized boundaries.

The entire time we travelled Atallah pointed out the illegal Jewish settlements (some virtually uninhabited) that are being built on all the high places in the West Bank. Why illegal? Building a civilian settlement in an un-annexed, occupied territory (e.g., the West Bank) is illegal according the international law. This, of course, is one of the major obstructions to peace between Israel and Palestine. Why the high places? Ariel Sharon, former Prime Minister of Israel, encouraged Israelis to settle the high places because they are strategic military locations in the Palestinian territories and would remain in Israeli hands. This is another indication that the Israelis have no intention of ever leaving this territory. These settlements are also referred to as “facts on the ground.” Even today, if Israel decided to leave the West Bank, they couldn’t because there are these “facts on the ground” that impede such a pull out. Even the exits on this highway that connects Palestinian cities throughout the West Bank are now blocked by gates or concrete blocks to protect these Jewish settlements.

So our question is: will Palestine be occupied forever? Occupation is control of a territory by military force. It has already been under Israeli military occupied for nearly 42 years. Israel wants the land but they don't want to make it a part of Israel because that would mean that in a ‘civilized and democratic’ state, the Palestinians would have the freedom to exercise their right to vote. This would mean that with the large number of Palestinians, the popular vote of the people might not be a Jewish person. The Israeli occupation and the segregation wall, especially since 2000, has been particularly hard on Palestinians with aid & aid workers in some cases being denied entry (as this is often the case for very long periods of time in Gaza). Military occupation of Palestine affects their basic rights to food, life, property, safety, and freedom.

According to the Geneva convention (international law or set of principles instituted after WWII to ensure that civilians would "never again" suffer as they had under Nazi occupation), an occupying force is responsible for the protection and care of the civilian population living under its control. Israel, however, ignores this requirement, routinely committing violations of the Geneva Conventions. Israel is one of the leading violators of these conventions today with numerous UN resolutions targeting them.

It is easy though to see why someone with Jewish heritage would want to come to Israel – the benefits are great – immediate Israeli citizenship, free language classes, free transportation to Israel, little or no cost living in a settlement, guaranteed job or a check at the end of the month. Yet, some of these Israelis leave after only staying a small while because they realize they are living on someone else’s land where their crops or homes were before being taken (without compensation) and demolished. In some cases, they are actually living in someone else’s home if it was spared from demolition.

Palestinians cannot even drive easily around the West Bank from one Palestinian territory to another because there are so many settlements and checkpoints that have to be avoided by Palestinian drivers. For example, we were also turned around at a checkpoint just north of Nablus because it was closed for no apparent reason (soldiers were there and nothing was going on). Therefore, we had to travel another route to go back south to Ramallah, then to Bethlehem. At this point, Misty had been car sick since we first got in the vehicle so the last thing she wanted to find out was that it was going to take even longer to get to our next destination.

The drive to Jenin took about twice as long with the checkpoints (the major checkpoints divide the West Bank into three different sections) and the extra distance to drive only where the license plates would allow us. The people of the Jenin district are among the poorest in all of the West Bank because they are agriculturally based community which can produce goods, but at times they have no market to sell them in. The residents of Jenin cannot work inside Israel or in Jerusalem because they do not have the proper documents, passes, permissions, etc. Therefore, the unemployment rate in Jenin is extremely high.

The kingdom of God northern area of the West Bank is loosing ground, at least that is what the numbers indicate. Der Sherot village used to be a Christian village, but today there is not one single Christian. The village of Jabba is the same. The town of Jenin has 400 Christians and Zabadee, the largest Christian town in the northern West Bank has about 2,500 Christians. Berakim’s Catholic church, however, is only a 4 meter by 4 meter room and has no priest. Tabas has 55 Christians out of 12,000 Muslims. The small cross at the top of the Greek Orthodox church is the only Christian symbol in the town. Beit Imreen has 2 Christians among 5,000. Nes Jebel has five elderly ladies that are Christians (all widows). Sabastia has 2 Christians – an elderly and disabled brother and sister – whom we visited in their small one room shack which barely had room for the three of us to stand in there. When they die, Christianity’s common presence and witness dies as well. These numbers reflect the entire Christian population, that is, all those who claim the name of Christ (Roman Catholic, Syrian and Greek Orthodox, Pentecostals, Evangelicals, etc.).

Atallah visits these Christians to encourage them and let them know they are not alone. He calls them “the forgotten church.” They are not part of the Muslim community because they are Christian. They are not part of an Israeli community because they are Palestinian. The community they have is the community of Christ around the world that should not draw lines based on ethnicity (Palestinian) or location (land) but unfortunately it does. Galatians 3:26-27 says that “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Another smaller point: because of these conditions in the West Bank, the discipline of archeology suffers in two ways. First, many Palestinians raid the many unprotected or poorly protected archeological excavation sites in the area. The goods taken are sold for money in the black market and end up in the markets around the area. Second, Israelis are not willing to give permission for many Palestinian schools to dig in the West Bank. Therefore, many Roman ruins and archeological sites remain unexplored and unprotected.

One of the major things that we have learned since we have been here is the difference between something being informational and something being transformational. We can let everyone know about how the West Bank operates, how the Christians are caught between or forgotten, and the ongoing injustice that takes place here. All of this information is good to know and makes a great foundation. But the transformational part takes place when you come here and experience it with them and become involved in the lives of Palestinians. Wait with them at checkpoints. See the trees that have been cut down. Cry with the mother who has lost her baby or the families who are separated due to restrictions. Hear their stories of humiliation, grief, and injustice.

On this trip with Atallah we were reminded of our hope for good things among the evils of this world. We drove by the area where Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. In the end of the story Joseph was blessed by God in many ways though he had experienced hardship and the brunt of oppression. Joseph says to his brothers that what they intended for harm, God intended for good (Genesis 50:20). Though many of our brothers and sisters are experiencing oppression, there is this simple truth that survives: God will not forsake the ones that he loves.