Changing Seasons

Well, our time in Bethlehem came to a close at the end of March. We spent the first three months of 2009 getting to know some of the most incredible people that we have ever met, and we have a few new heroes. We have many stories to tell and many pictures to share. Ninety days in Bethlehem went by fast – especially the last week we were there. This season has been challenging and rewarding in many different ways. We are certain that God called us there during that time for a reason or many reasons for that matter. Though we may never fully know why, God reveals to us a little more each day about what He wants us to do now with the experience we had there. As we attempt to tackle the question of “What now?” a few paragraphs down, we both feel confident that our time at Bethlehem Bible College and with the Christians in Palestine was well spent, and it goes without saying that we are going to miss our new friends.

But we also know that God is leading us to yet another season in our lives. And although we are not sure what that season looks like, we know this for sure – God is faithful. This is how good God is: We had no long-term place or even somewhere to store our stuff just a few days before we were supposed to head back to Colorado. Two days before we left, we had a long–term month to month apartment beginning mid-may as well as a place to stay in the mean time. Both are work for rent situations which is exactly what we needed coming back from four months of not working When we arrived, the Lord provided a free storage place for all of our items just a day before we had to move it all. God perfectly orchestrated it all – as only He can. As of right now, we plan to stay in Colorado for some time to work and search for jobs. Anyone got some ideas for us?

In the following paragraphs, we take some time to answer a few questions that you might have, but first and foremost, we wanted to say thanks to all of you who were praying for us during our time there and to all of you who have supported us financially. God bless you all! We hope that our blog has been informative and enjoyable for all you who have kept up with us. Keep checking! We are going to be adding some reflections and photos on our time in Palestine. Blessings!

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE YOU LEFT BETHLEHEM?

To explain it shortly – home hopping! We have not stayed in the same place for over a week for the last month and a half. Whew! It is now close to a year that we have been nomadic! When we left Bethlehem, we stopped in Italy to visit Aaron’s cousin whose husband is in the Navy and is stationed on the coast south of Rome. It was a great time to visit family that we haven’t seen in a while and to transition from Palestine to the U.S.

After leaving Italy, we were home with our families in Texas for Easter which was a very significant event for us since we had just returned from living in the place where Christ was resurrected. We stayed the week after Easter with Misty’s family and took care of her little brothers while Misty’s dad went with her mom to get her settled in Phoenix, Arizona where she has been having targeted chemotherapy. Misty’s mom will be there until mid-June at the least. She is doing well spiritually and physically but we won’t be sure yet if the treatments are actually working on the cancer for another few weeks. Thank you for all of the prayers, cards, and support you’ve sent her these past weeks. Every little bit has helped tremendously. Please continue to pray for her while she is not only receiving treatment but is away from her children and husband as well. And pray for her husband and children while they are missing her at home and trying to adjust to the changes.

Following the week after Easter we drove back to Colorado, have been working at least two jobs each (so way more than full-time) and have been home-hopping until our more long-term apartment was ready – it was being remodeled. Needless to say, we've been pretty busy. During all this, Misty went to Phoenix to stay with her mom for a week. It was a good mother-daughter bonding time for Misty and her mom. A little over week after Misty's return, our apartment is now ready, for the most part, so we will be moving in this week and getting settled. While we are deeply appreciative to those who graciously gave us a home when we had none, we are so excited and ready to move in to a place of our own and sleep in our own bed. AAHHHH! Roaming, moving and living out of two small suitcases is tiresome!

WHAT NOW?

Well, that is a great question for all of you who are asking. We have made arrangements to be in Colorado through the summer until the fall – with a few side trips to Texas (and maybe Phoenix again). We both have jobs right now but Aaron is looking for full-time professional employment in his area of training (minister, Bible teacher, or ministry of some sort –in the church or in a Christian organization), and until we know what that is and where it is, we will be hanging around the Rockies. We are planning on making the most of our time by catching up with our friends and family both in Colorado and Texas; hopefully, we will have a chance to visit with you. We will also be taking some time to reflect on our journey. Overall, we have over 3,000 pictures and seven hours of video from our time there – not to mention several pages of journaling information.

HOW WAS PALESTINE?

Wow! That is a big question that merits more than a few paragraphs, but we will write what we can now and elaborate more along the way as we process through our time there. Palestine, Bethlehem, Bethlehem Bible College, the Palestinian Christians, the other local Palestinians (non-Christian), the ex-patriot (non-Palestinian) Christian volunteers – were all absolutely wonderful! We did everything from cleaning toilets, to driving the van for mail runs into Jerusalem (since most Palestinians could not travel beyond the separation wall), to greeting wayward travelers as they arrived at the guest house (giving people a first impression of the College while being an ambassador for Christ), to being “dorm parents” for the young men since we lived on the same floor as them (this was exciting to say the least and we really enjoyed spending time with each one of them), to creating a new website for the college (this is not up and running yet – Misty is still tweaking a few things on it), to helping in the gift shop, and last but certainly not least, to encourage the Christian church wherever it was.

Encouraging the Christians – getting to know them and hear their hearts – was by far, our favorite experience there and possibly the most important thing we could have been involved in.

Our friend, Rhonda, told us of a recent time that a Palestinian Christian called her and asked her to come and visit them. They said they could really use some encouragement and that they were exhausted. Rhonda said she would be there as soon as she can but that might not be for another month or so. To which the weary Christian said, “No, we need you now. Please come.” So she dropped everything and flew there immediately. When she arrived she sat down with this man and his family, and her heart ached for him as he described his spiritual and physical situation. What he told Rhonda is what we have seen in the eyes of many of our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Christ. What he said was very simple yet profound.

It went something like this (Laenger paraphrase), “Rhonda, I am so tired. I feel like I am Moses – that I have been extending my hands to win the battle. And as long as my hands are up, we are winning the spiritual battle, ministering and witnessing for Christ, but I am getting tired…so very tired. I need someone to help me hold my arms up – especially now.” The heartfelt and sincere request for encouragement was the same cry that we heard from many. Not in the same words, but the heart of what they expressed was the exact same. We will all lose the battle as Christians if we don’t take to time to recognize that there is a global body of Christ that all Christians are a part of who could really use some encouragement and help holding their arms up – to simply be there for them in their time of need. As Yohanna (a Palestinian Christian and a good friend) reminded us, “If the body of Christ suffers in one area in the world then the entire body of Christ suffers (even in the U.S.) – for we are of one body, spirit, and mind – that which is in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.”

WILL YOU BE GOING BACK TO BETHLEHEM LONG-TERM?

Although we don’t feel that God is calling us there long-term right now, we both agree that if God were to call us back long-term, we would say yes without a doubt. We think that a long-term position anywhere needs to be more in the areas that God has called us to and to utilize to the fullest potential of the gifts that God has given to us. For Aaron, those God-given skills would be teaching or ministering. And for Misty, they would be hospitality (especially in our home) and teaching as well. We also believe that, it is only because we have lived there with them – hearing their stories, going through the checkpoints, and just being there that we can now help them more by being here in the United States.

We feel that our calling now is to help bring awareness of the Christian Palestinians to our brothers and sisters in Christ here in America. We brought awareness before we left through the class that Aaron taught on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as well as by researching and sharing with friends and family what we discovered. But we can now be so much more effective since we have seen and experienced life with them as they do. Knowing is informational but seeing is transformational. We have been transformed. We as Christians are not called to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind so that we may prove what the good, perfect, and acceptable will of God is (Romans 12:2). For us – Bethlehem was a part of this transformational process.

WHAT DO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO?

Okay…so that might not be a question that you are asking but it is something that we are going to tell you whether you want to hear it or not.

What do we encourage you to do? Well, it’s simple really. You should GO! Even if it is only for a few days, it will be memorable and life-changing for you and possibly for those you meet. There are “Alternative Tours” offered by many agencies now (Christian, non-Christian, Israeli, Palestinian, etc.). We would recommend going with a Christian agency since they would not only take you to the unforgettable Christian holy sites (which you don’t want to miss) but will also take you to other sites (such as the wall, checkpoint, areas within the west bank). The most impacting visit, though, will be with the living stones – the Christians (from Messianic Jews, to Palestinian Christians, to Muslim-background believers), in order to gain a greater understanding and a hands-on perspective of the religious, political, economic, and spiritual situation in the land of the Bible.

Not everyone can go, but if you can’t go then we encourage you to LEARN, SUPPORT, ENCOURAGE, and PRAY! Four things that all Christians can do regardless of age, gender, denomination, or any other excuse that people (including us) have used to not get involved. Well, if you don’t have finances to support then you can at least do three of the four. Take the time to LEARN more about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict – from many different perspectives. Things might be overwhelming at first but keep digging and praying about what you find. SUPPORT Christian organizations, Palestinian brothers and sisters in Christ, or missionaries that are there by giving finances or other resources and supplies. Write letters and emails, or send care packages and cards to ENCOURAGE those who are there (Palestinian Christians as well as missionaries). But the most impact you can have on your life as well as theirs is to PRAY. Pray for the Christians there, pray for the Muslims, Jews, secularists, and other non-Christians, pray that the Kingdom of God will flourish and grow.

A FEW REFLECTIONS…

During our time there, we have learned that we should be and have been commanded to be concerned about the Kingdom of God. We are to be ‘Kingdom-minded’; and Christ’s Kingdom is a spiritual one. We have also learned of the dangers of not putting Christ at the center of everything – even our doctrine. Setting aside what any of us believe about Israel, the end times, or any other possible doctrine that may be important but not essential to ones salvation, the bottom line is…we are united in Christ. When we don’t keep Christ as the center of our doctrine, we have a tendency to disregard our fellow Christians and overlook the fact that they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is demanded of us by God that we encourage one another because we are of the same body. As Paul explains it in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Amen for that.

A CHALLENGE TO YOU!

Read Romans 12. In light of our testimony, experiences, and what we have written and told you, please take the time right now to read Romans 12 and pray about what the Lord might be laying on your heart through these true words from God.

SOME RESOURCES ABOUT PALESTINE

We thought it might be helpful for some of you to have some of names of the resources that we have found helpful in these past months. Prayerfully use these as you get started in your learning process, and hopefully, as you one day prepare to go.

Brother Andrew and Al Janseen. Light Force: A Stirring Account of the Church Caught in the Middle East. Crossfire. Open Doors International, 2004.

Carter, Jimmy. Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid. Simon and Schuster, 2006.

Chapman, Colin. Whose Promise Land? The Continuing Crisis Over Israel and the Palestinians. A Lion Publishing plc. Oxford, England, 2002.

Awad, Alex. Palestinian Memories: The Story of a Palestinian Mother and Her People. Bible College of New Zealand, 2008.

Musalaha http://www.musalaha.org/

Holy Land Trust http://www.holylandtrust.org/ – Alternative Tours are offered with this Christian organization

Christian Peacemaking Team http://www.cpt.org/ - read about At-Tuwani (a village we visited)

The Israeli Committee Against Housing Demolitions (ICHAD) http://www.ichad.org/ - not a Christian organization but offers good tours that introduce you to the conflict situation

Applied Research Institute http://www.arij.org/

Breaking the Silence http://www.shovrimshtika.org/

If Americans Knew http://www.ifamericansknew.org/

This Week in Palestine http://www.thisweekinpalestine.com/

Bethlehem Bible College http://www.bethlehembiblecollege.edu/