Meetings in Bethlehem

One of our delegates, Tana, wrote this entry on some of our meetings in Bethlehem.  Tana was also on a delegation in 2006.

(From 1/13/10)
After spending the night in a refugee camp with a gracious Palestinian family we traveled to Bethlehem to the Holy Land Trust (HLT). This organization is an NGO started in 1998 with the goal of strengthening Palestinian communities for the future by training in non-violence direst action. They have 4 programs non-violence centers each. The program areas are travel encounters, Palestinian media and news, Community television, and leadership training.

I recall being impressed with their work in 2006 and I am again. They sites direct numbers and places where their work occurs. They presented fresh and creative ideas. I liked the cornerstones of their Peacekeeper program for youth. These cornerstones include 5 steps. Praise people. Give up put downs. Seek wise people. Notice hurt. Right wrongs. I think all of us can do better at each one of these cornerstones.
HLT noted a lack of leadership for the future and they are inviting potential leaders to intensive workshops based on nonlinear thinking. The goal is the development of leaders prepared for the future with skills in co-existence, justice building, and non-violence.

In the afternoon with visited with Wi'am Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center. The founder was instrumental in bringing CPT to Hebron. He was a friend to Gene Stoltzfus the founder of CPT. His statement, "Love your country, don’t over generalize and don’t be extreme," has stuck with me.

In the evening it was time to cook carrot salad and vegetable stew. We had visitors on the roof [see Nick's post below].

-Tana

Take a Sip of Life

Joyce wrote this poem for our delegation blog.


"Take a Sip of Life"

Tea leaves welcome all
Sage, mint, a bit of sugar

In a Palestinian village
The elder talks
And a young boy
carries a tray of sweet tea
To welcome strangers.

Injustice of a home invasion
The event is told
And a young boy
carries a tray of sweet tea
To welcome strangers.

We are humbled
We learn true hospitality
We hear the pain of daily life
We hear the passion for Palestine
Our hearts and minds cry out for jsutice

Sweet tea bridges our lives
We will brind home these stories
We have much to integrate
We are eager to tell our experiences.

Tea leaves welcome
Mint, sage, sweet tea
Hospitality has a new meaning for us all.