By Sophia Martinelli

“First night in the Bethlehem hotel was a doozy. I think we were all in a daze not only from the 9 hour jet lag, but by the hit of the Israeli humidity.

I was awakened by two unfamiliar sounds: the Call to Prayer around 5 a.m., and the continuous crowing from not one, but two competing roosters. The sounds of the busy street shortly followed the 6 a.m. Hour, and as I stared at the ceiling of my hotel room, something told me that I was no longer in the “States”. I sprung up to catch scenic pictures of the arising dawn, and in a good mood: prepared for breakfast and church service.

I could almost taste the food as I turned the corner of our 5th floor hotel room, and I, as the “foodie” I am: began to salivate and tried to pinpoint and guess what spices were used. Breakfast was a dynamic and delicious spread of various new foods, where pictures may only do the eyes mere justice. I truly loved it!

We arrived at the Christmas Lutheran Church in time to snap group and panoramic pictures before service and to truly “take it all in” for the first day. The service was very serene and interesting as the reverend taught in traditional Arabic, but kept us in tune with English translations from time-to-time. What I found most beautiful, as I also continued to realize throughout the day, were the universal methods of communication that transcend all cultures, statuses, and barriers; something as simple as a smile, a gutsy loud laugh, or the cries of babies during a church service.

A welcome (arabic) coffee hour from the Nassar family

We proceeded up a small corridor to a large annex where we were greeted with the smell of rich and strong Arabic coffee, something I’ve gotten used to seeing being offered at various times of the day.

With excitement in our mind, compassion in our hearts, and the will to learn in the threads of our being: we look forward to future days on our pilgrimage.”

The group outside Christmas Lutheran Church, Bethlehem