Monday, 22 October ~ Donna Veatch

Each day has brought a glimpse of the old and rays of light for a new day in Palestine. In Nazareth, home to Mary and Joseph and Jesus’ boyhood, we visited sites commemorating the Annunciation and wandered through excavations revealing structures of times past. 

Nabila Espanioly, founder of Al Tufula Center for Women and Children shared her struggle for each step of her education and profession, returning to build a center focused on child development and women’s empowerment. 

Over lunch at the Liwan Cultural Cafe, co-owner Sally Azzam explained how they are revitalizing community life in the neighborhood where locals may find comfortable space to share arts and culture. 

Abuna Elias Chacour

Father (Abuna) Elias Chacour, Archbishop of the Melkite Catholic Church and founder of the Mar Elias Educational Institution, met with us to share stories of overcoming tragedy to reach out in love.  He commented that after all his years of seminary and religious life he remembers the following:  God does not kill. God is love. You can forget the rest!  He asked us for our friendship and solidarity, which has been the most critical factor of this journey. We can see the sights and remember what they represent, but more importantly hear the stories and honor the people behind them who work to make each tomorrow better. 

Father Chacour invited us to be pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian, but not anti-Israeli or anti-Palestinian. This is perhaps our biggest challenge yet.