Sunday's activities

Sunday's activities
(written on Monday for previous day)Greetings!Our time here is drawing short now and there is so much to process.Yesterday, was another exhausting day yet amazing. Our day took us into Bethlehem. There is a large wall that prevents free travel in and out of Bethlehem (West Bank) so we had to stop at a check point to be granted entry. Upon leaving, an armed Israeli soldier (who didn’t look any older than about 15 or 16) entered our bus and checked our passports. What a realization as to how much control the military really has over here.Once cleared our day began by to the Shepherd’s Field--the place where the angels proclaimed Christ’s birth to the shepherds. Please remember all of these sites are the accepted locations based on study and research but no one knows exactly where each event has taken place. We entered a cave that would have been used by the shepherds--at night the sheep were herded into the cave while the shepherds protected the entrance.Following our journey we worshipped at the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem which was exciting for us except most of the service was in Arabic. The pastor (female but not permitted to be ordained) was gracious to us and offered us explanation in English during the service. One member of our group was celebrating her 22 anniversary of her ordination in the Lutheran Church so it was a very special day for her.Church of the Nativity was our next stop and we visited and even touched the place that is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. How humbling and how marvelous! Not in a wooden manger but in a cave! Nothing glorious or beautiful there except that our Savior entered into the world for you and for me.Lunch was at the International Center where an American missionary explained to us the plight of the Palestinian Christians. We were blessed by the opportunity to visit a refugee camp. I know that might sound strange but it was a blessing because tour groups are usually not given access to the camp. It was an eye-opening; heartbreaking experience. These people have no homeland and were living in camps. Now there is housing but it is cramped space, little work opportunities, and a dim future. The children, as is usually the case, are children. They followed us and it seemed to be an honor for them to walk past their friends with the Americans. They called to their friends to join us as we traveled up the roads of the camp. It was physically strenuous and emotionally overwhelming.The day came to an end with our usual dinner and devotion time but I believe that we were a changed group of individuals after our days experience. At home we can ignore what happens in the world but once you witness it with your own eyes, it becomes a part of you.Pray for peace, for our fellow Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters and for a world that one day can take down the walls and offer a hand in peace and unity.BlessingsPastor Pam