Last week we visited Bethlehem. It is the only time we get to go because it is in the West Bank, and we aren't allowed to visit there, only on special occasions. We went to a church which is above the Cave where traditionally Jesus was born. The line was forever long to get into the cave! We waited well over an hour, but we got to walk through and touch a gold star that the Christian pilgrims put in the cave. After that, and a great bedouin meal, we went to a field that is across a valley from Bethlehem. The valley had a bunch of caves, olive trees, and sheep with their shepherds. It would have been something similar to the field with the shepherds that the angels visited the night that Christ was born. We had a Christmas program type thingy planned, where someone reads a scripture, then everyone sings a song, and so on. Everyone was being pretty serious and contemplative when all the sudden I see a fire erupt on the other side of the valley. It wasn't a fire that started from a spark then slowly grew, it literally just erupted out of no where. Oh man I lost it. Everyone was getting distracted and watching the fire when all the sudden another fire starts right next to it. I notice that there is a small group of Palestinian boys on the hill above it, across a road. They are throwing what turns out to be Molotov Cocktails down the hill into the field. A smile comes to my face just thinking about it. Our Christmas program continues on, but by this time we all are just watching the boys and the fire. Next we see a cop car that looks almost like an armored vehicle drive up and some men get out. One of the kids runs towards them and the cop opens fire with rubber bullets, and it looks like they threw some type of gas as well. The kids take off the other direction and I'm still laughing because our big spiritual program was interrupted by Molotov cocktails and rubber bullets. It was perfect, it definitely put me in a good humor. I asked one of our security guards about it the kids and their motivations afterwards. He assured me that they are just kids trying to have a little fun. I told him that if I were to have that kind of fun in the states I would be thrown in jail. He just laughed and admitted that they can have more fun here.
'Tis the Season for sure.
On a more serious note I had a really cool experience with my brother's Palestinian friend from when he was here in the summer. I went out with a small group of students and my brother's friend into the old city to just look around and have some fun. We walked to Damascus Gate to walk into the Old City, and I was admiring how beautiful it is here with all the palm trees and buildings with domes. Damascus Gates is notorious for pick pockets, and even though I've never seen one or had a problem with them, I'm always careful going through the gate. While we're walking through my brother's friend sees a mother with a child begging for money. The mother doesn't say anything, she is just sitting agains the wall and asking with her eyes for help. My brother's friend, without saying a word, turns back to the lady and hands her some money. I know this sounds like a small thing, but I realized that I hadn't seen any of the Jerusalem students, or Christian tour groups give beggars money in the Old City, or anywhere for that matter. That doesn't mean that it doesn't happen, I just haven't seen it. But walking through the city with my Brother's Palestinian friend, who is a Muslim, I remembered what it meant to be Christlike. I thought that was a cool lesson from this week.
Well, I'm excited for this next little while. At the rate that I'm writing these blogs I might only finish one more by the time I'm done. It has been a great experience so far and I really appreciate the people and the cultures here. They are so different than what the news or media portrays.
Bye!
Spiritual fires are burning baby!
Me at the Jordan River. Its kinda muddy!
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