Summer 2009 Newsletter
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Musalaha Summer 2009 Newsletter A Danish perspective on peace in the Middle East The Middle East is just one mesh of cul- When I arrived, I soon had a taste of that Despite these feelings and though I worked Staff Update Upcoming Events Congratulations tures filled with people living side by side reality, especially since I began working in the Palestinian territories, I had also Women’s Social Project who come from totally different worlds. with the Palestinian youth leaders in Beth- seen another side to things through work- June 5 to Salim! Many are living in despair, without hope lehem, Ramallah and ing in the Musalaha We are excited to announce that Ta- mara Kuttab has joined our team here Bethlehem for a peaceful future with their neighbors. Nablus. I saw first-hand office. Israelis and Pal- We would like to announce that Dr. at Musalaha. Tamara has taken over In Denmark, there is no respect for Pales- how they struggle with estinians work side by Salim J. Munayer, director of Musalaha our youth department as the project’s Death and Fear of Death Seminar tinians. They are perceived as the enemy the political situation, side, laughing, joking June 5 Ministry of Reconciliation has received coordinator. She began her role as co- inflicting all of the pain and the reason for which affects their and enjoying each oth- Talitha Kumi, Beit Jala this year’s Christian International ordinator by leading Musalaha’s Youth disaster in the region. So, coming from everyday lives. While er’s company, which Scholarship Foundation Scholar-Lead- Galilee Encounter during the Passover Denmark, I didn’t know what to expect. these youth leaders showed me that there Young Adult Follow-up er of the Year award. And, naturally, friends and family were are being trained to is hope. Though peace and Easter holidays. June 5-6 apprehensive in me heading to the Middle raise up a new genera- is not ringing through- Tamara grew Talitha Kumi, Beit Jala This honor was awarded to Salim for East, especially at the height of the con- tion to become agents out all of society, there up in Ramallah his quality of life, influence in the home flict in the Gaza Strip. of change and have a is a place where Is- and Amman, Youth Leadership Training, Part 1 context, and accom- willing attitude to find raeli and Palestinian I was frustrated when I started at Jordan. She re- June 25-29 coexistence with Israelis, they must also can come together and make those initial plishments as he Musalaha. Frustrated, because I wasn’t Ephesus, Turkey battle their own internal struggles. Many steps to a brighter future. ceived her BA continues to serve sure how there could ever be reconcili- doubt that there will actually be peace in Education in a distinguished ation between Israelis and Palestinians. Musalaha has been a blessing to me and I Palestinian Children’s Summer Camp Challenges that keep us looking upward with Israelis. Ohio. She then purpose for the ad- The people I met seemed so closed, they hope and pray it’s a blessing to many oth- returned to Ra- Week of July 6 in Bethlehem region vancement of God’s thought of reconciliation as a good thing, The Palestinians feel disowned. They too ers. I thank God I came here to meet so mallah to work Week of July 27 in Zebabdeh region Kingdom and thus For many years Musalaha has invested its energies in God and see his fullness if we don’t move within society? as long as it didn’t involve them. How is are without hope, that there is no place many wonderful people, who are all so bringing Palestinian Christians and Israeli Messianic Jews for one of her father’s non-profit me- embody the very es- But the lessons we learned through our Desert Encoun- it ever possible to change people’s minds? for them to just be themselves and that open and welcoming to change. Israeli-Palestinian Children’s together and we are encouraged by the accomplishments dia programs, Sesame Street in Arabic, sence of CISF’s mis- ters and years of involvement in reconciliation gave us How can you change their thinking about they are without ownership of society. Summer Camp and milestones different people have made in their jour- By Dina Schroder which is designed to educate children sion. CISF members visiting the region some confidence to move on within the rest of our society. another people they supposedly hate? July 20-24 ney of reconciliation. But, the larger society of Israelis and Danish Youth Leader in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. awarded Salim the honor in a special Not only do we want to do it, but people are watching Baptist Village, Petah Tikvah Palestinians that we’re living in is Muslim and Jewish. So, ceremony in Bethlehem. the progress that we have made in reconciliation, and are She lives in Bethlehem and is actively how are we going to move from being called light to be- Bridgebuilders Conference asking if they can join, wanting to know how they can be Munayer Family Update involved in the young adults group at coming salt in our society? The apostle Paul tells us in August 7-17 CISF is a non-profit ministry focused involved. the Independent Baptist Church of Beit Romans 12 that we are called to renew our minds. When Jack is returning to Belfast for the last week of toring in Hebrew grammar since he was tested a demonstration outside of the govern- Norway on developing Servant Leaders for the Jala. we renew our minds, it will show in our actions as we We are now seeing how we can implement the wilder- his YWAM reconciliation course. For the past and we found that there were gaps in his He- ment offices for renovations of my sons’ majority-world Church by identifying begin to demonstrate love to fellow believers and live at ness experience with other groups, and how we can have two months he has been serving in Rwanda brew comprehension. But, back to this phone school – it’s in a terrible state. After that Family/Leader’s Conference and investing in the advanced theolog- a major impact in their personal lives. In order to build and Burundi, helping children business, there’s no doubt I have invited the Alpha group ladies to August 14-21 ical education of gifted Christian lead- peace with all men. It will then then be easier to love our bridges and impact the whole of society, we must start in clinics and orphanages. He should they make a water my house to do Color Me Beautiful as a Karlsbad, Germany ers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, enemies. small before we move upward and onward. We began has lost a lot of weight and phone he’ll be talking on the treat for finishing the course on which and Eastern Europe. How do we promote reconciliation that is centered with a small group of Muslims and Christians who were had some stomach problems. phone while at his swimming I was a helper. I must also go through around our Lord, the Messiah with others in the commu- willing to take these first small steps towards coexistence When we told him we were lessons. physical therapy for treatment on my nity that do not have the same convictions that we have? going to make him see a doc- foot bone spurs and Arthritic neck. And through using the Biblical principles of reconciliation and Sam is seriously training Do we only proclaim him as the Savior and fall short of tor, once he returns to Israel in so it goes on and on, in fact whilst writ- we were encouraged by their responses. for the upcoming Nationals doing what Jesus called us to do when he said, “blessed June, he claimed that he was ing this John called from the swimming competition. The preliminary are the peacemakers.” Where can we express and dem- One of our other key bridge building initiatives has been fit as a fiddle. However, I, as pool and there is an overnight swim- heats will take place in June Musalaha onstrate the peace we have with our Lord so that it influ- our Sports Camp. Sports has been an excellent means to his mother will be the judge ming competition tomorrow. He has to and the finals in August. But, ences society around us? As ambassadors of the Lord, we break down barriers between people as it has the foun- of that when I see him. He be there at 8 a.m. on the other side of swimming doesn’t seem to Contact Information: PO Box 52110, Jerusalem, Israel 91521 Tel: 972-2-672-0376 Fax: 972-2-671-9616 must also be bridge builders between other people from dation for creating unity. Our sports camp, which began has decided he wants to study the city miles away. Of course there are be his only affairs since he www.musalaha.org; [email protected] diverse faith backgrounds without compromising tenets in 2006, includes Jewish, Muslim and Christian youths psychology and we are pray- no details about the cost, what is he go- came home from school the of our own faith by being humanistic or deceptive. We who have the unique opportunity to build relationships ing for the where, when and ing to eat and what time I need to pick other day with huge scratches with those of other faiths and deal with their differences.