Munayer Family Musings Study Tours Hello Everybody, championships which he did along with his Sam 12 Comments from Musalaha It’s been so long since I last wrote an update. brother John who also got the gold medal At last! At last! can ride in the front seat of Study Tour Participants I can’t remember what has happened in be- in his age bracket. He came in 13th and was the car. He has been waiting for this to be like tween, looking at my calendar I see Christ- fantastic as a non–trained runner. He has a his brothers. He has to sign on the forms for mas and New Years passed twice, Daniel had heavy exam load now until the end of June. his passport re- an 18th Birthday party, Salim went to the US He is thinking of going to YWAM as well the camp, we toured the country for a The quiet drive north allowed us all to newal…..oohh and back, numerous running and swimming and in his words, “but not the same as Jack.” the excitement Steve Openshaw week. Part of it was a traditional tour rest and start processing some of what competitions [nothing new there!], Musalaha Of course we say and nod wisely. He is very of getting older. St. Peter’s Church, Bolton, UK of the biblical sites, but the last few we’d heard, and we all embraced the retreat at the Dead Sea, a few exams and I am committed at the congregation and loves his days were completely unconventional. “rest” that is so much an element of life He may think soon to have birthday with an 0 at the end of youth group [Neria]. He has turned out to be We stayed in Bethlehem which is sur- around the lake. The Galilee has a peace he’s 16 but the it. So news in brief……… an outstanding young man and great witness People have had their eyes opened to rounded by an imposing security bar- and quiet about it that was much more law says other- to his faith [Phew!]. some of the wonderful things the Lord rier, enjoying the wonderful hospital- powerful in contrast because of our wise! Jack 20 is doing in Israel and the Palestinian Au- ity of Bethlehem Bible College. There days in a busy urban environment with John 16 This is his last year of elementary school, in Seven months of being at home after YWAM thority through ministries and individ- we experienced many eye-opening a “breakneck” educational program John has started with exams in 10th grade to- September he will go to the high school [he was about all Jack and us could take. He is uals. The trip was also a spiritual jour- moments of lectures and tours. Walk- that was stretching our minds. wards his final graduation. As John seems to can’t wait]. John will be there to keep an eye Musalaha Spring 2010 Newsletter now studying Arabic in Amman until the ney for some of the people who came ing through the long corridors of the glide along life in a happy and contented way on him. end of June. To fill in this previous 7 month along. I am sure this trip will make a border on our way to catch the bus to this was somewhat of a shock for him. He’s Lance Brown time he did various childcare jobs, applied He qualified in four races at the National long lasting impact on the people who Jerusalem at the end of a work day as learning [forced] Mind Mapping for History. Chapel Hill Presbyterian, WA, USA Swimming Championships. He’s very fo- came along – as did the last one. the Palestinian workers returned from and was accepted to 4 Universities in the UK, John and Daniel decided to try and both win cused on swimming and wants to grow so Lives Transformed in the Midst of Conflict their day’s work in Jerusalem struck me. and took the TOFEL English and SAT exams. gold medals in the Jerusalem 5,000m races as much to be more powerful. That’s something I learned about their constant reality of I so deeply appreciate all Musalaha did The long term plan is that he will study Psy- Mary Pandiani it was a last chance to do it together [Daniel out of my control. he lady behind the desk handed me a brightly-colored derly lady in a shawl and black stockings shuffled by. I asked separation from their Jewish neighbors, to make this a life changing experience – chology and Sociology in the UK starting in Chapel Hill Presbyterian, WA, USA leaving in June] and they did so they had a Tmap of Jerusalem’s Old City. her if she might know where the Jerusalem Alliance Church security checks and their unequal treat- and the personal investment you made October. Salim’s long term plan is to pay for Salim great bonding/running day at the Nationals was located. ment in terms of rights and resource yourself to unravel the very complex it! Travelling to USA and Canada, jetlag and “The Alliance Church,” she said loudly in response to my in January. John came in 15th, which is also From walking the streets of Bethlehem distribution, namely water. Seeing the ball of yarn in my head and in my heart. Daniel 18 more jetlag. question, “is here.” “You’re looking for Pastor Jack,” she said, and pointed in a huge achievement. Two brothers together, front of us to a sign with the name of the church over an to sitting in a Messianic Jewish service, way the land is being carved up to pro- I have a deep desire for this to be more Yes he’s a fully fledged adult and drives the Her finger thudded against the thick paper on a spot a few off for the day with their sandwiches and big Keeps adding up columns of figures and tot- old door. we were given a taste of two worlds. vide more room for Jewish settlers and than just a profound life experience that car without his father or I blocks from where we stood at the Ministry of Tourism inside smiles. ting and shaking his head preparing for Jack’s Through Musalaha’s eyes, we began to to keep bitter enemies apart was a site enables me to read the newspaper dif- having to sit there in a state studies and Daniel’s year off. A bit older, a bit the Jaffa Gate. At some point, you have to stop looking at maps and start grasp the necessity for a bridge between one can only appreciate visually. Hear- ferently. of nervous exhaustion. We John is swimming in the Na- looking around you to see where you need to go. balder, a bit more tired, but a bit slimmer! I walked outside to a bright, clear day. I love any excuse these two worlds. From Refugee camps ing about the difficulties that the Chris- celebrated his birthday with tional Swimming Champion- that brings me to the Old City. The diversity spilling through I walked inside and up a spiraling staircase into a pew-cov- and settlements to guards and police tians on both sides of the issue face on a a meal/party at a nice hotel ships. More sandwiches and And then there’s me buzzing along with the Brigitte the streets is fascinating: ancient shops burrowed into de- ered sanctuary. Several keyboards and microphones framed and the Holocaust and Al Nakba, the daily basis and witnessing their courage which ended with a pea shoot- smiles but no big brother this Third-Side, Alpha 2, and Charity work, driv- Phillipus Dienst Group, Germany scending walkways, next to cramped banks and DVD stores; a doorway on the opposite wall. A thick man with glasses conflict seems overwhelming. A sim- and conviction inspired me. Most of all, ing battle ……peacefully in year. John has many, many be- ing various children about to various places, noisy tourists wearing matching scarves perched on a rounded nose poked his plistic answer trivializes the extent of I realized that to American Christians, true Middle Eastern style. lieving friends, many of which writing to Jack, general slave at home and stumble behind the group leader with a head out and smiled. probing damage. Yet, in the midst of it the Christians in Palestine are often in- A young man’s life transformed during live miles away, this keeps him taking a wellness course. He won a gold medal in the Je- hoisted flag; scents from mountains of “Prison and the all, Christ’s message of reconciliation visible and that I want to do what little I a Musalaha desert encounter as he went busy on Facebook and non-stop phone con- “You’re John, yeah?” asked Jack rusalem youth 5,000m race [in his age brack- That’s it for now, thanks for reading! spices mingle with the smells of fresh brings hope. In fact, it is the only an- can to change that. from being somebody who threw stones versations……..guess it’s the age. intifada changed me... Sara. et] and thus qualified to run in the national bread and baklava from bakeries; old swer. Musalaha provides the opportu- to someone who realized, that a peace- Kay Munayer. bent men in tweed jackets and khaffi- But, meeting with He welcomed me with a wave into his nity to face the pain and suffering of all ful answer is much more necessary than Chuck Orrestad yehs pace over the smooth stones as cozy office.