On the other hand, we are struck
by how little people in the United States know about this region,
probably because of the one-sided media coverage. And so while
those who have seen now are believers, how blessed are you who
have not seen and yet have believed (through their witness).
We can walk this land and follow the paths Jesus took here during
His ministry, and wonder, as we reread biblical accounts, what
has really changed across the ages. The small cluster that came
to claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior did so amidst a host of
large and conflicting issues, virtually invisible for a time.
How sad it is that our Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters
are dwindling in number here, the victims of large and conflicting
issues that stifle their ability to share the good news. Yet despite
this distressing phenomenon we can take heart in the fact that
100 fellow Presbyterian Christians will take home to their congregations
the plight of those crying in a virtual wilderness. Events like
this conference keep our hope alive, renew our faith, and give
us the impetus to address the needs of those whom we have come
to serve.
Last week we held our first network meeting. What a joy and a
privilege it is to be a part of such a committed and dynamic group.
There are seven organizations involved so far, and we’ll
be sharing about them in upcoming newsletters. Although the Joining
Hands Against Hunger program of the Presbyterian Church had previously
formed this network (along with others in eight countries), it
met here with a number of problems that were exacerbated by the
political situation, as the groups were isolated from one another
and unable to meet together to activate a program. We contacted
many of the original organizations to form the current network
and found they were still interested in being part of it. They’ve
even retained the network’s name, “Joining Hands for
Justice.”
While the organizations that participate in the network have
their own agendas and programs, the intent of the Joining Hands
Against Hunger (JHAH) program is to address collectively some
issue the groups can’t tackle individually, an issue that
deals with the root cause of hunger in their country through advocacy,
education, and economic empowerment. In the case of Palestine,
the JHAH network has identified the Israeli occupation as the
cause of hunger here, and they decided that isolation is the predominant
negative effect in people’s lives relating to their agriculture,
tourism, women and children’s issues, and civil society’s
general psychological state. This week we’ll meet again
to work on the programmatic details to address these issues.
On a personal note, we are looking forward to a brief visit home
in June. Usually when finishing a term of commitment, PC(USA)
mission workers return home for itineration, rest, medical issues,
and catching up with family and friends. In our case, however,
because the network had been without companion facilitators for
a long time, we arrived here to begin working immediately, doing
two three-year terms without a home assignment in between. We’re
thankful for this short visit to meet the newest member of our
family, Marianna Mae, reconnect with her big brother (lest he
forget he has grandparents on the other side of the family!),
as well as enjoy some time with the rest of our loved ones.
As many of you know, the Presbyterian Church underwent a very
painful reduction of staff on May 1, when the national staff of
the church was reduced by 75 people. Forty mission co-worker positions
were also eliminated, but they were the result of attrition. We’re
grateful that no one was recalled from the field, but there is
still a great deal of concern about the future. Your prayers and
support mean all the more in these difficult times, and we can’t
thank you enough for your participation in ministry to those whose
lives are touched in untold ways because of you, and the fact
that you believe.
Michele and Terry Finseth
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
185 |
