December 1, 2003

Christmas greetings from the land of Christ.

As many of you know, our appointment in Zababdeh finishes with 2003. We are sad to leave friends here who have become as family, but we’re joyful at the prospect of seeing our American families again. We are angry that the situation here continues to deteriorate and little progress is made toward real, just peace. We are grateful for the many people who made these three and a half amazing years possible. We are relieved that we, at least, will soon be free from suffocating closures and sieges. And we fear for the future, as Israel’s Wall project not only cuts hundreds of thousands of Palestinians off from their cities, lands, and livelihoods, but also threatens to sever Palestinians and Israelis from the possibility of lasting peace.

Yet we remember that this is the season of Advent, a time when the miraculous hope of incarnation reigns. We hope that the Prince of Peace, whose unlikely coming was as a humble infant, would bring succor to this land at this unlikely time.

Afaf, retired schoolteacher

To Christians in America, first of all, go step by step with Jesus, because everything will vanish and disappear except the Word of God. America is a rich and powerful state with many educated people with good minds. I pray that these work for peace.

Sylvia, sophomore in college

I want to say to all Christians in America that our lives are hard and the circumstances of the intifada have become more and more difficult in terms of our studies, our lives, and being far from our families. I hope that my generation can explain to older generations and to generations to come that there are Christians in the Middle East. I hope that all Christians in the world come to see Christmas and Easter in Palestine. Come see Christmas in the land of Christmas.

Elia, schoolboy in sixth grade

Life in America is a lot better than here because there are no military incursions or tanks and shells missiles gunfights. I want to live in America or other place outside. Here is nice but we have curfew and shells and the whole town is damaged, demolished buildings and broken glass everywhere from tanks and huge bulldozers.

To'mie, priest

We are the living stones here in the Holy Land. We don’t want dead stones. You can remove and replace a dead stone. But a living stone, how can you replace it? You support me in the West and I support you in the East. But if you don’t support me as a person, then I’m gone, finished. Christianity is buried.

Yvonne, grandmother

This land we're living in it is the best land in the world because it is holy. Christ was born, lived, died, and rose here. He came to forgive our sins. We have to believe that God is here. But these days we are living yet not living. We can’t do anything here. Someone can’t leave his house and go to the city, from Arab town to Arab town. Why? This is our land and we can’t go from here to there. We want everyone to see how we are living and help us have a better life. Because this is not life. We want people in America to feel for us, to help us get our freedom and independence.

Sa'ed, electrician

The only thing I ask of people in the West is that they speak to their decision makers and explain the truth to them so that they would have a just view of this place. I want them to understand what an Arab is, what’s a Christian, what’s a Palestinian. Many people seem to think that Arab means terrorist; on the contrary, many Arabs love peace and are friends of peace. I want people to know that there is something called an Arab Christian. We put our faith in Jesus Christ.

Hossam, priest

One of the things that makes us so special as sisters and brothers in Christ throughout the world, not only as Americans or Palestinians or Israelis or wherever we are from, is that we all belong to the same Body of Christ. All of us have so much to offer each other, so much to help each other. I would like to extend my greetings here from Nablus, a Palestinian city, from a Palestinian congregation, Christians who worship and love the Lord. I want to tell you that we are here and we are going to stay here and we expect to have your support, not so much material support as prayers and advocacy and spiritual work. There are Christians who need your support and who care about you as Americans, who pray for you and love you. Don’t think that Americans are hated in a way that you hear about in the media. It’s not the case. We still love each and every one whom God created but especially we think about our fellow Christians all around the world. We are here for you and hope that that you are there for us.

For more information about us, the film, or our itineration, see www.saltfilms.net.

Grace and Peace,

Marthame and Elizabeth

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 156