Day 04 - Jerusalem Promenade, Herodian, Tent of Nations, Yad Vashem

We started our day on a promenade overlooking the city of Jerusalem, learning about the significance of the rain cycle and crop seasons in determining the timeline of Bible stories. 

After our morning devotion, we entered Palestinian territory to visit Herod’s Palace in Bethlehem. Once again, we were astounded at the stark contrast between Herod -- a man obsessed with making himself better than everyone else and abusing people in the process, and Jesus, our Lord and Savior who entered the world as a newborn baby, allowing shepherds to be the first to worship the King of Kings. 

God’s story consistently surfaces around the underprivileged and overlooked. 

Next, we continued our time in Palestine at Tent of Nations, a beautiful 100 acre farm owned by a Palestinian man named Daud. Daud graciously shared his story as a Palestinian man living under Israeli control. He has reason after reason to be angry and retaliate against the Israelis oppressing him, but he “refuses to be a victim” and “refuses to be an enemy”. Daud is an inspiration to us all. 

After we ate a delicious meal cooked by Daud’s wife, we went to the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. With a couple of hours to ourselves to read and ponder the exhibits, we returned back to the hotel solemn at the atrocities of this world, yet desperately clinging to the hope that is found only in Jesus. 

Our last event of the evening featured two speakers, Basam and Rami, from an organization called Parent Circle Family Forum. Basam is a Palestinian and Rami is an Israeli, and yet they call each other brother. After each losing a daughter to the conflict, they both have found themselves in a powerful organization that tours around talking to anyone who will listen about their desire for true peace and coexistence between Israel and Palestine. 

Our hearts are heavy, but we are truly inspired to listen to people—anyone and everyone— more, and above all else, ve’ahavta.