HOW IT ALL GOT STARTED

When we signed up for the Pilgrimage of Solidarity and Study Tour to the Holy Land with Waterloo Lutheran Seminary in April of this year, little did we expect to be returning as volunteers under the auspices of Canadian Lutheran World Relief and Volunteers in Mission. However, profoundly moved by the whole experience, we each felt the need to return to the Palestinian Territories.

The result of Dale’s initial inquiry to Sr. Monica Denk, International Volunteer Coordinator for CLWR and ELCIC Volunteers in Mission, led to our being approved for a nine-month placement in East Jerusalem, commencing October 1, 2007.

Dale will be serving as Communications Assistant to Dr. Tawfiq Nasser, the CEO of Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem, and Donna will be working as Teaching Assistant in English, and Administrative Assistant to Dr. Charlie Haddad, the Director of Education for the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Jordan and the Holy Land school system.

We are both overwhelmed by the immensity of the responsibilities placed in our hands but confident that with God’s help, we can make a meaningful contribution. We ask for your prayers for us, and your financial support for the world-wide work of CLWR and VIM.

Monday, September 24, 2007

IT'S COUNT-DOWN!!!!

Donna and I had our commissioning service on September 23. Sister Monica Denk from Canadian Lutheran World Relief, and Pastor Jim Koellner of St. Luke's in Kitchener, along with our daughter, Rebecca Finch and the Rev. Dr. Tim Hegedus blessed Donna's and my undertaking to act as volunteers in the West Bank.

The word "missionary" was mentioned a number of times during our commissioning service, and when we were invited to say a few words about our volunteer jobs, I reflected on why we had decided to work at Augusta Victoria Hospital and in the Palestinian Lutheran school system for the next nine months. The word "missionary" connotes to most people the notion of a Christian setting out to convert a non-Christian to Christianity. We are not going to the Holy Land to convert. During our time among the Palestinians in April we became aware of how Israel's efforts to secure the safety of the Jewish people were making life extremely difficult for the Palestinian people, and we made the decision to do whatever we could to make life easier for Palestinians.

After all, Christians are in many ways responsible for the plight of the Palestinian people. If Christians had not persecuted Jews, Jews would not have had to seek a safe haven in Israel, thereby wreaking havoc in the lives of Palestinians. In fact, if Christian crusaders, bearing the cross on their banners, had not slaughtered Muslims in the name of Christ, Muslims would not distrust us Christians as they do. I feel responsible as a Christian to do what I can to bring justice to the Palestinian people.