Ramallah Trip

Ramallah Partnership Blog

last updated, May 6, 2008.

Read about previous trips by clicking <HERE>

God is doing greater work than we ever imagined in Ramallah. Pastor Jay Abernathy and Steve Jenkins were in Ramallah in May with a team from Buckner to examine the possiblity working with the at-risk children of the West Bank. Below is a blog of the trip. You can also read the blog of Dr. Ken Hall (the president of Buckner) here.

Now that "jet lag" has subisided a bit, it is time to reflect our time with the Kakishes and the Buckner team in Ramallah.

It looks like God is opening a door there to minister with many children, women and families. The need is great and both the Palestinian and Ramallah governments are aware and want to do something about it. (Their compassion and vision for their people is touching.)

Now, we need to prayerfully consider if and how we can help. Buckner is thinking about their next steps too. So, keep expecting to see how God lets our church be a part of changing the world with Him, and brining the message of Peace to the children of the West Bank in the Holy Land.

This should be the last entry until Steve and I arrive home on Saturday. Until then, let's keep praying for each other as we serve the Lord Jesus Christ and His beloved world (John 3:16).

Last night we worshipped in a packed room with the Ramallah church. It was a weeknight. I wonder how many American churches get crowded on weeknights. Here, they are so glad to be saved they can't wait to get together and worship, even though it sometimes brings difficulty. Albert Reyes of Buckner <read his blog here> preached about our place of service in the world. He did a great job. After the joyful service we went to eat at Pizza Inn with the boys from the home. May 1 is Pastor Kakish's birthday so we all had a big celebration with cake and coffee. The boys received gifts that we brought with us too.

Today, we will visit Masada and the Dead Sea. Several of the boys at the home have permits from the Israeli government to travel outside the West Bank, so they are going with us. It will be more fun to see the joy on their faces than to see the historical places of this Holy Land.

Thanks again for reading this column and praying for us. I look forward to seeing the members of FBC Palestine this Sunday. God bless you!

It is the National Day of Prayer in the USA. It's time to thank God for our nation AND pray for our current situation and future direction. Many of you will gather at events and pray. As you do, please remember to pray that our nation would consider more ways to change the world through acts of kindness, not violence.

Here, we traveled to Jerusalem where the greatest act of grace happened in the midst of violence - Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and rose (Hallelujah!) The team left the West Bank through the checkpoint and went to the Mount of Olives. We walked down to the Garden of Gesthemene. Visiting the last places where Jesus resolved to do the will of God, even though it cost Jesus His life, is inspiring.

From the Mount of Olives you can see Jerusalem. We went to the Garden Tomb (see entries below for more info), the Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Western Wall. It was at the Western Wall where I was struck by the way Jesus said for us to pray in secret, not for show as others do. Yes, I prayed there, but I thanked God that He heard my prayers not because of the place I prayed, or the manner in which I pray. He hears my prayers because His Son, the Messiah, is my Savior!

We returned to Ramallah through the Qalandia checkpoint. It was backed up, so we were delayed while soldiers checked out the vehicles. We had no problem, so after we passed through we went to lunch in a village outside Ramallah. The food was great. (One more reason to come visit.)

In an hour we will go to visit the orphanage and have church services with the Ramallah church. It should be a good connection time for the Buckner team, us, and the local believers.

The big reason for this visit to the Holy Land was to see what the needs were and what resources were available meeet those needs. Then, Lord willing, we can consider ways to do ministry in the name of Jesus Christ in the West Bank. Specifically, this has been about learning from the work of Home of New Life, meeting with local government officials, and considering what resouces Buckner has to offer for needy children and families.

We met with Palestinian government officials and Ramallah municipal leadership. I have to say that I am very impressed with the intelligence and compassion of these people. They want a vital and healthy community with democracy and opportunity. Like anyone should, they want a great future for their children.

I was emotionally moved in the meetings as I felt that I was getting to see things God has been weaving together for a very long time. Each of the entities FBCP is connected with (Home of New Life and Buckner) are committed to their respective visions and it is great to see them trying to find connections that help all of the West Bank. The openness of the government to our work here surpasses what I would expect by a longshot. In other words, I am not saying that anything for certain is occuring, but it is wonderful to be a part of the conversations that will affect the message of Peace in this land.

Tonight, we travelled to Ramla. This city near Tel Aviv is not in the West Bank, but has an Arab Baptist Church started 28 years ago by Pastor Kakish and the Association of Baptist Churches in Israel. You FBCP members may remember how we helped them with an offering last year to get into a location of their own. (They were meeting in a room about the size of a garage.) Now, with the renovations done, the church is self-sufficient and has helped start four other churche in the area. I had the blessed opportunity to preach there tonight. Afterwards we fellowshipped (translation: eating lots of cookies!) It was a sweet time to be with this congregation.

We arrived back in Ramallah this evening after picking up the Buckner team at the airport in Tel Aviv and spending two days of "getting to know you" time by visiting some of the Holy Land sites in Galilee. It is beyond description to write how it feels to walk the land where Jesus Christ taught, healed, fed, and loved the crowds. It helps the purpose of our visit here to remember that we too must continue to love and serve as Jesus did, in His name.

There are too many sites to describe in detail here, and each person is moved in different ways, but I must speak of one that means so much to me. There is a small church we visited on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus said to Peter, "Do you love me?" and Peter replied, "Yes, Lord. You know that I love you!" Jesus said to him, "Then feed my sheep." Three times that exchange occurred, some believe it is because Jesus is restoring Peter after his three denials of Jesus the night before the Crucifixion. I believe so, but additionally, Jesus is solidifying the mission of Peter and Jesus' church to tend to those in our care. Here, with the Kakishes and with Buckner we are seeking ways to increase the care for those who, like sheep, cannot care for themselves.

Now, we are back behind the walls of the West Bank where there are many living in difficult conditions who need help. Tomorrow, we continue more examining discussions with the local government officials to find out more about the needs for children in Ramallah and the West Bank. Please pray that we would all have great wisdom about how to proceed from here.

Today is Easter on the Eastern Orthodox Calendar and the Arabic churches hosted an Easter Service at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. Pastor Kakish was the coordinator of the day's service which was very well attended (even though traveling is very difficult from the West Bank.) The attendees were diverse - Arab Christians, Messianic Jews, Missionaries, and Tourists. The choir from Alliance Church in Jerusalem led the praise time, the Pastor of East Jerusalem church brought the message. It was about how Christians should be joyful because of the resurrection. He is so right. I know we let ourselves feel so defeated sometimes, but remembering the victory of the empty tomb sure does help!

Pastor Kakish invited me to bring a greeting from our church and it was my honor to do so. I told them how we felt a love for them and that we were the beneficiaries of those obedient to the great commission. Afterwards, some people came up to me really wondering if there was a Palestine, Texas! We all had a great time at the service in the most moving location you could be - right next to the Garden Tomb, a great representation of the first century tomb that held Jesus' body for only three days, but then El Meseeah Kaam! (Christ Arose!)

Okay, if you've been keeping up, you're probably thinking all we've done the past two days is hang out and have fun. You're right! Being in Ramallah with brothers and sisters in Christ has been good for them and us. Tomorrow, the work part begins as we get up early and go to Jerusalem for an Easter Service at the Garden Tomb site. There will be Arab Christians and Messianic Jews at the service together. The Resurrection unites us all, praise God. It is my privilege to bring a greeting from our church to the assembly too.

Today, we were able to Sabbath and I caught up on some reading and writing in the morning. As I was overlooking the hills of Ramallah from the Kakish's back garden, a goatherder went by with his flock. After they grazed a while, he walked ahead and called to them. They raised their heads and began to follow. I recalled what Jesus said in John 10:4 "...he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice." Please pray for the Kakishes, the Buckner leadership, and us as we listen for the voice of Jesus in our meetings next week.

In the afternoon we went with a family from the Ramallah church to the "Saturday of Light" parade. Held in downtown Ramallah, it signifies the spreading of the Good News of the Resurrection as the flame from a lamp is passed among the parade goers. It is an orthodox tradition, but the believers were around understood it as only symbolic of our task - we must carry the light to the darkness.

The parade was more of a festival as the extremely large crowd lined the streets. I loved the excitement in the crowds. You could feel the joy in everyone. The weather was beautiful and the mood was contagious. A large part of the parade is an opportunity for the local villages to showcase their drum corps. Young men and women, boys and girls were in "scout" uniforms showing off their drumming skills and having fun. I have to tell you, they were all very, very good! There were also some bagpipe brigades, a holdover from the days of British occupation (100 years ago.)

For those of you who wonder what Ramallah is like, it is like any other large city full of people who want to enjoy life. We felt welcomed and safe among very hospitable and friendly people. You should try visiting sometime.

Tomorrow evening we pick up the Buckner team at the airport and travel to Galilee to meet and tour. We will talk more and they will get to hear the vision of the Kakishes. I will not have internet access, so I will post again when we return on Tuesday night.

To my wonderful church family, I say, thank you for your prayers and participatin in the ministry here. You are making a difference in Palestine, Texas and the world. Your spirit is known and loved among people here as you show Jesus Christ for who He really is. I can't wait to return and be among you next week. Until then, please keep praying and stay in touch.

Today we had a tourist kind of day, getting acclimated to the time change and all. Sharon Kakish took us into Jerusalem. Pastor Munir, as pastors do, had to work and go with the children of the church to a conference in Bethlehem. All of us had a very good day.

Here, they observe the Eastern Orthodox calendar, making today "Good Friday." It makes sense too, because that way Easter follows Passover (like it did in Jesus' day.) That said, people from the Orthodox traditions were packed into Jerusalem to visit the sites and walk the Via Dolorosa (the Way of Suffering) as we were going to do.

We followed the steps of Jesus first to the Mount of Olives where we viewed Jerusalem. We could see the large crowds gathering around the Dome of the Rock (gold dome building in the Day 2, picture 1) for their Islamic prayer time. It was mid-day on Friday, the Moslem holy day. It burdens my heart to see so many people in Jerusalem trying to seek God, but not knowing God through the Son, Jesus Christ.

Then, we visited the grounds of the Garden Tomb. This place is a great representation of what a first century garden and tomb would've looked like, even if it is unlikely to be the actual tomb where Christ's body was placed on Good Friday (Good News here: God raised Him on Easter Sunday.) We'll be back at the Garden Tomb on Sunday (Easter Sunday on the Orthodox calendar) for an Easter Sunrise service, so I'll write more about our visit there next week.

Next we entered the "old city" of Jerusalem through the Damascus gate. It was very crowded as we made our way along the Via Dolorosa (the Way of Suffering) because of the Good Friday pilgrims. We had plenty of time at the ancient site of the pool of Bethesda, examining the ancient ruins of the churches built over the place where Jesus healed the man beside the pool. Places like that are moving to me because it helps me keep in context the ancient history of our Faith.

As we walked from the Bethesda site through the stations of the cross along the Via Dolorosa, there were many people. I thought about the crowds that were in Jerusalem two thousand years ago for the Passover. How many of them were talking that day about the Rabbi from Nazareth that had performed miracles and spoken wise truths that was now carrying a cross? Did they feel as if they had been let down by another supposed Messiah? I am so glad to be on the other side of Sunday in that story, because the Via Dolorosa is not a place where we were failed by our deliverer. Instead, it is a road to Victory, to Resurrection, to a Redeemed world. I can walk in Hope because of the living Lord Jesus Christ!

At the end of the path is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This spot is likely where Jesus' tomb was located. What is amazing about this place is that several ancient churches share the real estate, albeit uneasily. There is a lot of territorialism so you see Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, and other priests with all thier "churches" within this one building. Two examples of their inablilty to unite include the lock to the door and a ladder above the entrance. Because they couldn't agree, the ruler of Jerusalem had to give responsiblity of unlocking and locking the building to two Muslim families. They have the keys to the buliding (see the picture of the lock at right.) The ladder over the entrance has been there a hundred years because no one really knows who it belongs too and who is supposed to move it. So, to avoid a confrontation, it remains in place, a "monument" to the turf issues in the church building. I am so grateful that the Word says in Christ we are one. I really pray these could come together and demonstrate what Jesus is truthfully about.

Tonight we had traditional Palestinian cookout. It was just like home, good grilled chicken and good friends.

We had a great trip over. Flights on time, seats good, baggage arrived. It doesn't always happen that way, but it did this time, and I thank God for it.

The only "hiccup" in the journey was when we checked in for our flight at DFW airport. The counter clerk looked at Steve's passport, tossed it back to him saying, "You can't use this passport, sir. It's illegal." Well, neither Steve nor I knew what the clerk meant and our hearts sank for a moment until the clerk (the one with the twisted sense of humor) said, "just kidding, you need to sign it." So Steve signed his brand new passport, and we were on our way.

That made me think about our place as citizens in Christ's Kingdom. You see, our national passports belong to the sovreign nation, but we must choose to endorse them to show our allegiance to the nation. Likewise Salvation belongs to God, and He grants it to us through Jesus Christ, but we must willfully endorse His gift for our Heavenly "passports" to be effective and begin the journey.

We arrived on time, Sharon Kakish picked us up and carried us to their home (the Kakishes are gracious hosts). After a quick moment to recoup we went to the Thursday evening service of the Ramallah Local Church. It is Holy Week here because they observe the Eastern Orthodox calendar (that also means it is Passover week.) So, we had a "Lord's Supper" service with our sister church. It was so moving. I couldn't understand the language (Arabic), but when it came time to break the bread and drink the cup, it was clear I was among fellow believers who were as overwhelmed as me with the love of God.

After the service, I renewed old friendships and Steve made new friends. These folk are so keenly aware of their dependence on God that it blows me away. At home we worry about the a/c, the sound system, the music, and parking. Here, where life is difficult enough they are glad to gather, praise God, and love one another. Sounds like the church that is close to where it all began 2,000 years ago is still following the plan that works.

For those of you worried about other important matters like, "what are ya'll gonna eat?" We had pizza at Pizza Inn in Ramallah for supper. Good night. God bless you all.