Bethlehem

We went to Masada, where some of the Jewish people tried to hide out while the Romans destroyed Jerusalem. And to the Dead Sea where, with 47 % salt, it was much easier to float horizontally than vertically. And on the beach of the Dead Sea we took mud baths in the spa. We also visited Qumran, where they found the dead sea scrolls.



On the highway we saw several trucks with tanks on the back

Then we came to Bethlehem where, according to one of our tour guides, people don't believe they are born to enjoy life.

When a solution to all their political conflicts seems so far off and unattainable, a reason to live holds the utmost importance. Art holds the utmost importance.

But Dar Al-Kalima (funded by ELCA) is bringing art to the people, in several forms. There is a Dar Al-Kalima college for students studying liberal arts, where even their library is filled with books that had to be smuggled in (yeah, you read that right--crazy!) And they also have concerts open to the general public.

They also have a school for kids from age 3 to 12th grade, where they not only teach the core subjects but have several after school clubs available, everything from music to volleyball. It is composed of 43% Christians and 57% Islams, so they seperate for religion classes most of the time, but come together once a month to talk about the similarities between the two religions. They talk about the similarities, and not the differences, and how they should live together peacefully. Every single kid had a smile on his/her face, and were happy to welcome us and sing us the songs they've been learning.

Dar Al-Kalima also has a Health & Wellness Center, where they provide dance, yoga, swimming etc. but also counseling services, which I'm sure is a huge help to Palestinian people of all ages. None of the Dar Al-Kalima services are free because they want to make sure they are not taken for granted, but scholarships are available for the schools.

We met the man who started the Bethlehem Bible College, who again affirmed all we have heard about the political situation. He also told us a bit about his story, about his dad (a civilian) who was shot when he was two. His mother and seven children had to go to the refugee camp.

We talked to another man who told us about the refugee camps and gave us a tour of the Deheisheh Refugee Camp, where the main problems are lack of work and space. They only have one doctor for all 12,000 people living in the camp (he can see 400 patients in 3 hours).

For dinner we went to Shepard Valley, which was a fun "Bedouin-style" environment, with foods similar to what we have been eating. For the first course pita bread, with hummus salsa (and other sauces that I honestly can't tell you what they are), olives, egg plant, radishes, coleslaw and salad (all immersed with vinegar). For the main course it has always been some sort of meat, usually something I'm not familiar with, we think tonight's meat was either lamb or goat. And after dinner we ended the evening nicely by hitting the sweet shop.