editor: brenda@pilgrimsofibillin.org • pilgrimsofibillin.org |
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From Our President – Rev. Peter Henry
Dear Fellow Pilgrims,
Back in July, as we were alerting friends to an upcoming webinar, someone posted the following questions to our Facebook page: "Why are you supporting students overseas when students in the United States need help? Why don't you help kids here?" They were not illegitimate questions and gave me the chance to answer them, for the inquisitor and for myself.
I told him that most of us supporting Pilgrims already give to causes in the United States, most likely to organizations that help children. Turning to the implied "us vs. them" in his second question, I stated that for many of us it is not an either-or. We give to children in Palestine and Israel because they are children in need, too, and the vision for the school that helps nurture them is a vision we share.
With that in mind, I want to offer my thanks that you set aside financial resources to help MEEI and our peace partners in addition to your US based non-profits. And I want to say thank you for sharing a vision to help students who come from a village that is often underserved by its own government, thus fostering peace and justice through education. The need has never been more urgent. As I type, our board is preparing to hear an emergency request from the MEEI leadership. They have more applications for financial aid this fall than they have ever had. It is due to the ongoing economic effects of the pandemic, which is resurging in Israel as I type. I am grateful that Pilgrims, due to your generosity, is in a position to be of assistance during MEEI's time of need. Thank you for supporting Pilgrims and our ongoing work of fostering peace and justice through education. We do not take your donations for granted.
Grace and peace,
The Rev. Dr. Peter J. M. Henry
President of the Board of Directors of Pilgrims of Ibillin
Davidson College Presbyterian Church
P.O. Box 337
Davidson, NC 28036
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The Link Between Justice and Peace:
Why I Serve on the Pilgrims of Ibillin Board
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By Rev. Susan d’Olive Mozena
I have been part of Grosse Pointe Memorial Church (PCUSA) since 1969, first as a member, and then as a minister leading the adult education program since 2009. I was aware of Fr. Elias Chacour and Pilgrims of Ibillin through Fr. Chacour’s years-long friendship with our former pastor, Rev. Dr. V. Bruce Rigdon, who had invited Fr. Chacour to visit our congregation.
Because of his first visit with us, I read Fr. Chacour’s compelling book, Blood Brothers. In 2015, I jumped at the chance to be part of a Living Stones Pilgrimage, joined by a number of members of our church, and others from around the country. I was attracted to the Mar Elias Educational Institutions (MEEI) because of Fr. Chacour’s life story and his unshakable commitment to interfaith education grounded in the gospel of the love of God in Jesus Christ as a means to advocate for justice and foster peace in that very troubled part of the world.
I am grateful to serve on the Pilgrims of Ibillin board because of what I experienced, what I learned, during that pilgrimage in 2015.
Pilgrims of Ibillin supports MEEI, and it also supports other “peace partners,” whose work we learned about on our pilgrimage. Each of those organizations is committed to supporting Palestinian Israeli citizens and Palestinians living in the West Bank, Christians and Muslims alike, whose work is focused on the peaceful pursuit of justice. I was incredibly moved by the missions of each of Ibillin’s Peace Partners, and I was inspired by the determination of each to make a difference in the difficult life realities of those they serve.
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Susan Mozena Visited Wil'am
One of our Peace Partners is Wi’am: The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center in Bethlehem, West Bank, located right next to the very ugly Israeli separation wall and guard tower, which virtually looms over Wi’am’s patio and play yard for the children who spend time there.
Photo: Wi’am Center next to the wall
Our Pilgrimage group spent a wonderful time at Wi’am, learning from the founder and director , Zoughbi Zoughbi M.A. and Wi’am staff member Usama Nicola, our guide in the West Bank. We happened to be in Bethlehem on Palm Sunday and were invited to worship at Wi’am,
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A conversation with
Usama Nicola of Wi’am and
Dr. Celene Lillie
“Resistance in Battir
Then and Now”
Walk with Us Through Time to the West Bank Village Battir, an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Join us Oct. 31, 10 a.m. (Mountain), 12 noon (Eastern), for our 3rd Pilgrims Webinar. |
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Click the Register button (above) for the October 31 Zoom Webinar and receive a secure link for the event. Donations collected from the webinar will be split with Wi’am: Palestinian Center for Conflict Transformation, Bethlehem, who is suffering greatly from the cancellation of tourism right now. Usama Nicola, Celene Lillie, and Brenda Mehos were leading the October Pilgrimage now cancelled due to COVID-19. This webinar is an hour long "virtual hike" while we hope to reschedule the pilgrimage in May 2021.
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Essay by 2016 Mar Elias Graduate |
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So many of Mar Elias’s students go on to college and successful careers thanks in part to their fine education at MEEI. COVID-19 has created challenges for everyone and has put on hold young people’s dreams and ambitions. Here is an essay by Einas about what she’s been doing since graduating from MEEI and her current state of uncertainty due to the pandemic.
My name is Einas Abu Hjoul. I graduated from Mar Elias high school in 2016. During my senior year, I started thinking more seriously about my future. Like many students after graduating from Mar Elias; I took a gap year to study for the Psychometric exam ( for the Pilgrims audience -this is similar to the SATs in the United States and a high score on this exam is essential for admission to college in Israel, and a certain score is needed for studying in Italy as well, but not as high as the score needed in order to study in Israel, because Italy requires other exams). While studying for the Psychometric exam, I worked as a private teacher for languages, mathematics and chemistry for high school students. I also worked in a restaurant in Haifa for several months at the same time I was teaching, just to try other work and to deal more with people (it’s not easy!), and I took violin lessons once a week to improve myself.
For as long as I can remember, I thought about studying medicine. During my gap year, I participated in a volunteer program called Sunshine Project. This program uses the power of play to support the psychosocial and developmental needs of children and their families as they face medical challenges. Our role in the Sunshine Project was to use bed-side services to bring play activities to every child in the hospital ward regardless of age, illness or background.
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Seraj Library
Photo: Fidan Ataya, Seraj Library Coordinator
Early in October our Peace Partner Seraj Libraries had a virtual fundraiser. They featured 5 days of short videos about their programs including a video of their Palestinian storytelling center, and Seraj Library and Cultural Activities. If you would like to learn more about their wonderful library and cultural programs you can click here to watch the short 5 minute videos.
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Brenda Mehos
Interim Executive Director, Pilgrims of Ibillin
(303) 928-0923
brenda@pilgrimsofibillin.org
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