In early March I had the opportunity to participate in an Israel/Palestine Study Tour led by Marlin and Sally Vis, former RCA missionaries to Palestine. I was a part of a group of about 30 people consisting of pastors, next generation leaders, regional synod executives, and denominational staff. We participated in the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference with more than 600 other Christians from all over the world. The speakers we listened to shared about seeking peace, justice, freedom, security and a sense of hope in the midst of great conflict between Israel and Palestine. We also had the opportunity to walk through the holy sites and experience the places where Jesus walked.
The place which probably had the greatest impact on me was situated on top of a hill just south of Bethlehem next to the village of Nahalin, and within eyesight of an Israeli settlement of 50,000 people known as Gush Etzion. We unloaded the bus and walked about 3/4 a mile up a dusty road, crossing through some large stone barricades and a concrete barrier erected by the Israeli military to close off the only access road the Nassar family has to their property. After walking through a chain linked we arrived at a place called Tent of Nations – the name of the farm claimed to be owned by the Nassar family. The family farm grows olives, grape vines, almonds, vegetables and fruits on about 100 acres of land. At the top of the hill we were greeted by Daoud Nassar and invited to gather in a cave where he told us his story.
For years the Nassar family has fought a legal battle in the Israeli court system to keep hold of their land since it was threatened with confiscation in 1991. We were told that many Palestinians have lost their land because it hasn’t been maintained or cultivated. The Nassars claim they have owned the land since 1916, and according to international law, they believe that the land does not belong to Israel. They claim to have legal documents that date back to the Ottoman Empire which is pre-1917. For more than 20 years now the Nassars have fought legally to keep their land. Daoud claims that their papers have been honored over the years by the Turkish, British, and Jordanian rulers prior to the Israeli government claim to the land. Over the year the Nassar family has suffered many form of oppression and persecution over the land as Israeli settlers have cut own hundreds of their olive trees, ruined their grape crops and devastated other parts of their land. One would think that Daoud and his family would be bitter and angry and frustrated, blaming the Israeli settlers for all that has happened to him and his family. But that was not his message to us as we sat in the cave and listened to his story. Daoud only had one message: “WE REFUSE TO BE ENEMIES”. It took me back to the words of Jesus: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45a) Through my encounter with Daoud I was reminded of the importance of building bridges of understanding, reconciliation, and peace.
Wayne’s Schedule:
April
7: KEZ Meeting/Calvary Reformed Church/Orland Park, IL
8: Synod Assembly Meeting/Crossroads Community Church/Chicago, IL; Meeting/Beecher Community Church/Beecher, IL
9: Classis of Illinois Multiplication Mini-Conference/Bethel Reformed Church/Sterling, IL
10: Meeting/Faith Church/Dyer, IN; Meeting/Naperville, IL
11: Office
12: Off
13: Sunday Worship
14: Meeting/Orland Park, IL
15: Office
16: Ridley Assessment
17: Office
18: Good Friday
19: Off
20: Resurrection Sunday
Wayne’s contact information:
10088 Prairie Knoll Ct.
St. John, IN 46373
Mobile: (941) 302-1281
Email: wregen@msyn.org |
