This afternoon, we took a tour of the Bethlehem District. We entered the Bethlehem area again, going through the hill country to the south. This is a diverse place, with desert hills in one valley, and agricultural groves of olives, almonds, and small gardens in the next. We went to the Church of the Nativity, and looked around at the shops in the square nearby. We then went and walked through the Deheisha Refugee Camp. The 850 refugees kicked out of their villages and farms in 1948 have continued to live inside a camp run through the United Nations. This is the longest running refugee camp in the world. What started as a camp of tents has become a cramped neighborhood of 12,000 awaiting the implementation of their rights of return according to International Law. We ended the day with a tour of the YMCA grounds, which include a grotto – perhaps the cave of the shepherds. The YMCA has a teen program, summer camps, and on ongoing vocational rehabilitation program for those disabled after administrative detention, torture, or home invasion. Dinner was great again. We continue to get to know the Norwegian, Dutch, and other members of our team.
1 comment:
Your trip sounds fascinating Will, Thanks for the blog. Luke did a fine job this a.m. and we all lifted "The Magnificent 7" up in our thoughts and prayers. Stay safe.
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