kNOw justice. kNOw peace.
Building on a Steadfast Foundation - 16 September 2013
Renovation Update
Renovation of the Narjes Community Center began on August 16th following the end of Ramadan. As you can see by the photos below, folks from the community have come together to work on the renovations for the center. There have been windows treatments; wall treatments; painting; and a brand new door. The exterior has also been painted a bright blue. Contributions that were made during the last visit of friends from the village have helped make this possible. Shukran friends!
Advocacy Update & Capitol Hill Briefing for Wadi Foquin
Rev. Michael Yoshii was in Washington D.C. for follow up visits with State Department staff and others. The State Department staff official policy is that they hope the current peace talks will resolve concerns we have shared about Wadi Foquin. Their human rights bureau will contact the consulate on our behalf, however, and the LHRC staff will continue to be in communication with them on our concerns. They encouraged us to sponsor our own briefing on Capitol Hill. The Arab American Institute (AAI) General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), and Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) have all agreed to co-sponsor a briefing in early November. A team from Wadi Foquin has expressed interest in participating in the briefing along with Janet Lahr Lewis. The FWF Steering Committee has met and is committed to raising funds for the team of four persons to travel to Washington D.C. Our current fundraising goal is $9,000. Of that goal $8,000 would be designated to the travel for the briefing. The other $1,000 would cover the remaining costs for the community center renovation. The FOWF Steering Committee has already pledged $4,700 towards our goal. We invite you to help us reach the goal by making a contribution of any amount. Your check can be made out to BVUMC with “WF Briefing” in the memo line–and sent to BVUMC/WFCDP at 2311 Buena Vista Ave. Alameda, CA 94501.
Love Is Trending - 2 April 2013
Update on the Campaign to Save Wadi Foquin (Fukin)
The Lantos Human Rights Commission formally invited the Friends of Wadi Foquin to submit a proposal for a briefing on the human rights issues in Wadi Foquin. The proposal was submitted a week ago, and will be evaluated by staff of the LHRC. The proposal needs to be approved by Co-Chairs of the LHRC– Congressman James McGovern (D-MA) and Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA). Another key member is Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA) who is the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.Supporters of our campaign have been writing letters to both Co-Chairs. In the meantime, letters and post cards are being submitted to our own congressional representatives to make sure that they will support our proposal. A call in day will be organized in conjunction with our General Board of Church and Society and the U.S. Campaign to End the Occupation to reach out nationally to congressional offices. The proposed briefing is requested to be held in June, to coincide with Janet Lahr Lewis’ visit to the U.S. Janet has been invited to attend our California-Nevada Annual Conference in June. We also hope to bring Ata Manasra and/or Fahmi Manasra to California and to Washington D.C. during this window of time.In addition, plans are being evaluated for the opportunity to have the group attend the United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva in June. Preliminary work has been completed to file a human rights complaint through the UNHRC process. The UNHRC has a standing agenda item specific to Palestine issues.
#40DaysofLOVE LOVE is trending now on the SAVE WADI FOQUIN Facebook page!
Check it out at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/459416990758113/
Presentations in California Thank you Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Palo Alto and Faith United Methodist Church in Torrance for hosting presentations on Wadi Foquin during the month of March! Your solidarity helps get us closer to SAVING WADI FOQUIN!! A special thank you to Rev. Allison Mark, who spoke at the Faith UMC Palestine Justice Awareness event on the recent Holy Land pilgrimage with Pacific School of Religion. Her leadership and testimony was inspiring!
Going Back Home
Kira Rabut Azzam
In the past two weeks, I have had the privilege and opportunity to speak with others at two different churches about the situation in Wadi Foquin (Fukin), Palestine.The second of those two churches was Faith UMC in Torrance; the home church of my family. While I prepared for this event, I began to get nervous. In fact, I spiraled quickly into panic – “What if I’m not saying the ‘right’ thing? What if I embarrass my family? What if…? What if…?”That lasted about two days.And then I started praying. I prayed that my words and actions be meaningful and speak truth. I prayed that people would hear about Palestine and feel empowered to participate in the growing movement to SAVE WADI FOQUIN. I prayed that my journey would cross theirs if only to create a stronger relationship as faith people, working for global justice. I prayed for love. Then, during Sunday service, UMYF Coordinator, Jon Visitacion preached on love. He talked about why love is important to bring into your life and furthermore, into the world. Love Matters, which was the theme of the service, speaks to the global injustices we are facing. We need to have love for the people, love for justice.Pastor Jon preached, “Love is speaking the truth – which is not always convenient. It will push us past our comfort zone. But, as Christians (and people of faith), we are called to face that truth.”We belong to a community that has the spiritual grounding and calling to be active members in the world, taking initiative in the work and struggle for a better world. When it came time to present, I opened by speaking about my own personal pilgrimage “going home” to the Holy Land in 2010 and 2012 with a group from the Wadi Foquin partnership. Since my grandfather was from Jerusalem, I had always wanted to travel there and see the land in which he was from.But, I was faced with a very difficult reality upon arrival – unwelcoming Israeli soldiers demanding to know what business I had being there… And it was not until that moment that I starting understanding the injustice in my homeland.Although I’ve never considered myself very good in front of crowds, I found myself empowered by the struggle of the people. I have learned that as uncomfortable as it might be, I can use my voice (cracky as it may be), to speak the truth. The truth is often hidden so that we will not ask questions, we will not unite. But, if people saw the truth, there would be no question – there would be no skepticism. There would be no choosing of Israel or Palestine. I believe that people would stand for the truth, for love, for justice. I believe in a God and a universe that was created by love. A universe that is bound by love. Love that is against oppression, and injustice, and human rights violations. Love that stands for all those who are struggling for life. Love that not only binds us, but empowers us to be one, in God’s eyes.
COME AND SEE: Holy Land/Palestine Pilgrimage Dinner & Concert A special event was held on Saturday, March 23rd to raise awareness about our Wadi Foquin partnership and to raise funds for the next Holy Land/Palestine pilgrimage. Acclaimed Palestinian violinist Georges Lamman was the featured musician. Included in the evening was a presentation on our partnership and an update on the Campaign to Save Wadi Foquin.The dinner was catered by the father of Yazan Eliyan, one our trip participants this year. Yazan, Anna Arcellana, and Emma Williams are all high school students who will be participating in the trip this year. Many thanks to all who supported the dinner and have contributed to the trip fund!
Please pray for all those traveling on April 13-24 in your prayers that they experience the love and life of the Spirit working for all those effected by injustice in the Holy Land.
Building on a Steadfast Foundation - 16 September 2013
Renovation Update
Renovation of the Narjes Community Center began on August 16th following the end of Ramadan. As you can see by the photos below, folks from the community have come together to work on the renovations for the center. There have been windows treatments; wall treatments; painting; and a brand new door. The exterior has also been painted a bright blue. Contributions that were made during the last visit of friends from the village have helped make this possible. Shukran friends!
Advocacy Update & Capitol Hill Briefing for Wadi Foquin
Rev. Michael Yoshii was in Washington D.C. for follow up visits with State Department staff and others. The State Department staff official policy is that they hope the current peace talks will resolve concerns we have shared about Wadi Foquin. Their human rights bureau will contact the consulate on our behalf, however, and the LHRC staff will continue to be in communication with them on our concerns. They encouraged us to sponsor our own briefing on Capitol Hill. The Arab American Institute (AAI) General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), and Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) have all agreed to co-sponsor a briefing in early November. A team from Wadi Foquin has expressed interest in participating in the briefing along with Janet Lahr Lewis. The FWF Steering Committee has met and is committed to raising funds for the team of four persons to travel to Washington D.C. Our current fundraising goal is $9,000. Of that goal $8,000 would be designated to the travel for the briefing. The other $1,000 would cover the remaining costs for the community center renovation. The FOWF Steering Committee has already pledged $4,700 towards our goal. We invite you to help us reach the goal by making a contribution of any amount. Your check can be made out to BVUMC with “WF Briefing” in the memo line–and sent to BVUMC/WFCDP at 2311 Buena Vista Ave. Alameda, CA 94501.
Love Is Trending - 2 April 2013
Update on the Campaign to Save Wadi Foquin (Fukin)
The Lantos Human Rights Commission formally invited the Friends of Wadi Foquin to submit a proposal for a briefing on the human rights issues in Wadi Foquin. The proposal was submitted a week ago, and will be evaluated by staff of the LHRC. The proposal needs to be approved by Co-Chairs of the LHRC– Congressman James McGovern (D-MA) and Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA). Another key member is Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA) who is the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.Supporters of our campaign have been writing letters to both Co-Chairs. In the meantime, letters and post cards are being submitted to our own congressional representatives to make sure that they will support our proposal. A call in day will be organized in conjunction with our General Board of Church and Society and the U.S. Campaign to End the Occupation to reach out nationally to congressional offices. The proposed briefing is requested to be held in June, to coincide with Janet Lahr Lewis’ visit to the U.S. Janet has been invited to attend our California-Nevada Annual Conference in June. We also hope to bring Ata Manasra and/or Fahmi Manasra to California and to Washington D.C. during this window of time.In addition, plans are being evaluated for the opportunity to have the group attend the United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva in June. Preliminary work has been completed to file a human rights complaint through the UNHRC process. The UNHRC has a standing agenda item specific to Palestine issues.
#40DaysofLOVE LOVE is trending now on the SAVE WADI FOQUIN Facebook page!
Check it out at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/459416990758113/
Presentations in California Thank you Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Palo Alto and Faith United Methodist Church in Torrance for hosting presentations on Wadi Foquin during the month of March! Your solidarity helps get us closer to SAVING WADI FOQUIN!! A special thank you to Rev. Allison Mark, who spoke at the Faith UMC Palestine Justice Awareness event on the recent Holy Land pilgrimage with Pacific School of Religion. Her leadership and testimony was inspiring!
Going Back Home
Kira Rabut Azzam
In the past two weeks, I have had the privilege and opportunity to speak with others at two different churches about the situation in Wadi Foquin (Fukin), Palestine.The second of those two churches was Faith UMC in Torrance; the home church of my family. While I prepared for this event, I began to get nervous. In fact, I spiraled quickly into panic – “What if I’m not saying the ‘right’ thing? What if I embarrass my family? What if…? What if…?”That lasted about two days.And then I started praying. I prayed that my words and actions be meaningful and speak truth. I prayed that people would hear about Palestine and feel empowered to participate in the growing movement to SAVE WADI FOQUIN. I prayed that my journey would cross theirs if only to create a stronger relationship as faith people, working for global justice. I prayed for love. Then, during Sunday service, UMYF Coordinator, Jon Visitacion preached on love. He talked about why love is important to bring into your life and furthermore, into the world. Love Matters, which was the theme of the service, speaks to the global injustices we are facing. We need to have love for the people, love for justice.Pastor Jon preached, “Love is speaking the truth – which is not always convenient. It will push us past our comfort zone. But, as Christians (and people of faith), we are called to face that truth.”We belong to a community that has the spiritual grounding and calling to be active members in the world, taking initiative in the work and struggle for a better world. When it came time to present, I opened by speaking about my own personal pilgrimage “going home” to the Holy Land in 2010 and 2012 with a group from the Wadi Foquin partnership. Since my grandfather was from Jerusalem, I had always wanted to travel there and see the land in which he was from.But, I was faced with a very difficult reality upon arrival – unwelcoming Israeli soldiers demanding to know what business I had being there… And it was not until that moment that I starting understanding the injustice in my homeland.Although I’ve never considered myself very good in front of crowds, I found myself empowered by the struggle of the people. I have learned that as uncomfortable as it might be, I can use my voice (cracky as it may be), to speak the truth. The truth is often hidden so that we will not ask questions, we will not unite. But, if people saw the truth, there would be no question – there would be no skepticism. There would be no choosing of Israel or Palestine. I believe that people would stand for the truth, for love, for justice. I believe in a God and a universe that was created by love. A universe that is bound by love. Love that is against oppression, and injustice, and human rights violations. Love that stands for all those who are struggling for life. Love that not only binds us, but empowers us to be one, in God’s eyes.
COME AND SEE: Holy Land/Palestine Pilgrimage Dinner & Concert A special event was held on Saturday, March 23rd to raise awareness about our Wadi Foquin partnership and to raise funds for the next Holy Land/Palestine pilgrimage. Acclaimed Palestinian violinist Georges Lamman was the featured musician. Included in the evening was a presentation on our partnership and an update on the Campaign to Save Wadi Foquin.The dinner was catered by the father of Yazan Eliyan, one our trip participants this year. Yazan, Anna Arcellana, and Emma Williams are all high school students who will be participating in the trip this year. Many thanks to all who supported the dinner and have contributed to the trip fund!
Please pray for all those traveling on April 13-24 in your prayers that they experience the love and life of the Spirit working for all those effected by injustice in the Holy Land.
