On Palm Sunday, having mastered the technological heights of PowerPoint, I gave a presentation on my week’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land which I made in January of this year.
I was delighted to be able to share these experiences with so many of you and I hope this might provide inspiration for us to consider a parish pilgrimage to Israel.
As I mentioned in the presentation one of the most moving aspects of the pilgrimage was visiting the Jeel- al-Amal Boys home and Lazarus House for girls- both orphanages established in the Palestinian territories for children who are orphaned or abandoned by their parents. The Boys Home was set up in 1972 by an Arab Palestinian couple- Alice and Basil Sahhar. Only Alice is alive now but she runs the boys home and school with a passionate Christian conviction. Her witness to Christ’s love in the midst of the conflict which besets the Holy Land was profoundly inspirational. Her daughter runs the girls home which was set up 10 years ago. The orphanages are dependent on donations and as we looked around the buildings of the homes it was clear that money is badly needed. On Palm Sunday after the presentation we had a retiring collection for the orphanages and raised £108.69, which has now been sent to Alice Sahhar. We have a letter thanking us for this donation.
At Pentecost the Curate may donate the Sunday’s collection to a charity of their choice and I am pleased to be able to direct this money to these orphanages. With them I pray that the children who receive love and care in a Christian environment may be able to carry a knowledge that they are loved by God to all whom they meet in a divided Holy Land.
Jeel Al Amal Boys Home and Lazarus Home for Girls, Bethany
Sarah Eynstone