United Methodists are responding to Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth ,a statement of faith and urgent call to action from Christians in Palestine. UMKR seeks, through nonviolent means and in partnership with Palestinian Christians, freedom, justice and equality for all Palestinians and Israelis.
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Tree of Life Educational Fund Trip:
A Journey Toward Hope: 10–21 March 2020
Responsible Tourism Recommended Trips
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all.
~ Emily Dickinson
Our next Tree of Life journey will be a journey toward hope…[Read the full description and background on this trip at https://tolef.org/2019/05/13/journey-march-2020].
On this journey we will meet those who no matter their dire circumstances continue “to sing the tune without the words and never stop at all.”
We will meet Palestinian mothers and fathers who work and struggle in order to provide outstanding educations for their children. We will meet former Israeli soldiers who, despite being called traitors and liars, work hard to expose the human rights violations they have witnessed.
We will meet Palestinian farmers who, despite being tormented by Israeli settlers, still have a sign that says, “We Refuse to Be Enemies.” We will meet dreamers and visionaries who by what they say and do are helping to write a new and more promising script for the future of the Holy Land.
We will meet with those who teach Palestinian songs and dances to younger generations, resisting demoralization and defying hopelessness in spite of the harsh realities of the inhumane military occupation they are forced to live under. All of these voices of hope are apparent contradictions, and that’s exactly why we need to meet them.
On this Tree of Life journey, we will have the honor of meeting a number of those who exemplify what it means to be a contradiction to the violence and injustices of this world. By their example, we hope that we might join them in our collective effort to contradict the world as it is.
In this journey, by the example of courageous and hopeful Palestinians, Syrians and Israelis, we hope to be inspired by their example to become a part of that “group of people”, sometimes called, “the beloved community”, those who work to bring “felicity” into our human family.
See the Itinerary and Cost Details:
https://tolef.org/2019/05/13/march-2020-itinerary
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