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Faces of the Holy Land

July 18, 2014

As news of rockets, violence, and deaths in the Holy Land appears every day, members of the Hope Equals team heard stories of people affected by this violence.

The team, that had been traveling through the Holy Land since June 17 before returning on July 22, met people, both Israelis and Palestinians, who are striving for a just peace in the Middle East, says Mariano Avila, Hope Equals project manager.

“As Christians,” says Avila, “we are here during these tough times in order to see faces. These are the faces that violence would erase, but faces God recognizes as his creation.”

The faces Avila refers to include that of Elias, a young Palestinian Christian boy.

“Elias expressed sadness for both the three Israeli boys who were shot and for the Muslim boy who was burnt alive by Israeli settlers.”

Avila also shares the story of two Israeli Jews. “Tsilly and Moshe withstand being spat on and insulted each Friday,” said Avila, after the team members observed them in their weekly protest against violence toward Palestine.

Despite the ongoing attacks in Israel and Gaza strip, the team has been able to keep to their schedule, making each move to a new city with caution. In such a violent time, the team members have stressed the importance of Israeli and Palestinian people working together for peace there.

“We are all human,” writes Kimberly Collins on Hope Equals’ blog. “We must claim the humanity, this divine image, especially in those in whom it is hardest to see.”

Hope Equals is a program of Christian Reformed World Missions. Please pray for safety for those living in areas of conflict.