Visits

Today I visited Talitha Kumi School, Hope School and the Lutheran Boy’s Home in Beit Jala and The Holy Child Programme in Beit Sahour. At Talitha Kumi School I met with the deputy head teacher, Jihad, who is helping the first child our new charity will support. He has been such an enormous help and shown great kindness.

At Hope School I met with the new head teacher Dr. Jihan who shows such warmth and welcome into her school. She is also advising and helping with some of the children I have been working with at both Hope School and the Lutheran Boy’s Home. I am delighted that she, her staff, we in ACIC and other charities will try to ensure ongoing support for the children.

After a visit to Iskandar, the head of the Holy Child Programme, a lovely school looking after children with varying levels of need, I will take a Taize service for the children tomorrow in their ten minute quiet time.

The Lutheran Boy’s Home will shortly be closing, so to spend some time with the children is valuable to give and show support as they prepare to move. Saba, who has been caring for the children today is moving heaven and earth to make sure all the children will have as smooth a transition as possible.

Day out

For some of the children the prospect of a day out is remote if not impossible. Sitting at home or on the streets is the norm. Yesterday we took some of the youngsters for a day out to Jericho and the Dead Sea. The shuddering cable car up to the Mount of Temptation brought the response “YAMA” and a vice like grip on my arm from one of the children. Great smiles and a great day.

Happy Easter

Foot Washing

Many homes and schools have now been visited and much wonderful welcome and kind hospitality has been received. Slowly, we are making positive progress to identify those children in the greatest need. Local and U.K. based advisors have been so good in helping us in this process. Listening to the children and to the professionals has been essential in trying find the best way in which and who to help.

Today, Laura and I visited The House of Hope in Bethlehem, a school caring for children with a variety of special needs. The children return to their homes tomorrow so we had a special service for them today. It was an enormous privilege to be able to wash the feet of these young people and look up and see so many smiling faces.

Worth watching!

http://www.upworthy.com/watch-a-powerful-twist-happen-as-this-girl-grows-up-a-second-per-day?c=ufb2

Visits

Today, visiting the Lutheran Boy’s home in Beit Jala which is due to close in three months. There has been much struggle over the past three years to keep this wonderful facility open. Its closure will leave some of the most vulnerable children without the fantastic support and care they have been receiving there. Today has been to talk with all the children and to listen to their plans for the future both at their schools and their situations at home. We will continue to visit them in their homes to try and help with any welfare and educational issues.