Participants from the September desert encounter chose, as part of their follow-up projects, to visit hardship places, or places where traumatic events have taken place on both Israeli and Palestinian sides. The group spent the morning in Bet Jala, next to Bethlehem, at the home of a family who had lost their father in the Intifada. They were very moved as Josef and his mother told the story of his father being shot just 50 meters outside their home, and closed their time together in prayer for the family.

From there, the group moved into West Jerusalem and this time heard a second, and equally difficult, story. Dania told of the afternoon that she returned to work in downtown Jerusalem, and only seconds after entering the building, loud explosions occurred just outside. Three terrorist bombs had gone off on the street she had just walked down. The group had some time for discussion and comments and again the group ended the visit in prayer. Their time together was a rare opportunity to face the painful situations that have been part of both Israeli’s and Palestinians lives, and to pray for healing.