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A Heart for Christmas
By Louise Dalum
For one day all of Bethlehem has been filled with internationals, trying to turn Bethlehem into a city with a spirit of hearts.
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Stars, hearts, green branches and light chains. Please fill
your plastic bag with all these tunes of Christmas and go out and be creative.
That was the friendly message today when 100 international volunteers decorated
the old city of Bethlehem. A decoration which was dearly appreciated by 150 shop
owners.
“I feel bad because I haven’t got any decoration in my shop and I am a
Christian,” says shop owner Towfic Kattan. He shock hands with a volunteer from
America and together they started out a process making his shop a little more
light.
“The reason why I haven’t done anything is because the life in Bethlehem is very
hard right now. I don’t have any hope for the future anymore. But if people come
from outside to try to cheer me up, I will certainly not refuse. I thank you
instead.”
It was Service for peace, International relief Friendship Foundation and The
International Center of Bethlehem, who coordinated the big event of today. And
within a few hours the city changed into a true Christmas city. Lights in
different colors were being placed over the streets; Stars in silver were
glittering and people started asking for help to decorate their shops. All over
the city many smiles and stories were exchanged.
Beside the Christmas decoration in Bethlehem, the international group had also
been helping on the Christian cemetery, the SOS-village for orphans and at the
Health and Wellness Center.
It was not only in Bethlehem events were taking place. Around 3000
internationals from 40 different countries are right now working all over Israel
and Palestine, in support of people in need. Working for peace.
“There is truly need for international interaction in Israel and Palestine,”
says coordinator Massimo Trombin. “People on both sides are so tired after all
these years of fighting that they need normal people from the outside to come
and serve them. So in the long run we hope that we have a very positive impact
on peace in this region.”
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