Sunday, May 5, Amman - Day Eleven

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

It was a beautiful day in Amman this morning, and worship was full. Bishop Younan preached and presided, while I was given some time to bring a greeting from our synod and, with Pam, to present Bishop Younan and Pastor Azar stoles.

Again, the appreciation of the congregation for our visit was quite evident. We are the first delegation from New England to visit this congregation, perhaps an oversight but one that has not helped the impression of the congregation that it is forgotten for the churches in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

True, Amman is not the place that the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is being directly waged, but 70% of the congregation are refugees from Jerusalem and the West Bank over the last 53 years; they lost their homes and some fled for their lives. Most have families still in Palestine whom they have been unable to visit for months and even years. So while Amman may seem a relatively distant place (though only 90 minutes from Jerusalem were it not for checkpoints) from Jerusalem, there are many heavy hearts among the saints in Amman. All of them asked us to go back home to tell their stories and to encourage a more activist role advocating for the end of the Israeli occupation and the formation of a viable Palestinian state. All of them tell nearly identical stories of systemic oppression and humiliation, and there is a righteous anger toward those within our own government who have the nerve to propose deportation of all Palestinians as a solution to the conflict. These are people, people who have roots and own homes and identify with the land and culture, and yet too many in our own country would treat them as pawns serving our own interests and prejudices. Pastor Azar said, "I read the news, and at the end of the day I don't know anything from that. But one thing I know, that I am a human being who deserves full human rights and the freedom to express myself."

If nothing else, I hope that one of the fruits of our delegation will be to put a human face on the ELCJ as well as the majority of Palestinians who want to live in peace.

We have bid our new friends goodbye, and we are preparing for a 3:30 am flight from Amman tomorrow morning. We'll be in Boston mid-afternoon EST.

There will be more time for reflecting on this pastoral visit and more space for sharing some more cohesive thoughts. Until then, thank you for following with Pam, Maureen and me during our journey to the Holy Land. And thank you for your faithful prayers for our safety.

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

Hans Arnesen

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