Season’s Greetings from the Nassar Family and FOTONNA
December 2017
Pine Tree Planted by Beverly Hunter at TON – TON Volunteer; FOTONNA Advisory Council Member
In Memoriam – November 2017
December 15, 2017
Dear Friends,
Greetings from Bethlehem.
It is a very difficult and critical time we are going through these days. Hopelessness and despair are surrounding us from all sides, but we are not allowed to stay in that circle. We need to get out and start acting instead of reacting, believing that the day will come to celebrate peace with justice.
More than 2000 years ago, as King Herod tried, but was not able, to stop the message of hope and love for the world, we believe that no one can stop it today either.
By the end of this year, we complete 26 years of struggle to keep our farm from the danger of confiscation. We’ve been through many downs on our long road for justice, but the message is always clear: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
We are humbled to hear that our family was chosen by the World Methodist Council to receive one of their two 2017 Peace Awards* for the work we are doing at the Tent of Nations. It is a special moment for us, and we are honored to receive this Peace Award. We will continue to cultivate the land and plant more seeds for a better and peaceful future with faith, love and hope. Together, we can make a difference.
We wish you all blessed celebrations and a New Year full of faith, love and hope. Let us continue our journey together.
Blessings and Salaam from the place that is keen to see Peace.
Daoud Nassar
Director
Tent of Nations
-People Building Bridges-
Tel: +972 522 975 985
E-mail: dnassar@tentofnations.org
Facebook: Tent of Nations / Nassar Farm
*World Methodist Peace Award Recipients Announced
Two organizations have been chosen to receive the World Methodist Peace Award for 2017. The recipients were chosen at this year’s World Methodist Council Steering Committee meeting held in Rome, Italy. The committee verbalized its desire to present the award to both a Methodist and Non-Methodist recipient, especially during a time when the world needs to hear and see peace-making in action. Both organizations have boldly worked for peace in their respective areas of the world, but have also been instrumental in inspiring others to work for peace globally.
Methodist Churches in Italy (OPCEMI), was chosen for their work with and commitment to migrants and refugees dating back to 1989. This small church (part of the Union of Methodists and Waldensians in Italy) has exhibited great courage when faced with the large crisis of refugees and migrants flooding Europe. When others said the problems were insurmountable, the OPCEMI’s attitude has been that “we could do no other – we could not sit by and let this happen.” A safe and welcoming space called “House of Culture” was created at Scicli in Sicily, which has welcomed refugees and migrants from Syria, Iraq, the Middle East as well as North, Central and West Africa. The church’s work has spanned decades and has welcomed migrants of Protestant, Catholic, and Muslim faiths. Their involvement with Mediterranean Hope has been consistent and has continued despite the increasing wave of arrivals in Italy. The OPCEMI continues its efforts also by financing the humanitarian corridors through the “8 x 1000” office of the Union of the Waldensian and Methodist Churches in Italy.
More information about Methodist Churches in Italy and their projects may be found atwww.Metodisti.it and www.mediterraneanhope.com
The Nassar Family was chosen for their work with the Tent of Nations which they host on their 100-acre farm located southwest of Bethlehem in a highly disputed area of Palestine controlled by the Israeli Government. The family remains on their land and share their story of peace with guests from around the world. The family is not permitted to develop their farm for agricultural purposes, not having access to power, water, or sewer infrastructure, nor obtain permits for any new buildings. The family has instead come up with creative and sustainable alternatives. Each summer, children from local villages (Christian and Muslim) participate in a summer camp aimed at giving the children freedom and distraction from the surrounding politics, empowering the children with self-confidence so that they can be a part of a better future for Palestine. The family also established the Bent Al-Reef Women’s Centre to empower women with classes in English, computer, art, etc., and encourage them to play a role in shaping society. Each year hundreds of volunteers travel to Palestine and live with the Nassar family and actively engage with working the land, participating and leading programs.
On receiving the news of the award, Daoud Nassar stated, “It was a special moment for all of us to hear that the 2017 Peace Award is going to our family. We are honored to receive this Award. We will continue our struggle for justice with faith, love and hope knowing that we are not left alone. We will also continue to cultivate the land and plant more seeds for a better and peaceful future. Together, we can make a difference.”
More information can be found atwww.tentofnations.org.
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Message from FOTONNA:
You have all been a part of this remarkable journey taken by the Nassar family, and we want to thank every one of you for your support, prayers and actions on their behalf. The world is in turmoil now, more than ever, so remember to keep the peace, maintain the faith and show by your actions that you truly care for this fragile land.
May you all have a thoughtful and generous gift-giving season and a meaningful 2018!!
FOTONNA Steering Committee