From the Ground and UP is the fruit of seeds planted in November 2019 when Daoud Nassar, Founder of Tent of Nations (TON), spoke in Des Moines, Iowa. His story tells how his family bought a 100-acre hilltop farm near Bethlehem in 1916 and transformed it into an educational, ecological farm and peace center that hosts hundreds of visitors and volunteers from around the world each year. As they assist with farm work and educational empowerment programs such as seasonal harvests and the children’s summer camps, visitors experience the obstacles and challenges faced by people in Palestine and are inspired by life at Tent of Nations. The message they carry home is about how pain can be turned into positive energy by building bridges with the land and other people and refusing to be victims or enemies.

In Des Moines, discussion with Daoud gave birth to creation of the TON of Hope Children’s Book Team who worked with him over four years to create From the Ground and UP. Obstacles faced during the process included COVID and attacks on persons and property at TON that prevented Camp from being held for three years. Yet, with Daoud’s guidance, Sumud (steadfast perseverance) prevailed and lemons were turned into lemonade following Camp in 2023. The resulting book is a gift from the children who have attended TON Children’s Camp.

Truly growing from the ground and up, the book’s story is rooted in Tent of Nations, and flowers as a scrapbook of Camp photos that invites readers to join the Palestinian campers in the discovery of their deep roots in the land, the potential in their seeds, how to create lives of strength and resiliency, and how to work together to make a better world. Like the campers, readers will learn about TON and experience its message of Faith, Hope, Love, and Sumud to bring about empowerment, peace, and justice so that they can share it with others.

More information about Tent of Nations is available at https://tentofnations.com/

Contact Virginia Wadsley (vrwadsley@gmail.com; 515-255-5296) if you have questions or need more information.