Friends of Tent of Nations, North America

Newsletter – Summer/Fall 2018 – October 3, 2018

Dear Friends,

I want to apologize for the long delay in getting news out to you about Tent of Nations.  I have been laid up after left hip replacement surgery in mid-July due to the fact that my sciatic nerve was apparently “stretched” during the procedure.  This affected my lower left leg and may not have full use of it for another 4-6 months as the nerve heals.  I was just feeling better/stronger when I then got a blood clot in my right leg and was told to keep it elevated as much as possible.  So, here I am trying to get a Newsletter out so you can catch up a little bit at least.  I will keep it short and to the point.

I have asked Daoud to write up a short summary of his experiences during the last six months and to give us an update of what is happening on the land.  As soon as he is able to do so, we will send it along to you all.  Meanwhile, I am going to give you some brief updates about FOTONNA and about the need for additional funds at this point in time.

We have been fortunate over the last 12 years to have been able to fund every project Daoud has asked us to support.  We have done this for 2018 in a more reasonable and timely manner than usual, getting funds to Daoud early in the year so he was able to pay upfront for FOTONNA-sponsored project expenses.  We would love to be able to continue along those lines into 2019.  This means a request for a commitment from all of you for making a donation during the final months of 2018 for 2019 projects.

In the past, we have been able to count on a few donors who have made rather large donations to TON.  Those, plus the wonderful support from the Olive Oil Ministry, have enabled us to meet Daoud’s needs.  In my opinion, we should not count on those few individuals to support TON forever. So, I am making an appeal for small donations from a lot of us.  In the past, when we have asked for this kind of commitment, you have all rallied around and made it possible to fund things fully.  I am going to list some of the kinds of things that your dollars are needed for at this point. As the Nassars work towards self-sufficiency, their needs have changed a bit from their original requests. They are still not quite where they want to be, however, so your generous support is still needed.  Someday, we will not need to ask for anything more than your prayers and hopes for a better future in the land.

2018 Budget:

Budget Projections for 2018 – as of 6/2/18 – Total of $71,000
Program Project Projected 2018 Cost of Projects – Paid For
Trees $8,000
Cave Renovation $8,000
Summer Camp $7,000
Women’s Ed. Center $10,000
Local Workers $5,000
Garden/Football Field $8,000
Volunteer Expenses (cost of support on the farm:  food, travel, laundry, etc.) $20,000
Scholarship Volunteer Expenses on the Land (New – 6/2/18):  food, travel, laundry, etc. – carryover into 2019 $5,000
Total needed: $71,000
Total provided: $71,000


A short list of additional needs as of 10/1/18 – 2019 Budget Requests TBD:

Kiln for Women’s Education Center – Jihan is trying to add clay pottery classes to the list of art projects the women try their hand at.  Online, kilns average around $1,000 depending on what you are looking for.  There will also be additional funds needed for a pottery wheel, which comes in a wide range of costs, and other items such as glaze, paint, etc.  I would estimate around $2,000 as a start-up expense.

Volunteer Scholarships – Daoud has identified getting volunteers on the land as a priority.  This year, we gave support to individuals who traveled on their own and those who went on an Eyewitness Palestine (previously IFPB) tour.  We sponsored seven volunteers at a cost of around $11,000.  In order to repeat this next year, we need to ask for support above and beyond what Daoud requests for TON projects.

If you can see your way to sending in a donation of $25, $50, $100, to help defray these expenses, it would be great!

Again:  Checks made out to, FOTONNA – mail to, Kay Plitt, FOTONNA, 5621 N. 9th Road – Arlington, VA  22205.

 

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Fall 2018 Tour


A Conversation with Daoud Nassar, Palestinian Christian Farmer and

Director of Tent of Nations. 

Located on the Nassar family’s 100-acre farm and orchard outside of Bethlehem in the West Bank, The Tent of Nations has become an international peace center attracting thousands of visitors annually. International visitors, including many Israelis, join together to plant trees, harvest olives and fruit, teach at the Women’s Education Center, lead activities in Summer Children’s Camps, and work together in pursuit of a just peace through non-violent action.  Daoud will be sharing his story in Virginia on the dates, times and places shown below.   Please join us.

 

Thursday, November 8, 11 am

Location:  Eastern Mennonite Seminary – Martin Chapel

1181 Smith Avenue – Harrisonburg, VA

Thursday, November 8, 7:00 pm

 

Location:  Eastern Mennonite Seminary – Martin Chapel

1181 Smith Avenue – Harrisonburg, VA

Both of the above events are co-sponsored by:  Eastern Mennonite Seminary,

Center for Interfaith Engagement, and EMU Center for Justice and Peacebuilding

 

Sunday, November 11, 4:00 – 6:30 pm

Location:  St. Thomas Episcopal Church – 3602 Hawthorne Avenue – Richmond, VA

Co-sponsored by Richmonders for Peace in Israel-Palestine (RPIP) & the Arab American Association of Central Virginia

Presentation followed by a reception.

 

Tuesday, November 13, 7:00 PM

Location:  Peace Lutheran Church (ELCA) – 1510 Broad Crossing Road – Charlottesville, VA

Co-sponsored by:  Peace Lutheran Church and St. Mark Lutheran Church

 

Wednesday, November 14, 7:00 – 8:30 pm

Location:  Williamsburg United Methodist ChurchFellowship Hall – 500 Jamestown Road – Williamsburg, VA

Sponsored by:  Williamsburg United Methodist Church

 

Thursday, November 15, 7:00 pm

Location:  William and Mary University – Tucker Hall, Room 127A – 350 James Blair Drive – Williamsburg, VA

(Park along Richmond Road beside campus unless you have a W&M parking pass.)

Hosted by:  Wesley Campus Ministry

For further information, contact:   Friends of Tent of Nations North America (FOTONNA) Tour Coordinator:  Beth Moore ebmoore1@live.com

Please spread the word if you live in any of these areas.

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Virus and Email Hacking:

If you have tried to open an attachment that was supposedly sent out from me from my kay@fotonna.org email address, please ignore it.  That account was hacked into and a very strange message was sent out in response to very old emails that included a reference to a phantom attachment.  There was, of course, no attachment so no harm done as far as I know.  I have been trying to change my password, so please be patient, and don’t respond to that message in any way, shape or form.

 

World Methodist Peace Award:

We will have stories and pictures from the presentation of this Peace Award soon.  The ceremony will take place on October 11, 2018, at TON.  Bill Plitt and Beth Moore will be present from FOTONNA at this truly spectacular award ceremony.  More to come!!!

New Members:

Robert Mertz (OOM) has agreed to join our FOTONNA Advisory Council and Andie Sweetman is our newest FOTONNA Steering Committee member (Volunteer Liaison).  We welcome both of these dedicated individuals as they support TON and the Nassar family in their struggle for Peace with Justice.

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Kay Plitt for the FOTONNA Steering Committee

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