Well lets see, I have gone to Hebron, met with Leah (the intern working in Silwan), and now I am staying in the "Student Village" with Ryan for the weekend.

Hebron:

I went with an organization called "Breaking the Silence." This is a group of former Israeli soldiers who believe that they must tell their stories of what they have seen while on active duty. Their stories led us through the surrounding area of Hebron to lands that are being "settled" by Jewish Israelis. What I heard was saddening and despicable. There are people that have lived on and owned the land for generations and because they now fall in a "security zone" (which are established for misleading reasons) are forced by the military to leave the land they have lived on for generations. It is important to remember that this land is not always developed land. So, it is not easy to just move or get cut off from your sources for survival and livelihood. The Palestinians out around Hebron are not connected to the power or water grid. Forced evacuations create real survival problems for them while the Israelis who are settling in simply wait for the military to set up a water tower and then, just like magic they get connected to the grid for free because the soldiers need a water source and the military is ordered to guard the settlement. An unmarked security zone is established and this begins the process of Israel stealing land from the Palestinians. If you find this to be shocking or unbelievable there is much more detailed info. out there. Or, just wait until I return and you can sit and talk with me about it because I have seen it with my own eyes and heard the truth from people who have way to much to lose by speaking out. Breaking the Silence is online, so look 'em up. It is extremely difficult to accept that these very actions are what the United States Government is funding and supporting. But, its true and it is real.

Meeting with Leah & Silwan:

Leah is an intern working with the Madaa Community Center in Silwan Jerusalem. She contacted me about painting a mural as a gift from the interns for Silwan. I thought it sounded very interesting so, I was happy to meet and take a look at the Center. I was not to surprised when I arrived to find that the Center is scattered literally, it has three locations on the hill partly due to the Jewish Settlements going in all around it, and because this is just how it works. The space was in slight disrepair but it was nice. Mostly because it is clear that they are making progress. The particular location that I have been asked to paint at is the Childrens Center. I learned that they teach music, art, theater, sports, traditional dance, and courses in language and computer skills. They promote discussions of non-violent methods to actively achieve the residents' civil and social rights. Ultimately, this is a good organization that is on the list of demolition orders from the Israeli Government. It is clear once again that this is another example of racism in Israel. So, I have decided to see what I can come up with. It is very difficult not to get political or antagonistic when working on a project like this. So, if it is this hard for me just imagine how hard it is for the Palestinians who have lived here with their families legally for generations. I am working on sketches now and will be proposing the concepts very soon. If you want to, pray that God will give me the creative mind to give something to these children that enables, encourages and strengthens their lives. There is enough painted ideologies all around the neighborhood to remind them of their plight, I would just be stoking the fire to add to that. So, this is a very challenging project for me to be given but I believe that for now simple is better and this will make it realistic to actually get completed.

Staying in the Student Village with Ryan:

Well, if you've read my other blogs you know that Ive been staying at Ibrahims House of Peace. Which, has been very interesting and good. But, all of Ryans roomates went to Petra this weekend and I have sketching and designing to do so Ryan and I felt this would be a great time for me to get some real peace and quiet at his place. It is good to get a break from Ibrahims. It is Shabot so this means nothing is open because Jews cannot do anything they consider work during Shabbot. So, we had to go get our food for the weekend today since were at Hebrew University which is of course in a Jewish area of Jerusalem. So, her I am just relaxing and not going out because its Shabbot. I feel very bored and a little stir crazy. I think I will have to "work" my legs a bit this evening and go walking. Later.

Since you haven't read these yet, start from the bottom and work your way up to the most recent blog. Thanks

I spent the night last night walking a great deal. This is fine except the hills in Jerusalem are extremely challenging. I wanted to see where I was in relation to other landmarks so I walked home rather than take the bus. This proved to be a lot more difficult on my knees than I had anticipated. I ended up walking to some look outs off the highway and discovered that I could note every area that I had been today. I was shocked at how close they seemed to be related to each other when absorbing the whole scene. I then thought, "I can surely make it to Ibrahims if I've already walked this much today." Well, I did make it but I realized that the four sheckels for the bus was a generous gift in contrast to walking up hill both ways. Literally 9 hours of walking up and down hills steep enough to break ones neck if one were to fall down. It was worth it though. I got to experience the cost of weighing 240 pounds and the reward of knowing that I know where I am in relation to my surroundings. I would estimate 12 miles a day is what I can comfortably do, and yesterday was something like a million. It was good though.

Today, needless to say I slept in and relaxed a bit more. I went to the old city and found a nice little merchant walk that had very little space and began to talk with the shop owners. This developed into a three hour discussion about everything. It was good. I am learning a great deal here and today was no exception.

to add to the last post, There is one more character here at the House of Peace. An older man from Great Britain. His name is also David yet we share nothing else in common. He spends his time "paving the way" for peace walks. Well, thats what he would tell you. But the truth is he does very little of this. When I see him he is drinking tea, grumbling and talking about all the things he needs to accomplish. Such as; go to the Western Union again because for some strange reason it was closed yesterday (it is always closed at 5pm) , find some internet (as if it is something that hides from him regularly), and walk off his indigestion (because this is what we all want to hear when we're eating). Maybe it is his high pitched English voice or his quirky stature but either way he is one goofy old man who Im sure wants to do good but just cant work up the gumption to actually do it. And I guess in a way this is how many of the folks I've met here are. They dont realize that what they say they are about is clearly in contrast with what they actually are. It kind of makes me nervous I guess. Nervous because I dont want to realize that I actually fit in with this group better than I had previously thought. I sure hope that I am not a lazy do-gooder, an inactive activist, a violent pacifist, a rosy glassed no talent artist, or a naive philosopher. I guess I am whatever I am, and can only strive to be the best at whatever that is, but I am here and these are the folks I am with. All good people at heart but time has eluded their dreams and now they must come to grips with who they are, where they're at in life, and let go of those things that they cannot become. Only then can individuals become something invaluable to those around them. We need to accept ourselves in spite of our failures and stop trying to fool ourselves into believing a lie. We are what we are and can only become something more with time.

Okay, well to start things off I guess I should mention that Day One was spent relaxing with my bud Ryan Linstrom in Tel Aviv. This was great except for the fact that I lost my wedding ring in the Med. Sea. I knew I should have left it at home but thats that. Its gone and hopefully pirates will find it to add to their booty.

Then there's Jerusalem. Well, I arrived and discovered through a friend of a friend of Ryans that there was a guy on the Mount of Olives that took in people in need or those that simply dont plan ahead. That is not the category that I thought I fit in but evidently this is Ryans category for me. So, I meet the man Ibrahim. He is a curious man who has lived on the Mount of Olives all of his life. Actually, I learned the other night that he was born in a cave. The complexities of this strange man cannot be explained in one blog but in short, he is a man devoted to service and peace. He is not Jewish nor is he a Christian. He opens his doors to non-religious as well as religious. He has spoken with the most powerful men in the world for many decades. When I tell a Palestinian where I am staying, everyone knows of Ibrahim and the all say he is a very good man. He feeds us all. He gives us all beds to sleep in, showers to bathe in and access to a washing machine. He requires nothing in return but of course I must repay him when I go. He offers help anytime I ask him and has not misguided me thus far in my visit to Jerusalem.

The house is a mess with variety. I have met people from Great Britain, New Zealand, Korea, Canada, Poland, and who knows where else. There are Christians and non-believers here, activists and pacifists, criminals and honest people. To compare the folks I've met here in Ibrahims House of Peace to anything would be inaccurate due to their peculiarity but, I would most compare them to the characters in Voltaires "Candide." One lady from New Zealand "lives a life of leisure" at home, and has taken up painting. But, her art is that of a simple minded child. She is a wonderful kind Christian lady but hasn't an ounce of painterly skills in her hands, yet she tries to sell paintings at the auctions. Then there is my new Korean friend who knows very little English yet we talk about his dreams for hours. He tells me that he is not happy, and he will not be until he becomes an English translator in the military, a philosopher, and a psychiatrist. He thanked me for teaching him, but I simply told him that "life is not about becoming happy. Rather, it is seeking contentment. If you cannot be content in pursuing your dreams then when you succeed, you surely will not be happy." He is a very intricate person who asks very serious questions that cause me to think back on my life. I helped him learn how expensive Yale and Stanford are because he wants to study psychology there. This was hard to do because I knew he would be very disappointed. With Tuition at $52,000 per year who wouldnt be? Well, I think it was all for the better.

Then there is an old hippie jew from San Francisco who is an Israeli citizen yet has no place to live but here in Ibrahims house. He is very vocal and very aggressive and loud. A lot of what he says I like, but unfortunately he is all to often wrong or just abrasive. He quarrels with a guy from Canada who is also an artist, although the Canadian is very cautious and calm when it comes to issues concerning Israel and Palestine.