The Star in the East - Spring 2010

TheStar

Nazareth School of Nursing l St John Eye Hospital l Schneller l and more . . .

intheEastT h e M a g a z i n e o f B i b l e L a n d s � C h r i s t i a n L o v e i n A c t i o n � S p r i n g 2 0 1 0

Egypt� Refuge Egypt 4—5

Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory� The Nazareth School of Nursing 6—7

� St John Eye Hospital 8—9

� Annahda Rehabilitation Centre 10

Prayer Diary pull-out insert 11—14

Lebanon� Beit-el-Nour 15—17� The Schneller School 18—19

News and Events� The Christian Presence 20

in the Lands of the Bible� Educating for Peace 20� Diary Dates 21� Beer and Carols 21� Online Resources 22� Travel Opportunities 23� Palestinian Ceramics 24

The Star in the East 2

BibleLands, PO Box 50,High Wycombe,Buckinghamshire, HP15 7QU

Tel: 01494 897950Email: [email protected]

The Star in the East is published in the UK

by BibleLands, Charity No: 1076329.

A Company Limited by Guarantee No. 3706037

Registered in England & Wales.

Registered office: The Old Kiln,

Willow Chase, High Wycombe, HP15 7QP

The Star in the East is free, available three times a yearfrom BibleLands, and is printed on paper sourced fromsustainable forests and other controlled sources.

TheStarintheEastChristian love in action in the lands of the Bible

BibleLands is a Christian agency that supports and resourcesChristians in the lands of the Bible as they serve the needs ofpoor, vulnerable and disadvantaged people, through education,health care and community development.

BibleLands works in partnership with local Christians to respondstrategically and effectively to the changing needs of the regionand its people, regardless of their faith or nationality.

Patrons:• REV DR DAVID COFFEY OBE

PRESIDENT OF THE BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE

• RT REV DR MICHAEL LANGRISH DD, BSocSc, MA BISHOP OF EXETER

• REV BARONESS KATHLEEN RICHARDSON OF CALOW DLitt LLD DD

PresidentREV DANIEL BURTON

Chair of TrusteesHUGH BRADLEY

Vice-Chair of TrusteesREV BRIAN JOLLY

TreasurerVICTORIA SMITH

Trustees• DR HUGH BOULTER

• DOUGLAS CALLANDER

• REV MICHAEL CLEAVES

• JUDY HACKNEY

• DR BRIAN MCGUCKEN

• JOANNA ROBERTSON

• LISA TONER

• DR CYRIL YOUNG

Editor: CAROLINE RANCE

Design: CAROL MARSH

Production: TRINITY COMMUNICATIONS

First words:

As I write, I havejust completedmy first 100

days as ChiefExecutive. My 100-dayplan included the aimof visiting as many of

our overseas partners as I could.Trips to Israel & the occupiedPalestinian territory and Lebanonhave given me a great opportunityto witness the work of our partners at first hand.

In Nazareth, I was privileged tomeet Dr Khazin, Director of theSchool of Nursing, who wasplanning how to use her newauditorium for parenting classes for local people. In the dusty streetsof Ramallah I met Mrs Khalaf,whose energy on behalf of theAnnahda Rehabilitation Centre isextraordinary. In Lebanon I visitedDr Caracache at Beit-el-Nour, andsaw some impressive schemestackling juvenile delinquency.

You can read about these and otherpartners in this edition of The Star.But the words on the pages cannever do justice to the sheer hardwork and endeavour of ourbrothers and sisters in the lands ofthe Bible, as they seek to share thecompassion of Christ with thosearound them.

Jeremy MoodeyChief Executive

Gaza update • gaza update • gaza update

The Gaza crisis at the beginning of

2009 elicited an amazing response

from BibleLands‘ supporters. You

came to the aid of thousands of people

facing desperate poverty, isolation and

injury when you donated to our Gaza

appeal. A year on, the situation is more

stable but still difficult.

In the aftermath of the Gaza conflict, the

staff of the Al Ahli Hospital continued to

care for the sick and wounded, both

physically and emotionally. As a result of

your generosity, BibleLandswas able to

send the hospital an extra grant of

£76,137. This is being used to provide fuel

for ambulances and the hospital’s

generator, for medical programmes for

chronically ill women and malnourished

children, and for the provision of breast

cancer screening for high-risk women

from poor communities.

With infrastructure, homes and

businesses badly damaged, and

with severely restricted supplies

entering Gaza through official

border crossings, the goods

available in the markets are still

not affordable for most residents.

Families make tough decisions

about who they can feed each day.

Sickness is prevalent because of

substandard housing and lack of

clean water.

The staff at Al Ahli Hospital continue to

operate their vital mobile medical clinic,

visiting the poor in their own

neighbourhoods and dramatically

improving the quality of life for many.

Al Ahli also has the only functioning

mammography machine in Gaza, and this

has been used to screen several hundred

women for cancer.

Times are still tough, but you have helped

Al Ahli respond to desperate need. Please

pray for Suhaila Tarazi, the hospital

director, and her staff. With your support,

their ongoing heroism, love and

professionalism are saving lives in this

most troubled of regions. �

You have made a difference!

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Cover image © Steve Sabella. Reproduced courtesy of St John Eye Hospital.

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Please note that

the names of all

BibleLands-supported

beneficiaries in this

publication have been

changed to protect their

interests in accordance

with BibleLands’ Child

Protection Policy.

All articles and

photographs are the

copyright of BibleLands

or its overseas partners

unless otherwise stated,

and may only be

reproduced with the

editor's written

permission

4

Refugeescreatetheirownfuture

The room below All Saints’ Cathedral, Cairo is cramped and untidy, butthe walls are lined with vivid textiles, their freshly printed patternsshowing striking reinterpretations of traditional African designs.

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healthcare and benefit from advice about

finding employment.

The refugees’ emotional and spiritual

welfare is important too, and Refuge

Egypt offers church services and bible

study in their own language. There are

also social events and a café where people

can meet up and relax.

Refuge Egypt does not encourage people

to live on handouts forever, but to become

self-sufficient. Its motto is:

Teach people the importance of taking

responsibility for their lives, and you will

have empowered them to live again.

A big part of this means offering

education and training that will give

them the best chance of getting a job.

Within Cairo, however, employment

opportunities for refugees are scarce, and

the only jobs left involve unskilled manual

labour. For those talented at crafts, Tukul

provides an alternative – the ability to

generate income through creative skill.

‘Tukul’ means ‘the small hut’. In Sudanese

culture, the tukul is the focal point of

home life, and the place where Sudanese

people traditionally produce their crafts.

Tukul Crafts was set up in 1988 by a group

of Sudanese refugees keen to use their

skills to generate an income. They started

with beadwork and stencil-printed

T-shirts. Later, basket weaving was

introduced, and many people developed

beautiful basketry skills that are still an

important part of Tukul’s output today.

The workshop has seven permanent

members of staff, but other refugees

creating items at home are given

advice about design and colour, and

support with finding sales outlets.

A substantial proportion of Tukul

products are marketed in and around

Cairo. Two shops in the city sell

merchandise throughout the year, and

the products are very popular at local

bazaars. Going to the bazaar, however,

can be a challenge. The cost of renting a

booth and transporting the goods means

that the Tukul employees cannot go as

often as they would like. Rising fabric

costs also contribute to the difficulty of

balancing expenditure with income.

In spite of the struggles, Tukul Crafts is

self-sufficient and would eventually

like to expand enough to reach more

overseas markets. For now, their

website is the place to find their range

of beautiful products and designs:

www.tukulcrafts.org �

Prayer PointsPlease pray:

� for the continuing success of TukulCrafts and for the craftspeoplewho make a living through it

� for all displaced people, far fromhome and facing an uncertain future in an unfamiliar country

� for the staff of Refuge Egypt, many of them refugeesthemselves, who provide practicalassistance and emotional support to so many people. w

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This is the Tukul Crafts workshop,

a small business under the wing

of Refuge Egypt that enables

displaced Sudanese people to earn an

independent living in a city far from

their home.

Refuge Egypt supports up to 27,000

refugees, who arrive in Cairo, having fled

war, persecution or disaster in their

homelands. Egypt has no refugee camps

and so the people must fend for

themselves. Most of the refugees are from

Sudan, and because of the open border

between the two countries, they are

ineligible to apply for official refugee

status. Refuge Egypt provides a welcoming

place where they can receive emergency

food and clothing, gain access to

Would you like to help with a

short-term project at one of

BibleLands’ partners in Cairo? Join

our fundraising expedition to

Egypt this November. For more

details, see page 23.

Get Involved!Photos © Celia Granger.

� If you would like further

information about leaving a

legacy, please contact Madeleine

Holmes on 01494 897922 or email

[email protected]

� To make a regular donation to

Nazareth School of Nursing, find

out more about our CareSharer

scheme. Phone the CareSharer

team on 01494 897955/56 or email

[email protected]


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� for the teachers and students

who face difficulties travelling

to and from the school

� for the ongoing success of the

school's cultural activities

� for the families in Bethany

affected by

unemployment

� for Sister Martha, whose

energy and commitment

motivate her staff team.

they have ever had much chance to

receive an education. The first

programme planned is a parenting

course for local mothers, and there will

be seminars and community health

awareness events. The auditorium will

also be the perfect space for worship,

giving local Christians the opportunity to

attend services.

This wonderful resource for both nurse

training and community development

was made possible by those who have

remembered BibleLands in their will. We

have been overwhelmed by the

generosity of so many people who have

left legacies over the years, and hope

that their bereaved families and friends

gain some comfort from knowing that

their support continues to change the

lives of disadvantaged people in the

lands where Christ walked. The names of

all who leave a legacy are recorded in our

Book of Remembrance, which is on

display at our head office as a constant

reminder of the contribution made by so

many generous people. The good use to

which their legacies are being put is

reflected by the School of Nursing’s

statement of faith:

As followers of Jesus of Nazareth

we respect all people, serve

unconditionally, are open and honest,

work in co-operation and partnership,

and strive for excellence. �

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Get Involved! Prayer PointsPlease pray:

� for Dr Amal Khazin and her staff as they embark on a new era of degree provision

� for the nursing students lookingforward to a fulfilling career

� for the local people ofNazareth who will be ableto learn and worship inthe new auditorium

� for all who have lost a loved one.

BibleLands is delighted to have been

able to help provide degree-level

nursing training at the School of

Nursing in Nazareth, thanks to the

generous support of those who have

remembered us in their will.

The school has an 80-year history and

welcomes students of any religion or

nationality, making it the only provider of

nursing training for Arab students in Israel

and the occupied Palestinian territory.

Some years ago, BibleLands embarked on

an ambitious project to raise funds towards

the total rebuilding of the school. Over the

next few years, the work progressed well

and the new state-of-the-art facilities

opened in 2005.

A change in the law, however, soon put the

school’s future in jeopardy. The Israeli state

increased the minimum educational

requirements for newly qualifying nurses

to the equivalent of degree level. The school

had previously been awarding a diploma

qualification, and while its Director, Dr

Amal Khazin, was looking towards

introducing a degree programme, the

situation suddenly became more urgent.

The school needed an auditorium to enable

it to deliver the more advanced level of

teaching, and BibleLandswas pleased to

step in once again to help make this

happen. In 2008 and 2009 we received a

large number of legacies and from these

we were able to raise the £250,000 needed

to build and equip the new auditorium. At

a ceremony attended by students past and

present, the school celebrated the opening

of the new facilities in December 2009. For

now the degree programme will be

delivered in association with Haifa

University, but in the future Dr Amal aims

to make the school into a degree-awarding

institution in its own right.

The new auditorium will have

wide-ranging benefits for the whole

community. As well as enabling lectures for

the nursing students, it will also be a venue

for courses for local people, whether or not

A new era for Nazareth

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� BibleLands collects children’sspectacle frames to send to St John Eye Hospital. If you haveany pairs that are no longerneeded, please consider donatingthem to: The Spectacle Fund,BibleLands, PO Box 50, HighWycombe, Bucks HP15 7QU.

� To help women like Dua’a bymaking a regular donation to StJohn Eye Hospital, phone us on01494 897955/56 or [email protected]

Get Involved!

With a main hospital, three

satellite clinics and a mobile

outreach service for the

isolated villages, it is a lifeline for

disadvantaged people who would

otherwise risk losing their sight.

Conditions in the occupied Palestinian

territory make life difficult in general,

but the Eye Hospital staff are acutely

aware of the specific problems faced by

women.

Educational opportunities are less

widespread for girls than for boys, and

without education, it is difficult for

women to acquire knowledge about

health problems that could ultimately

affect their sight. Diabetes, for example,

can go unrecognised for too long,

potentially leading to diabetic

retinopathy – a particular risk for

pregnant women.

Travel restrictions affect everybody, but

women might not be permitted to travel

at all unless accompanied by a male

relative, with the result that necessary

visits to clinics are neglected until

eyesight has deteriorated beyond repair.

Even where assistance is available,

young women have to contend with the

social stigma of wearing glasses or

having an obvious impairment, which

can inhibit their chances of making a

good marriage. After marriage, women’s

lives are frequently centred around the

home and, when money is tight, men’s

needs come first.

Yet good eyesight is elemental in the

process of receiving education. And

empowering women helps developing

countries increase and sustain economic

growth. When permitted access to

education, women increase the overall

St John Eye Hospital in East Jerusalem provides vitalophthalmic care throughout the West Bank and Gaza.

human capital of a country.

Furthermore, better educated

women are in greater control of

their lives, and can assert their

views on issues such as family

planning. The current high

fertility rate has a health impact

of its own, with the demands of

family life leaving mothers with

little opportunity or energy to

seek help until symptoms

become serious.

For women faced with these

challenges, St John Eye Hospital

provides essential screening

services, increasing the chances

of early diagnosis and successful

treatment.

The hospital’s own vision is clear:

‘By doing our best to provide

accessible and affordable services

that address some of the

eminently treatable conditions

that contribute to the prevention

of women receiving education

in the occupied Palestinian

territory, we help empower

the female population and

contribute to the long-term

development of the region.‘

The Hospital estimates that it

will treat over 45,000 women in

Jerusalem, the West Bank and

Gaza during 2010.

This means that more than

45,000 families will benefit

as a daughter, wife, mother or

grandmother will no longer

suffer the stigma of obvious sight

defects or the economic burden

of impaired vision. �

A bright vision for Palestinian women

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Dua’a’s StoryDua’a is 19 and comes

from a poor family living in

the Balata refugee camp

near Nablus. Her father is

unemployed and the

family survives with help

from UNWRA (United

Nations Works and

Refugee Agency) and with

the support of friends and

neighbours.

Dua’a had the opportunity to attend school

and, although her short-sightedness could have

made lessons a challenge, she did well and

went on to study for a degree in physics at

Nablus’s Al Najjar University.

In August 2009, Dua’a went to St John Eye

Hospital with loss of vision in her right eye – a

worrying development given that the vision in

her left eye was already too low to be improved.

She could hardly see the eye chart at all.

She was diagnosed with a retinal detachment

and underwent complicated surgery that

included removal of the lens and insertion of an

intraocular implant. Within three weeks of the

operation, Dua’a’s vision had improved so much

that she was able to read the fourth line of the

eye chart, with the help of a contact lens.

Without the Eye Hospital, Dua’a might have lost

her sight. Now, thanks to the dedicated staff

there and the generous donations of

supporters, she can return to her studies and

look forward to achieving her physics degree.


� for women in the occupiedPalestinian territory who havedifficulty accessing educationand health care.

� for the staff of the mobile clinics that take vital servicesinto the West Bank villages.

� for all who work at the mainhospital and the clinics at Anabta, Hebron and Gaza.

� for the patients who rely on St John Eye Hospital for the future of their sight. w

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The Star in the East With than

ks to Geoff Ja

rvis of St John Eye Hospital for supplying the inform

ation con

tained in this article

. Photos © Steve Sabella


B I B L E L A N D S P R A Y E R D I A R Y m a y – a u g u s t 2 0 1 0

MAY: Lebanon

Our overseas partners

often tell us how

encouraged they

are by the prayerful support

they receive. Your prayers

continue to make a difference

to those whose calling is to

work and serve with

vulnerable people in the

lands of the Bible.

We have a monthly news

and prayer email called

Re:Action – if you would like

to be added to the mailing

list, please email us at

[email protected]

with your name, postcode and

email address (and you’ll have

the option to unsubscribe

with every email).

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� The Al-KafaàtFoundationAs we reported inthe Christmas2009 edition ofThe Star in theEast, buildingwork is goingwell for the brandnew Villagecomplex that willprovide trainingand sheltered

employment opportunities for people withcerebral palsy. Please pray for the work tocontinue on schedule towards its proposedcompletion date of August 2010.

� CAHLThe 50 students of CAHL have learningdifficulties and have often spent time inmainstream schools where special needssupport is lacking. As many are from poorfamilies, CAHL provides them with anourishing lunch – perhaps the only propermeal they will have all day. Please pray forthe students and their disadvantagedfamilies.

� Anjar Armenian Evangelical SchoolThe school has recently started a newprogramme of peace education, settingaside time in the curriculum for lessonsdiscussing important issues such asdemocracy, citizenship, care for theenvironment, conflict resolution and healthand safety. They would appreciate yourprayers that this programme will have apositive influence on the students and theirwider community.

� The Zvartnotz CentreZvartnotz in Beirutsupports around 35 peoplewith learning disabilities,offering vocational trainingand advocating disabledpeople’s rights in society.They are building up linkswith Al-Kafaàt so that theycan share ideas and keep upto date with the latestrehabilitation methods.Thank you for your prayersthat this relationship willcontinue to strengthen.

� BibleLands has two RegionalRepresentatives who would

be delighted to come and talk to your church or group. Why

not give them a call?

� Su McClellan (Central England) 01926 772824

[email protected]

� Richard Jones (Southern England) 01689 858127

[email protected]

Get Involved!

10

The WestBank’s

forgottenpeople

Built into the side of a hill in a

hidden back street in Ramallah is

a rehabilitation centre offering

education, training and employment to

some of the most marginalised people in

the West Bank.

The staff of the Annahda Rehabilitation

Centre believe passionately in the right of

disabled children to receive an education

and be equipped with skills for an

independent life.

Although the

surrounding area is

run-down and

impoverished, inside

there is a colourful,

lively atmosphere as

the team bring

lessons to life with

crafts and games.

Annahda specialises

in support for mild to

moderate learning disabilities, and most of

its students come from the three refugee

camps on the outskirts of town. Although

in theory the centre could charge for its

services, very few students’ families can

afford to contribute, and no one is ever

turned away on financial grounds. There is

a long waiting list, and the centre makes

the most of its facilities by running two

school sessions each day.

The school, comprising small classes with

plenty of one-to-one teaching, is just one

part of Annahda’s work – it also supports a

further 32 children who are in mainstream

education but come to Annahda for extra

tuition in maths and Arabic. Another 35

receive support within their own schools,

and staff also visit the homes of a small

number of disabled children who have

been excluded from school and for whom

transport is difficult. Teenagers at Annahda

have the opportunity to learn sewing,

weaving, embroidery, home economics,

carpentry and agricultural skills with a view

to earning a living in the future.

Annahda also runs a workshop

employing 12 adults with

learning disabilities. They craft

a range of high-quality

educational toys that are used

in schools and nurseries all over

the West Bank, including the

BibleLands-supported SIRA

School in Bethlehem. Demand

for these products is increasing

all the time and the workshop

makes a profit that is ploughed

back into the centre’s activities.

The employment opportunities available

there are vital – before the intifada, it was

possible for most people leaving Annahda

to find a job, but in recent years the

unemployment situation has become so

bad that opportunities are scarce.

The Annahda Centre is small, but its work

is far-reaching. Its combination of

education, vocational training, community

support and sheltered employment go a

long way towards tackling the lack of

understanding about disabled people’s

lives, and to promote their rights

throughout the West Bank. �


� for the children and youngpeople learning at Annahda

� for people facingdiscrimination because of their disabilities

� for all in the West Bankfacing unemployment and poverty.

� El Saray Evangelical ChurchLocated in Alexandria, this church runs twosocial programmes – the Fairhaven School anda drop-in clinic for people who cannot accessstandard medical facilities. The clinic’s eye careprogramme is particularly important as it is the only specialist eye care service in the area.Without it, patients would have to travel longdistances for treatment. Please pray for theclinic and the people who use its services.

� St Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS)Displaced and damaged young refugees inCairo sometimes fall in with violent gangs. Partof StARS’ work is the Youth LEAD project, whichoperates four centres to provide at-risk youthwith an alternative to the streets. Througheducation, counselling and recreationalactivities in a safe environment, the centressupply the young men with the resources toresolve their conflicts and establish their ownpeace. Please pray for this important work.

� The Jesuit Brothers’ AssociationIn the rural El Minya district of Egypt, disabledpeople can find themselves excluded from theeducation system and hidden away at home.The Jesuit Association, with your prayerfulsupport, offers literacy classes and vocationaltraining to enable young people with

disabilities to earn a living and assert their rightto be treated as full members of society.

� Shams el BirrThis centre in Giza supports 60 children andadults with disabilities, including visuallyimpaired people. The centre has modern Braillemachines that enable the younger clients tofollow a comprehensive school curriculum. DrMorcos and his staff also work with families tochange the traditional negative perceptions ofdisabled people, and they would appreciateyour prayers for the success of this work.

� Talitha Kumi SchoolThe school is in Bethlehem and

travel restrictions make it

increasingly difficult for the

students to go on educational

excursions. Permits are now

necessary for everyone over the

age of 13, so visits that were part

of the curriculum two years ago

are no longer possible. Please pray

for an end to the political tension,

both for Talitha Kumi’s sake and

that of all our Holy Land partners.

� The Princess Basma Centre The centre is a top rehabilitation facility for

people who have disabilities or serious injuries.

Its highly qualified staff are much in demand to

offer training for community clinics, which

means travelling all over the West Bank to meet

and support other health professionals. Please

pray for them as they too must overcome travel

restrictions to continue this important work.

� Rawdat El ZuhurThis school has recently opened a new library to

house its collection of over 3,500 books. The

library is a comfortable and spacious

environment designed to give the children a

peaceful place to study and read for pleasure.

The school’s Principal, Salwa Zananiri, and her

staff would like your prayers as they aim to

inspire the children with a love of books.

� The Four Homes of MercyThe Four Homes is a single centre for disabled

people in Bethany. It provides residential care for

up to 100 people, and also runs an outpatient

clinic that receives referrals from all over the

West Bank. It strives to maintain a high

standard of care in spite of difficulties in getting

the funding it is entitled to from the Palestinian

Authority. The staff are encouraged to know you

are praying for them and their clients.

To keep in touch with the very latest prayer needs of our overseas partners, call our 24-hour prayer line on 01494 897939 or log on to www.biblelands.org.uk/prayerThe Star in the East 12 The Star in the East 13

JUNE Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory JULY Egypt

� Bethlehem Arab Society for RehabilitationBASR provides intensive rehabilitation for peoplewho are disabled or who have been seriouslyinjured. It is currently caring for several patientswho are in comas following road traffic accidents.Their families have abandoned them to die, butBASR will not give up on them. Please pray forthese patients and the staff who care for them.

� St Luke’s Hospital St Luke’s is a 60-bed general hospital treating allwho seek its care, regardless of race, nationality,faith or financial status. It has a philosophy ofcaring for its patients’ emotional and spiritual, aswell as physical, needs. The hospital needs prayerfor its outreach programmes, which aim toimprove the health of the local community.

� Hope SchoolMany of Hope School’s 140 students come fromvery deprived families. A small number havespecial needs, and around 30 boys live at theschool because of difficult family situations orpoverty. Because the students’ parents cannotafford tuition fees or even basic school supplies,the school relies on donations and welcomes yourprayerful support.

� Bethany Girls’ SchoolThe school teaches 350 students, mainly frompoor Muslim families. There have been problemsrecently with fundamentalist groups placing flagson the walls in an attempt at intimidation. Inspite of this challenge, the school strives tomaintain as normal as possible an environmentfor the students, and appreciates your prayers tohelp them do this.

BibleLandsPO Box 50, High Wycombe

Buckinghamshire HP15 7QUTel: 01494 897950 Fax: 01494 897951

email: [email protected]

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1076329

Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory AUGUST

The Star in the East 14 The Star in the East

Danger takes many forms. Lebanese humanitarian association

Beit-el-Nour is committed torecognising the dangers faced by

vulnerable young people.

This is not the cosy side of charity.

Drug addiction, sexual exploitation,

homelessness, gang membership and

domestic violence do not discriminate according

to race or religion, and neither does Beit-el-Nour.

Through a variety of social projects in and

around Beirut, it helps damaged teenagers to

escape the past and make the right choices for

the future. The association, whose name

translates as the House of Light and Hope, is an

impressive new overseas partner for BibleLands.

Beit-el-Nour began in 1986, when Lebanon was

in the grip of a devastating civil war. Since then,

it has sheltered thousands

of young people, giving

them hope, education and

the chance of acceptance

in a society that has failed

them. It operates through

a range of outreach

programmes, under the

committed Christian

leadership of Dr Robert

Caracache (right).


� for teenagers vulnerable to exploitation

� for people in prison who, with support,might have the chance of a better life

� for Dr Robert Caracache and his staff, whodon’t judge people on what they’ve done,but for who they might become.

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To keep in touch with the very latest prayer needs of our overseas partners, call our 24-hour prayer line on 01494 897939 or log on to www.biblelands.org.uk/prayer

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The Star in the East

The outreach projects include a centre

for rehabilitating delinquent boys.

Fundamental to the programme is the

teaching of literacy skills, after which

the boys receive vocational training

towards setting up in a trade.

Dr Caracache and his team do not shy

away from the reality of these

teenagers’ existence. Another

rehabilitation centre supports young

women who have become trapped by

prostitution, and the Prevention Centre

assists girls at risk of exploitation,

giving them a brighter outlook and

equipping them with the psychological

and vocational skills to make a go of life

regardless of their troubled

backgrounds.

There are also programmes to help

women in prison turn their lives

around, and to provide food and

clothing for vulnerable teenagers who

cannot live at one of the centres.

Younger children, too, find refuge

from difficult family situations at St.

Ephrem’s Orphanage.

Like Christ himself, Beit-el-Nour does

not ignore those who are broken,

vulnerable and excluded from society.

It reaches the most damaged young

people who have nowhere else to turn.

Let’s meet some of the individuals

whose lives have been transformed. �

Why not organise a fundraising event

for BibleLands? We can provide

posters and leaflets to help you raise

awareness of our work – call 01494

897950 to request supplies.

Get Involved!

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Gabir’s storyGabir was only one year old when his mother was stabbed by his

alcoholic father. She was taken to hospital and thankfully recovered.

The father absconded and Gabir’s mum was faced with an

impossible situation – she must leave her little son alone in the

house while she worked as a cleaner to enable them both to survive.

With the help of a local social worker, Gabir got a place at a day care

centre and continued there for some years, but eventually his mum

made the heartbreaking decision to send him to live at St. Ephrem’s

Orphanage, a project supported by Beit-el-Nour. When he arrived,

he was very withdrawn and spoke with a stutter, finding it difficult

to make friends. As if this weren’t enough, his mother had to

acknowledge that she was losing her eyesight. She sought help and

underwent an operation, which was complicated but successful.

Since then, Gabir has settled in and is making good progress with

his schoolwork. It’s not always easy, but he is increasingly motivated

to do well. Better still, he and his mother have a good relationship

and look forward to seeing each other every weekend without fail.

Mansur’s storyMansur was angry. His father had abandoned the

family when Mansur was still a baby, leaving him and

his elder sister in the care of a mother struggling to

make a living from a few chickens and a cow. Mansur’s

sister had gained enough education to look down on

their mother as a primitive peasant, and so she moved

away. The conflict between his mother and sister

affected Mansur’s stability. When he became a

teenager his behaviour got difficult. He began to

shoplift, with the result that he was arrested and

sentenced to a year in the rehabilitation centre.

Thanks to an educational course adapted to his needs,

and to the support of Beit-el-Nour’s psychological

therapists, Mansur has been able to return to his family.

He now lives with his mother, helping her to look after

the animals and doing small jobs in a nearby carpentry

shop. In the future, he wants to buy more livestock and

expand the family smallholding into a dairy farm.

Zaina’s storyZaina is 28 years old and was sent

to prison in March 2009.

She had married a man she

thought was honest, but her

family thought otherwise and

disowned her. He turned out to be

a drug dealer, but by then Zaina

had a son, Rashid, and when her

husband threatened to take the

boy away if she didn’t comply with

a fraudulent scheme, she had no

choice but to agree.

The fraud was found out. Her

husband fled to Syria but Zaina

entered prison frightened, tearful

and separated from her son, who

was staying with his paternal

grandparents. It was difficult for

her to admit her husband’s

wrongdoings – what if there was a

backlash? Gradually, however, Beit-

el-Nour’s educational team helped

her realise that at the next court

hearing she must tell the truth

about what he had done.

With Beit-el-Nour’s help, Zaina got

back in touch with her family, who

started to visit her in prison and

bring her food and medicine.

Recently, she has been released.

She now has custody of Rashid

and is reconciled with her family.

The next step is for Beit-el-Nour to

find her a stable job.

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The day started as a typical

Monday morning, with the

students gathering in the

beautiful autumn sunshine to sing the

Lebanese national anthem. Soon,

however, the staff discovered that there

was no water supply to the school.

The maintenance team arrived to sort

the situation out, but hours passed and

they could not find out what was going

on. The situation started getting

desperate – over five hundred people,

most of them children, were without

drinking water or toilet facilities. The

Schneller Bakery, which provides bread

and pastries to the local community,

could not operate, and the kitchen staff

were unable to cook the children's meals.

The school was forced to close.

The school's water supply comes from its

own spring on a nearby mountain, so the

Principal, Rev. George Haddad, decided to

go and investigate. He and the

maintenance staff were puzzled to find

that there was still plenty of water

coming from the spring, and yet the

reservoir a short distance further down

the mountain was completely empty,

even though the connecting pipe had

only been renewed about a year before.

'This was very strange,' says Mr Haddad.

'The reservoir is always full after weekends

because the children are away. On

inspecting the drain pit, we found that

the lock was broken and there was a fresh

30cm water mark on the wall, indicating

Schneller School overcomes water crisisLife in Khirbet Kanafar in Lebanon's Bekaa Valleypresents many challenges, but last autumn thestaff and pupils of the J L Schneller School faced a completely unexpected situation.

that it was drained recently.’

A passer-by solved the mystery – a

neighbour had been digging with a

bulldozer and damaged the school's

main water pipe, later burying it

without fixing it. The neighbour

wouldn't own up to causing the

damage, so there was no option but

for Schneller's maintenance team to

rent an excavator and dig up the

length of the pipe to find the break.

Locating the damage proved difficult

until another neighbour admitted

that he had seen what happened,

and pinpointed where to dig. The

pipe was quickly fixed, much to the

relief of the staff and children, but

this was not the end of the trouble –

the following morning, the school

still had no water. Back up the

mountain, local people helped the

maintenance crew identify three

more damaged sections of pipe. They

had to dismantle the whole lot and

clean out the muddy water before

patching them up temporarily and

waiting for the reservoir to fill.

Meanwhile, rumours were spreading

that the school's problems stemmed

from an outbreak of the H1N1 virus,

and worried parents were suspicious

that the story about the water-pipes

was just a cover-up. After a week of

closure, the school was finally able to

reopen, thanks to the hard work of

the maintenance team and other

staff who stayed on to help.

The school's adventures continued

earlier this year when it was cut off

by a snow storm. Teaching was

disrupted because of travel

difficulties, but all the staff

responsible for the boarding

students managed to report for

duty. Many boarders were unable

to return home for the weekend

but the school kept in close touch

with parents to reassure them

that the children were being well

looked after.

'We express our thanks to all our

dedicated members of staff who

challenged the storm to come and

look after our children,' says Mr

Haddad, 'especially the house-parents

of the boarding department who

worked continuously 24 hours a day.'

Mr Haddad and his team are hoping

that the rest of 2010 will prove

less eventful! �


� for Rev. George Haddad and hisstaff, who often have to copewith unexpected situations

� for the children who board atSchneller and their families athome

� for peace between neighbourswherever there is conflict.

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Get Involved!� To sponsor a child at the

J L Schneller School, contact

the Sponsorship team on

01494 897955/56 or email

[email protected].

� Are you a teacher or a minister

who takes assemblies at your

local school? We have assembly

resources designed for Key Stages

1-2. You can download them

free of charge at

www.biblelands.org.uk/resources

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Educating for Peace

The Friends of BibleLands are honoured to

welcome Archbishop Elias Chacour, who

will be giving our inaugural annual

lecture about his work at the Mar Elias

Educational Institutions and his commitment to

seeking peace and justice for Israel and the

occupied Palestinian territory.

The event will take place on Tues 13 April 2010

at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Doors open

at 7.20pm and the lecture will start at 7.45pm.

Priority seating will be allocated to Friends of

BibleLands.

To book, please phone Heather on

01494 897933. For more information about

becoming a Friend of BibleLands, please visit

www.biblelands.org.uk

The Christian Presencein the Lands of the Bible‘A splendid introduction to the churchesof the Middle East.’Lord Carey of Clifton.

We are pleased to

announce a new publication by trustee

and former President of BibleLands, Dr Hugh

Boulter. The Christian Presence in the Lands of the Bible gives

a lucid and concise introduction to the history and current

position of the Middle East’s churches. Written in response

to the interest and encouragement of BibleLands supporters

at our Lambeth Conference two years ago, the booklet is a

fascinating overview of Christianity in the lands of the Bible.

The booklet is available at a cost of £5 (or £4 each for

orders of 50 copies or more) from our head office.

Please send a cheque payable to ‘BibleLands’ to:

BibleLands, PO Box 50, High Wycombe, Bucks HP15 7QU,

or phone 01494 897950.


Diary Dates

BibleLands’ staff will be out and about this year meeting

supporters at our own events and at some of the big

Christian festivals. If you see our stand, please come and

say hello – we would love to meet you!

13 April 2010

Educating for Peace in

Israel and Palestine

A lecture by Archbishop

Elias Chacour Christ Church

Cathedral, Oxford

(see opposite for details).

11 - 14 May 2010

Christian Resources

Exhibition

Sandown Park, Esher

Ahuge thank you to everyone who

organised carol singing events in

their local pub last Christmas. Beer and

Carols was an excellent opportunity to bring

BibleLands‘ work to the attention of people who

might not consider going to a traditional carol

service – and we have had reports of some

wonderful evenings full of music, laughter and

the joy of Christmas.

‘I have never seen so much enthusiasm for carol

singing before,’ says David Ritson, who

organised an event at the Cock Crow pub in

Hebburn, Tyne and Wear. ‘Everyone thoroughly

enjoyed it - so much so that I’ve already been

asked to host another one next year.’

At the time of writing, we are still receiving

donations, but the current total is almost £1700

– well done and THANK YOU to everyone who

has taken part.

Beer and Carols Update

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Your views

We would like to know what you think about BibleLands

and its work – how we’re doing, what motivates you to

support us and what the future might hold. We hope you

will take a few minutes to complete the enclosed short questionnaire

and return it in the envelope provided. You can also find it online at

www.biblelands.org.uk. We look forward to hearing your views!

24 July - 6 August 2010

New Wine Summer Conference

Shepton Mallet

27 - 30 August 2010

Greenbelt Festival

Cheltenham Racecourse

2 October 2010

BibleLands’ Annual Service

St Michael’s, Chester Square, SW1

Look out for full details in our Autumn

2010 edition of The Star in the East.

Greenbelt

BibleLands stand

Members of Abbey Hill URC,Kenilworth, who raised £75.


Egypt Challenge!Date: 6 – 15 November 2010

Cost: £1700 full board

Brochures for the Holy Land and Lebanon and Syriapilgrimages are available to download fromwww.biblelands.org.uk. To request a printed copy,phone us on 01494 897950

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Travel opportunities with BibleLandsHoly Land Date: 26 May – 5 June 2010

Cost: £1425 half board

There is still time to book

for this special

pilgrimage to the Holy

Land, which includes visits to

many of the sites associated

with the life of Christ. You

will travel to the Sea of Galilee,

to the Mount of Olives and

Gethsemane, and spend time

in the Old City of Jerusalem,

as well as having the

opportunity to visit some

of BibleLands’ partners and

witness the amazing work

they are doing.

Lebanon and SyriaDate: 19 – 30 October 2010

Cost: £1525 half board

This is a wonderful chance to experience the rich

culture and history of Lebanon and Syria, with

visits to Baalbeck, Byblos, Tyre and Damascus.

You will also meet some of BibleLands’ Lebanese partners,

including the Al-Kafaàt Foundation in Beirut and the

J L Schneller School in the Bekaa Valley.

For more information: � see our website at www.biblelands.org.uk� email [email protected] or� phone Caroline on 01494 897908.

Onlineresources

for youand your

church

Visit www.biblelands.org.uk/resourcesfor all these free materials and more…

www.biblelands.org.uk/resou

rces

www.

Re:ActionSign up for our email newsletter to

be informed about the prayer needsof BibleLands’ overseas partners

and the latest resources availableonline. To be added to the list, [email protected] including

your name and postcode.

FacebookJoin our Facebook fan page at

www.facebook.com/BibleLands

22

Get Involved!

Join us for this excitingfundraising andvolunteering expedition,organised in associationwith Different Travel.

The trip begins on the Sinai

Peninsula, where we will

explore the sweeping

desert landscapes surrounding

St. Katherine’s Monastery and

climb Mount Sinai at sunset for

spectacular views of a land

steeped in thousands of years

of history.

A few days later, we will transfer

to Cairo to help with a short-term

project at one of BibleLands’

partners. The cost of the trip will

also support BibleLands’ work and

you are encouraged to raise the

money by organising events –

raising awareness at the same

time. We can provide you with

lots of fundraising ideas.

� Harvest FestivalOur family service looks at the

Palestinian olive harvest and how

people of all faiths are working

together to keep this traditional

source of income alive in the

midst of conflict.

� Holiday ClubThe Premier League meets the

Bible in Jacob United, our

football-themed children’s activity

club designed for your church to

run at half term. Register now to

download everything you need

to organise three days of fun and

adventure in your own community.

� School AssembliesAimed at KS1-2, these two

assemblies plus follow-up

activities are based on

the themes of Olives

and Walls, and help

children gain an

awareness of the Holy

Land and the people

who live there.

� Newsletter ArticlesIf you need to fill a space in your

church magazine, why not tell your

congregation about BibleLands by

reproducing one of our articles?

Each article focuses on how one of

our overseas partners is making a

difference to disadvantaged people

in the Middle East.

� PowerpointIf you are giving a talk about

BibleLands to your church or group,

our downloadable presentation is

full of pictures and information

to help you raise

awareness of

our work.

or to request a catalogue,please contact us at

[email protected] 01494 897950.

PalestinianGifts fromBibleLands Shop online at www.biblelands.co.uk

Documents

The Star in the East - Spring 2010