Dear friends,
Since early May, we’ve been focusing mainly on this year’s summer programme, a highlight of the year. Right now, it would be hard to find anyone at Beit Al Liqa’ who’s not busy preparing for our activities offered to young and old alike during the three-month summer holiday.
Summer camps
We are very thankful that we are now well into the preparations for our two kids’ camps: the individual activities and day trips are in place, and the group leaders and other voluntary helpers have been assigned various responsibilities. What’s especially great is that we now have some youngsters from our teens’ group who have volunteered to help at the camps. Apart from our local camp counsellors, a Korean and an American team have each agreed to join us for one to two weeks to contribute to our camp schedules through drama, various activities etc. We’ve also been very busy preparing crafts and setting up a new crafts room in our underground car park. And then there’s the spiritual part of the camp schedules that wants preparing – which requires hard work. Songs in line with the topics must be chosen, Bible lessons, memory verses and the mission story must be prepared, missions information compiled and plays rehearsed. Time and good ideas are essential for all these preparations. So we do need your prayers right now. In just two weeks’ time, the first kids’ camp for children aged 5-8 will start (18 June – 6 July), then just 3 days later, and the second kids’ camp for the 9 to 11-year-olds (9 to 27 July 2007). The Teens’ Camp is scheduled for 30 July to 3 August.
Summer time is garden time
High season has arrived – which also means that both our garden and playground are bustling with life again. Since most of the residents here must stay within the confines of our little province, travelling or day trips have become an impossible dream to them. And as there is hardly any place for relaxation within our boundaries, a large number of people spend their ‘holiday’ at Beit Al Liqa’.
Almost every afternoon we welcome between 150 – 200 people on our playground. After the worst midday heat, they pack up their children and make there way to our premises to spend the rest of the day in our beautiful oasis. Here they spend their time playing, chatting, having a good laugh and nibbling sweets. The playground has become a place where one can meet people, chat to your heart’s desire and enjoy the cool of the gentle evening breeze.
Every week we celebrate two to three birthday parties in our garden, school classes pop by to hang out here and organisations spend a day out on our premises. To many, Beit Al Liqa’ has become a second home, a place where they enjoy spending time and feel welcome. More often than not, we can talk with people about our faith, and occasionally we can invite people to our events and programmes. Sometimes people experience real encounters with God and we witness how their lives change.
Children’s and youth ministry
Last week we had our kindergarten graduation ceremony. In the presence of their parents and relatives, we said farewell to sixteen children during that very festive event. Since we are preliminarily closing our oldest kindergarten class and putting together both of the classes for our younger kids with the day care centre to create a new nursery school, it was our last graduation ceremony of this sort. We will miss the children very much, but we hope to see many of them again in our other groups and programmes.
During the past years, we have learnt that the only permanent thing in our ministry is the changes, a truth that can be hard at times but which also brings along new possibilities and challenges. Our new possibility is the youth centre which will be set up in what must now be called our ‘former day care centre’. Last weekend the big move began. All the children’s equipment was taken up one floor to the rooms of the new nursery school. Everything wanted resorting, redecorating and shelving and clearing away in its new surroundings. It all needed to be done quickly, because the nursery school for babies and toddlers up to the age of four already began on Monday in the ‘new’ rooms. As far the youth centre is concerned, there’s no need to rush. During the weeks ahead, we – with the help of our youngsters – will redecorate their new abode. We’re all looking forward to seeing the results!
Land
In our last prayer email we told you about how God clearly directed us through a distinct sign to purchase the second half of the recently acquired neighbouring property: out of the blue, someone promised to give
20,000 euros (~USD 26,983/GBP 13,549) towards the purchasing price! Just a few days later, the owner of that property returned from the USA to sell his land. Since we, as neighbours, have advance sale privilege for this particular piece of land, he first enquired with us. After days of negotiations, we finally agreed on a price, which is, however, slightly higher than the first property. But when the owner heard that we do not have the complete sum yet, he took steps that were not in our favour: He advertised his property in the newspaper which means that there will be prospective buyers to see the property and the price will increase through their offers. This has put quite some pressure on us. The owner would like to sell his land as soon as possible and return to the States. Will the 65,000 euros (~USD 87,697/GBP 44,036) be raised in the next couple of weeks? Did we misinterpret God’s sign or should we continue to trust? We have decided to continue to trust God. He knows what we will need for the future of Beit Al Liqa’ and he surely already has a plan! Please pray with us that His will be done!
Wedding bells
On 12 August, our oldest daughter, Melissa, will be getting married to Andres, the leader of our youth ministry. We are very happy about this bond and thank God for bringing them together. Of course, so many things need to be prepared and planned for the wedding, and since we will all be very busy over the whole summer, it won’t be easy. Early September, Melissa will then start her studies at Bethlehem University . At the same time, she will continue to help with the youth ministry at Beit Al Liqa’.
That’s all the news from us today. Thank you for your interest, prayers and financial support!
Best regards from Beit Jala
Johnny & Marlene Shahwan and the Beit Al Liqa’ team
