January 10, 2023
Our day started with a trip to the Augusta Victoria Hospital. This hospital was the first and only place to provide radiation therapy for cancer patients in the Palestinian territories and is the only medical facility for the West Bank offering pediatric cancer care and kidney dialysis. It was built in 1907 by the German Lutherans of Jerusalem with the support of the German government. It was named after the wife of Kaiser Wilhelm II. This hospital is one of the few places that will serve Palestinians and has made great progress in humanitarian efforts for the area.
We were able to see the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ascension as it is on the same site as the Hospital. It was built between 1914-1917 and serves as a church for several denominations. The picture you see today is the Love of Christ crew who are on this tour.
Love of Christ Folks at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ascension
From there we went to the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Old City. Where Pastor Mark Holman was called and served there for 4 years. It was there that we were able to meet with several ELCA pastors who talked with us about the many challenges of the work they do in this area.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was another stop. This church was built to remember the place where Jesus was crucified. It was a difficult place to visit due to the crowds and the lines to be able to see the stone in which it is believed he was crucified. As traditional history has it this is most likely the place in which Jesus was buried. We also spent time today along the Via Dolorosa in Old Jerusalem tracing the steps where Jesus walked on his way to Golgotha.
The Church of the Sepulcher
Today was our last day in Palestine and Jerusalem as tomorrow we will travel to Jordan!
Holding Love of Christ in prayer!
Blessings,
Pastor Nanette and Mark