Dear family, Church, friends, and supporters

As most of you know that I left Bethlehem almost six weeks ago heading to England where I am volunteering with An organization called ' Reconciliation walk ' you can find more about this organization at : www.recwalk.net . I am working in developing relationships with people, organizations and ministries, trying to open a space for dialogue with groups, and especially with Muslim communities.

For now I was invited to go and talk in churches, small groups and meetings, about the ministry of reconciliation and building peace through relationships, as I had the experience of living under occupation and still having friendships with Israelis, trying to build bridges instead of walls.

For the next few months I will be going to Northern Ireland, to Belfast to talk in few churches, and to help planning for some out reach going to Palestine, where those who are going will be helping in refugee camps, knowing people by hearing their stories and know what it means to live in this situation, and still be peace builders.

Is there anything you can help with! Yes you CAN; first of all, I need all your prayers to keep going with all the hardships on the way and that god will open doors, pray for wisdom when I talk to people and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit about issues to bring up. I also need the finances to live in here, where it costs 400 pounds a month for rent, transportations and personal needs, like food. So, I am inviting you to be part of what God is doing in my life, and through me to other people's life.

Down here there is a letter written by the lady I work with telling my story shortly, and encouraging churches and groups to invite me to speak, so please take a look at it. You can as well check my website where I put some updates about what I am doing: 

www.myspace.com/eliossy  and blog as well under: http://blog.myspace.com/eliossy 

For any support please send it to:

Elias Halabi

Account number: 85039802

Sort code: 601007  

Natwest 24 Hour Banking

1 Harpenden Boulevard

Manchester

M3 3AQ

Blessings,

Elias Halabi

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..>..>..> ..> ..>..>..>..> Reconciliation Walk...the journey continues ..>..>..> ..> ..>..>..>..> Making Peace through Relationships February 26, 2007 ..>..>..> ..> ..>..>..>..> ..>..>..> ..> ..>..>..>..> IN THIS ISSUE Features   Reconciliation Speakers   Internship Program 2007 April 26 to May 26, 2007   Prayer Requests for the Middle East   Can You Help?    If you are interested in supporting the Reconciliation Walk...the journey continues,   Send your donation addressed to the  RW Office either in the UK or USA    Feel Free to Pass this Newsletter to Friends    Mailing Addresses:   UK PO Box 61 Highfield Oval Harpenden, Herts AL5 4JJ UK   USA 262 Pennsylvania Blvd. New Braunfels, TX 78130 USA   EMAIL Encouragements One way to help is in sending notes of encouragement to those caught in the conflict. During this time, hearing from Christians worldwide is helpful for those who can feel isolated.   Rev. Joy Mallouh jmallouh@cyberia.net.lb   Phil Rizk's blogspot http://tabulagaza.blogspot.com   Bethlehem Bible College/Shepherds Society info@bethlehembiblecollege.edu   Rev.Hanna Massad hanna3@palnet.com Baptist Church in Gaza   Musulaha Society Bringing reconciliation with Israelis and Palestinians musalaha@netvision.net.il   _________________________ Praying for Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon   Please pray for the leaders in Israel, Palestine, Lebanon that they will lead their people with a wisdom that brings blessings to their people.   Please pray for Phil Rizk and the Church in Gaza to be protected in all that they do daily to serve others.   Please pray for all those that have been wounded to find healing for their bodies and souls.   Pray for a vibrant church in these three countries that brings reconciliation and hope to all.   Pray also for all those who are willing to build bridges of peace to those who are different from themselves.   Please pray for our office here as we continue to grow and disciple others in the work of reconciliation       ..>..>..> ..> ..>..>..>..>  Dear Friends,   This is a quick update from the RW Office here in the UK. This year has opened with a growth in the staff here in Harpenden, England. We are forming a multi-cultural team that we hope will be able to more forward the various projects of the RW.   I want to make those of you in the UK aware of two of the members of our staff who have amazing stories of learning to walk in forgiveness. Both are available to speak in a variety of venues. Immaculee Hedden is a survivor of the Rwandan Genocide and has a powerful story of how God saved her life as well as led her to forgive those who destroyed her family.   The second member of the team is Elias Halabi from Bethlehem. Here is his testimony of how God has been changing his heart and teaching him how to build bridges of peace. Having been in his home and with his family, I highly recommend inviting him to come speak to groups in your area.   Elias' Journey of Seeking Peace:             My name is Elias Halabi, and I am from a place where people have different perspectives and names for it.  Some call it the Holy Land, others call it the Promise Land, some the West Bank, but I call it Palestine. I was born in Jerusalem and lived my whole life in Bethlehem. My family is a Christian Palestinian family who have lived in Bethlehem for more than ten generations. Life growing up was simply good and easy especially during the time of the New Millennium when everybody in the world was looking at Bethlehem.  Jobs were available, there was relatively free movement from one place to another, and there was peace and hope for a better future. This was what most of the Palestinians and their Israeli neighbours were dreaming of.   Then suddenly in September of 2000, violence gripped Palestine and Israel. Life suddenly took another direction, and what was beautiful one day, turned to be a nightmare. I found myself in the middle of all this violence, and what made it even harder was that my house is less than a hundred meters away from an Israeli military base where kids and young Palestinian guys used to come and throw stones at the soldiers. The soldiers then respond by shooting them, and I witnessed the death of lots of these kids. I heard the last screams of those young people dying, whose only offence had been throwing stones.  That wasn't the dream of a better future that I had. And it felt like all the big dreams I had were gone with the wind.      Five years after the Intifada started, I went to Belfast, Northern Ireland, and joined Christians from different parts of the world to take a course with a Christian organization called YWAM. The course was focused on becoming disciples for Christ so that we would live out the principles of forgiveness and reconciliation. At first it didn't sound realistic to me, nothing made sense, and it was very hard to even think about those issues. Only God's grace helped me get the bigger picture. And in seeing the big picture of God's love change happened in me.   Going back home to Bethlehem with all those new principles seemed easy, but  it wasn't easy. The wall is now next to my house; my land had been taken to build a settlement, and lots of checkpoints stopped me from being able to go to my sister's house five minutes away from my house. But God was faithful and didn't leave me to struggle on my own in this situation, but He walked with me step by step, and put the right people in my way. I had the chance of meeting some Israelis, and I started a friendship with them after seven years of not meeting any Israelis but soldiers. That was a miracle.   Last December I finished my studies in Bethlehem University, receiving a BA in Sociology/Psychology. God has now opened the way for me to come to England and start working as a staff member with the Reconciliation Walk, and will be working with this team for the coming season.    Please contact us here at 01582 46 33279 or 3269 if you would like to invite either of them to speak at a local gathering.   Blessings to you,   Cathy Nobles         Relational Peacemaking and Diplomacy Training and Internship     We live in a world of conflict with the news bringing us updates day after day.     Have you ever asked how can I make a difference?    Are you interested in learning to be an ambassador of reconciliation?   Our world needs men and women who are willing to take on the challenges of these conflict areas and to learn to walk as Jesus taught us.             Are you ready to take up the Challenge?   Date: April 26 to May 26, 2007 Harpenden Training School   Placement then for 6 to 9 months:             Northern Ireland             Israel             Palestine             UK             and other possible locations   Cost: £650. This covers the cost of the 4 weeks of training including lodging, food and speakers. The placement costs will vary according to the living situation of each location.   For further details: write rwalk@oval.comor call 44 1582 46 3279.   To apply, download the application form on the web and mail to Reconciliation Walk, Highfield Oval, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 4BX UK or fax your application to 44 1582 46 3