Jumana and her family live in Bethlehem and have been supported by Friends of the Holy Land since January of 2021. They asked for support in keeping their electricity turned on and Friends of the Holy Land were able to help. Jumana loves living in Bethlehem, “because it is our land and the most beautiful city. Bethlehem is the birthplace of Christ - we cannot leave the holiest place in the world and go anywhere else.”
“I’m going to celebrate Christmas at home with my kids. If I had one wish this Christmas it would be for life to get better for us and that I could get my children some new clothes for Christmas.”
Scan the QR code to watch Jumana’s short interview or watch on our website by clicking the DAY 1 tab.
Rita is a Christian refugee from Iraq living in Jordan. For Rita, and many people like her, life feels as if it is on hold- she cannot study or visit relatives or work- instead she must wait and hope that sometime soon the conflict at home will cease. In her own words, “Life as a refugee is hard: we are just waiting, waiting, waiting.” In Jordan however, Rita has been able to train at a pasta workshop so she can support herself, she has also made many new friends there. The pasta workshop is a start-up project funded by Friends of the Holy Land.
Reflecting on Christmas Rita says “At home in Iraq we would travel to see family at Christmas. Here, it is hard because we have no one here. We still go to Mass, but we have no relatives here. We have friends, but it isn’t like home.”
Scan the QR code to watch Rita’s short interview or watch on our website by clicking the DAY 2 tab.
DAY
Siman Shahin and his wife live in a rented house with their two children. Siman worked as an electrician in the Bethlehem area and both of their children are still in school. Unfortunately, Siman suffers from Parkinson’s disease and now can no longer work as before.
Their home’s water tanks were very old and covered in rust. In the West Bank, water tanks are vital for a consistent source of running water as the mains can be off for days or weeks at a time, but Siman’s family couldn’t afford to replace theirs. Thanks to supporters’ generosity, Friends of the Holy Land were able to grant Siman’s humble wish for new tanks, in partnership with Pro Terra Sancta.
Read more about Siman and our water tank projects on our website by clicking the DAY 3 tab.
DAY 4
Raed from Gaza studied to be a Mechatronics Engineer at Al-Azhar University, thanks to the Pontifical Mission’s Scholarship Program, which is funded in part by Friends of the Holy Land. After graduation, he worked for a mechatronics project in the United Arab Emirates. He was there for three years before returning to the Gaza Strip where he was hired as a biomedical engineer working for a Palestinian company.
Raed now works on repairing much-needed medical imaging systems at Gaza’s hospitals and clinics. His story is a great example of how granting educational wishes for bright young Christians in the Holy Land opens the door to a brighter future for them and their homeland too.
Read more about how we support University students with scholarships on our website by clicking the DAY 4 tab.
DAY 5
Sara, 24 is a Christian refugee from Iraq. She fled from ISIS to Amman, Jordan, with her family and was sheltered by the Church there. She now works in a garment workshop, which is a start-up project funded by Friends of the Holy Land providing Sara with training and a way to support her family.
“The workshop has provided me with a new profession and a new life experience. I’ve got new friends, like a second family. I’m so grateful! “We Iraqis make special Christmas sweets called Kleicha, we also choose Christmas outfits and gifts for family and friends. On Christmas Day we
attend Mass. On the second day of Christmas I will go out with my friends, then with my family.
“My wish for this Christmas is to feel safe and secure again in my country, Iraq. I hope to meet my brother and sister again. Thank you, and Merry Christmas.”
Scan the QR code to watch Sara’s short interview or watch on our website by clicking the DAY 5 tab.
DAY 6
120 boys and girls love being part of the Latin Scouts of Nazareth troop. But their two buildings were in such a bad state of repair that they were getting dangerous. Thanks to donations from supporters like you, we were able to grant their wish to start the repairs.
The young scouts speak highly of living in the land where Jesus grew up, despite violence, poverty and a lack of good housing options. One scout says:
“I am a Christian and this is the country of Christ. Jesus was born, lived and grew up here. My grandparents grew up here and all
of my family live here. It is a great honour for me to live in the same place Jesus lived, to walk the same streets that Jesus walked. This matter is very important to me.”
At Christmas, the scouts will help those in need in the city and enjoy Nazareth’s many celebrations.
Scan the QR code to watch a short interview with a girl scout or watch on our website uby clicking the DAY 6 tab.
Alma and Celine are studying programming and computer science at a Christian vocational college in Ramallah, thanks to our support with their fees. They say that sexism and travel restrictions are the most challenging things about life for Muslim and Christian young women in their home town.
Celine says, “Like everyone, I have to hold onto my ground, my roots and my history, and I want to improve my country.
“At Christmas I like to visit the Church of the Nativity where Jesus was born and meet my family. One of the traditions we have in Palestine is to attend the tree lighting!”
Scan the QR code to watch Alma and Celine’s short interview or watch on our website by clicking the DAY 7 tab.
Elizabeth lives on her own in Bethlehem. She had accumulated debts to the water company and we were able to, with your support, assist her in paying off those debts. Had Friends of the Holy Land not stepped in to assist her, she would have run out of water.
“I am a widow and no one would help me. You have helped me a little, but I hope you can help me more. The water situation in Bethlehem is poor. Life here is difficult, very difficult.
“I love to live in Bethlehem because it is the country of Christ. For Christmas this year I will make torta and kuchen, and my Christmas wish would be to live my life happily.”
Scan to watch Elizabeth’s short interview or watch on our website by clicking the DAY 8 tab.
Maurice from Bethlehem is one of the woodworkers who supplies Friends of the Holy Land with the beautiful olive wood items you see in our shop. Maurice had been without work for seven months when Friends of the Holy Land helped him to purchase some machinery and set up his own business.
“It was a very difficult financial situation but thank God you have supported me… thanks be to God we have succeeded in this work.
“It’s hard to celebrate Christmas this year as there has been a death in the family, but my wish is that the world lives in peace and that joy would prevail this holiday.”
Scan to watch Maurice’s short interview or watch on our website by clicking the DAY 9 tab.
Dareen is studying hospitality at a vocational college in Ramallah, thanks to support with her fees from people like you.
“I want to be an independent woman and be able to financially support myself and not to rely on my family for income. I live in a small village near Ramallah. I don’t feel safe living there but the most challenging thing is the transportation.”
“We will begin (the Christmas season) by decorating the school. The school plans for us some fun activities such as visiting Bethlehem.” As for her Christmas wish? “I wish to live in peace.”
Scan the QR code to watch Dareen’s short interview or watch on our website by clicking the DAY 10 tab.
Samia lives in Bethlehem. Recently, Friends of the Holy Land helped Samia overcome a surprising problem: snakes were coming into her house through the old windows! Your support allowed us to install new screens to keep them out. As Samia lives in an old Arab home, there are many improvements (like this one!) that are costly and fall by the wayside when families are focused on providing the necessities for themselves and their children.
“The most important thing is to feel the holiday inside me. On Christmas, I welcome Jesus into my heart and in the way I treat others. Christmas is not just decorating the tree and the traditional external manifestations. My wish is to live in peace, security and joy, with security for my children in their lives and jobs.”
Scan the QR code to watch Samia’s short interview or watch on our website by clicking the DAY 11 tab.
Elizabeth is from Bethlehem. Her family were in financial trouble because of the collapse of tourism during the pandemic – they couldn’t even afford to address their health needs. Friends of the Holy Land helped to pay for dental treatment and their vital medication. Elizabeth says: “Thank you very much for helping me, God’s abundant grace shall never cease in your life.”
“The most important thing for me is that I live near the Church of the Nativity. Even if I only eat bread and onions, I don’t leave Bethlehem, I don’t leave the country of Jesus Christ. For Christmas, I always celebrate and pray with my family. I wish peace, and love to the world.”
Scan to watch Elizabeth’s short interview or watch on our website by clicking the DAY 12 tab.
“I’m going to celebrate Christmas at home with my kids this year. We will cook stuffed chicken as well as stuffed grape leaves and zucchini. And of course I will invite all my family to eat lunch and celebrate Christmas with us. All the cousins will sit at one table! After enjoying our meal together, the children play with each other and the adults can enjoy each other’s company.”
- Jumana
A very Merry Christmas from all our brothers and sisters celebrating Christmas in the Holy Land.
Who will be the 13th person to be granted their Christmas wish by you?