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An update from St. Martha’s House

Since 2010 Friends of the Holy Land has supported St Martha’s House, the first day care centre for elderly women in Bethlehem. They are mainly widows living alone with no-one to care for them, either because their families have emigrated or they simply can't afford to help. Many of these elderly women live a lonely and isolated existence outside of St Martha’s. No welfare systems exist in Bethlehem such as state pensions, healthcare or social services to provide a safety net of support. St Martha’s provides a safe and caring environment where they can spend quality time with friends.

There are eight specialist staff and volunteers (all Christians) who provide support for ongoing healthcare checks, haircare, podiatry and assistance in crafts and cooking skills. The ladies enjoy various activities such as board games,

Virginie’s story

Virginie, a 78-year-old widow, is a newcomer to St. Martha’s House. She lives alone after her husband passed away 16 years ago. She has four children - two sons who are living outside the country and two married daughters. It has been 35 years since she has been able to see one of her sons and she rarely receives any financial help or visits from the others due to their own financial difficulties.

Virginie worked previously as a cleaner at Bethlehem University - it was a hard job which caused her problems with shoulder and leg pain; she also has osteoporosis. She lives in a small, old house with lots of water leakage through the walls in the winter. With no income or pension, Virginie pays the bills and buys her groceries through the money she gets occasionally from the church or by asking people for help.

Like many of the women who come to St. Martha’s House, Virginie’s life is difficult and full of hardship - but attending St Martha’s each day provides her with much-needed respite and social interaction. embroidery and tending their garden as well as having a midday meal (using produce from their own garden where they can!). Overall, they have the benefit of companionship, good friends and the peace of mind that they are not forgotten.

The ladies love having visitors to St Martha's House and are always looking to welcome new friends into their midst. Recently the newly elected Mayor of Bethlehem even came to visit! If you are visiting Bethlehem, make sure your itinerary includes a chance to drop in and meet them. You will come away smiling!

Support the work

As other sources of funding have dried up over the last year, Friends of the Holy Land remains committed to this project. We know what a difference it makes to the lives of these ladies in terms of social, emotional and physical support.

To support the great work of St Martha’s House, you can give a gift at:

friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/donate

Update on Nariman and her family

Many of you will remember Nariman, who had a Christmas baby boy in Bethlehem in 2021. We thought you might appreciate an update on her and her family.

Nariman recently started working as a cleaner at St. Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem. Her husband still does not have permission to travel to Jerusalem, where he aimed to be employed as a labourer, so he is currently staying home with toddler Christiano and the other children.

For people from the West Bank, getting a travel permit to access Israel or a neighbouring town can be a big hurdle, often preventing them taking on much-needed work. Please keep this Christian family in your prayers! We have two fantastic devotional books for you to read during Lent again this year.

Holy Week Voices from the Holy Land: poems and reflection for Lent and Easter

by Fr Richard Nesbitt, with 15 contributions from Holy Land Christians

A unique perspective on the events of Easter – both ancient and modern, from the place where it all happened. It’s a great resource for your own contemplation or to read with a group.

Get your copy from friendsoftheholyland.org. uk/shop – all proceeds support our work in the Holy Land.

The People of the Passion

Reflections by the Revd Alison Askew

A series of evocative and thought-provoking meditations based on the events of Holy Week, seen through the eyes of those involved. They are followed by helpful questions for personal reflection or group discussion. Available to buy on Amazon.co.uk – with all royalties donated to Friends of the Holy Land.

The London Welsh Male Voice Choir

At Westminster Cathedral: 16th February 2023

We are delighted to announce a stunning evening of virtuoso singing and entertainment in aid of Friends of the Holy Land, featuring The London Welsh Male Voice Choir with support from The Priests.

The London Welsh Male Voice Choir has sung at many of Britain’s most prestigious concert halls and cathedrals, and at two Royal Variety Command Performances. The Priests are a very popular classical musical group made up of three Roman Catholic priests from Northern Ireland.

Get your ticket and spread the word! See the enclosed flyer for details of how to buy a ticket. We’d also love you to help publicise this event by telling your parish, sharing the flyer with a friend or displaying it at your church! With proceeds supporting our work in the Holy Land, we’re excited about this opportunity to raise much-needed funds during a difficult economic time.

Leave a lasting legacy

Did you know that lots of people leave a gift to a charity in their Will? It’s a way to ensure that work you have supported during your lifetime will continue to flourish in the years ahead. If the Holy Land has been an important part of your life’s story, and you want to know that its ancient Christian communities will not be forgotten, why not include a gift to Friends of the Holy Land in your Will? Legacy gifts enable us to change people’s futures. For instance…

£3,000 - could renovate a house in Bethlehem with new water tanks, solar panels and plumbing, making it a vastly improved and healthier place to live and raise a family.

£4,200 - could pay for a young Christian’s secondary school education in the West Bank

A legacy of kindness and faith

Dr Ruth was a wonderful supporter of Friends of the Holy Land. Inspired by our vision and mission, she used her pioneering spirit to help build a strong support group in West Wirral that brought in funds and prayer. Our work in the Holy Land was so important to Dr Ruth that she did something incredibly kind and generous – remembered the Charity in her Will. Now her pioneering spirit and compassion live on, still providing support for the vulnerable people in the Holy Land that she cared about so much. £7,200 - would give a child with disabilities a very different future through six years at the School of Joy

Take action for free!

Making a gift in your Will may seem like a difficult or complicated decision - we have taken a few steps to help with this. Friends of the Holy Land has joined the National Free Wills Network. This means you can now have a new simple Will written, or an existing Will updated, by a professional solicitor - completely free of charge!

For more information or to download an application pack, visit friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/freewill or scan the QR code.

www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk | Registered Charity Number 1130054 Friends of the Holy Land, Farmer Ward Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2DH 01926 512980 | office@friendsoftheholyland.org.uk