The Power of Stories 
 
There is something quite spiritual about storytelling. The power of a story to communicate ideas about people, cultures, or circumstances is profound. People love stories, whether they are animatedly recounted over a cup of tea, read aloud from a 10 -page children’s book, dramatized in a theatre performance or narrated in a 5 minute video: there are some things that cannot be communicated any other way. We could say a few words to describe who we are, but a story helps communicate who we are and how we feel to another person in a radical way - a way that our listeners remember. This inclues:
 

• Religion & Culture
• History & Experiences
• Perceptions & Needs
• Emotions 

 
This past weekend twenty-two leaders of buisnesses, political groups, womens groups, and communities from throughout Israel and the Palestinian Territories gathered in Athens, Greece to tackle difficult questions revolving around the topic of negotiation. It may be easy to think of negotiation as two opposing parties gathering in a room to debate areas of conflict. In the case of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this may look like Israelis and Palestinians assembled in a room debating whether peace can be attained through by a One or a Two State Solution....
 

In this book, Musalaha's Director Salim J. Munayer wrote a chapter reflecting on the current situation in the Middle East.

"Mandatory reading not only for evangelicals in the global church
but also for everyone who wishes to keep updated
about the latest theological developments."
(Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Fuller Theological Seminary)
 

Find out more about the book here: LINK

Summer time and a much needed break is arranged for all members of the Munayer family to meet up in an airbnb in Crete. Baby Salim will turn one that week and although his parents and myself are very excited about this, planning decorations, a cake, presents etc., etc., he himself will not have a clue......we just need him for the party!
Jack has started a new job (and is much happier)...local director of EAPPI here in Jerusalem. His office is in the Old City. (Google EAPPI for more information). Rawan is mulling over part time (new) work whilst she juggles PHD and Motherhood. Baby Salim is now crawling and causing havoc...but oh so cute. 6 almost 8 teeth, loves food but hates going to sleep.....sounds pretty on track to me!

Daniel completes his MBA at Durham in 2 months and is job hunting for the ‘right job’. A job with purpose, depth, meaning where he can practice his work ethics (which are good). John completed his MA at Edinburgh in Middle Eastern Studies and Intensive Arabic and will do another MA in Theology at VU in Amsterdam. Sam is home for the Summer after completing his first year of his BA in Philosophy and Theology at Durham. He took up his old job of swim teaching at the YMCA West (Jerusalem) which keeps him busy and provides cash. In his spare time he is reading (thank you Durham) and taking his Uncle duties very seriously.

Salim and I head towards old age at a much faster rate than we expected. We are Grandparents so I guess creaky knees and afternoon naps go along with that. A friend and myself have started a mother & child music and storytelling group once a week, not something I would have ever imagined myself doing but we felt the need was there and the prompting so we did a 8 week trial...boom! It was popular so are continuing in September. The church we attend is letting us use the premises for the meetings, it has everything we need i.e. toilet, parking and air conditioning!

I still continue to help the humanitarian needs of Palestinians but am cutting back somewhat as since the boys left home I am without young men who run up the stairs with heavy boxes.

As I am writing this I hear from Salim on whatsapp, he has experienced an earthquake where he is teaching a Musalaha group in Athens. 5.8 or something like that. This just goes to show it is impossible to say this place is safe and this place is dangerous. If you are doing what God wants you to do then there is no safer place...earthquakes or not. Wars or not. Bad leaders or not.

All the above topics can be prayer items.....they are in fact!
We are hoping and praying for a good Summer.

Kay Munayer for the 8 of us now!

• On Sunday, August 4 the Summer Camp counselors will be traveling to Nes Ammim to prepare for the camper's arrival on the following day. Please pray for smooth and safe travel. Some of our counselors from Bethlehem have not yet received their permission to travel - please pray they receive it before Sunday. The week will be filled with fun games, songs, and friendships. Please pray for the leaders to work as a team and that the children would step out of their comfort zones to learn new things and build new friendships.