A group of five students and one alumna spent ten days in Israel during the second half of November completing their missions practicum. Their host in Karmiel, Dr. Moshe Loewenthal, Director of One Middle East Agency (OMEA) in Israel, together with his team, warmly welcomed the group and guided them throughout the trip. The practicum was evenly divided between opportunities for service and on-site learning experiences across Israel.
The group explored how history and geography shape the faith of Israeli Christians, their hopes for the future, and the challenges they face today. Most of their ministry took place in Northern Israel, Galilee, and Jerusalem, where they distributed humanitarian aid to immigrants and war refugees, helped strengthen community relationships, and learned what it means to follow the Messiah in modern-day Israel.
English was the primary language of communication on-site and a requirement for participation in the trip. However, since many of the families receiving humanitarian aid were Russian-speaking, knowing some Russian proved helpful.
Outside of ministry activities, the group had the opportunity to discover more of the Holy Land: the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River, Capernaum, Nazareth, the Mount of Beatitudes, Jerusalem’s Old City, and the Garden of Gethsemane. They also participated in a Sabbath worship service in a Hebrew-speaking congregation.
The practicum trip was partially funded by Erasmus+.