Recently, we crossed a sobering milestone for the war in the Holy Land: 100 days. Since October, we’ve had over 100 days of fear, uncertainty, and pain—tens of thousands of lives lost, millions of innocent civilians displaced from their homes.
It’s been over 100 days of canceled trips and closed businesses. We live with the daily stress of military patrols and the threat of violence that makes it impossible for things to feel normal.
These 100 days have not been easy. But they have not been without hope.
Over the last months, Seeds of Hope has been able to shine. In Jericho, we’ve helped families keep their pantries stocked, and small businesses keep their doors open. We’ve shown up to school each day with smiles, offering our students a joyful break from the darkness around them.
Outside our borders, we’ve worked to offer aid to Christian refugees fleeing Gaza. We sent food rations, beds, blankets, medicine, and more through our partnership with Emmanuel Church in nearby Bethlehem.
“People keep asking, ‘Where is the Lord? Why is He allowing this to happen? Why does He not intervene?’” shared Pastor Nihad, leader of Emmanuel Church. “This has been an opportunity for us to answer and give hope.”
“The partnership between Seeds of Hope and Emmanuel Church helped expand our impact and the Christian presence in the area,” said Pastor Nihad. “With one hand, we give food, and with the other hand, we share the word of God, offer hope, and reinforce people’s faith.”
We’ve been able to intersect with people in their most challenging seasons of life and offer practical help and emotional encouragement.
And we haven’t done any of this alone. Because the last 100 days have also been filled with emails, phone calls, and WhatsApp messages from so many of you. They’ve been filled with, How are you doing? Are you okay? How can we help?
You’ve filled some of the hardest months in recent memory with hope, connection, and generosity. Because of you, we’re not just surviving; we’re actively reaching out to offer help.
“Although we sadly don’t have short-term teams visiting to help the people in Jericho, God opened other doors for us to impact people in Jericho, Gaza, Bethlehem, and beyond,” said Seeds of Hope CEO Khader Ghanim.
As we look ahead, we, of course, hope the violence comes to an end. We hope peace prevails. But we’re also working to keep offering help to those who need it most. Plans are underway for another round of aid in Jericho. We’re in ongoing communication with Pastor Nihad and looking for ways to continue supporting their efforts.
We’re eager for the day when our partners can return and we can continue our projects and events. But until then, we’re incredibly grateful for your friendship and support, which enable us to continue offering hope in any way we can!
