Greetings! From Jerusalem. Bob Irwin.

Thought it was about time I dropped a note to you just so you know I am still alive and flourishing, despite the heat here in Israel…despite the heat and lots of exercise, I am not losing any weight because food is SO GOOD wherever we go, including our base here near Bethlehem.

That doesn’t sound much like a good pilgrim…starting off describing the comfort of food and discomfort of heat…not like the early pilgrims.

Anyway, it is a packed itinerary and because it is an ecumenical course we are receiving input from Catholics, Orthodox,Jews, Palestinians, Muslims. The group itself is just 12 with mixture of pastors, priests, an unconventional Anglican bishop, lay, Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans…..quite an experience.

Most days we are out and about as well as having some pretty intense lectures with everything from Catholic scripture scholar to Jewish experts and Palestinian liberation theology….all fruitful and challenging. This coming week includes a few days on Islam and appropriate visits.

Meanwhile, Israelis are demonstrating against the government…but that has not impacted on us.

We have been many places…exploring all the sites of old Jerusalem and surrounds. This week we have been in Galilee all week, especially in Nazareth, and all around the Sea of Galilee..and the Golan Heights.  So think of the Jesus stories and we have been to most of the areas where he was. In fact where we are based at Tantur is next to Bethlehem. From my window I can see Bethlehem just hundreds of metres away, but it is surrounded by that horrific wall built by Israel….awful!..and I can hear the call to prayer form Muslim mosques…even at 4 in the morning! We can go into Bethlehem and we use the Arab buses from there, but the Palestinian are very restricted as to where they can go!

In short……the whole experience so far is good for my heart, my spirit…and commitment……..a very special time!