In the beginning I would like to say that this experience was not easy for me. There were many challenges like: the language, the place and the community. The Christmas feasts with the community, helping in the house with different people, and young people, visits to the elderly, Christian and Moslem, activities with the group living in Jerusalem, different cultures.

• The language: I took an English course for 2 months in West Jerusalem. My teacher was a Jewish woman. I learned a lot from her because I asked her about a lot of things regarding the Jews. She was a very open person and she liked answering my questions. She was very happy with me because I am a person who is open to others. The kind of person doesn’t matter to me neither their religion or race or color: what’s important for me is the person, because the Lord created us all alike. We began to read from the Bible, each time 2 or 3 chapters and we discussed together our different points of view. We had wonderful discussions.
• The place: Jerusalem, Ecce Homo. This place is very different from Egypt and from any community I had ever been in before. It’s a very big house and many people come and go; there is the welcoming of guests and helping in the house. This was a wonderful experience because it taught me how to deal with others as they are and to accept them. I met Palestinians (Christian and Moslem) and Jews and I truly loved each one as he/she was because every person has something beautiful and I can see Jesus in each one.
• The community: they helped me a lot to be with them in community They helped me to improve my English and know how to communicate with them and with others. They gave me a lot of their time and energy and love. It was a wonderful opportunity! I thank God for it because this kind of opportunity won’t happen again and I was able to use it well. The Lord helps me and gives me many means and if an occasion comes to me and I refuse it, certainly I will regret it after. And so I thank the Lord for this chance and for every person who tried to help me to grow and to be happy during this experience. Thank you Lord!
• Being able to attend the mass in Arabic every Sunday at the Church of St. Savior’s I met a priest from Luxor who invited me once or twice to attend mass in the Holy Sepulcher at 5:30 in the morning. On Christmas I went to Bethlehem at 11 p.m. after the 7:00 p.m. mass at St. Savior’s and I returned to Jerusalem at 3:00 a.m. It was a great expirience for me as it was the first time I attended Christmas mass in Bethlehem. Really I was very happy.
• Activities: I belonged to a small group here in Jerusalem and we agreed to go to visit the elderly and some needy families and children with special needs. This was a wonderful experience. The name of the group was “Light of Hope”.

I want to thank the Lord for this opportunity which I don’t think could possibly happen again.
Thank you Lord!

I want to finish with a verse of the Bible because it is a good thing to try to help others not only with money but also with a smile or a kind word or giving one’s time to listen and make the person feel that the Lord loves him/her.

“For I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was a stranger and you took me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to me.” Matthew 25:35-42

Victoria