February 7, 2009
Dear Friends,
VERY SOON Michigan Peace Team is sending two of us, Peter & Liz, on a peace team mission to the Gaza Strip. We go with all the love in our hearts to support our friends who have suffered the horror of the most recent bombing and invasion.
As always, we live with the conviction that a continued peace-with-justice presence activates and grows peace. We believe peaceful people are able find just solutions to problems that seem insurmountable. Moreover, we believe that now more than ever is the time to be in Gaza because:
1.Our friends in Gaza are asking us to come. They want us to be with them now, AND, they want to explore possibilities for future peace team presence. In addition, some are asking for nonviolent training and violence reduction skills training that could help open the way to a more peaceable and just future.
2.As the media leaves Gaza, the world mistakenly believes the crisis is over.
3.Gazans are an isolated and blockaded people. The presence of internationals helps to break this isolation and it helps to foster hope and resilience for the long haul.
In addition, to our peace mission in Gaza, we, (Peter and Liz) plan to visit and be a peaceful presence in the Israeli cities hit by militant rockets from Gaza – that is, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Sderot.
Past peace teams: You may remember that MPT has nurtured relationships in Gaza with peace teams-in-action during summer and fall of 2003, during the summers of 2004 and 2005, and with short term peace teams to Gaza during 2006, 2007, and 2008.
The up-coming peace team to Gaza that we are about to undertake is above and beyond what MPT budgeted for the year. Having borrowed the necessary funding from MPT, we are moving ahead because we know we must.
WE NEED YOUR HELP:
In this spirit, we invite you to join us in keeping hope and the possibilities for peace with justice ALIVE!
If you are able to help us with a donation we would be most grateful. Your gift small or large WILL be deeply appreciated.
To send a donation, using a check:
1.Make your check payable to Michigan Peace Team
2.Include a note on the check that your gift is given for “Special Peace Team to Gaza” or “Gaza Peace Mission” THIS IS IMPORTANT!
3.Send your gift to:
Michigan Peace Team
1516 Jerome St.
Lansing, MI 48912
OR
To send a donation using a credit card:
1.Open the Michigan Peace Team Page an click the Network for Good Icon box
2.Sign In or enroll
3.Fill in the necessary information
4.Designate your donation-“Special Peace Team to Gaza”
5.Add to cart and follow final directions
If you are not able to make a donation at this time, we certainly understand. These are harsh economic times. Be assured that we are grateful beyond words for your support over the years, and we hope that you will continue to hold the mission of Michigan Peace Team in your hearts.
Gratefully, and in solidarity,
Peter and Liz
FINAL NOTE; For reports in the field, check this MPT blogspot: Nicole, MPT’s international peace team coordinator, has created a wonderful blog for international peace teams.
When the electricity is on, Peter and Liz will be posting to this blog. We do hope you will check it regularly.
Already there are two entries. To read these and other entries soon to come:
1.Type mptinpalestine.blogspot.com in the URL address bar at the top of your screen, and Click the arrow or click enter;
OR
2.Type “MPT in Palestine” in the search engine on your screen and Select/Click the first NOTES IN THE FIELD
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"Michigan Peace Team is a nonprofit organization that pursues peace through active nonviolence in places of conflict."
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1 comment:
Hello dearest Peter and Liz,
Please try to contact Ahmad and his friend! Thanks so much! They truly wish to make contact with you and I think they'll be of help. I have both numbers if you lost them. How might they contact you?
Bright Blessings to both of you,
Paula Marie
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