A common youth project with Notre Dame school in Miilia

Finally, on 28/05/2021, after a long year during which the pandemic did not allow us to have overnight meetings, the youngsters of Desert Flower (those ages 14 and 15 years) met for the first time for a whole weekend. The excitement was high, and we all looked forward to the meeting.

In addition, this weekend was very special as we also met with a youth group from the Notre Dame High School in Mi’ilya. In times where so much division is spreading, it was an important sign that despite our different cultural backgrounds, we come together, starting a joint project. From the beginning of next school year, members of our youth group Desert Flower together with youth from Mi’ilya under the guidance of FELM (Finish Evangelical Lutheran Mission), will start a youth leadership training program. The youth will improve their communication skills, learn how to deal with conflict, learn how to stand out from the crowd, and grow in confidence as a leader. This first meeting was aimed to get to know each other, and we can say that we are excited to continue this journey with the youth of Mi’ilya.

On our arrival, we were driven to a restaurant, surprisingly invited by Eyad Kassis, the principal of Notre Dame High School. After a joined dinner, we then had some formation and introductory activities together.

We spent the second day at Beit Noah, in Tabgha. We prayed, swam in the river that flows through the place, talked, laughed, and ate.

It was an exciting and varied meeting.