By AshleyLe
The question that I've had to answer no less than 50 times, to the point where I have memorized how to answer in 3 different languages.
No doubt, Israel is a fascinating country. It is perhaps the only country where peace and war exist together, or where armed soldiers in uniform march down the city streets while also dancing through the night in Jerusalem's most popular clubs. Israel is not my country; Jerusalem is not my city; but surprisingly, they have become my home.
As a daughter of Christian missionaries, I remember learning how to read, in both Vietnamese and English, by reading the Bible. Since I was 4 years old, I have always imagined myself roaming through the streets of Israel, where I can picture the scene of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, the fall of Jericho, or the walk to Jesus' crucifixion on Via Dolorosa. As I got older and became more aware of international politics, I find myself not only interested, but saddened by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as other tensions within the region. Subsequently, Israel became my "promise land", where I made a commitment to myself that I would visit soon.
Today, I fulfilled not only my promise to myself, but also the imagination that I had as a 4-year old little girl.
In the past month, I have had the privilege of meeting students from across the world who share the same imagination that I have, the same dream that I hold on to, and the same commitment that I long to make. We find ourselves foreigners among religious groups who pride themselves in their identity and nationality. We are challenged not only by the language barrier and the cultural differences, but also by the questioning regarding our intentions, and the security risks for our safety.
Despite the risks and challenges, I've found living and studying in Jerusalem to be one of the most rewarding experience. I have the opportunity to become a friend of the Jewish people, while also serving the Palestinian refugees as a volunteer. I can travel from the north to south of Israel to witness its incredible diversity, while also planting myself in Palestinians communities to grasp the pain and suffering that many are currently suffering.
In Israel, and in Jerusalem, I am called to live compassionately, and to love cross-culturally.
So, why not Israel?
