Volunteer Experiences

Over the years, we have gathered lots of information about what life is like from our volunteer staff. These articles will help you see Israel through the eyes of past Bridges for Peace volunteers.

• Memories of service in Jerusalem

  They fill my senses. The morning cooing of palm doves and evening songs from the yeshiva near our apartment easily reproduce in my mind. The holy hush of Shabbat when Jerusalem sighs in rest is indescribable. Photographs of rich colorful flowing Ethiopian robes, cascading bougainvillea spilling over beige Jerusalem stone, the flower markets and the Shuk with the variety of an artist’s pallet in three dimension, bring my scrapbooks to life. I carry the sweet smell of broom bushes in full bloom and the fragrance of garlic and olive oil wafting from the "Spaghettim" [a restaurant - Ed.]. My mouth waters with the thought of hardy falafels with all the fixings or flaky, melt in your mouth pastry hot from the corner bakery. Life in Jerusalem is a feast for the senses. But my fondest memories were of new friends and roommates that I will carry for life.

  Things I learned:

  • That God is blessing many people besides American Christians with a love for Israel.
  • That Orthodox Jewry has a dark side but it also has a depth of commitment and faith that challenges me every day of my life.
  • Shabbat is the most wondrous gift-one that few Christians have ever fully opened.
  • That all washing machines are not created equal-some refuse to open until they are good and ready.
  • I gained a deeper revelation of my Creator through every person I worked with and met along the way.
  • I came home with a greater appreciation for my life and faith and new eyes to see God's Word as a Jew.

  Thank you Bridges for all these opportunities and more. I pray to be back-maybe, next year in Jerusalem. Shalom from Missouri.

  Mary Ellen Wright Kearney, Missouri – USA

• Harmony that’s very rare

  Hi - I thought I too would take a moment to share with you some of my thoughts and feelings concerning my time with you in Israel. As I reflect, it is with such a grateful heart. What a privilege to be part of the Bridges for Peace team! I felt strongly, the awesomeness of being with my brothers and sisters in Christ, from all corners of the world. As we worked and played together, I felt such a spirit of agreement among us. In this life of strife it seemed almost unnatural to be amongst others from all over the world, with different backgrounds and denominations, yet find ourselves in harmony because of our love for Jesus Christ and His love for Israel and the Jewish people.

  This kind of harmony seems to me to be a very rare thing. I've lived in multicultural Canada all my life, and moved around within the body of Christ for the last half of my life. I'd not experienced this level of love and goodwill, one unto another, until my time with the BFP team in Jerusalem. It was like experiencing a little bit of heaven right here on earth. It was the first time I really saw an outplaying of the praise song "We will break dividing walls". My time with you in Jerusalem was also a time when I felt like I really fit. I felt free just to be me. Free to express the things that are strongest on my heart without having to be guarded. And nicest of all, I felt understood!!!!!

  THANK-YOU. I can’t wait to get back to Jerusalem, and until then I'll continue to work out Philippians 3:14 from my little corner of the world.

  Heather Woodbury, Nova Scotia, Canada

• A precious experience

  One of the best things about volunteering in Israel is that you have time to live here as a resident, even if for a short time, rather than a tourist. You have time to experience Jerusalem especially on your own. You always come across places and experiences that you would never experience on a tour, such as walking through the Arab cemetery to the Golden Gates (though I wouldn't try it these days!), sitting in a Friday evening Shabbat service in a synagogue, witnessing the ancient biblical rites of the Passover sacrifice in a Samaritan community, getting to know Shariff, the camel, on a three-day camel trip, browsing through back-alley used book stores for unusual treasures, and experiencing the Jewish holidays on the streets and sometimes in a Jewish home.

  Charleeda Sprinkle