Come and See, Go and Tell. Many visitors to Palestine hear these New Testament words of Jesus (John 1:39-41) from Christian Palestinians they meet. Those who travel to the Holy Land and spend time meeting Palestinians find both Christian and Muslim folks eager to share their lives and their work, tell their stories, and hear ours in return.

Very few who travel to Palestine on a pilgrimage or witness trip come home unchanged. In addition to powerful spiritual experiences, the people we have met stay with us. We cannot forget the difficult, unjust conditions under which the people we have come to know by name live their lives.

Most transformative, by the time we return home, we have met true peacemakers, and next discover that we, ourselves, are called to act as peacemakers as well.

For many years Pilgrims of Ibillin has brought Americans to Palestine and Israel to support the work of Archbishop Elias Chacour and the Mar Elias Educational Institutions. Trip leaders will ask a panel of former pilgrims what they learned and what they did upon their return. We’ll also hear from peacemakers in Israel and Palestine responding to “what would you like visitors to know and bring back?”