Amazing Sumud
Come and See, Go and Tell Reflection #4
By, Carol Garwood
“Sumud” is an Arabic word that is not often heard in the neighborhoods of most of the people who will be reading this, but is a word that the members of our delegation have been hearing time and time again during our visits with the “living stones” of Palestine. “Sumud” means “steadfastness” and refers generally to the resistance of Palestinians to Israeli takeover and settlement of Palestinian land. The word conveys the strong sense of community and their ties to this land, rooted in the olive trees that are so precious to them.
IPMN delegation with Father Jamil, pastor of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Nablus, Nahida, Rula, and Sami Khalil, church members, and Omar Haramy, Director of Sabeel Jerusalem.
One of our stops was at the Good Shepherd Anglican Episcopal Church in Nablus. We were able to witness this sense of “Sumud” in a powerful way when we were told of a recent attack on the church building itself. During the early hours of a Sunday morning, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) attacked the church, also destroying most of the shops under the church. Three doors were broken in order to gain entry to the church, and they entered the office and sanctuary, and then they left. They don’t know why the IDF broke into the church, but then the IDF doesn’t need a reason.
A church member, Sami Khalil, was scheduled to lead the service that Sunday morning as Father Jameel was in Nazareth visiting his family. Sami contacted Father Jameel to let him know about the raid and, in an amazing display of sumud, they decided that Father Jameel would urgently travel back to Nablus and co-lead a typical Sunday service with Sami. However, when the congregation arrived and saw the doors down and broken. They had had the sense that the church is supposed to be a safe place for people, but when they saw the destruction they lost that feeling of being safe in God’s house. Their thoughts went to “If the IDF would do that to a church, what would they do to their homes?” After having the church service together, that feeling was changed and their “Sumud” had returned.
The message that our group received at the end of the presentation was, “We are here, and we are going to stay here.” We received their sincere thanks for coming and they said that they know that they are not alone, and that our delegation being here in solidarity with them confirms their belief that God is with them. Our group continues to be humbled by the hospitality of these special people and honored to be in “Sumud” with the people who are suffering in this region. We continue to pray for justice and peace for all of the inhabitants of this Holy Land.
Carol Garwood
Carol is married, retired, and lives in South Sioux City, Nebraska. She has four grown children and seven grandchildren. Carol worked for just under 40 years as an insurance adjuster for Great West Casualty Company. She currently serves on the Steering Committee of United Methodists for Kairos Response and is on the United Methodist Great Plains Conference Holy Land Task Force and a member of Nebraskans for Peace – Palestinian Rights Task Force. Her first trip to Israel/Palestine was in 2011 as part of a Volunteer in Mission team. Since that time, she has traveled back three times as a Team Leader, and once as a participant of a Pilgrims of Ibillin team. In her spare time, she enjoys crocheting, knitting, reading, and flea marketing.