With a merry pilgrim band who joined us for the last week into Jerusalem, we walked in to the Old City through the Jaffa gate at 7:45pm last night (Tuesday 18th July) completing a 3,650 mile journey over 8.5 months through 10 countries (and wearing out 4 pairs of boots)
We're alive, well (if slightly footsore) and have been well away from any of the current troubles - thanks to all who have sent concerned messages. More to follow on the blog in the next few days...
Many people have pointed out the irony that we ended our Pilgrimage for Peace just as the worst crisis in some years hit the Middle East. If anything, it just points out that now more than ever peace and reconciliation work is desperately needed in this region. On the way in to Jerusalem we were able to visit Mar Elias in Ibillin and Neve Shalom Wahat al Salam (from where we set off for our final walk into Jerusalem) and saw that despite the desperate situation, Jews, Muslims and Christians, and people from all faiths, can live in peace.
If you would like to donate to the charities for which we are raising money, you can do so at:
www.justgiving.com/walkingtojerusalem
Our huge thanks to all of you who have given us help or succour along the way. And our prayers go out to all those in Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories who are suffering so much at the moment.
Some more specific thanks to Catriona Laing, Emma Latham, James Micklethwait who walked in for the last week, to Clare Adam (who almost made it to Jerusalem but had to get back to England for her brother's wedding), to Ibrahim and Helen Hariri and their family who sent us towards the Syrian border filled with all the best of Syrian hospitality, to Elias, his family and all at Mar Elias in Ibrahim, to Howard and the community of Neve Shalom Wahat al Salam and to Tom's Dad who so expertly arranged our arrival celebrations and relieved us of our bags for the final day's walk.
This is one time when the word 'Congratulations' is inadequate
Posted by: bob linnell | July 20, 2006 at 11:55 AM