By Virgina Wadsley
Sumud is a Palestinian word and concept that means “steadfast perseverance” in the face of obstacles. When Daoud Nassar from Tent of Nations (TON), the educational, ecological family farm and peace center near Bethlehem, visited Iowa in November 2019, he planted the seed for creating a children’s book. At that time, no one anticipated how important that concept would become. The saying, “Making Lemonade Out of Lemons” would take on new meaning for the Team that was formed to work with Daoud to create the book.
Originally conceived as a collection of children’s art and
writings from their summer camp at TON, the idea was that the children would be
empowered as they shared what they had learned and created with families,
friends, and visitors to Tent of Nations.
Then COVID came. For
two years, Camp could not be held and international visitors, who provide
protection from vandalism and personal harm by settlers and the Israeli
military, could not come. By the third
year, attacks against persons and property had increased so greatly that it was
not safe to hold Camp. Would creating
the book be possible? Sumud, with
Daoud’s guidance, made the answer, “Yes!”
Perseverance paid off and it became safe to hold Camp in
2023. Daoud sent a trove of photos to
the Team showing the children’s activities and farm scenes as well as their
writings and art work. That inspired an
enhanced concept for the book – two child narrators would interact with the
readers as they take us through their camp experience – games, drama, making
music, interacting with animals, identifying plants, painting, creating
mosaics, sharing their fears and dreams.
From the Ground and UP: Come to Camp with Us at Tent of
Nations became a reality. Now
narrators and readers can travel together as they learn their deep roots in the
land, the potential in their seeds, how to create lives of strength and
resiliency, and how to work together to make a better world. All can be empowered as they learn the story
of Tent of Nations and its work for justice and peace: refusal to be enemies or victims, turning
obstacles into challenges, transforming pain into positive energy, and building
bridges between peoples and the land.
The book and its message of Faith, Hope, and Love is
receiving widespread enthusiastic response.
Book orders are coming in from all over the U.S. Copies have been received in France and
Ghana. A translation is underway in
Italy. Daoud plans to produce
Palestinian editions in English and Arabic.
Ideas for how to use the book are as unlimited as people’s
imaginations: church and school groups,
gifts to grandchildren, incorporation into interfaith presentations, gifts to
church and school libraries, camp programs, resource for delegations to
Palestine.
Trinity Las Americas United Methodist Church in Des Moines,
as fiscal agent for the Project, can receive tax-exempt donations. Funds raised will be used for printing the
book in Palestine and other countries; translations into other languages such
as French, Dutch, and German; distribution of books to individual and group
readers; development of programs that use the book. Checks should be made payable to “Trinity Las
Americas, Memo: TON Book Project” and mailed to Richard Nordin, TON Book
Project, Trinity Las Americas U.M.C., P.O. Box 41005, Des Moines, IA 50311.
Book orders may be sent to Trinity Las Americas U.M.C.; TON
Book Order, at the same address. Payment
checks should be made to “Trinity Las Americas, Memo: TON Book Order.” Suggested contribution is $15-20 per book or
$10 per book for bulk orders of six or more.
More information about Tent of Nations may be found at https://tentofnations.com/ and https://fotonna.org/ (Friends of Tent of
Nations North America). Contact Virginia
Wadsley (vwadsley@gmail.com,
515-255-5296) if you have questions or need more information.
Virginia Wadsley is a lifelong activist in justice and peace
issues. She heads the U.S. efforts for
creating and distributing From the Ground and UP.
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