Indy Goes to the Middle East: February 2010

Journey from the MidWest to the MidEast ...

The Indianapolis-based International Interfaith Initiative (III), in collaboration with the Village Experience, led a trip of a diverse group (including representatives from Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Evangelical, and Hindu religious communities) to the Middle East from December 27, 2009 to January 9, 2010. It was a follow-up to the very successful III Mideast trip of 2008. Read about the adventure on this blog. Look for partnership opportunities for your group at www.internationalinterfaith.org ... and be part of the next trip from Indy to the MidEast.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

JSam: InterFaith Moments, the video

This video is a sort of an audio/visual summary of our trip in Dec '09 and Jan '010. It is a little heavy on the Wadi Rum, but the place was a bit intoxicating. This will be the final version except for when I have to fix the typos that someone is likely to point out to me.

If it doesn't show here, it is also available on youtube at my JSamTV page...

Where the Group will be, Who the group will meet

Sun. Dec. 27: Arrive in Jordan

Mon. Dec. 28: Amman, Jordan -- tour of city, visit Inter-Faith Center, reception at Ministry of Tourism

Tues. Dec. 29: Meet Prof. Edward Curtis of IUPUI and Jordan University; visit community development nonprofits; meet Iraqi refugees

Wed. Dec. 30: Petra

Thur. Dec. 31: Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum

Fri. Jan. 1: Travel to Israel via the Wadi Araba Crossing; Bedouin women's projects in Tel Sheva and Lakiya; Center for Arab-Jewish Economic Development

Sat. Jan. 2: Hebron, Bethlehem; Ibdaa Cultural Center at the Dheisheh Refugee Camp

Sun. Jan. 3: Community development project in West Bank refugee camp

Mon. Jan. 4: Jerusalem

Tues. Jan. 5: Rabbis for Human Rights; Meeting with Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel at the Tantur Institute of Ecumenical Studies

Wed. Jan. 6: Volunteer project with Youth Village in Yemin Orde; Nazareth

Thur. Jan. 7: Meet Arab Muslim and Christian groups in Cana supported by congregations in Indianapolis

Fri. Jan. 8: Return to Jordan, depart for the US

Who's making the trip? Becca Huttsell

Becca has worked for over thirty years in the mental health field, focusing on legally mandated and highly resistive juvenile offenders. Her career of working with the impoverished and disempowered here has led her to participate in other humanitarian opportunities around the globe. She brings to this trip a highly tuned sardonic wit and respectful annoyance of all religious extremes. She is excited to learn about other religious faiths, and how to discover and strengthen our spiritual commonalities in order to bridge the gap of differences.

Who's making the trip? Fr. Jeff Godecker

I have been a Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for forty years. Currently I serve as chaplain of the Butler Catholic Community at Butler University and Sacramental Minister at Good Shepherd Parish on the south side of Indianapolis. I have served as a pastor, a high school teacher, youth minister and Archdiocesan Director of Religious Education. I bring with me a love of my ministry and an openness to hear the faith, the faith and human struggles and joys of the people on this trip as well as the people we will meet. And I love travel and new places and people.

Journey from the MidWest to the MidEast ...

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

JSam: InterFaith Moments, the video

Followers of the Journey

Where the Group will be, Who the group will meet

Friends of the Midwest Mission to the Mideast

Who's making the trip? Becca Huttsell

Who's making the trip? Hyam Elsaharty

Who's making the trip? Fr. Jeff Godecker

Who's making the trip? Sheila Viswanathan

Who's making the trip? Kelly Campbell

Who's making the trip? Charlie Wiles

Who's making the trip? George Kelley

Who's making the trip? John Samples

Who's making the trip? Michael Sutherlin

Who's making the trip? Tim Sutherlin

Who's making the trip? Paul Gibson

Blog Archive

Members of the Trip