Sometimes I just don't dream big enough. Actually, I don't think I ever really dream big enough. I've had some amazing experiences come my way, more than I could ever imagine. And, it appears that it is happening again.
I've never yet painted murals in Asia, and I've always wanted to paint in Israel. It decided that it was time to check a couple items off of my bucket list. I know, many people tell me that this isn't the right time to go to Israel. They've had a terrible year. But, that's exactly why I want to go now. I want to do something positive for Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Yep, I'm an equal opportunity muralist and I want to bring a glimmer of hope to the Holy Land.
Anyway, I came up with what I thought was a brilliant idea. I contacted around 30 agencies, schools, colleges, and charity organizations. My idea was to paint a mural for free in exchange for housing me for ten days. It takes about a week to paint a mural. Ten days would also give me three days to be a tourist. Everyone wins.
Sadly only one place responded with a "yes". But, alas, this first mural, in Bethlehem, has kind of fizzled. I'm not sure if it is going to happen. As soon as I had my first "yes", I contacted the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem to let them know what I was up to. Over the years, I have written to every U.S. Embassy multiple times. Out of all that communication, there has been only one Internet friendship made with someone I've never met. And, she happened to work in Jerusalem.
She said that she would work her connections to see if any more murals could be located. And, over the past weeks, I've had three phone calls to Jerusalem. Already through the embassy, my contact put me in touch with Fareed, who runs an Arab charity. He made connections for my first mural, in Um-El-Fahem, a village near Nazareth where he grew up. I'll be staying with his parents while I paint at a local school.
Fareed also is planning another mural where I'll stay with his family and hopefully paint at a school in the Negev dessert. He has truly been a remarkable connection.
Another connection my friend from the embassy made was with a Jewish artist. Her studio is next to a high school for at-risk students. Plans are in the works for a mural in Jerusalem after I'm done with the Nazareth area.
So, I had three murals in the works because of the embassy and then there was the second phone call. That's when I realized that I never dream big enough. I could never imagine that there were three or four more murals in the works! It looks like there could be up to S E V E N murals on this trip!
I was in a little too much shock to remember all the details. I don't know names of locations or schools. But, there was talk of painting at a school for special needs children. That is exactly my kind of location. Another school has students with autism who are integrated into the classroom. A third school is for refugee children from the Gaza War, now living in the West Bank. Yep, I could never imagine.
It was an ordeal to locate a ticket for Israel that was not over 40 hours. I tried an online search for several hours before I gave up and called a travel agent from one website. I didn't even know there were travel agents anymore! But, I spoke to Leonardo from India. The first flight he suggested had a ten-hour layover in Chicago with another ten-hour layover in Europe. I said he had to do better than that for me. I paid more and settled for a 28-hour flight with a long layover in Rome. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to leave the airport and explore the Eternal City, but I don't dare. I don't want any kind of travel mishap forcing me to miss my flight.
I will arrive late in the evening in Tel Aviv. After spending the night there, I'll travel to Nazareth to rest a few days before I begin my first mural.
So, I'm leaving for the Holy Land. Not everything is set in stone yet. But, like every other mural project, I know things will work out just fine. They always do. It will be an amazing -- and delicious -- time in Israel and the West Bank/Palestine. I don't know all that will happen to me, but I know I never could imagine just how special this muraling experience is going to be.