A wave of violence and war began in Israel with Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Many television images show the raw violence that rages in this region. The warlike clashes are taking place on and especially in the Gaza Strip. Hamas rockets are primarily aimed at Israel's heartland, such as Tel Aviv. The Star Mountain, the Rehabilitation Center of the worldwide Moravian Church is located north of Ramallah on the road to Birzeit, that is, in the West Bank. There are no direct military clashes here. In the whole West Bank there are only isolated clashes especially at neuralgic points where Palestinians and Israeli soldiers meet. Star Mountain is far from this. However, the overall situation weighs heavily on the entire region: roadblocks, many controls, concern for the people in Gaza, economic insecurity.

Ranya Karam, the director of Star Mountain, the worldwide Moravian Church's Rehabilitation Center near Ramallah, emailed an update on the situation to Brødremenighedens Danske Mission BDM just over two weeks after Hamas militants raided the territory of the State of Israel. German translation here. In this assessment, she also describes the diffuse emotions of the employees, the care recipients and their parents: "It touches all of us to experience what is happening in the Gaza Strip," she writes. "We have no desire to do anything, to get involved. We are dominated by a feeling of complete depression and helplessness. We feel guilty that we are alive and that others may be dying every second, not even just every minute.... The situation is far from stable. We follow the instructions of the authorities."

Three young sisters from the worldwide Moravian Church have managed to graduate in October 2023 with several years of support from the Unity Women's Desk UWD. A Facebook post by the global network and relief organization reads, "Congratulations to our three most recent graduates, who are from Tanzania and Malawi! Atuganile Malema from Tanzania (here) has completed her training as a pharmacist. Juliana Mathew Lwali from Tanzania (here) earned her bachelor's degree in 'Development Studies' (the study of economic, social and political processes in the development of societies) from a university in Dar es Salam on October 19, 2023. Chimango Jere from Malawi (here) has completed her bachelor's degree in education (special education focus). We are very proud of our hardworking scholarship recipients!"

There was a lot of coverage in the Surinamese media in mid-October 2023 about the Medical Mission in Suriname (Medische Zending - Primary Health Care): First, it was a large donation from the mining company Newmont Suriname - formerly Surgold, which was reported by television and the press. See here and here and here. Medical equipment worth about 425,000US dollars was handed over: Basic equipment, point-of-care diagnostic tests,vaccination refrigerators plus mobile solar systems, ultrasound equipment and also medical furniture. Thirteen clinics in Suriname will receive these important supplies. And then it was the change of sponsorship of six polyclinics in the inland tropics from the company Mungra Medical Center to the Medical Mission (polyclinics in Apoera, Washabo, Donderskamp, Tapoeripa, Cornelis kondre,Kalebas kreek.), which was made public.See here.

On Sunday, October 15, 2023, at West Side Moravian Church in Green Bay, WI, the Board of World Mission BWM of the Moravian Church in North America presented this year's mission award, the Ted Wilde Mission Service Award, named for a former chief of the organization. The award went to Marian Boyle-Rohloff and Eduard Winnie. The latter volunteered for nearly 40 years as a prison chaplain as well as a social worker for prisoners. He also provided spiritual services at a seasonal homeless shelter. The former has been a tireless lifelong advocate for social and origin justice and has denounced systemic racism in church and society. She chairs the Church and Society Committee of the Northern Province of the Moravian Church in North America and is an imaginative fundraiser. Read more about the biographies and accomplishments of the two honorees here.

"If I'm away from Africa for more than three months, I get homesick!" That's what Michael Markussen thinks. He grew up as a missionary child in Tanzania. Today, he uses his language skills and intercultural competencies in his home country to bring people from Denmark and refugees together. Growing up in another country is always something fascinating." This is how an interview begins that Svend Løbner from the mission organization of the Moravian Church in Christiansfeld/DK conducted with today's church musician Michael Markussen. German translation here. Michael Markussen lived with his parents in Tanzania from 1970 to 1975 and then again from 1981 to 1984. Asked about his biggest challenge, he said, "The biggest challenge was returning to Denmark because I now had to make new friends. This challenge was actually greater than leaving for Africa."

The Women's Fellowship of the Moravian Church in Barbados recently hosted a family outing. The outing started at Calvary Moravian Church and took in several historically significant sites on the island, including Sharon Moravian Church, the oldest Moravian church in Barbados. The presentations given by Anthea Barrow during the excursion made clear the important role the Moravian Church played in the emancipation of slaves as well as in the general development of the island, especially in the area of education and social welfare. However, it also became clear what great challenges women in particular still face today. More about the trip here.