Marilyn and I had a wonderful visit to the Lutheran World Federation’s (LWF) Augusta Victoria Hospital on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem on Monday afternoon, July 14. We met with the Rev. Mark Brown, the LWF’s Regional Representative in Jerusalem who oversees the various programs at Augusta Victoria Hospital (which I’ll abbreviate as AVH).
The history of AVH goes back to 1910, when the building was built by the German government as a retreat center for German pilgrims to the Holy Land. (Other European countries had been returning to the Holy Land since the mid-1800’s, so the Germans were somewhat late.) The building was never used for pilgrims, however, for the Ottoman Turks took the building over for government purposes. When the British gained control over the Holy Land from the Ottoman Empire after World War I, General Allenby stayed at the AVH facility, and it became the British administrative center for the Holy Land. When the British Mandate ended in 1947/8, they gave the property — with German agreement — to the Lutheran World Federation.
This is when AVH became a hospital. After the Israeli War of Independence there were many hospitals for Israelis, but none for Palestinians. AVH focused its medical care on Palestinians, especially those who were refugees from the 1948 War. Ever since then, AVH has been a significant source of health care for Palestinians, both Christians and Muslims. At first it provided a full range of health care, but now Palestinians generally receive primary and secondary care at other hospitals. AVH specializes in such areas as geriatrics, oncology, and kidney dialysis (including pediatric). Because of the difficulty Palestinians have in traveling outside of their villages and through Israeli territory, AVH sends cars every day to Palestinian villages on the West Bank and in Gaza to pick up both staff and patients.
AVH offers a wide range of services to the Palestinian community. In addition to the health services provided by the hospital, Augusta Victoria also offers vocational training and provides material aid — the school and health kits and quilts forwarded to AVH by Lutheran World Relief for distribution to families in need. AVH harvests the olives on its property and sends bottles of olive oil to congregations who donate to its “Fund for the Poor.” It’s hoping to develop a soccer field on its property so that Palestinian youth can have a decent soccer field — many of which can be found in Israeli neighborhoods but not in Arab communities.
AVH’s current emphasis is being placed on its Mount of Olives Housing Project. The Christian presence in the Holy Land is dwindling, due in part to lack of affordable housing. AVH has developed a plan to build 84 apartments on its property, which will be subsidized and leased at affordable rates to Palestinian Christian couples and families.
Incidentally, who is “Augusta Victoria”? She was the wife of Kaiser Wilhelm, the German king when the building was first built.
Marilyn and I were deeply impressed with the mission and ministry of Augusta Victoria Hospital. It has been and remains a significant source of help for Palestinians, both Christian and Muslim. I believe it is a worthy recipient of our Monthly Mission offerings, and I will bring back information that will show you what we saw. Meanwhile, if you want to learn more about AVH or see pictures of what it does, visit its web site at www.lwfjerusalem.org.
