The first 10 days

Due to the extreme generosity of 54 donors, Caleb was able to surpass his goal and raise $3,394 for Ultimate Peace! Joined with the $2,523 that was donated in my name, Caleb and I were able to raise $5,917 for Ultimate Peace! We could not be more honored to receive such overwhelming support. It’s truly staggering.

Caleb and I began our journey to the Middle East on July 1st with a trip to the US Open in Rhode Island. While there I participated in the USA Ultimate summer board meeting, and Caleb and I watched lots and lots of incredible Ultimate. On July 4th we drove up to Boston for some family time and then the next afternoon departed from Boston on our flight for the Middle East!

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Over the past 5 days we have:

  • Explored the West Bank in and around Bethlehem and Beit Sahour while spending two days living with Ben Spears. We got to see Shepherd’s Field, the Church of the Nativity, downtown Bethlehem, the Azzeh refugee camp, as well as take in some world class soccer with a bunch of locals.
  • Traversed The Old City of Jerusalem while staying at the Hotel Hashimi in the center of the Muslim Quarter. While in the city we folded cranes at the Western Wall, walked around the Dome of the Rock and ramparts around the city, took in the view from the roof of the Austrian Hospice, toured the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, went on the Western Wall Tunnel Tour, ate Knafeh, and otherwise soaked in as much of the surrounding atmosphere as we could.
  • Joined in on an incredible Ultimate Peace Community Visit that brought together players from Tuba and Yesod. On the drive up to the north, we stopped at Mt. Beatitudes, Capernaum, and the Church of Multiplication. At the Community Visit we had a phenomenal time playing and otherwise being goofballs with an absolutely joyous group of kids, almost all of whom will be at Camp UP next week!

You can view some video of the community visit right here. Photos are online here.

While we are traveling, Caleb and I will be uploading photos to this gallery.

Once again, thank you all so much for your incredible support!

One more day to donate!

Screen Shot 2016-06-14 at 11.31.40 AMOur bags are packed and our itinerary is set!

Caleb and I will begin our journey to the Middle East tomorrow afternoon, which is also the deadline to make a contribution towards Caleb’s work with Ultimate Peace.

We are incredibly honored to have raised $2,604 from toward’s Caleb’s work! We’d LOVE to reach the $3,000 goal in the next 24 hours.

Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated!

Thank you SO MUCH for all of your support.

 

  • Josh & Caleb

5 days left to donate!

Screen Shot 2016-04-30 at 6.54.57 PMCaleb and I will be walking around the streets of Jerusalem in less than 10 days! We couldn’t be more excited, or more honored to be a part of the magic that’s yet to come: Camp Ultimate Peace 2016.

Caleb has been playing Ultimate and learning about the region continually over the past months. I am literally picking Caleb up from a Middle Eastern politics class as we leave town to begin out journey to the Middle East.

I am currently polishing off the last of my project management tasks, making sure all the pieces are in order so that they can assemble along with 200 campers and 75 adults at camp. I’ve also been gathering hundreds of pieces of paper with prayers and messages written on them. Before and after camp I’ll be folding each piece into a crane and placing them into the Western Wall — What I call, The Crane Project.

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With five days to go before the July 1st fundraising deadline, Caleb has raised $2,199 towards his target of $3,000. Donation of any size are greatly appreciated!

You can learn more about Caleb’s work with UP and make a donation right here.

Thanks to everyone for all the many ways you’ve supported Ultimate Peace!

Standing up for peace

Screen Shot 2016-06-14 at 11.31.40 AMCaleb and I couldn’t be more excited to get to the Middle East to begin our in-person work with Camp Ultimate Peace! Before we get to camp, we need to be fully prepared, so in the week before training begins at camp, I will be taking Caleb on a tour of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the West Bank, Nazareth, and as many other places as we can manage. We will connect with local coaches and communities, and experience as much of the local culture as possible.

To start helping to build peace you must know a place, and to know a place you must go there.

So, we are going.

With a little over two weeks to go before the July 1st fundraising deadline, Caleb has raised $1,859 towards his target of $3,000. Donation of any size are greatly appreciated.

You can learn more about Caleb’s work with UP and make donation right here.

Caleb spoke recently at our church about Ultimate Peace. You can watch a video of that presentation right here.

Caleb and I, along with the entire Ultimate Peace family thank you for your support!

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My brother is coming to Camp Ultimate Peace!

This summer I am thrilled to be returning to the Middle East to work at CampUP, a youth Ultimate camp run by a phenomenally amazing organization called Ultimate Peace.

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Caleb!

More importantly, I am beyond thrilled that my brother Caleb was accepted into the Ultimate Peace Leaders in Training program and will be joining me at camp!

This year, I am urging all of my supporters to donate to my brother instead of me. You can read all about his campaign right here or make a donation through this link.

You can read about my history with Ultimate Peace right here.