My name is Lilly Nassar, and I’m a mother of three from Bethlehem. I’m a licensed tour guide who speaks English, French, and Spanish, leading tours around Bethlehem and the West Bank. With most of my family involved in tourism, studying tour guiding at Bethlehem Bible College felt like a natural step. The college is renowned for its professional teaching and for deepening our understanding of the historical and biblical sites in the Holy Land—places we visit often but don’t always fully know.
I began my studies in 2015, balancing the course schedule with my responsibilities as a working mom. It turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. The warm, family-like atmosphere made me feel at home, and the support I received stayed with me for years. That sense of belonging drew me back when I decided to pursue further education.
Seven years after graduating, I’m once again a student at Bethlehem Bible College, now enrolled in the Biblical Studies Program. When the war began, tourism came to a standstill, and I lost my job as a tour guide. Instead of feeling defeated, I saw it as an opportunity to pursue a dream I had held for years. Going back to college felt like coming home—reconnecting with familiar teachers and being welcomed by that same nurturing environment.
The faculty at the college is exceptional—highly qualified and deeply committed. One of my proudest moments was helping organize a summer camp called “Little Tour Guide.” This project had been a dream of mine ever since I graduated from the tour guide program. I wanted to introduce children to the cultural richness of our country, something that is often overlooked in school curricula. The camp was a great success, combining my two passions: tour guiding and theology. We took children to historical and biblical sites around Bethlehem, teaching them about their heritage and identity.
The war has deeply impacted me, especially financially. Tourism, the lifeblood of Bethlehem’s economy, had already been weakened by COVID-19. Just as we began to recover, the war halted everything once again. Many people in the tourism sector have left the country, seeking stability elsewhere.
On a personal level, the past few years have been extremely challenging. After the pandemic, I was diagnosed with cancer and spent a year and a half undergoing treatment. When I was finally ready to return to work, the war started, and everything stopped again.
As I continue my Biblical Studies degree, I’m also exploring teaching as a possible career path, though my heart will always belong to tourism. I come alive when sharing my culture and experiences with others. Being both Palestinian and Latina, thanks to my mother’s Latin American roots, allows me to connect with people in unique ways. However, the constant uncertainty in Palestine makes it difficult to thrive.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I trust the One who holds it. For now, I’m living one day at a time, hoping for better days and staying open to whatever tomorrow may bring.
