SERVE Nazareth

Program Reviews

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Hannah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing

Beautiful people and a beautiful place, I felt at home doing my medical elective in the ED at EMMS during my 4th year in medicine. Everyone is welcoming and kind and they let me get involved with all sorts of things: from POCUS to resuscitation to minor surgery to attending and delivering department teaching. I developed an interest for echocardiography and they taught me how to do bedside echo.

If you're thinking of going, the language barrier is something to consider - you probably don't learn as much medical knowledge as you'd do in a hospital speaking your own language, however everyone did their best to translate for me. I would still 100% recommend.

Nazareth itself is also a very interesting place and you're not far from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Galilee, mount Carmel, the list goes on, so there are plenty of things to do on your holidays.
The food is 10/10 and during my time there I made friends I will never forget, both in the Doctors house where we stayed and in the department.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Cheese roasted in sugar and some corn type fibrous stuff
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Carisse
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Truly the Best Summer Ever

In the summer of 2023, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Nazareth Israel to volunteer at a local hospital. In that experience, I was able to learn and grow as a student nurse while being immersed into a totally different country than I was used to. I can surely say that from all the people that I’ve met in the food that I ate, that Israel has been and will always be my favorite place to go. Serve Nazareth made it possible for me to explore the Holy Land well also learning how to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I would recommend this program to anybody who has a heart for the Lord and people.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
The only thing I would change from my experience, is not going out and exploring more when I could!
Pros
  • People
  • Culture
  • Food
Cons
  • I wish I stayed longer!
  • Traveling was hard without having someone good with directions
  • Just a tad toasty, but bearable.
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Holly
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life Changing

My husband and I volunteered for 3 months and made lifelong friendships. We loved working with people who had the same values and goals. Sharing and helping to open people minds to what it would have been like in Jesus’ time.

We got to meet people from all over the world.
Some were famous; most were people who has a common bond of a Christian community.

My husband also spent a couple days a week also as Chaplin at the hospital.

We even used our picture in costume as our Christmas Card.
This has been one of the highlights of our life.

What was your funniest moment?
Seeing people trying to keep the baby lambs in the shepherd’s fold. The lambs were amazing escape artists.

Also during the Easter program with 5 nationalities, during the break between performances, that the “bad people characters “ broke out in the song “bad boys, bad boys, what you going to do ….” It was funny that all of the nationalities knew the song and sung it.
Pros
  • Great relationships
  • Sharing the Good News daily with hundreds and possibly thousands daily.
  • The sense of family in the accommodations
Cons
  • The hill. The hill where the doctors house is located is on the top of a monster hill.
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Chris J.
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Nazareth village SERVE - review

For me being a volunteer at the Nazareth village was an amazing experience. It was a 6-7 week time of constant blessing having the opportunity to SERVE others at a high standard showing through first century lifestyle during the time of Jesus (as for me, I was the potter named Jacob at the potter's house in the village). As you serve and participate with all your heart you will see the peace you get back in return and having such a satisfaction that everything is done with a true purpose and a meaningful goal. The Gospel message is truly communicated and has such an impact! The only thing I wish I knew was the Hebrew and Arabic languages to get more alongside what I was doing. Other then that everything is done with love and respect, and a team that is so supportive in every way. GOD Bless the Nazareth village! :)

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Besides being a villager and potter in the village we had to have removed 3 big, old olive trees. I'm talking big! It was something I will never forget. The work you there is hard but amazing and totally worth it! I personally love anything that involves manual labor. :)
Pros
  • Supportive team that is always helpful.
  • You have the opportunity to see more of what the Holy Land has to offer.
  • You get to connect with other brothers and sisters that come abroad and you are always like in big family.
Cons
  • Didn't know the Hebrew language.
  • Didn't know the Arabic language.
  • You have to be careful at times when being dressed in first century clothing and sandals when walking or running on the paths. It can be very rocky but it is an amazing experience!
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Klaudja
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My experience

One of the best experiences that I had! Hope to go back one day!! I had so much fun in doing different things. I visited some of the cities there, and their culture is very wonderful because they are lovely and very welcoming. The food is amazing also, and if you are planning to go as volunteer in hospital or Nazareth Village don't hesitate just go try it and believe me you will love it, and never forget it. Nazareth is the kind of place that will take a peace of you heart! This words are from my hear.

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Kathy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Loved the experience!

What an amazing experience I had volunteering at the Nazareth Hospital! Meeting new people, learning a new skill set, and enjoying the cultural distinctives all made for a very special time! There are many sites to see in Nazareth as well. On free days, you can explore the ancient city, and spend time with other volunteers. Accommodations are great, as you stay in a totally refurbished building. Every volunteer has his/ her own room along with shared space. Meals are taken at the Hospital canteen, and the food is ample and good! The area around the Hospital is walled off, and you feel very safe as well. I highly recommend this experience for all who love cross cultural experiences!

What was your funniest moment?
Was asked to dress a baby born to a Dr.’s wife.. His fellow workers had come to see the newborn. When told it was a girl, I selected a pink outfit, and upon seeing the baby…all the men laughed! It was a boy! The nurse had mixed up the pronouns in English!😀
Pros
  • Learning a new skill set
  • Loved helping care for the babies
  • A cultural experience
Cons
  • Minor Language mishaps
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Noah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience

I had such a wonderful time working for Serve Nazareth! As the shepherd for a couple months there the highlights of my experience included the interactions with so many groups and ethnicities of tourists, the amazing food, and the adorable (but don’t be fooled, troublesome) sheep and goats. I couldn’t have asked for better coworkers and supervisor, and I wish I was there still! I am thankful that God gave me the opportunity to be here and interact with fellow Christians who, I am sure, I shall be reunited with in heaven one day.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I had never had lebony before, but it was so good! The lunches in general there were just so unique and meaningful. As a food lover, I cannot recommend it enough just for that!
Pros
  • Cultural Enrichment
  • Beautiful Environment
  • Amazing People
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Lisa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An Amazing Immersive Experience in Nazareth

I had visited Nazareth Village as part of a Holy Land Tour, with my church, in 2018 and 2019. I vividly remember out tour guide sharing with us about their volunteer program. I knew then, I was coming back to volunteer.

I had the opportunity in June 2023 to volunteer for about 6 weeks at Nazareth Village. I was a Villager and dressed in 1st century attire. I was able to interact with tourists and help serve the traditional 1st meal. This was a real stepping out of my own comfort zone.

In the course of my time, I made some wonderful relationships, within the volunteer house where stayed and with the people who work and live in Nazareth.

Majdoleen, my volunteer contact at Nazareth Village, is amazing. She answered evert question I had and put me at ease.

I highly recommend serving at Nazareth Village.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Definitely consider Nazareth Village as a service opportunity. It's a Christian outdoor experience that adds depth to your love for the Holy Land.
Pros
  • The volunteer coordinator works very close with you during your entire service time.
  • Earing new food was such a great experience
  • You can travel to other parts of Usrael on your weekends
Cons
  • Not knowing Arabic created a bit among a language barrier with some people- thank God for Google Translateo Goo
  • I left early July and it was already getting pretty warm.
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Brian
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Nazareth Village volunteer

I enjoyed an excellent month at the Nazareth Village. The accommodation is very comfortable, and a great place to socialise and get to know other volunteers. It's just a 5 minute walk from the accommodation to the Village.

Everyone was so friendly and helpful at the Village, and it immediately feels like a family. There was a good variety of things to do. A definite highlight is seeing all the tourist groups visiting from all over the world. It was also a great way to experience Israel, and especially Galilee.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The local desserts were amazing. The local workers at the Village would often bring in food from home to share at lunch time which was really thoughtful and special.
Pros
  • Well supported volunteer program
  • Getting to know local people
  • Fun dressing up in first century clothes
Cons
  • Most of the country shuts down on Saturday
  • Weather could get quite hot
  • Occasionally language barrier
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Brian
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Nazareth Village

I have volunteered many times at Nazareth Village since 2018. I have been the shepherd and Jesus being ejected from the Synagogue, I have also been one of the priests arresting Jesus in the Easter programme this year. I would thoroughly recommend this experience. The accommodation is great, living on the grounds of the hospital, which is an oasis of peace. It’s a lot of fun dressing up in first-century costume, and you are never too old to take part. It is very rewarding and fulfilling to see the enjoyment on visitors' faces.