Bishop Quigg and Annette Lawrence arrived in Israel on Oct. 7, just as the Israel-Hamas War began. They had planned to lead a church tour but had to cancel due to the escalating violence. Concerned for their safety, they contacted the U.S. Embassy for assistance. However, they were shocked when embassy personnel denied their request for shelter and refused to provide them with the embassy’s address in Jerusalem.
Eventually, the Lawrences managed to leave Israel on a flight with Ethiopian immigrants to the United States. Bishop Lawrence expressed his disappointment at the lack of help from the embassy, highlighting the irony that refugees on a paid flight were receiving assistance while U.S. citizens were left stranded.
The Lawrences reached out to U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith, who confirmed that he had heard similar complaints about the State Department’s unhelpfulness. The State Department did not respond to requests for comment.
Upon arriving in Israel, the Lawrences were unaware of the ongoing conflict. However, they soon learned about the attacks and decided to cancel their church tour. They experienced firsthand the fear and sadness among the Israeli people, with reports of loved ones being killed or kidnapped.
During their stay, the Lawrences found themselves in a hotel basement during an air raid. Despite the chaos, a group of men conducted a religious service, showing resilience amidst the turmoil.
The Lawrences had a sleepless night, worried about the bombings and rumors of attacks from the sea. Mr. Martin helped them book flights out of Israel but accidentally ended up dealing with a questionable travel agency. They managed to secure tickets for a complex itinerary that would take them 46 hours to reach their destination.
When the Lawrences contacted the embassy for assistance, they were told to fill out a form and were refused entry to the embassy or any information about its location. Bishop Lawrence criticized the embassy for its lack of response and questioned the purpose of having an embassy if it couldn’t meet the needs of its citizens.
The Lawrences are now disputing the charges from the travel agency and are relieved to have safely returned to the United States.