January 11, 2001

No images today…

` The community and school of Zababdeh experienced a deep tragedy today. Fourth grader Annas al-Ahmad, born with a hole in his heart, was playing ball with friends before school started. He was hit in the chest with the ball, collapsed to the ground, and within ten minutes had died. He was a student of Elizabeth's. His sister is one of Marthame' students, and his aunt is a fellow English teacher at the school. Classes were cancelled for the rest of the day, and for Saturday as well, as the school did its best to honor his memory. The family arrived, and the children gathered around the football field as he was carried on a bier around it - giving them each a chance to say goodbye. Students and teachers alike were in tears.

We gathered in busses in the afternoon to head to his family's village (outside Jenin) for the funeral - Arab culture holds the service the day of death in most cases. It was hard to witness the overwhelming expressions of grief, but heartening to see the strength of the school community in the face of such pain. Words will have to suffice for today, as the camera just didn't seem appropriate. We have added Annas's family and the whole school community to our prayer list.