December 3, 2000

Advent begins, and Christmas planning is underway. We had a daily devotional piece published in First Presbyterian Church of Marietta's Advent Booklet along with other mission workers and ministries supported by that congregation. We have been using it for our daily devotional prayer time.

St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Zababdeh

Today was also a chance to expand our ecumenical horizons, as we worshiped at Zababdeh's St. Matthew's Anglican Church, just down the road from the Latin Church of Visitation. Marthame was invited to read the epistle (from Romans) and to serve the chalice for the eucharist. It is a much smaller congregation, and the priest is forced to split time between this congregation and another in Nablus - in addition to a handful of institutions under his jurisdiction. It seems that "overworked pastor" is redundant in Palestine, too.

Hole in the wall where the Israeli shell wound up

Israeli fire came through this family’s window in Zababdeh

After visiting with some friends for lunch (never a disappointment!), we visited one of the houses in Zababdeh hit during the nighttime firings a couple of weeks ago. We had heard about it, but "seeing is believing" in this part of the world. The house was below where some Palestinians were firing guns at the Israeli military camp. The camp fired back a little too low with bullets and shells. One 800mm shell shattered a window and went through the family's kitchen and through two concrete walls into their bathroom. Fortunately, there were no injuries - just terrified and anxious children and parents.