September 3, 2000

Fr. Louis leads a tour of one of the oldest homes in Zababdeh.

Almost too much to report for one day.

Youth present traditional Palestinian dancing.

Father Konstantin and a group of Austrians came for a visit, and the town rolled out the red carpet. The Mass was bilingual, and there was traditional Palestinian dancing by the school students, a tour of the older homes by Abuna Louis, and - of course - food.

Post-engagement dancing in Tubas.

We then went to a Christian engagement ceremony in Tubas, just south of here . The population is about 20,000 (150 of which are Christian, mostly Greek Orthodox). Muslim-Christian relations have a very good reputation in Tubas, despite the great difference in numbers.

Fr. Louis, Elizabeth, and a Bedouin family.

Fr. Louis and Marthame.

Date palm.

Finally, we journeyed through the area with Abuna Louis, surveying Latin Patriarchate lands nearby. We met a Bedouin family living nearby, herding sheep and adopting Elizabeth as their own. The children gave us dates, which they acquired by throwing rocks at a date palm tree. The bees/wasps (didn't get close enough to tell) were not pleased by this. Luckily, they did not seem to know we were the ones stealing their fruit. Silly invertebrates.