March 13, 2001

Following school today, we were anticipating a visit from a group of fifteen Americans, mostly pastors, coordinated by World Vision International 's Jerusalem office. We got a call from them that they had made their way up the Jordan Valley and would be at our friendly little checkpoint in about an hour. Elizabeth and I went to meet them.

As we drove from Zababdeh to the Jalame/Afula checkpoint, we noted all the things they would see on their drive - bulldozed roads, taxis stuck trying to get around roadblocks to take people home, Israeli settlements, IDF camps, etc. We arrived at the checkpoint and waited for them, talking to the Israeli soldiers while we waited. It turned out that they needed permission to enter (which was granted). The soldier we talked to was clearly interested in practicing his English. He was also a lot more interested in the possibility of going to hang out with his friends on the beach than on further military service. We talked with him about many things, among them his experience in Hebron. "I'm not allowed to tell you this," he said, "but the problem there is the Israeli settlers - not the Palestinians." He also talked about the settlers that come through the Jalame/Afula checkpoint. They're not religious idealogues, just people interested in affording a certain standard of living. West Bank settlements allow them that - all eighty of them. "But the Palestinians are much nicer," he commented.

Just then two Israeli police vans pulled up from the Israeli side, depositing Palestinians at the checkpoint - apparently workers who had snuck in illegally and had been caught. They were reading pieces of paper, likely telling them how much their fines were. This was also about the time that we re-established phone contact with our coming guests, who had come through a different checkpoint and were now on their way to Zababdeh.

We caught up with them at the school, where they were receiving the grand tour. There was traditional Palestinian dancing by the children, and then each of the visitors was paired with a different family in the village. The idea was to connect them with older students in the school to give them a chance to practice their English.

We then took a short tour of the village, seeing a traditional Palestinian house or two and the ancient mosaics, before they split up for the evening with their families. We joined one, eating some of our favorite local dishes and enjoying the famous Palestinian hospitality.

Fr. Louis greets the visitors from World Vision.

Visiting Zababdeh’s ancient mosaics.

One of the American guests with his homestay family in Zababdeh.

Zababdeh children share traditional dances with our guests.