December 15, 2001

Abuna Aktham had three masses today. The first was for Abu Anis, marking three days since the death - symbolically, this recalls Christ's three days in the tomb as well as his visit to Lazarus' tomb after his death. Some of the international volunteers who preceded us here (and who lived with Abu Anis and his family) made the trip up from Jerusalem for the service. Abu Anis' family has, over the years, been the host for many of the volunteers, both American and French. We've been in touch with many of them to let them know, and most have responded with deep words of sympathy and real fondness for the family.

The second mass was for Abu Riyad, an older man in the parish who died yesterday. He was buried today in the village's Christian cemetery. One welcome change this year is that the generator (which is next to the cemetery) is turned off for the duration of the internment. Only the men accompany the body to its final resting place.

Going for a walk in the fields is a welcome respite.

The third mass was the daily Advent Mass, but we were up in the hills when we heard the church bells. We needed to get away for our own sanity, both to get some breathing space from the recent deaths in the village and from the international nonsense that our own nation has helped create, once again vetoing a UN resolution that might bring some help here. The utter shame. There is something relaxing about being out in the mountains, though the symbolism of finding a dying olive tree wasn't lost on us.

The view of Zababdeh from the fields.

As we came home, we could hear the mosque's muezzin signaling the end of fasting - the last day of fasting in Ramadan. Tomorrow shall be a feast.