November 17, 2002

We worshiped this morning at the Latin Church of Visitation. Marthame led worship with Fr. Aktham and Deacon Firas.

After Mass, we administered a practice TOEFL for the 12th graders. We are hoping that one of them will qualify for North Park University's full four year scholarship. Having only one tape for the listening section, Elizabeth and Marthame performed a live version. One of the students' scores was reasonably high, at least high enough to take the real thing in Ramallah. That'll be an ordeal, since it involves travel between Palestinian cities by a seventeen year old male - by virtue of nationality, age, and gender, a prime suspect of terrorism. Marthame will probably accompany him to ensure his safe arrival and return.

Fr. Thomas and Sheikh Fathi break the fast together.

Muslims and Christians participate in breaking the Ramadan fast.

In the evening, the school hosted a ftuur, the sundown breaking of the fast for Muslims during the month of Ramadan. This has become an annual event, but usually in the baladiyye, the village municipality (some words in Arabic have come to mean more to us than their English counterparts). That event will take place this weekend. This is the first year that the Latin School has hosted it, an intentional sign of welcome and hospitality. After the traditional dates, the meal of mansaaf (lamb meat on rice and almonds, coated in yogurt sauce) was served. Marthame sat at the table with Fr. Aktham, Fr. Thomas, Deacon Firas, and Sheikh Fathi.

Preparing the interfaith feast.

Elizabeth, meanwhile, ate her fill in the kitchen with those who prepared the meal - this was a male-only event. However, when Elizabeth arrived, she was invited to stay, and at least one of the Muslim guests brought his daughter. Life is never black and white.