December 17, 2002

Traditional cinnamon treat for St. Barbara’s Day.

Happy St. Barbara's Day. The Egyptian saint whose church we visited in Cairo is remembered today. Here, it is celebrated with a sweet, thick, hot cinnamon beverage called "Barbaara." Why, we weren't able to determine.

School exams continued today. Elizabeth however stayed home with a sore throat and congestion.

Marthame got a call from Fr. Hosam in Nablus. The situation there continues to deteriorate. Apparently the road which Marthame showed to the Johnsons a couple of days ago is the most accessible road out of the city these days. The other roads are completely unpassable by foot - or even by donkey. We had hoped to get into Nablus for a visit before Christmas, but it looks like that'll have to wait a while.

Icon of St. Barbara.

This afternoon, Marthame came home with a bag and a big, long box: Fr. Aktham gave us a tree and ornaments as a Christmas present! Last year, we borrowed our absent neighbors' tree, and the year before, we had a large branch from the pine forest in the nearby hills. But now we our own "real" tree with shiny ornaments and lights. It is amazing what a difference it makes in creating the holiday spirit, and in cheering up sick Elizabeth.