January 22, 2003

A care package arrived today (via the Patriarchate in Jerusalem) - not for us, but for the students at the school. Mail is extremely exciting for us, since mail service has come to a real halt in the past year. The last mail we received in Zababdeh was a Christmas 2001 card, which arrived in May 2002. Even domestic mail going between towns is at a standstill - not surprising since movement between towns is so difficult. Our phone bills come because an employee of the phone company brings them. Foreign mail headed to us would arrive in Israel and first go to the military exchange post at Bet El, near Ramallah. Then, if the roads are clear, it would go to Jenin, and then, if the roads are clear, go to Zababdeh. We know people have sent us things, and wonder where it has ended up.

A letter of solidarity from University Presbyterian Church in Asheville, NC.

In comparison, we were floored to see that this new package made the trip from North Carolina to Jerusalem in a week. One of our stopping points this summer was University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Around Christmas time, they raised funds through their Sunday School to send a message of support, along with Christmas cards for the kids, to the Latin Patriarchate School here. Fr. Aktham went down to Jerusalem yesterday to try and get his visa renewed (unsuccessfully once again), and returned with the package for the school - Christmas cards and all.

Pen pal letters also arrived via email from First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette. The connections we have been able to participate in in our time here have been a gift - in the absence of visitors, relationships have been built. We simply hope that someone will be able to continue them next year.

Fr. Thomas comes by to bless our home with holy water.

In the evening, Fr. Thomas came by for the annual consecration of homes. This is an ancient practice of the church, and originally would be done regularly by the priest. As parishes grew, it became an annual practice, around the Feast of Christ's Baptism. Thus the holy water used takes on an added meaning, at the waters of baptism which set Christians aside for their life's calling also bless the Christian home - and through it, the Christian family. In past times, the clergy of Zababdeh would visit all of the homes together. Now, the village is divided into three sections, each priest visiting the homes in their section, whatever the denomination.

Our evening visits were bookended by tanks rolling through town. It's become so ordinary it's hardly worth mentioning.