December 3, 2002

Our cellphone bill arrived today, and as usual, there was a problem. The amount we paid back in August at the Zababdeh post office somehow still hasn't arrived at the central offices, so it continues to show up on the bill - thus a trip to Jenin was necessary. For that, and for some business for the school at the bank, Marthame headed out after hearing that Jenin was open. This information arrived at 11:30, and the banks close at 12:00. The shortest way between Jenin and Zababdeh (which passes through a village called Sweitat and past the Haddad family compound) is "open." The turn-off toward Jenin is now completely unrecognizable, bulldozed and bypassed by cars and bulldozed again, a cat-and-mouse game repeated over the last two years to the point that a stormy ocean of dirt and mud is what remains. It's hard to believe that anything we see could surprise us anymore, but it still does.

Marthame arrived as the bank doors were closing, and was locked inside with the hundreds of other people trying to finish their work both on a day that Jenin is open and in time for the coming 'Eid il-Fitir holiday. Tempers were high, and employees had to step in several times to break up arguments.

While there, Marthame had to speak to Fr. Aktham to clarify something. As bad as the cellphone system is in Zababdeh, with repeated error messages, it's infinitely better than that of Jenin, where calling out is absolutely impossible. Fortunately, we can switch our phone over from Jawwal (the Palestinian service) to Orange (the Israeli) and make calls - when there's strong enough service. There was, barely, and Marthame was able to complete the business, take care of the cellphone bill (ensuring our service wouldn't be cut before they receive the payment from our post office), and head off back to Zababdeh by way of Sweitat.

Happy Birthday and an inflatable Santa!

In the evening, we went to another birthday party with one of the extended families we've gotten to know best. The birthday boy's grandparents were able to come from Tubas for the celebration, which included the requisite candle-laden cake, singing, dancing, and "jelly" (a jello cake like dessert substance).

The news of the ninety-five year-old woman shot and killed by Israeli troops as she tried to get in Ramallah by taxi is disturbing. May God have mercy on us all.