January 26, 2003

Today was symbolic of our ecumenical work here. In the morning, we worshiped at the Latin Church of Visitation, Marthame taking part in the leadership with Fr. Aktham and Fr. Firas. A new teacher has arrived at the Arab-American University from the States, and her mother has come along to visit for a couple of weeks. She had contacted us through the internet to say she was coming and offered to bring things to us. Marthame asked her to bring a couple of textbooks for his course he'll be teaching in Ibillin, and she delivered them today. A veteran Kindergarten teacher and teacher trainer, she was eager to see the Latin School and plans to come by tomorrow.

After church, we had lunch with Fr. Thomas and his family - delicious msakhan, one of our absolute Palestinian favorites. Marthame and Fr. Thomas finished up some work, which gave us an hour or two to rest before Marthame headed back out to the Latin Church. We are working on a more professional production of the Christmas pageant, and tonight was to be the first performance. With three performers absent, though, it turned into a rehearsal. We'll pick it up again tomorrow.

Fr. Firas and his wife celebrating evening vespers at home.

As Marthame left the Latin Convent, he ran into Fr. Firas. After a little bit of work (and some celebrating - some support arrived today for rebuilding from Holy Cross Melkite Parish in California, whose priest we had met in Beirut), Marthame joined Fr. Firas and his family in their evening vespers. Well, he and his wife were praying. His young one year-old twins were too busy pulling on Dad's robes and playing with random objects that had been left too close to their grasp. Now if only the Anglicans could re-open their church...