March 12, 2003 — Mudeif Productions

Today is Ash Wednesday here. In ecumenical compromise, Christmas is celebrated on the Western calendar while Easter is celebrated on the Eastern calendar. This year, there is one week between the two calendars, meaning that there is a week between the first days of Lent. Our Lenten discipline? No TV - except for half an hour for news (call it a job hazard).

This morning the school held a service for the students as well as anyone in the village interested in praying in the morning. Fr. Aktham and Marthame imposed ashes for several hundred kids - Marthame learned how to say, "Remember, O, Mortal, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Repeating it hundreds of times guarantees memorization: uthkur, ya insan, innaka turob, wa ill-turob ta'oud. Fr. Aktham challenged the students to engage a good fasting regimen. That coupled with prayer, particularly prayers for peace these days, were the charge to the church. We're trying to take this to heart and will try to engage in daily Lenten reflections.

*World Vision International visits Zababdeh.*

In the afternoon, a delegation arrived from World Vision today. They are looking at the possibilities of development projects in the area. They are meeting with a number of folks in the area, including the municipality, the local charitable society, and the area clergy. While this was a merely exploratory visit, it is good to see the attention Christian organizations are giving to this little forgotten part of the body of Christ. And it's a joy to be a part of it.