May 15, 2003

Some of Tubas’ Christian community.

After school, we rode with the students down to Tubas. Since we usually do so when there's some kind of chaos on the road - tanks, checkpoints, etc. - the students were obviously concerned. However, our journey today was social and collegial rather than security-related.

We went to visit and have lunch with one of the Christian families in Tubas. The laity here is extraordinarily active, impressively taking the initiative on their building, activities, and expansion. After lunch, Marthame and one of the church's elders worked on the computer, Marthame giving him a tutorial in email and basic web page design. Now, the Tubas Holy Trinity Orthodox Church has its own internet site! Meanwhile, Elizabeth played with their four daughters, helping them with their English and enjoying the wonderful view and snapping pictures.

While there we got news that our friend traveling to Chicago has met an obstacle along the way. She has her ticket, her visa, and her permission to enter Jordan. Today was her second day to get turned back at the border, though, and it looks like the same thing will happen tomorrow. The Jordanians have imposed limits on the number of Palestinians allowed in daily, which means a three-month wait to cross. She told us of masses of people waiting (she mentioned examples, including a cancer patient going to Jordan for treatment), sitting, sleeping, waiting at the bridge for an exception so they could pass. Marthame and the Conference organizers worked with the Palestinian Authority offices in Washington, DC, to see if anything could be done in time for tomorrow - the last chance for her to travel. Let's hope against hope.