May 2, 2003

The bulldozer clears away years of refuse in the Melkite Church compound.

Work continues apace on the Melkite Convent. Today, Fr. Firas has hired a bulldozer to come and clear away the growth that has smothered the land over the past twenty years of neglect, as well as to even out the land around the church so that he can make it a more welcoming place. Today, he estimated that eighty trailers of rocks, garbage, dirt, etc. were hauled away.

A World Council of Churches volunteer lends a hand.

One of the World Council of Churches volunteers has come by to lend a hand, scraping paint off of the floor of the sanctuary. The new altar and table of preparation have been installed, too, made of stone from nearby Qabatia. They are simply elegant. Fr. Firas plans to pray this Sunday, the first Sunday Mass in that church in over two decades.

Fr. Firas shows the brand new altar of the Melkite Church.

The Latin Church, meanwhile, celebrated the arrival of air-conditioning units, which will make the sanctuary bearable (even cool) during the oppressive summer Palestinian days that are on their way. We could use a unit in our house.

In the evening, we went to visit friends in Qabatia, sitting with them out on their porch overlooking the town. Over the hill, we could hear the gunfire being let loose in nearby Jenin, something we cannot hear from the seclusion of Zababdeh. Two vehicles approached over the hill, probably trucks from the area's famous rock quarries. We decided not to take any chances, in case they were army vehicles, and moved our meal of stuffed squash and rolled grape leaves inside.

New A/C units adorn the walls of the Latin Church.

School starts tomorrow - it's been a nice break, but it's time to get back to work.