June 7, 2002

The amount of things that need to happen before we leave for Jordan (on our way to the States) on Sunday is a bit overwhelming. While we try to sort through our Lebanon and Syria pictures, plan our talks for our summer travel, and finish up work at the school, everyone in Zababdeh is eager to hear from us and visit with us. Balancing these is a trick, and even a Friday (half of our weekend) doesn’t give us much chance to rest. Fortunately, the brutal heat waves outside means that very few people are venturing out until late in the day.

Military flares light up the sky to the West of Zababdeh.

In the evening, Marthame went to a friend’s internet cafe to do some web research. As he wandered home, all eyes were on the skies and the constant flares fluttering off to the West. The Israeli army had re-entered Jenin and had also gone to the nearby village of Jaba. The talk in the streets was that they would come to Zababdeh tonight, but fear has a way of multiplying itself beyond reality.