June 9, 2002

We headed off to worship at the Latin Church of Visitation. Today was the six-month memorial service for the father of one of our students. Deaths are not only marked by the funeral (usually the day of or after the death), but also by memorial services three days, forty days, six months, and one year after. Depending on how close the family member is to you, that determines how long you will wear black.

Incursion damage is evident all over Jenin.

After church, Marthame headed off to Jenin to pick up some digital cassettes, learning that it opened up again this morning. Sure enough, it was open. The heat is still unbearable - opening the taxi window only brings hotter air than that which is circulating inside the car. The scene inside Jenin is much like a people trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. Every incursion brings some more destruction - sometimes it seems rather arbitrary, like the busted up pedestrian crossing sign. And every departure means more straightening up. “Who can pay for this” is a question we can’t answer.

The young couple at their wedding mass.

The newlyweds!

The evening (after an inside respite from the heat) brought us back to the Latin Church for the wedding of two young friends of ours. Her brother died tragically of cancer less than a year ago - combining that with the current national tragedy, the usual post-wedding party was stripped down to one dance for the bride and groom followed by the feeding of the 5000 (well, perhaps 500 guests). For some of the family, this is the first time in nearly a year that they haven’t worn black. With the weather we're having, that's merciful.