September 2, 2002

Happy Labor Day - we'd love to get a three-day weekend, especially now. Then again, we'd settle for a two-day weekend (ours is split between Friday and Sunday). School continues for us, but not for many in the area.

Reports in Ramallah are that curfews are in effect the entire day (and night) except from 7-9 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. (for school traffic). Nablus, however, is another story. There are many college students in Zababdeh who study at An-Najah University. We know several who and should have graduated with their B.A. this past spring, but have been unable to take their final exams or even get to campus because of the constant 24-hour curfews in Nablus for the last few months. Last week, Nablus opened up for one day - the University told all of the students waiting to finish up to come to Nablus, and that their exams would take place as soon as possible. They're still there - the curfew was lifted long enough for them to get in, but not to get out (and certainly not to take an exam). It's frustrating, and not a little bit scary, for their families. A curfew is in effect in much of Jenin today, but somehow people arrived. The way things do and don't happen here remain, even after two years, a bit on the baffling side. One of our teachers in Tubas was near the place where the car was blown up. "Our house shook like an earthquake," he told us. The two children who were killed were his cousins. "They were on their way to buy ice cream."

Deacon Firas with one of the twins.

We visited with Deacon Stephen/Firas and his family today for lunch - it's nice not to have to cook (especially in this heat!).