It's hard to be somewhere as beautiful as Cyprus when you don't want to, but we're doing our best to make the best of it.
Read MoreWe joined up with the other Presbyterian exiles at St. Barnabas' Anglican Church, which is known by its much more quaint (and British) name: Mission to Seafarers.
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Cyprus is known as the birthplace of Aphrodite, goddess of love, so we had to oblige the Cyprus Aphrodite tour.
Read MoreWe arrived on an open-ended ticket and needed to nail things down a bit more.
Read MoreAn American family who works with the Middle East Council of Churches took pity on us poor Presbyterians and brought us all - those from Palestine, those from Egypt - up to their home for a little relaxation time, a home-cooked meal, and just a general good time.
Read MoreWe're doing our best to make the most of our time here. This morning we caught the bus up to the capital city, Nicosia.
Read MoreWe've tried to contact our friends throughout Iraq, but haven't heard from any of them. Reports of water shortages in Basra are particularly fretful.
Read MoreWe had hoped to take a couple of nature walks, and had come prepared for cold - but not snow!
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The scenes were of various Greek and Roman gods and myths - Theseus, Aphrodite, Dionysius, Scylla - remarkably well-preserved. Their colors were still quite evident in some cases.
Read MoreCyprus, being an old British colony, has its British quirks: using the pound, driving on the left side of the road, and - perhaps most advantageous - the pubs.
Read MoreWar continues, but news from Zababdeh is sparse.
Read MoreWar was scheduled to start as soon as we arrived at Ben Gurion.
Read MoreHe waved his M-16 towards a concrete barricade. "Where are you from? The United States? Sh**." He then spat on the ground - not sure how to read that one.
Read MoreAt school, the children celebrated Mother's Day three days early because the war was likely to intervene on celebrations on the 21st.
Read MoreElizabeth and another teacher went with her 8th graders on a picnic in the nearby hills. It was a beautiful day, the sun shining on the very green blooming hills.
Read MoreAn International Solidarity Movement volunteer had been killed, crushed by an Israeli bulldozer as she stood in front of a house in a Gaza refugee camp. The journalist was calling to see if we happened to know her - we didn't, but when Marthame repeated her name, Rachel Corrie, one of the group gasped. "I know her. I was standing with her in front of a bulldozer a couple of weeks ago."
Read MoreThe news from the States is dire and the drive towards war depressing. We haven't felt this helpless in a long time.
Read MoreHer husband was coming with her father and brother from just outside the western side of town when an Israeli sniper shot him in the head.
Read MoreThis afternoon we got a call from one of the University students who participated in the exchange program back in April. He's from the village of Saida, near Tulkarem, which the Israelis have been occupying since yesterday and are not letting anyone in or out. Such events used to make the news, but they've become so ordinary, no one pays attention. His older brothers and father were rounded up with the men and taken to the school. His mother had to be taken to the hospital because of the stress. So his little brother is at home alone with his sisters.
Read MoreToday is Ash Wednesday here. In ecumenical compromise, Christmas is celebrated on the Western calendar while Easter is celebrated on the Eastern calendar.
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