The olives are brought in large bags, then dumped into the system which sorts the olives out from the sticks and leaves, then they are washed, crushed, then the water and oil are separated out. The end result is glorious, glorious fresh olive oil.
Read MoreThere is a certain rhythm to picking - one tree, then morning coffee, then another, then breakfast, then another, tea, then another, and lunch.
Read MoreMarthame spent the evening with Deacon Firas at his brother's internet cafe.
Read MoreThe drain on this land, and particularly on this church, is life-threatening.
Read MoreMarthame smiled at the wrong moment, when the Russian policeman was looking at him. He came over and asked in Hebrew, "What are you laughing at?" Then in Arabic, "Are you a Muslim?"
Read MoreThere is no order here, there is no Authority, and people have been living in more squalor than usual for the past two years. Every night, Apaches and F-16s fly overhead, and periodically puncture the night and Gazan buildings with rockets. If this is hell, then we are the devil's minions, we American taxpayers.
Read MoreEvery PC(USA) moderator has the ex-officio honor of being ecumenical canon at St. George's, but until now, only one moderator had come to Jerusalem to receive this honor. The Rev. Dr. Canon Fahed Abu-Akel is the second, and today this honor was given to him as part of the Sunday worship service.
Read MoreOur destination was the village of Kufr Yasif, Rev. Dr. Abu-Akel's home town. He had been raised in the Greek Orthodox Church there, and even though he had become a Protestant pastor, it was that church which hosted his "welcome home" reception.
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Fr. Elias Chacour, the school's founder, welcomed his unexpected guests with lunch.
Read MoreNo Jenin students today - no surprise. It has already been a long school year, and it's only October.
Read MoreMarthame took a break from his duties at the school to film an historical event: the re-introduction of electricity to Zababdeh's Melkite Church.
Read MoreAll the kids came to school today.
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The afternoon was filled with the constant churning sounds of airplanes overhead - no matter how much it might happen, it's difficult - if not impossible - to get used to it.
Read MoreToday is the feast of the Rosary Sisters' order, and the church turned out in full to celebrate.
Read MoreAmbulance is the only way to travel on a day like today.
Read MoreEverywhere are the signs of battle - one is the burned-out hull of the City Center, a fifteen-story mall at the center of town.
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The streets were empty, except for the presence of Israeli tanks and jeeps and those who had been detained by them for breaking curfew. The place is a wreck - trash is piling up, the basic civil infrastructure - streets, sidewalks, curbs, signs - have been crushed and damaged by tanks. Buildings are riddled with bulletholes.
Read MoreThe number of new and expanding settlements is not encouraging, though.
Read MoreHe, along with another 200 young men, were detained for questioning and background checks, accompanied by verbal and physical harassment. Finally, at 11:00 p.m., he was released and sent home to Zababdeh - on foot.
Read MoreSurely a threat on an airplane, the box cutter didn't seem like much to worry about in a schoolgirl's bag. Marthame took it, assuming the Israeli soldiers would be less likely to bother an American than a Palestinian for possession of a box cutter.
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