"Why would you name a church after a peach tree?" he asked. An olive tree was at least Biblical, he reasoned.
Read MoreThe plan (that word has become somewhat obsolete here) was to meet up with the demonstrators in Tulkarem, then travel back to Zababdeh with about eight of them.
Read MoreThe tradition has been for many years to have an ecumenical procession around town, stopping at each of the churches so that they will worship together.
Read MoreFolks from throughout the community - Christians and Muslims alike - stopped by to visit.
Read MoreMarthame was back at the church, this time in the church hall for a supper along with the church bazaar.
Read MoreThe youth group at the Latin Church was making final preparations for the church bazaar.
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It was the first eucharist service held in the church since Fr. Firas' grandfather died in 1985, and as such, it was moving to be a part of.
Read MoreTonight's subject was Calvin, and the non-Protestant students are beginning to chafe a bit under the weight of the Reformation.
Read MoreWe worshiped this morning at the Latin Church of Visitation, Marthame leading along with Fr. Aktham, Fr. Firas, and an Italian priest who has been staying in town this past week.
Read MoreNews came late of another ISM (International Solidarity Movement) casualty, this time a British national in Gaza. Tom Hurndall has been declared brain dead. That brings the total to four casualties (three in short succession, two of them fatal), and has caused some to claim that these international activists are being intentionally targeted: Rachel Corrie killed by a bulldozer in Gaza, an Irish national shot in the legs this Fall, and an American shot in the face in Jenin last week.
Read MoreMeanwhile, Boutros Ma'alim, the Melkite Bishop of Haifa, arrived today to see the progress on the Melkite Church.
Read MoreThe cross on top of the church is lit up with new lights, too, in celebration of Lent.
Read MoreThey figured that going with a priest, and an American at that, might help their chances. After some negotiating with the soldiers, it did, and all arrived back in Zababdeh safe and sound.
Read MoreThe checkpoint at the border was tighter than usual, with a soldier asking Marthame to open his bags. He was quite friendly, though, and joked. After Marthame had opened a bunch of the smaller pockets on the backpack, the soldier quipped, "Do you have any other secret compartments?" He then apologized (!) for the thorough check.
Read MoreAfter yesterday afternoon's incident, in the early evening an American activist had part of his face sheered off by tank fire.
Read MoreWe followed Fr. Aktham past the lines of students as the national anthem played. A ripple of whispers, then spontaneous applause. Cool. This is why it's good to be back, to be welcomed back. We were missed.
Read MoreAnd even when we heard the tanks coming over the hills, as we have become used to, we still knew we were in the right place.
Read MoreAt school, the Zababdeh teachers and students came in for a scaled-back day. At 9:00, a jeep passed by the school announcing the curfew. When they passed by again, Fr. Aktham went out to meet them and to explain to them that there were 500 students in the school who needed to get home. The captain agreed to allow half an hour grace period for the kids to get home.
Read MoreIn the evening, we got a call from the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Louisville. They met and agreed that it would be reasonable for us to return. We are elated!
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We were all so enthusiastic that as the first eggs were drying we all tried our hands at another one, some more freestyle than others.
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