Today is first communion for the Latin Church's third graders and is also graduation for the school's Kindergarten class.
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We went to visit and have lunch with one of the Christian families in Tubas. The laity here is extraordinarily active, impressively taking the initiative on their building, activities, and expansion.
Read MoreThe 12th graders and their parents came by for a meeting this afternoon. Their Ministry of Education comprehensive exams are on the way, now that they've finished their school comprehensive exams.
Read MoreThe Presbyterian Church (USA) is in the midst of a major assessment and rebuilding of their mission program. Today, a task force was meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi, to talk about ministry in Palestine and Israel. We were brought in by telephone to be part of that conversation, and they were also interested in hearing from at least one of our local partners. Fr. Aktham joined us to speak with them about the situation.
Read MoreThe students were restless tonight - it's their midterm exam, and they had tried to postpone after feeling unprepared. Marthame had stuck to his guns, much to their displeasure. We thought such concerns would end after high school, but apparently not.
Read MoreWe worshiped this morning at the Latin Church of Visitation with Fr. Aktham.
Read MoreThose kids that don't have ice cream almost always have a fist full of green hummos, the fresh chick peas which are now in season.
Read MoreThis morning Elizabeth's eighth graders led the morning assembly in English, something the older classes do once or twice a semester.
Read MoreElizabeth's seventh graders received care packages today from their pen pals in Maryland. They opened them with the glee of small children opening Christmas presents, finding goodies like family photos and lip gloss.
Read MoreThe young man from Nablus, when he goes back home, has a minimum six-hour commute facing him due to road closures and checkpoints. And that's for about forty-five miles of travel. We joked that he could work as a nurse in the States and have a shorter commute back home!
Read MoreCrossing the checkpoint was a breeze. It was the wait for the ride that took so long - an hour standing by the side of the road in an abandoned concrete bus stop. There were plenty of cars, but no one wanted to pick him up.
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Today was an historic day in Zababdeh. For the first time in twenty-three years, the Melkite Church rang its bell on Sunday morning to gather the faithful for worship.
Read MoreWork continues apace on the Melkite Convent. Today, Fr. Firas has hired a bulldozer to come and clear away the growth that has smothered the land over the past twenty years of neglect, as well as to even out the land around the church so that he can make it a more welcoming place. Today, he estimated that eighty trailers of rocks, garbage, dirt, etc. were hauled away.
Read MoreHe's headed towards Rafah in the Gaza strip, where now two ISM volunteers have been killed.
Read MoreWe continued our visits today, going down to Tubas to visit with the Christians there. It was also a chance to see the church - we haven't been in a while. They have just finished a new office, moving the children's library upstairs for more access. This small community has done an amazing job of strengthening with little help from the outside.
Read MorePalestinian custom is that, following the large feasts, the families go to visit one another.
Read MoreThe Orthodox service began at 4:00 am. We rolled out of bed and joined the hearty faithful for the service.
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We got in our Catholic car, carrying our Orthodox lanterns, with Marthame wearing an Anglican robe loaned to him by the Melkite priest, and headed to Jerusalem.
Read MoreThis morning, it was the Latin Church and their weekly Stations of the Cross service.
Read MoreToday the busy liturgical schedule starts full on. Since our ministry is so ecumenical here, we will have to find a way to celebrate with each of the communities.
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