Elizabeth worked with the art teacher to prepare an exhibit for graduation. The school is celebrating its 120th anniversary, so images of the school through the years will be displayed along with art, English, and science projects done by the kids this year.
Read MoreOne of the school's teachers had been held up at the checkpoint the previous day. When he asked the other young men being held there, he discovered they had one thing in common: they were all named 'Ammar (a name as common as David in the States).
Read MoreThe soldier clearly didn't want to talk about it - usually an indication that they're not fully buying the "for security" argument.
Read MoreCNN's latest update on the Middle East says that Israel had "opened the West Bank and Gaza, after closing them on May 18th." Since Marthame travels every week in and out of the West Bank, such assertions seemed odd indeed.
Read MoreThis morning we worshiped at the Melkite church, and enjoyed the especially familial "coffee hour"' afterwards, in the still-being-renovated church.
Read MoreHaving been here during the total collapse of Oslo, we remain skeptical that things will turn on the right track. St. Thomas had it right - at least when it came to politics.
Read MoreNow it's a matter of making sure that all his travel permissions get lined up. He's currently waiting for the proper paperwork from the US Consulate in East Jerusalem.
Read MoreMarthame has been working on another video project, this one for the Baladiyye, the village municipality. They want a simple half-hour video introduction to Zababdeh
Read MoreWe sat in silence for a while, and after the distribution of bitter coffee and dried dates, we all left.
Read MoreJust as only men go to the burial in the cemetery, only women mourn over the body before the funeral.
Read MoreIt will be hard to say goodbye for real.
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Marthame had lunch with several members of St. Andrew's, including two Palestinian women who live in West Jerusalem - the only two left from the pre-'48 Arab population of that area. Their homes are lovely Arab-style homes, as are the rest of the homes in the neighborhood - the only difference is that there are Arabs living in these two.
Read MoreIt would be like needing special government permission to travel from your home in Wheaton into Chicago, and getting permission to go to Canada to do so.
Read MoreWe supped on grilled meat, fresh bread, cucumber and tomato salad, tea, and coffee. It was a nice relaxing time, looking down on Zababdeh, nestled in the golden wheat fields, which wave and rustle in the wind.
Read MoreOne of the locals from nearby Qabatia told us that his grandmother was Jewish - his grandfather met her while working in Israel. This place is far more complex that we had ever expected.
Read MoreHappy Birthday! Today Marthame turned 33.
Read MoreIsraeli checkpoints are like a box of chocolates - you never know whom you're going to get.
Read More“Do you know Zababdeh?" "I've heard of it." "We call it Zababdeh, DC. Like Washington, DC."
Read MoreWe're hoping the Road Map will bring results - people here have heard years of talk; what they need is real movement on the way to a just peace.
Read MoreHer seventh graders led the assembly today, the last day of classes before exam period begins. They wished their fellow students good luck on their exams, and nostalgically said farewell to those who will not return next year.
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