The message shared with the littlest ones was "Don't fear. God is with us." A very appropriate lesson for children living in Nablus these days.
Read MoreMarthame noticed with amusement that the computer error messages always focus on possible problems within the computer or modem - never suggesting that the problem might be related to military incursions or faulty regional infrastructure due to the latter.
Read MoreApparently, there was a "curfew" in Zababdeh from about 4:00 am to 9:30 am, "curfew" meaning "stay at home until we say so or you get shot." Literally.
Read MoreThe priests of Zababdeh are taking good care of Marthame the bachelor in Elizabeth's extended absence from here. Fr. Aktham has issued an open invitation for lunch until Elizabeth returns, and Fr. Thomas and Fr. Firas have invited Marthame over on several different occasions to fill in the gaps in his stomach.
Read MoreOur host talked about the Spring 2002 incursions: she showed us the bullet holes and broken stones of her home, how all her windows were shattered, how she was staying in one interior room, afraid to move about for fear of being shot. "The tanks were right there," she said, pointing at the street just below her balcony.
Read MoreMarthame joined with two English teachers from the University in a trip up to Jalame to visit native son Nasser Abu Farha. Abu Farha is currently working on his PhD at the University of Wisconsin on the possibility of a long-lasting solution to the conflict here. It has sprung into a grassroots organization. To sit with him was a pleasure, to hear a man committed to real peace, who isn't afraid to speak the truth - to whatever community - and to both challenge myths and get to the root causes of the conflict.
Read MoreThe "road" was the roughest Elizabeth had ever been on in Palestine; often she was convinced we were about to roll over - sometimes to the side, sometimes forward. Elizabeth remembered that the last time she was in Nablus, a university student said a friend of hers died in a car accident in the hills, trying to get to school. Thank God we arrived safely.
Read MoreAndrea and Marthame went to Tubas in the morning to film church and Sylvia, one of our subjects there. A college student at An-Najah University in Nablus, she travels weekly across nearly impossible roads into that sealed-off city. We wanted to start her section off in her context, among the Christian minority of this village.
Read MoreMarthame waited for a few minutes with school children trying to go home, others simply trying to pass for one reason or another. The soldiers began to get rough with the crowd, shoving and grabbing children and older people. It wouldn't be long before somebody would lose their patience with all of this and it would turn uglier than it was, so Marthame retreated and started walking back towards Jerusalem.
Read MoreWe tried to cross the bridge after our flight, but were informed it was closed because of Jewish holidays. No doubt the Israeli attack near Damascus will set things back throughout the region. We were initially told the bridge was closed until Friday, a time loss we couldn't suffer, but this turned out to be nothing more than rumor.
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After a couple hours on the road towards Cairo, passing green fields irrigated by the Nile, we spent the afternoon and evening going around town. Cairo is a world apart, buzzing and teeming with crowded, dusty, noisy life.
Read MoreWe made our way to the Saray Presbyterian Church in Alexandria to share in worship with Pastor Rizk and the rest of the community there. It is a joy to get to share in Presbyterian worship again. The sermon was in both English and Arabic for everyone's benefit.
Read MoreAs it was our last full day here, we made the most of it, playing soccer on the (grass!) field, swimming in the pool, and playing a swapping game.
Read MoreWe spent today hearing reports from our fellow workers throughout the region.
Read MoreAlexandria is a waterfront city, which means that underground burial was odd business. Water levels beneath the ground rose high enough to do their damage through the centuries, and the high humidity left remains which disintegrated into dust when simply touched by those excavating the site.
Read MoreSuddenly traveling seems like a thoroughly pleasant experience rather than an endless series of waiting at checkpoints and the whims of various soldiers.
Read MoreAn early morning will have us off, hoping for smooth "sailing" on our path!
Read MoreTomorrow we head off so we can fly to Cairo for The Presbyterian Church's Middle East Mission Personnel Retreat in Alexandria.
Read MoreLater the guitar came out and we sang songs over our coffee.
Read MoreFor three years the University has been trying to get work visas for its foreign faculty. No dice. So every three months (or less) they have to leave and come back in, hoping to get another three month tourist visa at the border. Once this was standard procedure for many organizations and NGOs. However, now, tourist visas are harder to get if you in any way resemble a peace activist (young, single, carrying a backpack).
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