Marthame went to Jenin to settle accounts today, hoping to finish everything in one fell swoop. However, the false idols of Middle Eastern bureaucracy were conspiring against him.
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After a bit (and of course coffee), we went to see Im Nabil. Living alone at 80 in perhaps Zababdeh's oldest stone house (with Samaritan mason work and decoration), she always astonishes us with her sharp mind, fantastic English, and interesting stories.
Read MoreWe have had several warm sunny days, drying up the mud and warming up the land. So after lunch today we went for a walk, something we haven't done in ages.
Read MoreMarthame worked on editing and fixing the misbehaving computer (sometimes it seems as though the equipment is conspiring against us!) and then went to choir practice in the evening to do some more filming.
Read MoreDuring the announcements Fr. Aktham reminded the congregation that we are leaving soon. He gave an affectionate and warm pre-farewell farewell. We will really miss this place.
Read MoreThis evening, we made a few visits, knowing that there are many many people we want to see, and not that many days left.
Read MoreMarthame and Fr. Firas went to the Melkite church to complete his interview for the film, to take a tour of the church grounds, and to just catch up on the latest news.
Read MoreMeanwhile, bad news came from the University - two of our friends there have been refused entry into Israel and the West Bank after their 'Eid holiday.
Read MoreMarthame felt up to going to Jenin, where he connected a couple of journalists with friends in Jenin Camp.
Read MoreHappy Thanksgiving.
Read MoreToday is the first of the three day Eid al-Fitr, the celebration marking the end of Ramadan.
Read MoreWe spent the next few hours trying to negotiate our way across the checkpoint. We were told in no uncertain terms that we should not pass from this checkpoint, because Hamra is meant for us. Hamra has mostly meant frustration and abuse (and three hour waits) over the past few months, so we knew better than that.
Read MoreOur friend Homam today becomes a Deacon of the Roman Catholic Church. Homam served last year in Zababdeh as part of his seminary training, and we very much enjoyed getting to know him.
Read MoreElizabeth went to lovely handmade pottery and tile workshop, run by the Balian family, one of three Armenian families brought to Jerusalem in 1917 to renovate the ceramic tiles on the Dome of the Rock.
Read MoreA friend we met on the way told us the crowd and the extra security was because today is the last Friday of Ramadan and tonight is Laylet al-Qadr, "The Night of Providence."
Read MoreThe line was long, and the movement slow to imperceptible. Closer to the head of the line was another bus run by the same company, so those of us on board were advised to disembark and walk up to board that one, in order to get through faster.
Read MoreThe Jalame checkpoint has been moved a good half a mile inside the West Bank, almost next to the petrol station along the main road. The only business along the main road which was not demolished (due to its owner being Israeli and having all of the necessary licensing and threatening legal action against the military), the station is now obsolete.
Read MoreMarthame wet off to film Fr. Firas in the hills today, interviewing him under the olive trees.
Read MoreIn the afternoon, our friend Susan came up with her sister to visit. Susan works for an NGO in Jerusalem and is up here checking on some projects; even so, like many NGOs, she has a lot of trouble crossing checkpoints.
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