November 1, 2005: Hope

But it is clear that the larger obstacle he and all Palestinians face is the Israeli Occupation. While the town of Jericho is subject to the Palestinian Authority, 95% of the region Dr. Musallem governs is under total Israeli control.

Read More
nov05Mudeif Office
October 31, 2005

Having been away from Palestine for two years, and being an Anglo-American Protestant, I had forgotten the unnatural discomfort of standing out. Living in Palestine has been my closest exposure to living the minority experience.

Read More
oct05Mudeif Office
December 29, 2003

We had an interesting time getting through the initial security checks, being told that the olive oil and olives we were bringing from Zababdeh were not allowed by Lufthansa - more because of the mess than anything else.

Read More
dec03Mudeif Office
December 25, 2003

We spent the rest of the day at home, as friends and neighbors came by to wish us good-bye. It was a good way to accomplish the hard task of saying farewell to a whole village.

Read More
dec03Mudeif Office
December 23, 2003

The morality tale reinforces that being Christian is more than just having "Christian" printed on your ID - more than getting a day off or special treatment on Easter and Christmas.

Read More
dec03Mudeif Office
December 20, 2003

Fr. Aktham took a moment to thank us, and give us farewell presents: Elizabeth got a hand-embroidered dress, which she slipped on over her clothes. People joked that if she wore that when we arrive in the States, security wouldn't let us enter the country. And Fr. Aktham has arranged for Marthame to get an 'oud, the traditional big-bellied Arab stringed instrument that he has coveted for so long.

Read More
dec03Mudeif Office
December 17, 2003

The best news we've heard in three and a half years: Anis got his visa! Anis had received a full four-year scholarship to study at North Park University in Chicago.

Read More
dec03Mudeif Office
December 16, 2003

In the absence of any true democracy (both under the Israeli military occupation and as subjects of a Palestinian Authority which has little ability or desire to hold elections), this will have to do.

Read More
dec03Mudeif Office
December 14, 2003 - the 3rd Sunday of Advent

On the way to visit them, two tanks stood in our way. A three car procession (one Israeli-plated, one Palestinian-plated, and one with diplomatic plates) of clergy drew attention, but thankfully not fire, from the soldiers. They were kind enough to raise the tank turret so that we could pass under and let us through coming and going.

Read More
dec03Mudeif Office