Unfortunately, the Dead Sea is shrinking at the rate of an inch a year - it's hasty retreat is dramatic. As in most places, this has to do with the appropriation of its natural sources for other uses.
Read MoreIn the office of World Vision stood an Arab priest who had been attacked on the road by settlers on the West Bank. He was told that the damage to his car was not covered because the attack had been by Jews.
Read MoreElizabeth and family headed off to the Mount of Olives where we saw a wonderful view of the city.
Read MoreWe took solace in the fact that it's a big, big city, with no dearth of things to see, and so we became tourists again, doing some shopping (the pleas of desperate shopkeepers are depressing - as we walked the Via Dolorosa, we wondered if the crowd shouted "50% off" to Jesus, too).
Read MoreAfter our adventures getting from Zababdeh to Jerusalem, one thing has become clear: the peace process should begin with taxi drivers.
Read MoreThe church is the fourth oldest known church in the world, built on the site where Jesus healed ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19) and one thanked him. There is an ancient cave within the church and a hole in the roof where people would deliver food to the lepers who had been quarantined in grottos.
Read MoreNevertheless, we traveled. We visited two Churches of the Annunciation (one Latin and one Greek).
Read MoreWe were welcomed back to Zababdeh, walking the streets to a chorus of "welcomes", "Merry Christmases" and "have some coffee." It's good to be home.
Read MoreVisiting friends and family during Christmas is a traditional Palestinian pastime - this is our particular version of it.
Read MoreThere were some pilgrims from the rest of the world, but taking the center stage were a group of Christians from around the world who had traveled on foot and camel from Iraq through Syria and Jordan.
Read MoreO little town of Bethlehem, the organs still do play of Jesus in a manger and angels on the way; our music and our singing is louder than a gun, and church bells in their ringing remind us we have won.
Read MoreAfter sleeping late, we headed for a walk along the Mediterranean and a day at nearby Jaffa.
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Once in Tel Aviv, we checked into our youth hostel.
Read MoreHope still flickers, like the light of Advent candle, in faithful anticipation.
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Now that winter is here, the morning assembly time outside is drastically reduced - especially when a rainstorm shows up uninvited.
Read MoreThe school's system of organizing exams is quite effective - all of the students in grades 6-11 take their exams together in the auditorium.
Read MoreThe Bible Society of Jerusalem sent a group of five young adults for an afternoon of puppet shows, games, and presents.
Read MoreWe also found our way to Jenin - fortunately, it hasn't rained in the last day or so, and we were able to drive around the roadblocks. More everyday, Palestinian non-violent resistance - though they probably would just consider it par for the course.
Read MoreWe went for one of our periodic walks in the mountains towards sunset, this time up into the pine trees - yes, pine trees! The terrain here is nothing like we would have imagined.
Read MoreNegotiating our way across these days is interesting business.
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