Words will have to suffice for today, as the camera just didn't seem appropriate.
Read MoreOnce the shooting stopped, we paused to watch the beautiful moon disappear slowly from view. One of our neighbors said it looked like it was sad for Palestine.
Read MoreWe gathered with a crowd of folks along the road to see what can be seen - sometimes the red lights of Israeli tracer bullets (we think) can be seen disappearing into the hills. Suddenly, we saw one of these lovely red lights headed in the direction of our gathered crowd - thirty feet in the air and to the left (it wouldn't be a field goal), but in our general direction. Everyone scattered - Marthame went one way, Elizabeth another. Five or ten more followed suit afterwards, no one was really sure what was happening.
Read MoreElizabeth and Mom spent much of the day checking out the rugs for sale all around our hostel.
Read MoreUnfortunately, 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.
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