The irony of Marthame's family traveling hither and yon is that they have far more freedom than people here do in their own homeland.
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We then made our way back to Zababdeh by the by-roads and the dusty trails, avoiding roadblocks and bulldozed ways, taking a detour through the Jordan Valley at one point and through the desert non-roads at another point, following cars that seemed to know the way.
Read MoreWe took our time this morning leaving the comfort of bed, and then slowly made our way to the Protestant-owned Garden Tomb. Even though its authenticity (as the site of Christ's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection) is largely denied by scholars, somehow it seemed very fitting to us to bask there in the sunshine following Resurrection Sunday.
Read MoreAl-Masih Qaam. Haaqan Qaam. Christ is Risen. He is Risen Indeed.
Read MoreWe returned to Zababdeh for "Sabt in-Nour" - Saturday of Light, the Easter vigil of Holy Saturday. The service began at 8:00 in darkness as the simple light of a candle entered the sanctuary.
Read MoreThe procession then headed to the village's Christian cemetery, where the cross was set for the night. Elizabeth noted the large number of people who gathered at family gravesides and weeped and mourned demonstratively over the departed.
Read MoreA Blessed Maundy Thursday.
Read MoreWe headed off to Bethlehem today, giving Marthame's family a chance to experience first-hand what life under occupation is like, as they crossed over a blockaded road to meet our waiting taxi.
Read MoreSince we had given short shrift to the Holy Sepulchre yesterday, today we gave it the time it deserves.
Read MoreWe traveled the Via Dolorosa, visiting both the impressive churches along the way (like the Church of Flaggelation with its impressive ceiling artwork of the crown of thorns) and the small chapels that simply mark one of the Stations of the Cross.
Read MoreHappy Palm Sunday!
Read MoreWe continued our rounds of the village, discovering that people are getting ready for Palm Sunday tomorrow (in Arabic, "'Eid ash-Sha’aniin" - literally, the festival of olive branches).
Read MoreSince it's Friday, it gave us the chance to walk around the hills near the new Arab-American University of Jenin.
Read MoreThere is a little too much Disney here for comfort.
Read MoreToday we confined ourselves to the Old City of Nazareth.
Read MoreA plan was hatched to spend the rest of the day in Haifa.
Read MoreAfter Elizabeth's adult English classes, we left with Marthame’s family for a few days in the Galilee district.
Read MoreMarthame's family is here!
Read MoreAs people lament about the vanishing Christian population (which is true), there remain these signs that people are planning for a future.
Read MoreWhile Marthame watched the mechanic at work, two Palestinian soldiers pulled up and asked the mechanic questions about him: "Is he Jewish? A settler? An Israeli?"
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