We've got a long two days ahead of us - leaving Zababdeh and heading to Ramallah, then finding our way to Jerusalem, then to Amman in time for our 3:00 AM one-stop trans-Atlantic flight on June 1.

Walking through the town today reminded us of some of the things that we'll miss. One of them is the sound of the birds (mostly cattle egrets) that fill the trees near the Latin Convent - one of them isn't the risks we take walking under those trees.

As Marthame and Abuna Louis headed into the worship service this morning, Abuna asked him to say a few words about the trip to Iraq.

Ilhamdillah 'al-salaami (roughly, "thank God you made it back safely")! This chorus greeted us as we returned to school. That, and numerous questions about our trip to Iraq. Everyone wanted an update, a story.

Halfway there, we came to an Israeli checkpoint. As we approached, the driver told everyone to say we were coming from Jericho, not Ramallah - our circuitous route took us so far East that no one would ever believe how we came.

No better or worse, just different emotionally. It's very hard to relax here.

The church is thriving in its faithful witness there, free to worship and serve.

Both churches have seen the devastation of the two wars. Emigration after 1991 was particularly devastating.

We then gathered outside for some wonderful fellowship and conversation and an Iraqi-style Presbyterian-potluck.

The monastery once had over one hundred monks in residence, but this has now dindled to one bishop and three monks. The view, of course, down the valley was unparalleled - those monastics knew the basic rule: location, location, location.

An early, early morning took us to Samarra and its spectacular mosque. The mosque itself is being renovated, but the prayer tower is accessible by a spiral staircase around its exterior that leads to spectacular views of the nearby towns

The congregation was formed from Assyrian Christians, and so many of the traditional elements of worship - the Lord's Prayer, hymn singing, etc. - are done in Aramaic rather than Arabic.