Dave’s Blog

Well, it finally did snow. An inch or two blanketed the area last night. It was beautiful this morning. Everything is closed because they just are not used to operating in this weather. The streets are so winding, steep and so many blind turns that things are at a standstill.

Of course, I am going stir crazy. I want to be out working with the kids. I am glad that many of them already have strings and have learned some things. They can stay in their homes and play with the strings. A good inside activity. So many of them live upstairs or across the patio from relatives that they can congregate and share with each other. I think of the kids in the Azza refugee camp and how they have something to do today in their confined quarters.

Went to the Uncle’s home again tonight. He is still not smoking. They had two “hubbley bubblies” or water pipes going. We picked up one of the cousins at her home and took her along. Aunt Linda came over too and we visited and ate delicious little bread cookies made with cheese and Greek ripe olives and sesame seeds. I am going to try them at home.

Later we ate humas, fahul, goose liver, french fries and oil with spices…all with home made pita bread. Lots of laughing around the table.

Aunt Linda has two students staying with her for 3 weeks. One is from Nepal and one is from Indiana. They are college students in America. The American had been to the community that I lived at in Honduras. She might have known a girl that we brought home to study in America. Small world.

Frozen Dave

People here keep asking if I am going to go to Jerusalem, Rachels Tomb, The Jordan river etc. Let me explain my reasoning for not going to those places. I have three things in mind.

#1 My whole purpose for being here is to bring fun and string activity and rienforce the Gospel Story with string to the Palestinian children. I am happiest when my day if filled with school, orphanage, church groups and refugee camp visits. I brought 4,000 strings in order to work with kids…and adults. I am also hoping to have a couple of people that can carry on the String Ministry here.

#2 I am trying to have the Palestinian experience while here. I am staying with a Palestinian family and trying to visit their relatives and have everyday activities. The Palestinians from here are not allowed to enter Jerusalem or go the 30 minutes away to go to Rachel’s Tomb. They are allowed to visit the Jordan river 1 day a year, the celebration of the Baptism of Jesus and that happened two days before I got here. For this reason I am trying to duplicate what they can and cannot do.

#3 This trip was expensive and I just do not feel that I can afford the tourist tours and places. I have been to the birthpace of Jesus here in Bethlehem and touched the silver star.  I have walked in the old city. I have been to Jericho which is a small town, much like life 2,000 years ago. Bethlehem, as a bigger place is more like Jeruselem was 2,000 years ago. Monday I will go out to a small village. I am having many great times and coming away with a feeling of what it was like when Jesus walked the cobbled pathways. 

Dave

This was written about the event that I was at last Friday.

Dear David here is the URL for my Blog http://eliasd.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/how-the-israeli-soldiers-can-stop-the-palestinian-n
onviolence-resistance/ thank  you Elias

Started out with a class at 7:50. Actually it was two classes. They put the second grades together. Then I had a 12 grade and then two third grades together then two seperate 8th grades. It is a challange when a teacher does not have controll. I can’t override him. The other classes were very eager to learn more and more. When I entered each class in the Jr/Sr High they cheered. They had heard of the String Man and were very excited when it was their turn.

The teachers were especially interested in the Bible stories and concepts that were protrayed. A couple of the cousins are in this school and knew many things. They were a “big man on campus”. One of the cousins teaches there and Aunt Linda is a social worker that comes every Tuesday. We had a good visit during break time.

I came straight home. They are supposed to have the funeral for the 17 year old that was killed at noon and I thought it prudent to stay away. I will walk to the little store a short ways away and get a snack for lunch.

The rain seems to have stopped and the snow is not here yet. Everyone is expecting to stay home tomorrow because of snow. A once every 10 years or so. We will see.

Dave

Monday morning the taxi picked me up and took me to the Greek Catholic Patriarchate School. I met with 6 classes of 5th to 11th graders. They were lively and one teacher seemed to stir them up more than settle them, but I am a stranger and do not know all of what is going on. It was a good time. I go back to that school again tomorrow and Wednesday. The Principal said that the teachers wanted to meet with me about the string programs. We met during the morning break for about 10 minutes and talked about all the educational benifits that were involved in this activity. They were very appreciative of the programs that I was giving.

Went back to Holy Land Trust for lunch and to settle part of my expenses. Had an Egyptian staple of Spagetti pasta and elbow macaroni with rice and lentles. Very starchy.

At 3:30 we went to Azzah Refugee camp. There are three camps in Bethlehem. This one has about 2,000 people, 48% childen. Boy were they excited to have something to do. Some of their families have been in this camp since 1948. They are in block housing but it seemed very dingy. The kids loved the string and some of the older ones hung around to learn more and more. Ahmad Al’azzah lives at the camp and works at Holy Land Trust. He took me. He was really good with children getting them together and settled so I could work with them. A taxi then took me home

Osama, my host, works for PNN the Palestine News Network and came in about 5:30 to tell me there were Israeli soldiers in Bethlehem and had shot at the PNN photographers. They didnn’s seem to know why they were there. Two people were in the hospital. (We later learned that one person was killed.) I thought I had heard shots earlier and have heard some since. I think I will keep a very low profile.

It is sad to think of the children that are in the midst of this. Everyone I have met here seems to be just trying to live out their lives with family and friends.

I slept in today…don’t ask how late. I just did not feel like going through the challanges of facing the Mass and everything not understanding anything that was going on. The family arrived about 11 after having Mass and going to the grave site. Many came back to the house for tea and Arabic coffee. The son, Elias, who is a priest came and I met him along with some other new relatives. They all left except Lydia, Osama, Mary and her family and a brother in law. We had a wonderful meal of lamb chops, a rice and ground meat dish with delicious spices, stuffed grape leaves, stuffed zuchinni squash and sour cream for everything. I ate till I was stuffed then they offered me more.

We have had a quiet afternoon of picking up from the company and a little journaling. Ellias #2 remembered to give me an adaptor plug for my battery charger so I also charged the batteries for my video camera. Many people have been taking pictures and I just ask them to email a few to me. That is an easy way to see how they view things and I also do not have to stop and take pictures. I do want a video of driving in Bethlehem. 

I have added another layer of clothing so am more comfortable. If I go over 4 layers, my jacket will not fit.

Went to the grandmothers for a birthday party. We then went across the patio and up some steps to another house. It was one of her sons who was 43 yesterday and a grandaughter was 7. They had cake and tea and sang happy birthday in English and in Arabic.

Some of the young adults went to the Grotto restaurant…the uncles place. There were 10 of us…I tagged along sitting around the table. 3 water pipes, wine and diet sprite were part of the festivities. Some of us also ate something. I had a nice pickled eggplant with pita for appitizer and lamb chops and salad for the main course. Aunt Linda took us home since Osama’s brakes were out on one of our earlier trips. (That was exciting on these steep curvey streets.)

Dave

Saturday morning at 8 I was met by the taxi to take me to the Greek Orthodox School and I did 4 classes. Grades 5, 7 and the two sections of grade ten. Had some The admeinstrator said that I was very lucky. The teacher was in Italy so I could have all her classes. I had one free period and the morning break to drink Arabic coffee and also tea in the teachers lounge. They are the same the world over.

I had to leave early to get to the Alhara Theatre group in Beit Jala. About 10 in their 20’s who use the theater to pass along the Christian message. They use dance and drama and wanted to see if the string could work into their repatorie. We had a lot of fun.

Home for a short nap and then to a woman’s shelter. It is a lockdown facility for battered or troubled women. Boy, did they get into the strings. They needed lots of praise and wanted to show me that they could do each thing. There is a child in each of us. I spent 1 1/2 hour with them then we had tea, of course.

Osama picked me up and we went home to meet the relatives. About 30 of them. His father passed away 6 months ago. His mother is in black and goes to no parties or such for one year. After 40 days they had a family feast and at 6 months the family gathers at the house for tea and Arabic coffee and talk. Tomorrow will be a special Mass for him. About 8:30 Lydia and her daughter started fixing supper. They called us to supper and the last of the relatives got the hint and left.

They are talking about snow Tuesday. Very excited as the last was over 7 years ago. I could do without it. I am now going to curl up in my bed and get warm.

Dave

Friday Morning

I went to a peaceful demonstration here in Bethlehem to protest the building of the wall. On the Bethlehem side of the barrier.

There were about 400 people and they were carrying signs and chanting. Most of them were Muslim and had a talk by the Imam and prayers then we all walked to the line of soldiers and tanks. Things were very controlled. There was one man who was trying to start trouble and get in the face of the soldiers and the Palestinians coralled him quickly and moved him to the back.
We had been there about 45 minutes and were starting to disperse…but not fast enough for the Israeli troops. They started shooting and throwing tear gas canisters, noise grenades and shock grenades. I was caught in the middle and got a big dose of tear gas. I could not see or breath. One starts to run just to get away. Wherever you can go. You fall and hope you don’t get trampled. Running and holding your ears because the noise grenades are so loud.
You try to see and vomit because you can’t breathe. It was horrifying. I made it out of the melee and stopped to try to catch my breath. Then running again because there was more tear gas. I thought that I was a safe distance away and then there was another one behind me.
I am safe now but my eyes still burn and my throat hurts. The told me not to use any water on my face because it will make it blister and burn. Wait until tonight. My clothes smell and my Adrenalin is very high. Back at the office with a cup of Nescafe now.
It did not seem to me that there was any threat as we were leaving. I don’t understand these tactics. At the line of soldiers there was one who stood on a tank taking video. I held up my sign for him to photograph. Later they are telling me that he was taking photos of people to use later at check points or the airport. Suspected terrorist, I guess.
Well, off to the SOS orphanage to do a program. I feel like I have put in a full day already. I understand a little more just what these people go through in their own land.

Friday evening. I went to SOS Children’s Village-Bethlehem …www.sos-childrensvillage.org  It is an orphanage for 97 childdren. The organization also runs a school and social services to a number of area families in stress. The kids were great. I did learn that after I showed them something a couple of times to only help the ones that were sitting down. When I wouldn’t help one pulling on my arm they sat down so Elias or I could help. The administrator that was helping gave them directions in Arabic even though he couldn’t speak English.

Came home for another round of tea. When Osama and Lydia came home they started cooking sabaneh. They are a raised dough with either a filling of spinich and green onion with oregano or filled with a tomato and mushroom mixture. Their oven is on the back patio and when they came out they were delicious We had cut up tomatos, bread, feta cheese and olives (green and black).

Osama was waiting for a call from a friend so we could go out and visit but he couldn’t find him. Just as well as I am exhausted. I need to get up early to be at a school at 8:00. Osama had to go to the radio station to take care of a problem there for a short time. He just returned and I am going to bed.

Last night, after a good supper of Chicken roast with lots of Garlic and Rice with a thin soup of spinich and spices to put over the rice, we went to the uncle’s home. Uncle Shareek Ghareeb and aunt Noha have 4 girls and one boy. He owns the restaurant that we ate at the first day and met with friends one evening. He is a very type A person and to add to that he just quit smoking.

We arrived at the second floor flat just as they were finishing eating. What a lively discussion and lots of try this. Home made bread, hummas, hot dogs and a number of other things that I did not know but tried. Oh yes, I did recognize the french fries. Hot sweet tea and lots of talk.

Then we moved to the living area to watch American wrestling on TV. The women had been embroidering scarves for the church and were giving them the final touches. One of the girls were on the internet and Uncle was back and fourth and into everything. Then he got on the exercise machine…for about 2 minutes. Then we had a sweet mint tea. I was told it is very healthy. Along with fruit and then pastries of course. Came home about 10:30. Boy was I tired. 

Dave

Dave

Wednesday night we had supper. Fried fish, deep fried cauliflower and french fries…all healthy because they were fried in olive oil. We also had tomatoes and pita bread. They had been fixed during Lydia’s 2 hour lunch break so they were room temperature…cold. That is something different from home. I then worked on the computer writing up my day.

About 8, a friend and fellow worker with Osama, George Canawati and his wife and little daughter came over. The daughter was about 1 1/2 and everytime she looked at me she cried and ran to her mother. By the end of the evening she did wave bye bye…rather happily. Heer mother was veery quick to see how each of the string things was made and enjoyed them. George was on the computer and phone. Everyone here has at least one phone and often two. One for Palestine itself and one that covers Israel and the adjoining countries. That one, the Orange one, (Named for the company) is cheaper to use, and they use them. Everyone also has a Myface site and they spend a lot of time checking their own or others. I am talking about the younger generation. The older ones are watching the Arabian soaps. 

‘

This morning a taxi picked me up and then picked up Elias to go to the school. Elias left me at the school and I worked with grades 7, 8, 9, and 10 today. They were great. They already knew what to expect and were very anxious to learn. We had a lot of fun. I saved two of my best figures for the 11 and 12th grades but they had exams today and could not come. Oh well, they will learn them from cousins at another school.

Went back to Holy Land Trust and had coffee and checked email. I then went for a walk. It is impossible to keep on the sidewalk because of all the cars and trucks parking there. A lot of walking in the street. Since it was lunch time, I was looking for somewhere to get a sandwich. I saw a version of the word “Subway” and went in. Not the origional but a copy.

Inside I saw Elias and his friend Said Zarzar eating. I had met Sareed on the trip to Jericho and at the restaurant. He is a fun loving person, always happy. We ate and then they arranged for me to come home.

Let me talk a minute about Settlements as I see it. From the news, I thought they were a few houses with a fence around them. Actually there are about 28 that are enormous. One, Jabal Abu Bhnem or Har Homa in Hebrew, is on the top of a mountain right next to Bethlehem. Modern appartments and buildings of many stories high. There must be 10,000 people living in it. They expect 40,000. A great gated community. It is built on Palestinian land and the Israelis say that to protect it they build the wall to include it into Jeruselem territory and destroyed all the Palestinian homes near the wall. This one is populated mostly with Russian Jews who get free apartments and a stipend for living there.

When you sit in Bethlehem looking Northeast, it is always prominant in your view. Always in their face reminding them of land lost. I have met many Palestinians by now and they all talk of the situation, but I have seen no militants. No one trying to be a threat or problem, just people very sad and confused about their situation trying to go on with their daily life..

Last evening, Osama said his mother wanted to visit his sister, Mary and ask if I would like to go along with them. Always ready to meet someone new, I said yes. Driving here is like driving in San Francisco down alleys in the dark. Narrow passageways meant for people and donkeys. Many blind alleys, steep (and I mean STEEP) curves all in the rain without street lights. Osama’s car has one headlight that points down and the other is dim. (He is looking at a newer car.)

Mary lives on the other side of the town down a dirt track. Did I say it was steep and dark? We arrived at their very nice home build above his workshop. Her husband, Raed Hawash is a wood turner, making bowls, chalices, vases and candle sticks for sale in the shops. They have central heat and she turned it on for us. Their 2nd grader girl, Rozaleen and 3 year old boy, Elias were there. We visited and after Rozaleen did her homework, I showed her some string figures. She  was very quick. They gave me a vase that he had made. Olive wood is so beautiful. They also promised to send me a pair of candle sticks. Such thoughtful people.

We had Nescafe and cookies…Oh, have some more, Please. Where have I heard that before?

Wednesday morning was cold and rainy. Elias was to pick me up at 8:45. About 9 a taxi came up and stopped. I got in…what trust. I asked if Elias had called him and he said yes. We picked up Elias at the office and then drove to the school. It is an impressive building sitting on top of Mount Murier in Bethlehem It is a Lutheran school for K-12. I did three programs of about an hour each. Grades 1,2 then 3,4 then 5,6. In the middle we had a break with Arabic coffee.

The children here are living under a lot of tension and have few ways to get rid of it. There are no playgrounds, the zoo is on the other side of the Wall as are the theaters. Consequently, they are very rambunsious. They were hard to quiet down but eventually learned some figures and were VERY excited and had lots of fun. Then one of the teachers drove us back to the office. Elias said he was the future husband of one of his cousins. Everything is about family.