Monday 26 January 2015 Silwan Primary School, Palestinian flags at lower gate, Bethlehem at checkpoint entrance

 

The Jerusalem Center recarpeted the seminar rooms where we start the tours with a video.

 

All of the chairs were moved into the hallway.

 



That morning we took hygiene kits to Silwan Elementary for the teachers to use with their health curriculum. They have about 450 students at the school.  The girls carried the boxes. 

On the back row is the principal Haseeba, Blaine, and Linda.



This is the front of the school.  It was refurbished last year so everything is mostly new.



They have a lot of plants out in front of the school and in the entry hall.



Last night they flew Palestinian flags outside the lower gate for someone released from prison.



Poster of the man that was released.



We went into Bethlehem at the end of the work day.  The produce stands were selling to the people crossing the border into Bethlehem.

Sunday 25 January 2015 Jerusalem Rape Crisis Center new location, Tina Whitchurch party for Gunthers

 

We went to the new location of the Jerusalem Rape Crisis Center.  Amy and Sylvina showed us around the office.

 

They have a gathering place to meet their clients.

 Jill and Ron Anderson, Alexus and Gary Nickle, Blaine and Linda, Brent and Marybeth Jones, Gaye Strathern, Kim and Jeff Chadwick, and Tina Whitchurch (David took the picture)  Tina Whitchurch had the service couples and faculty to her apartment for dessert.  She is going to be in Utah when we leave so she had the party for us before she left.

Friday 23 January 2015 Israel Museum, Mohannad engagement party at Commodore

 

The Israel Museum has a special exhibit entitled "Bamboo".  It is a structure completely made from bamboo.  It was designed by 2 men and took a crew 2 weeks to assemble.  It was really fun to climb on and made us feel like Swiss Family Robinson.

 



There were places to sit and lay down.

Blaine thought it was totally relaxing.
 

Pathways made it feel like a maze.

The bamboo rested on the ground so there would be some give to the structure.

It was a masterpiece of lashings...

 

And was amazingly strong. We also saw the Dead Sea Scrolls and a Jewish fashion and culture exhibit. When we got back to the Jerusalem Center there was a hygiene kit assembly with the students. Blaine and Brett Barrett helped get it set up.

Mohannad Qara'in invited us to his engagement party at the Commodore Hotel, down the hill from the lower gate.  We arrived the same time the happy couple came.

 



She was dressed up with a cape to cover herself.

 

The women met and mingled.

The women and men had separate parties.  I think the women's party was more fun.  They danced but the men just sat and talked.  The party was for family and friends. Most women were covered.

The bride (R) and her mother were dressed beautifully.

 



Mohannad and his finace' made a handsome couple.

 



And boy could they dance.

 



Mohannad officially proposed at the party after officially asking the father in the other room.

 

And then they danced some more.

 



Mohannad's finance' and mother danced.

 



And then many others joined in.

 

The women's side of the party...

 



and the men's side.  Mahmoud Abu Ghannam, Tarek Safadi, Mohannad, Tawfic Alawi, Nassif Asfour, Mohannad's dad, and Blaine.

 

As we left the party at the Commodore Hotel, this was our view of the center.  It's such a beautiful place to live. Ruth and Brett left for the airport after we returned from the party.  We were so happy they had come and had such a great time with them.



Thursday 22 January 2015 Via Dolorosa, Shaban, Hadrian/Damascus Gate

 

We spent the day in the Old City.  Everywhere you look, there are arches.  Some single and some double. These are in the Arab section and lead to private homes.

 



Ruth, Brett, and Linda
 

Covered arch at St. Anne's church, one of the stations of the Via Dolorosa.

 

We walked along the Via Dolorosa  where pilgrims walk the last walk of Christ's life.  There are 14 stations that represent the events of Christ's way to the cross.  Many of the groups carry a cross with them as Christ did.  This group is in front of one of the stations.
 

There are small mini mosques throughout the Old City.  This was open and the person in front was reciting the call to prayer.  Often they are recorded but this one was live.
 

The man on the left is praying and the man on the right is giving the call to prayer.

Shaban is the ever hospitable friend and businessman.  He always has a fruit drink and a smile.
 

Picture of the Pool of Hezekiah behind Nora Court's museum in the Old City, just inside Jaffa Gate.
 

This is what the pool looks like today taken from the 2nd floor of the museum.

 

Hadrian's gate is under Damascus Gate and dates to 135 CE. 

This is a timeline of the gate. Ruth and Brett toured David's Tower while we were here.

 

This is a Roman gameboard etched in the floor, found near Hardrian's gate.

 

Damascus gate was built by the Ottoman Turk, Sulieman the Magnificent in 1538.

 

Damascus Gate today. After touring the gate, Ruth, Brett, and Linda went to the Room of the Last Supper and St. Peter in Gallicantu.  Blaine picked us up and we drove to Ein Karem for dinner.

Tuesday 20 January 2015 Four Homes, Shorouq, Peace Center, Silwan, Old City Walls

We took hygiene kits into Bethany.  This was a day where Ruth and Brett were able to meet our Palestinian friends and get an idea of what we do.  Ruth and Brett are loading and I'm counting.

 

Our first stop in Bethany was the Four Homes of Mercy.  They need new beds for their handicapped patients which they would like BYU to help with.  We are in the patients' room with a staff member and Usama, the director.



 

Next we went to Shorouq Society for women.  They had a lovely brunch for us of traditional Palestinian food-  pita, cucumber & tomatoes, salads, and home made Palestinian pizza. The lady between Ruth and me brought her little guy to work because it was a school holiday.



 

He was a real character.  The director, Fatima, was a little frustrated with him.

 



On the patio we said good- bye to the 2 staff members and little guy.

 

Our last stop in Bethany was at Peace Center for Heritage with director Sawsan.  Ruth and I each bought a purse embroidered by Bedouin women.

She took us to Lazarus' tomb and the mosque up the street from her store.

 

Entrance to Lazarus' tomb with the mosque in the background.



Sawsan told us this was Mary & Martha's home.  It would have been somewhere in the vicinity.

 

Tuesday afternoon we went to Silwan Primary School.  Ruth brought a suitcase full of new books that were English readers.  There were multiple copies for many of the books making them perfect for reading groups in the English class.  Hasiba is the principal of the school.  She was delighted with all the books.



Fatima, the secretary, shared in the excitement.

 

As did the English teacher.

 



We took the books out and lined them up on the table in the work room.

They were pleased with the addition to their library.

Blaine went for a walk along the city wall.



East side of City Wall



A Palestinian cemetery is just outside the Old City on the east side.

Headstones in the Palestinian cemetery with Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane in the background.

 

The Golden Gate where Christ will enter at his second coming.



Church of All Nations on the Mount of Olives from Palestinian cemetery

A keyhole on the east wall where soldiers may have poured hot tar to defend themselves.