Sunday 15 February 2015 Walk through the Kidron Valley, lunch in Jericho with Carol and Nabil Jabari

Blaine and I walked down the Kidron Valley.  We started at the bottom of the hill outside the lower gate.

We walked through a cemetery with wild flowers growing profusely,

and an olive orchard.

 

We walked past the Golden Gate which is sealed.  According to all three faiths, it is here that the Messiah will enter Jerusalem.

 The Church of All Nations at the Garden of Gethsemane



South east corner of the city wall, near the Temple Mount



This is the village of Silwan which is mostly on the east side of the Kidron Valley. On the west side is the City of David.  There are burial caves which have been excavated under the neighborhood.  There has been concern by the Palestinians living there that the under cutting of the excavations is compromising the foundations of their homes.

The homes hang on the side of the hill.  Silwan is where we taught English last year.

A Palestinian living at the bottom of the City of David invited us  to visit and have a drink of water. Hospitality is everywhere.

That afternoon we went with Carol and Nabil Jabari to the Lemon Restaurant in Jericho. They have a big brick oven where they baked their bread. 

Carol works at Patients Friends Society at Augusta Victoria Hospital.  It's an educational  program and support service for women who have had cancer.  Nabil is a dentist and the CEO of the board of directors of Hebron University.  He told us about being arrested and put in prison during the 1980's because the IDF suspected him of inspiring terrorism.  He was in prison for 4 months without being charged.  Nabil was handcuffed, blindfolded, given little food, and assaulted by the prison guards.  At one point, one of the prison guards tried to provoke him.  He acted like he couldn't understand or hear him and they left him alone. There was a write-in campaign for his release from embassies, government  officials, and movie stars ( Haley Mills being one of them.)  They finally released him still with no reason given for his arrest.

For dessert they served us fresh fruit which they skillfully prepared.

Thursday 12 February 2015 Dinner in the Shuk with Masha, Yaron, Alon, Hen, ?

We met  Yaron, Masha, and Alon from Atnachta for dinner at the Shuk.  Alon and his wife live in the apartments above the shuk.  They have an internet dining business where people can sign up to have a Jewish dinner at their home.  Before we went to their apartment we went on a tour of the shuk.  We found that prices are cheaper at night and the restaurants are busy.  Left to right: Alon, Hen, Yaron, another employee of Atnachta, Masha, and Linda.

Hen served a delicious Moroccan dinner with salads, tilapia, chicken and dessert. She and Alon are expecting their first child.  Their apartment was small, simple, and cute. 

Hen fixed merangue with fruit on top.  She is really a great cook and the meal was delicious. The presentation was beautiful. 

Wednesday 11 February 2015 Dinner at Fellows' Home

We went to James and Susanna Fellows' home.  They are Jerusalem Branch members that came about the same time we did.  They will be here in Jerusalem l more year.  From L to R:  Linda, Louisa, Susanna, James. Nicholas, and Jarom.  James is with the consulate and they have lived all over the world.  They have been family to us while we've been here.

Susanna is an amazing cook. pastries and main dishes.

Tuesday 10 February 2015 Service Project at Spafford Children Center

 This last year we taught English at the Spafford School in the Old City.  During the summer, Jan Clayton and I taught an English class and Emma Belnap taught a dance class. During the school year, we've taken BYU students to help with an after school program.  These are a few of the kids we've worked with. We've read with them, helped them with their writing, read readers' theater, had mini-English classes, sang, danced, and laughed with them.

Sunday 8 February 2015 Service projects - Friends of Fahmi Library, St. Vincent

In the morning the students helped the Ansari family move more of  Fahami Library.  They moved it from the old library near the St. George Hotel to the new library in the basement of the school a few blocks from Sal Adin Sreet.  Inas' brother Terik is the front right person.

Many hands make light work.

 

Inas' niece and nephew are in the background.



We loaded the van,

and then they unloaded it at the new location.

Many of the same kids came both times to help.

 

Inside the library, in the basement of a Palestinian school.

 

and out on the patio.

That afternoon another group of students went to St. Vincent's School for handicapped children.  Sister Pascal showed us the new walk-in cooler BYU helped fund.

Linda and Sister Pascal

The students posed for a picture in the front office after spending time with the children.

Friday 6 February 2015 Jerusalem waking up

 Pictures every half hour of Jerusalem waking up.  We never tire of our view.

Thursday 5 Feburary 2015 Ansaris' to dinner and concert

We invited the Ansari family to dinner and the Jazz Concert.  Inas, her mom and dad, nephew, and Namati and her daughter Eman all came for dinner in our apartment.  Eman's husband, Mohannad and her brother Mohammad came for the concert.

Mr. Ansari, Mrs. Ansari, Eman, and Namati Ansari.with nephew in the background.

Eman, Enis's nephew, Inas, Namati, Mohammad, Linda, Mohammad's cousin, Mrs. Ansari and Mr. Ansari.

Marybeth and Brent with Inas.