Life is a series of beginnings and endings, and it is hard to believe I will be returning home in a couple of days. I leave behind months of trying to be useful, experiencing what the Palestinians face on a daily basis and receiving genuine friendships from people who are under seige.I have seen the results of the stress of the occupation, I have laughed with the children around me and have been inspired by the daily acts of generosity. I am grateful for having had this second opportunity to live among the Palestinans and see the beauty which exists among them. The land inspires thoughts of ancient peoples and yesterday I was invited to visit some newly discovered archeological finds from Byzantine times, not far from Hope School. Ironically it was the digging of the "wall" that led to the discovery of the storage caves and large, circular stones for crushing grapes. The "wall"continues to be built around Beit Jala and and with it beautiful sections of land are lost to their rightful owners. The news of the attack on the Gaza flotilla has dampened our spirits and one wonders how people even survive in Gaza. A friend whose grandmother lives in Gaza, tells me there is a great need for medicine, for building materials and school supplies. Often fruit and vegetables that are ready to be exported from Gaza are held up and spoil in the heat. Life is not easy here, but I have gained insight into the complexity of a conflict which has no easy answers. It is unfortunate the West has not been able to play a more successful role in bringing peace to this region. May peace be with you and your loved ones. Salaam, yvonne

Today Palestinian Christians are celebrating St. George's day. He is the beloved patron saint of Beit Jala and Bethlehem, and you can find his image in many places in this area. Christians as well as some Muslims go to the beautifully painted church of St. George in a small town nearby to pray and light candles. It is a joyful day during which special sweet, round, flat loaves of bread are sold. These freshly baked loaves, the size of a dinner plate,have been blessed by the priest and no one leaves the church without purchasing several of them to share with family.

The candles vary in size; from very thin ones to large ones 5 ft tall and many visitors come especially to light one in the hope that their prayers will be answered. It is interesting to observe Muslims revering St. George and to know that they revere Mary and other saints as well. The interior of the small church is decorated with paintings of St. George and the most important biblical figures. The colors are vibrant which creates a joyful atmosphere. Ouside of the church different wares are sold; from beautifully hand embroidered bags and shawls to cheap plastic toys.

As Salam and I walked back to Hope School we saw the sun go down behind the ancient terraced hills planted with olive trees. It was such a peaceful scene which came with the knowledge that this day officially brought the first day of summer.

In contrast to this joyful celebration are the weekly demonstrations agaist the continued building of the wall around Beit Jala and Al-Wallajeh, a small village not far from Hope School. Much land has been confiscated and more olive trees have been lost.

The wall is not only visually offensive but also controls the life of the Palestinians through the checkpoints. No one passes through without a permit from the Israelis, and many Palestinians have not been able to visit Jerusalem for more than a decade because they were not granted the necessary papers. Jerusalem is only 25 minutes by bus from here and a special place for Muslims and Christians.

The illegal settlements continue to be built on Palestinian lands and there seems to be no end to this conflict. Another summer has arrived with the realization that the conditions have not improved. Another summer of not being able to escape the bondage of the occupation.

Please keep the people of the Middles East in your prayers.

yvonne

EASTER WEEK IN ISTANBUL Spending Easter week in Istanbul with my sister was an experience beyond our expectations. In spite of having visited several middle-eastern cities over the past two years, I was taken by surprise at how different Istanbul is. It is a unque city straddling the Bosphorous Strait. An amazing mixture of east and west where you can find european style cafes lining the streets as well as an exotic spice bazaar and splendid mosques. In spite of the grandest mosques I have ever seen, e.g the Blue Mosque, it does not feel like a typical muslim city. Many people are dressed in a western style and you can feel a sense of openness to the world. The city was founded in the 7th century BC and was an important capital of the Byzantine Empire and later of the Ottoman Empire. One can find ancient restored mosaics, greek columns, and roman aqueducts. Comstantinople was the richest city in Christendom for almost a thousand years and its unique location between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea contributed to its colorful history. The Hagia Sophia church is one of the greatest architectural wonders of the world and is more than 1400 years old. One is humbled by its enormous size and feeling of grandeur. Although most everyone would say that tulips originated in The Netherlands, this small bulb was cultivated in Turkey and main avenues are lined with brilliantly blooming tulips at this time of the year. The many parks are filled with families on Sundays and the views over the water are everchanging. Early in the morning one could see hundreds of tankers waiting in line in the Sea of Marmara to enter the Bosphorous to proceed to the Black Sea and the oil refineries. Istanbul is a city that has gone through many transformations and now clearly prides itself on its modernity while treasuring the richness of its past. The smells, colors,sounds, challenge your senses and my sister and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring this jewel of the Middle East. Hoping your Easter was one of new beginnings, warmest greetings, yvonne

Today is Mother's Day in Palestine and fortunately I was invited to teacher Hanah's home for a fabulous lunch. Three kinds of barbecued meat were accompanied by tabouleh salad, filled pasties, a fresh salad, another kind of flat dough topped with a meat mixture and various vegetables. It was a traditional palestinian meal. For dessert we had a Black Forest cake which just made a perfect ending to this afternoon. It was a privilege to spend the afternoon with this family. There were several grandchildren and another baby on the way. Palestinian families in general are very close, and thank God they have each other for support.

The situation here has not improved, in fact I believe it has worsened. The checkpoints are more restricted and the settlements are growing. It takes longer for palestinians to get anywhere because they are not allowed to use the Israeli roads. Consequently a trip to Jericho, which could be a drive of less than an hour now becomes a two hour journey over a treacherous road.

Bethlehem Bible College recently organized a challenging conference called; Christ at the Checkpoint. The speakers that I heard were excellent and the main focus was to stay the course and to resist the occupation, but in a non violent way. It is time for serious peace talks and as American Christians we need to support the peace process. A just peace is desperately needed and the palestinians have suffered enough. We need to stand up and be heard.

Life is quiet here and it was a joy to attend the service today at the Chritsmas Lutheran Church I am getting to know some of the local people in the church and feel welcomed. I plan to make this my home church while I am here.

During this Lent season I wish all of you new beginnings, and hope that this time of Lent is meaningful for you.

Peace be with you,

yvonne

After traveling through Palestine for 10 days with a small group, I have settled in at Hope School. It was a happy reunion with friends and I feel quite at home. The weather is not so terribly cold and the first signs of spring are apparent.

The school has made some changes and additions, and there are new students, but the daily routines have stayed the same.

We now have 5 boarders and I am getting to know them. One boy is a 7th grader and I am helping him with his English. He comes from Hebron, a city which has suffered greatly from the Israeli occupation and has almost died out. He is so appreciative of any attention and has stolen my heart. What suffering lies behind each of the boys' lives.

I had the unusual opportunity to visit with a refugee family and hear their story. Living in a refugee camp for 4 generations is a grave injustice. How can we ignore such tragic conditions? It is a question I grapple with on a daily basis. The beauty of the land belies the human tragedies of everyday life, and the human spirit is able to rise above the daily humiliations.

Salam,

yvonne

Yvonne is looking forward to returning to hope school in March.