November, 2002
The old West Bank taxi stand outside Damascus Gate has relocated to this intersection. Cement blocks and army vehicles are everywhere, making the line of cars into and out of Ramallah interminable. Most of the commuters have given up and simply walk across through the dust and mud.
One bishop with a splendid title (Bishop of Constantina) was responsible for IDs and appointments for the Patriarch. Another with a similarly wonderful prefix leaned over a lectern bending under the weight of notebooks (in Greek) detailing the reimbursements of parish priests. Another chain-smoked as he worked over a computer (history and technology meet in bizarre ways here).
Different stories are abounding about what really happened, the Israeli army claiming he was caught in a cross-fire and shot accidentally. Given the recent coverage of the attack in Hebron, the idea that the truth, and not political spin, will out is getting harder to believe.
At breakfast in the hotel, we heard news of a bus bombing in West Jerusalem. As we walked back to the Ministry, it was a chilling feeling, wondering where the bombing was, if the girls we'd been chatting and knitting with had been there.
So there the students sat, adorable first graders, side by side, Muslim and Christian, sharing their coloring pencils as they wrote “Thank You” and “Merry Christmas” notes to sponsors of the school.
Marthame quoted the Scripture: "Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16) In other words, trust God's healing power, but don't be glib about it. Unfortunately, when Marthame translated the Bible verse into Arabic, it came out: "Be as clever as a big worm and as simple as a pigeon."