A Birthday I’ll Never Forget
Saturday January 3rd I returned home from dinner out in Jerusalem and clicked on the TV. The news was terrible–Phase two of “Operation Cast Lead,” i.e. Israel’s War on Gaza was in progress–Israeli troops were now beginning to invade the Gaza Strip by land with tanks, artillery, and thousands of soldiers. I was greatly distressed by this and turned off the TV again, unable to stomach more pictures of death and destruction. The next day, my birthday, January 4, I went to my church, the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Old City and there we heard a wonderful sermon by our friend and pastor-in-training Mike on the subject of Jeremiah 31:7-14. Often quoted as a Zionist text, we were asked to consider it as a promise to all God’s people who have been suffering, to take comfort because the Lord will (has) redeem(ed) us. We also had a guest officiant who reminded us at the Eucharist of those who are hungry and thirsty such as the innocent children dying in Gaza and it made for a profound time of worship.
After that I went back with the five girls here with the Lutherans (YAGM program) and they treated me to a pizza lunch. Yum! I was delivered to my apartment which is quite chilly and thought, I really don’t want to stay here all day. Bible study had been canceled and my day loomed empty and depressing. So I decided to go for a very long walk around Bethlehem, and stopped at my favorite cafe, Cafe Sima and had hot chocolate and a chocolate cupcake to honor the occasion of my birth. It was delicious. Later on, I met up with a friend who was gracious enough to spend time with me so I wouldn’t be lonely and we got dinner together. I came back to my refrigerated living space and baked some cookies for the school teachers and chatted on Skype with some friends back home.
Due to the absence/general busyness of most people I know around here, my birthday happened to extend for the whole week. Monday I went to my MCC colleagues’ place where Jessie had made me a beautiful cake. We ate together with their Palestinian neighbors who make great stuffed grape leaves and stuffed zucchini and then I blew out 23 candles. It’s getting to be a fire hazard! Trey told one of the relatives that I was 15 and he believed it! Several times this week I have been told I look 15-18 years old.
Tuesday I went back to Cafe Sima with a couple other friends I met through the Bible College and they treated me to a salad (I’ve never missed good, fresh veggies so much!). Then I had a two hour conversation with the SALT coordinator in Pennsylvania–we hadn’t talked really since I left the US. Also on Tuesday I became aware that the Hope Flowers School would be closing for the Orthodox Christmas and so I didn’t have anything to do Wednesday. I made a trip into Jerusalem and collected several Christmas packages and cards that made me very happy! Gifts included some great books, some jewelry, The Office Season One, candy, and comforting words. Thursday at the end of the school day Hope Flowers brought in a little cake with five candles and some strange decorations (paper umbrellas and a chick and a clown.) Small pieces made the cake last for 20 something teachers and staff who then had to rush off quickly.
I’ll never forget my 23rd birthday when Israel marched into Gaza, increasing the bloodshed substantially and making it difficult to celebrate my own wellbeing. It’s also going to be harder than ever to convince people of my true age…
In other news, MCC Palestine has a blog that’s being regularly updated by all of us (including yours truly) about the Gaza war. http://mccpalestine.blogspot.com
