CPTnet
3 May 2007
AT-TUWANI BLOG: Gratifying work

by Heidi Schramm

[NOTE: The following blog entries by CPTer Heidi Schramm have been edited
for length. To see her original entries and accompanying photos go to
http://heidischramm.livejournal.com]

9th March 2007

This is the one-year anniversary of the day Tom Fox's body was recovered
in Iraq. We had morning worship at the olive tree that was planted in his
memory, and read some of his writings. It was an incredibly beautiful day.
 Spring really seems to be here. In the afternoon, H called to tell me he
and his mother (who planted the tree) were going up to the tree to work on
it as a way of marking the day. Other members of his family and people
from the village wandered up while we were there. Tom only spent a few
days in Tuwani, but he is remembered. I didn't know him, but from what
I've heard, I think this is the type of recognition he would have liked.

 10th March 2007

Joe and I went to a rebuilding action in Imneizel today for the families
who had their homes demolished three weeks ago. It was organized by
Ta'ayush, who brought over 150 Israelis and internationals out to Imneizel
and Qawawis. This morning, we were met on the road in front of Tuwani by a
Ta'ayush bus and a fleet of Israeli police vehicles. The police followed
us out to the villages, but stayed on the bypass road. They never entered
the villages or interfered with the work, and it is quite possible that
they were actually there to keep settlers at bay. J said this is the
first time in the history of the occupation in this area that Israeli
police sat by and watched a Palestinian building project without stopping
it.

I somehow ended up on top of the building we were working on, dumping
bucket after bucket of concrete. There was a mixer on the ground and a
concrete bucket brigade connecting us. Filthy and exhausting work, but
when it was all smooth and starting to set, it was gratifying. Most of the
rest of the day was spent carrying rocks from the ruins of the demolished
house to the new one. Slightly less gratifying work. But I just kept
thinking how insurmountable the task would seem if there weren't 100 of us
doing it. The family has a lot of work left to do, but we accomplished
quite a bit of the grunt work. Having been with this family immediately
after the demolition, it was nice to come back for the rebuilding. So
often I feel like I show up during a crisis, take some pictures and leave.

12th March 2007
When the kids got to Tuwani with the school escort today, one of the
soldiers yelled at them not to go anywhere. They froze, looking nervous.
He went to the back of the jeep and came back smiling, with individual
cartons of yogurt and bags of chocolate milk for each child. The kids
mauled him, screaming and laughing, climbing up his legs. If it weren't
for the rifle hanging at his side, it would have been absolutely beautiful.

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