Because school is not in session until February 2, three of us were able to go to church again this Sunday.  As usual, I got the fisheye from the border police when he read my passport. Seeing the bulge in my pocket that is Markie--a pet unicorn that travels with me and writes letters about her experiences  (Feel free to become her Facebook friend;her full name is Markie Re'em).  I smiled as I pulled her out, and thought the border police might too.  Instead, he ordered me to empty all the 15+ pockets in my vest.  I wish now that I had just left the used kleenexes when I repacked.  I guess I should be glad that none of the Palestinians had to do this.

Church was great.  My home church, Rochester Area Mennonite Fellowship, is not super-liturgical, but I find a great deal of comfort in saying "Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world" every week at Redeemer.  Also in being around fellow believers who really feel a need to be part of the body of Christ away from home.  Again the spectre of Israel trying to push out internationals who work among Palestinians loomed.  A Finnish member of the congregation who has been doing relief work in Gaza had her visa renewal denied and was heading back to Finland with her young son.  Given that the blockade on Gaza means that 80% of Gazans are now completely dependant on food aid for basic nutritional needs, her heart is breaking more for them than for herself.  (Interesting but banal note:  She talked just like a Finnish exchange student I knew in high school, Kati--very guttural and down in the chest.)

After church I did a little shopping and had a disappointing cheese sandwich (turned out to be "American" cheese, although here it's called "Holland" cheese);it was baked inside some delicious-looking sesame bread.

  I spent the afternoon packing and am really hoping I'm going to be able to keep under the 50lb weight limit.  Tuesday I leave for Jerusalem and a few days with my friend Yaalah before I fly home Saturday morning.  This will be a hard team to leave.