Lorenzo, Andres and I, Sr Susan, accompanied two friends of the Western Lieutenancy of the Knight of the Holy Sepulcher, Chuck and Eleanor Radloff who have wanted to go to Gaza. This was the only day possible for them to visit. Before Mass we were able to visit the areas heavily shelled, mainly the industrialized area. We could see where some factories remained must as they were after the war and others that were being rebuilt. Men and boys with donkey carts were busy clearing and hauling away debris from the ruins. Others were straightening the tangled iron rein reinforment rods, working in twos. We are told that they are paid 15 shekels or $3.30 a day to do these jobs. We wondered how families manage to eat daily with such limited income.
We went on to the 10:00 Mass at the parish which is always a joy and to see friends. The youth and children have returned to going to the Mass and sing with great gusto. Chuck and Eleanor had a nice visit with Father Jorge and may help him with needed computers, for one of the schools of the parish which has none.
Sabah joined us and we went to the Middle Camps to the Musaddar School and saw all the teachers, even though the schools are all closed for the semester break. Teachers were busy making visual aids for the children. Mohammad shared with our guests all the programs going on it the school which continues to be a center for many programs for adults and children of the three local villages.
We wanted to see how Mona's home is advancing and found a beautiful reality. The house of two rooms and a bath which Fr. Giovanni Nicolini's parish has been sponsoring has become three times larger. The neighbors encouraged by help from the outside have donated cement blocks and money to build a house much larger and ideal for a family of ten. We never saw such smiles on the faces of the mother and each child as we congratulated them on the building. Four of the children are in their early 20ies and the youngest is three. We left thanking the Lord for this new reality. Mohammad did much of the work with the planning of the building.
Some visited briefly another family who Sabah had to see. We left in order to get to the boarder crossing by 14:30 as usual. Sabah and I, in the car, shared on the way, as I let her know what items from each school we will be sponsoring in February. She let me know which families will illness will be treated soon. I asked her to write a list of those served either with medicines or operations monthly. She also gave me the bank statement for Fr. Thomas for the month. In the three areas of our food distribution the social workers are reevaluating the families who are getting food. She will give us a new list soon.
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