A very special visit, June 21

This was a very special visit as Sr. Vincent Allwan and Sr. Katharina came with Fr. Jean and me. We had a full day planned for them and Sabah kept us on schedule for everything. We began by visits to two poor families living in tents in the north. Two handicapped children were among them. Sr. Vincent was especially touched by the poor living conditions.

Visit June 8 th. 2010

(See below the report in French) Br. Joe and I went down together. We wondered how we would find things after the flotilla incident. The Strip was calm in the daytime, yet shelled each night by planes in the south and sometimes in the north.

We brought with us some materials for a center for the deaf and this gave us a good chance to visit this center in the Jabalia Camp. We were impressed by the activities for the disabled which were in process there.

Sabah had made an appointment for us to visit a Community Center in Nassara who have many projects founded by various international groups and we were especially interested in what they are doing in micro finance. Women who had profited from their program shared their stories with us. Not all were success stories, yet most had become completely financially independent.

We ended the day with a meeting among ourselves and our various volunteers who help us. We also planned our next visit where the Visitatrix (Provincial) of the Middle East Province and my Sisters Servant will be our guests.