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.

Visit to Gaza April 28 and 29

Two had two great days weather wise and had the chance to go to visit one school the Amjad School. After we traveled south to Khan Yunis and saw the changes since the war in that area. We saw many street shops set up to sell the items that had come through the tunnels. On our way Sabah brought us up on the news. The government is taxing the people on many items now. cigarettes, medicines, and even one must pay two shekels to visit the sick in the hospitals. This is adding a very heavy burden to the families were 85% of the population in unemployed.

We visited the center for Culture and Free Thought where Sabah is on their board of direction. Fr. Don and Fr. Thomas couldn't stay overnight so they left that afternoon. I stayed on and with Sabah visited six very poor families that afternoon and the next day. One boy of 19 had been hit by shells last year in his abdomen, going in one side and coming out the other.

Gaza visit April 16, 2010

Nicole a student at the PBI where Don lives, Don, Jean, and I made this trip. We brought some needed materials for a deaf center in the north with us. We visited the schools to see the meals offered and so we went to two that of Marazey and Musaddar. We had helped them get cutlery and plates. Some new tables had been given both schools by Islamic Relief.

Visit February 22 and 23

(See below the report in French) Four of us went to down and for Br. Peter Bray of Bethlehem University, it was his first visit. In the morning we visited two of our schools that of El Amjad and Zahar. We found the children studying in groups. In one school we announced that they must teach the children in two shifts due to lack of space. The same teachers teach both groups of children. This must be exhausting. Nice meals were being given to the children. Both schools had been newly painted. Other renovations were appreciated by our group. After we visited four kitchens where the women's centers had grants to start catering delicious meals. We were able to sample their delicacies and left feeling a kilo heavier and ready to take a nap. In the afternoon I filled out forms on the individuals who we had provided money for surgeries or transportation for those who needed surgeries in Gaza or abroad. An artificial leg was purchased for one man.

Trip to Gaza February 11th.

We were seven this time: Andres Bergamini, Lorenzo Ravasini, their friend Alexander, Fr. Don Moore, Br. Joe Loewenstein, and Fr. Thomas Bahmer and Sr. Susan Sheehan.

We joined Sabah at one of the women's centers where we had two meetings. The first was with representatives from our five schools. They had questions about what we had agreed to help them with such as renovations and materials needed for the children. They shared about their inability to pay their teachers as the children's parents cannot pay the monthly fees, nor the transportation. We will discuss this at our next meeting. They also said now that the food is so expensive that several of the schools cannot feed the children but three times a week. This is also to be studied; perhaps they need more money monthly for food. We broke for lunch and were served a delicious meal made there by three women who cook and bake as a catering service. We had ordered this meal and paid for it in order to sponsor this new initiative of the women.

Visit January 31, 2010

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.

Visit to Gaza January 11th. and 12th, 2010

Fr. Jean and I, Sr. Susan went to Gaza having no problems at the boarder crossing. A meeting was canceled so we were able to visit some Greek Orthodox spots in the morning. In the afternoon we had a meeting with three of our five schools to find out what had been purchased for them so far and what needed to be bought. Following we had a second meeting with the heads of the three centers who run our food program.

Christmas in Gaza: a visitation

Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem - Christmastime in Gaza, celebrated, as is now the custom, in the last week of advent, was really beautiful. The Gospel of Luke for this Fourth Sunday of Advent tells the story of Mary rising and going quickly to see her old and pregnant cousin Elizabeth who lives in the hill country of Judea. The meeting and the greeting of the two women lets loose the joy of the babies they carry in their wombs. That is just the way it was for this visit of our Patriarch Fouad, pastor of the Mother Church of Jerusalem and representing the whole Church.

Visit december 2 and 3, 2009

Fr. Jean and I, Sr Susan had no hitches entering and leaving. Fawyseh and Sabah met us on the other side. We visited the Amjad School which Jean saw for his first time. The children were still there which was nice. The school was clean and the children were working hard. Jean spent a good amount of time getting to know their situation in the vicinity and asked what was purchased and need to be still.


A driver took us to Gaza City where Sabah had arranged a meeting with those involved in the food distribution: Maha, Fawyseh, Mohamed and Sabah. We learned much about the situation in each area. Our form will be for the families in need of medications, surgery, dippers for the elderly and all things related to health. I will meet monthly with this same group to identify the families most in need of our help.