Here Is THE PLAN

I have been a slug this weekend.  Not sure if it's the weather or not, but I have been worthless!  I got a shot in the arm though this afternoon when I received a FB message from Ranim in Nablus!  We have a schedule of activities.....OMG....I have forgotten about the cultural part and how they LOVE to get together in Palestine and celebrate just about anything!!!  Here's what our time with them will look like:

TUES., NOV 19 - Our plane arrives in Tel Aviv.  I don't know how we'll be picked up because none of them except Sami's wife are allowed in Tel Aviv.  In any event, we will arrive about 4pm..."everybody" and their families will be waiting for us in Nablus for a big welcome and birthday celebration for the Nairouz' youngest son.  Note to self:  birthday gift!   
We have been instructed at the airport not to mention Nablus and to say we are staying at the Anglican Church guesthouse in Jerusalem.  If we say we are going to Palestine....big no-no:)

WED., NOV 20  - Allie is meeting with the local Islamic Imam and we will visit the Samaritan village.  We'll get to see the local university where some of our workcampers go to school and then we will have lunch with Lillian's family.  Allie is very excited to talk with her father who is an activist.  Then we'll go to the Old City Nablus with the them.  Afterwards we will be having dinner with Fadi and his family in their home. 

THURS, NOV 21-  We will walk around the corner to Jacob's well and then meet Sami, Ibrahim J, and Alaa for lunch.    That evening we will go to Merna's house for dinner with her family.

FRI, NOV 22 -  EVERYBODY is going to Bethlehem and Jericho.  We plan to visit with the Nassar family in Bethlehem at TENT OF NATIONS, and visit with them. 

SAT, NOV 23 - We will spend time in Nablus with Sama & Sabastia , Nidal and Ahmeed.....that evening we share dinner with Majd and her family in their home. 

SUN., NOV 24 - We attend Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Rafedia with all of them and Father Ibrahim.  Afterward we meet in the church fellowship hall and then have lunch with the Nairouz family. 

Sometime after that they will get us back over the wall and Allie and I will make our way to Jerusalem.  We will stay at St George's Episcopal Guesthouse right there in Old Jerusalem.  We will stay there until we catch our plane in Tel Aviv to fly back home the day before Thanksgiving.  It should be really interesting though because at sundown that day, is the first day of Hannakah!  It will be fun to be in Jerusalem seeing all the preparations

The picture at the top of the page is of the soap factory in Old Nablus.  They have produced the olive oil soap there for hundreds of years.