by Heidi Borter

Heidi Borter and Abuna

My blog for today actually started last night when I had the great blessing to meet Archbishop Abuna Elias Chacour.  Meeting Abuna and presenting him with a personal letter which coincided with a memorial gift honoring my parents, Rev. John and Carol Borter, to the Pilgrims of Ibillin was the primary purpose of my journey to Galilee.  Dad visited Ibillin in 1995 and 1998 and was profoundly moved by his stay and now I have the opportunity to see and experience everything first-hand.  I wear one of Dad’s crosses each day so we can make this trip together.

Our morning started at the high school and before we even got inside the building we were greeted by students yelling out the windows “Welcome!!  Welcome!!”  We indeed felt welcome by both the students and the teachers even though we did take over their staff lounge.  Our group was broken out and some visited English classes and, in my case, a 9th grade math class.  We stood in front of the room and introduced ourselves and told where we were from and then the students could ask questions.  They all spoke surprisingly good English and were very inquisitive. I think they genuinely enjoyed our  company.   Or perhaps they just liked getting out of their scheduled math class but, in either case, spending time with them warmed my heart.

6th Grade English Class

Our next stop was the elementary school.  I sat in on a 6th grade English class.  Students in the back of the room gave us their seats and books so we could follow along.  Today’s lesson was on Gulliverer’s Travels by Jonathon Swift .  The students were very vocal and enthusiastic but the teacher had great control and patience.  They discussed the story, reviewed word definitions, and answered questions relating to the story.  Meanwhile, during all of the pauses I conversations, all of the girls near us turned around to ask questions and then would giggle at our responses.  Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, and Demi Lovato where hot topics.  Before we left they all wanted autographs and one boy gave me a red/blue elastic bracelet.  He will definitely grow up to be a huge charmer.

Two students who will be visiting the US this summer.

Lunch was an Arabian-style potluck lunch provided by the mothers of students who will be visiting the U.S. later this year.  Wow!!  What a feast.  Lunch also gave us an opportunity to meet the students and get to know them better.  Enclosed is a picture of two amazing 11th graders who will be visiting Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Door of the Church of the Beatitudes, Ibillin

Next, we visited the Ibillin Church of the Beatitudes which was built in 2002.  It was incredibly beautiful and full of iconography and meaning.  So much so that my words simply can’t do it justice.  Before we left, Joan taught us a song called “Pray for Peace for Jerusalem”.  I’ll never forget that sound or those words.

Church of the Sermon on the Mount (The Beatitudes), Ibillin