Friday, May 4 ~ Carol Bates

After a beautiful day, beginning in Jerusalem we traveled north to Nablus and Jacob’s well. Then to Zababdeh and St. George’s Melkite Catholic Church. Here we met our host family for an overnight stay at their home. We, Jerry and Carol, plus Judy and Dana and Judy and Steve, were invited to stay in the home of Fr. Firas Diab’s parents, Boutros and Etaf Diab.

Etaf, Firas, and Boutros Diab

We were greeted by Boutros and taken to his beautiful garden in the back patio. The garden was shaded by a grape arbor, citrus, olive, almond and pomegranate trees. We visited there until Etaf came home from her grand-nephew’s high school graduation. Then we ate and ate and ate, or “death by hospitality” Joan would say. Boutros shared his family history in Zababdeh and writing in Arabic.