Merry Making

Happy, Happy Christmas!

Christmas Eve we were walking in the dark through a Muslim cemetery that we always walk through to get to NV and Miriam's house. Suddenly, a great fireworks display exploded over the Basilica and we had a perfect view.
It made me want to sing... "Christ the Savior is born!"

(Making cinnamon rolls on Christmas Eve day in our tiny kitchen!)

Christmas time has been a full and celebratory time for us here in Nazareth. We have rejoiced, relaxed, and eaten with several very different groups of people. On Christmas Eve day we were invited to have lasagna with Hinke, who has lived for several years in Nazareth. We had a delightful time with Hinke and two other woman eating and sitting long over tea.



Christmas Eve found us traveling to Daniel's house to celebrate the evening away with Miriam, Daniel and his family and another of his young friends, Rod from Brazil. We ate another delicious meal complete with Romanian cabbage rolls, kebabs, (a little pork), potatoes, salads, cinnamon rolls and the ever present chocolate balls that crowd every house these days.

Because Christmas Eve fell on the evening before Shabbat, as well, Daniel led us in the traditional blessing of bread and drink that Jews celebrate every Friday night. I so enjoyed the connection to communion. Before Jesus offered bread and wine to his disciples, Jews believe Abraham thanked God for the fruit of the vine and the fruit of the earth.


The cat trying to interrupt the blessing.

The evening continued with practical jokes, games (we tried to teach them Dutch Blitz), a movie, lots of time together, and even presents! Daniel and his family surprised us all with pj's! It was a very happy evening. We stayed until almost 3am! We sang Christmas carols a couple times throughout the evening, including the minutes before midnight. Then Philip said a prayer to welcome Christmas Day.







Wana (who actually spells her name Oana), Betsy, Philip, Rod, Daniel, Miriam, Adalina, Juliana


Christmas morning after a few hours of sleep we headed over to Hinke's house to throw a Christmas brunch for Fauzi Azar volunteers. Breakfast burritos, homemade hot chocolate, homefries and cinnamon rolls.

Although, we were a very eclectic group from all over, we had a good time, eating, cleaning up, opening little gifts, playing games, and reading the Christmas story.


Maurice, Angela, Miriam, Julian, Sandra, B and P.

We also enjoyed a big bowl of gummies that our Muslim shop-owner friend gave us for free...for Christmas!

And roasted chestnuts of course. Ever since we had a chestnut tree in our yard at Honey Run, we have enjoyed them exceedingly. We like introducing them to others. They are now in season here.


Next stop: Evone's house for a late lunch. We were not hungry at all but we headed over to an Arab kitchen. Evone is our friend from the Village. She and her nephew came down the road to greet us, and her nephew, Elias, walked along holding Philip's hand.


Evone's spread. She piled our plates, stacking more and more on as it showed any sign of being empty and still complained that we ate like birds.
Pre-courses, main dishes, post courses, coffee, tea and chocolate balls.


The third Christmas tree in our two day saga...

I think our Christmas this year was fuller than usual. We are so blessed. Tomorrow we go to Jerusalem to hear a friend sing Handel's Messiah in Hebrew.

What a joy to know the hope of Jesus' life among us!
Glory in the highest and on earth...

Much love.