SPRING 2006

Dear Friends,

It is a beautifully warm day, an unmistakable indication that spring is with us again. Despite the few severely cold winter days yet the rainfall has been very poor. This is enough cause for worrying, as to what it will be like in the extreme heat of the summer. Lack of water can be a huge problem.

We are still not sure how the new government is going to perform both on the international level and locally. Hamas is finding it a bit difficult to form an acceptable government. We try to be optimistic at all times because that is the only way to continue to exist. 

Reallocation of Roman Olive Trees

We are pleased to let you know that we have successfully managed to uproot and replant eight very old Roman olive trees in our new plot of land. We started preparing the land by reallocating the tress away from the proposed building boundaries. The olive trees, which apparently date back to the first century, weighed more than two tons each.

Doris spent nine hours on site on Feb. 22nd, together with the agricultural consultant and the workers with the bulldozer. They made sure they dug up holes large and deep enough to accommodate the old wooden roots and that the uprooting was done slowly and carefully. 

Lifting the trees was a bit of a problem, as the bulldozer could not do the job without causing severe damage to the trees. Three different sized cranes had to be fetched to help.The first and second were "not big enough" to carry the two-ton tree. 

Upon replanting, one had to make sure each tree does not change its direction. For the last twenty centuries, trees were used to the sun coming from a certain direction and it was essential to keep it that way. 

After the trees had been replanted, a worker was hired for a week to water them properly and see that the roots are totally covered with earth. Any exposed root would cause the tree to wither and die.

Prior to undertaking such a task, we had arranged for water to be brought to the site from the mains. A large water tank was placed in the land with proper piping so that the roots are kept moist at all times.

We sincerely hope that all eight trees would survive the reallocation and bear fruit someday. This might take at least two years.

After...

A New Comer

We were pleased two weeks ago to accept a five-year-old boy called Suheib from a village near Hebron. Suheib had meningitis at the age of eight months, which left him with poor sight and mild brain damage. Despite his learning difficulties, we thought we would be able to help. There is nowhere for children like Suheib to go. If we did not accept to take him, he would be left without even a little chance for an education. He is a delightful little boy; thoroughly spoiled by his family from whom he receives all the love and care. 

Therefore now we have 26 children in total, but with one child as a day student, we are able to accommodate all 25.

Suheib

Al-Shurooq School

This term is the longest and busiest of the whole school year. There are hardly any holidays, except for the five days the staff and children will get for Easter. Not all staff, of course, as we will still have with us the children from Gaza, who cannot go home at this time of year. The school programme is running smoothly and so are our extracurricular activities. Every Saturday nine of our children have been going to the Lutheran Wellness Centre in Bethlehem for swimming lessons. It is one of their favourite activities. They have only three weeks to go before the end of the course. Each course consists of twelve hours. It is quite costly, but we believe that swimming is important for blind children, for it helps them to gain more confidence, and it will improve their posture. We would very much wish them to continue. 

Outreach

We are in constant touch with Haneen to follow her progress. After eight months of suffering, the plaster has been finally removed. The last visit we paid her, was at the end of January; and as usual, she was cheerful and in good spirit. She is still unable to walk, and has started doing regular physiotherapy. One of her knees still does not bend and she has begun to use a walker. What is upsetting her most is the fact that she has lost the scholastic year, and one wonders whether she will ever be able to walk to school again.

We were able to pass on to her the set of books that are assigned for class nine, with all the subjects, just to go through them in preparation for the next school year. We must think of a way for her to get to school. She definitely requires a great deal of special care. 

Library and Braille Book Production Unit

Our Braille printer causes us some problems every now and then. The main difficulty is finding someone who knows how to repair it properly. It has been in use for over ten years now and is due for a general overall. We contacted the makers in Germany and a representative is coming over soon to do the overall.

Nevertheless, work in both branches of the library still continues; they are currently engaged in rewriting the whole syllabus for class eleven.

We would like to extend our warm and sincere gratitude to all our friends, for it is merely through their support that we are able to help these children to live a normal, fruitful and happy life.

Fortunately tourists are coming back again after a few years. We pray and hope that this will continue in order to encourage and support the Christians of the land. 

Best wishes to you all, and stay well. 

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