baaba noweel

Birthdays are over and we are now getting into the Christmas spirit. We had a busy time during our birthdays (16th & 28th) with trips to Bethlehem, helping at a youth conference and our day to day routines. But our routine was interupted last night by a call from the Childrens Ward, 'Can you come and help decorate the ward, because the Pope is visiting us tomorrow?' We helped with the Christmas decorations and this morning waited for a 'messenger' from the Pope who turned out to be heavily disguised as Father Christmas from Germany, who had been delayed by snow a Frankfurt airport! He had a bishop's mitre and crook, and a pet pig to give out the chocolates (culturally sensitive!). He was surrounded by the local press and all the hospital mangement so we didn't manage to get a papal chocolate. P

Let them eat cake!

Our Arabic may be basic and people often laugh at our attempts - "Would you like to drink some cake?" - but it is also amusing when locals use their English with us. People always ask us where we are from, and then why we are here - which is always a good opening. England seems to revolve around Manchester United: "Where are you from?" "England." "Which England, London or Manchester United?" I have also started to help with English Administration at the Bible College, part of this has been amending translations from Arabic into English. A translated student profile read: 'I want a teaching postion, if I did I would be in love with it.' P