Roses in Ibillin, ISRAEL (1992)
When i lived & worked for 5 yrs in the West Bank & Gaza Strip, the village of Ibillin (located in Israel’s Galilee between Tiberias & Haifa) was my home-away-from home with Abuna Elias Chacour (author of Blood Brothers & more!) at the very inspirational Mar Elias School(s). Zooming up from Bethlehem for visits (like Easter, done in the Melkite tradition with non-stop church for DAYS!) was always a blessing… as was seeing the dreams of Abuna – Reconciliation & Education – come true as Mar Elias made history in the State of Israel (Christian, Muslim, Druze & Jewish faculty & students working & studying together!) … methinks now Abuna has been bumped up the Melkite Leadership Ladder, but my prayers continue to be with him, Mar Elias & the people of Ibillin (along with every day prayers for peace in Israel/Palestine!!!)
This was my 1st ‘Rose in the Rubble’ photo (the rubble background is actually construction materials for the school)… i made a card out of it & then framed a few copies for my family (this is actually a scan of a blown up version given to my parents, as the original was lost somewhere in transit!) When starting this blog, i chose this pic because these Ibillin roses inspire….as the Living Roses there continue to!
Roses in the Rubble 
You know – I don’t remember seeing roses at the school, but I remember that Aida had a real love of roses. Have been looking over lots of pictures of Ibillin with Stephanie when she visited last week. Lots of memories x
CAROL- so glad we met in Ibillin & SO grateful to God for your friendship & all those wild-n-crazy times in Gaza (& environs) that made the 1st year with WVJ survivable(!) Will never forget our climb up Mt. Sinai (!) diving the Red Sea (!) dodging bullets & stones that New Years day in Gaza (!) & that special Christmas with you & your family in Poole = LOTS of memories!
Thank you for being such an AMAZING ROSE emanating Grace, Light & Peace (with-knuckles!)
Virginia : )