Trip: Part 7

MCC has partnered with the Latin Patriarchate School in Zababdeh for 30 years.  It was clear to us that a lot of good things are happening at the school.  It's the only church related school in the northern part of the West Bank and they teach children from Kindergarten through grade 12.  They have 900 students and they're a mix of Christians and Muslims.  They emphasize creating a spirit of friendship between students and staff and they don't have trouble with violence.

We spent some time hanging out with students during their recess.  

 The teachers in our group said that 7th grade boys are the same no matter what part of the world they  live in.

 Dance is a part of their regular curriculum.  These students were practicing a traditional dance that symbolized cooperation and volunteerism.

 Being in the Kindergarten classrooms made me miss Noah and Levi so much I had to work hard at holding back my tears.

The school served us an amazing grilled chicken and bread lunch with lots of salads and humus and fruit for desert.

We traveled back to Jordan - experienced another 4 hour border crossing and then visited the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf in Salt, Jordan. 

We met Brent Stutzman and Mohammed.  Mohammed has no sight and is also deaf so he communicates through Arabic touch sign language.  It was fascinating to watch how independent and capable and confident Mohammed is.  

 The deaf blind unit started in 2001 and has since expanded.  It was interesting to realize that in Jordan they have been educating deaf blind children for only 10 or 11 years.  In comparison, the US has been working at it for 50 years and so there's a big difference culturally and what kind of training is available for teachers, too.

 The teachers provided one on one education during the day and many students stay in the boarding house at the school.

It was fascinating and encouraging and humbling to see the students (ages 3-19) work at learning about this outside world they can't see or hear.