Der-al-Ghusun Agriculture Gate

Vidar and I got up at 4:30 a.m. to get ready to go to the Der-al-Ghusun Agriculture gate.  It is a taxi ride and then a 10 to 15 min walk to the gate.   It was a calm morning with no wind so we didn’t have to dress too warmly.  The taxi ride went by very fast and the walk out to the area where the gate is was also very pleasant.  There was a full moon and a clear sky so it almost seemed light outside even though it was still dark.

The soldiers monitoring the gates arrived soon after we go there.  The way the system works is that young soldiers serve 3 weeks over a period of 1 to 3 years in a certain area and then they are switched around to another duty.  The soldier in command is usually older and they work in the same area for a longer time.

About 60 farmers came during the hour it was open.  Transportation  modes included donkeys, tractors, taxi, by foot -- even one backhoe today. 

 

All of them are very used to the process they need to go through as it has been a part of their lives for a very long time.  They have to be sure they have the correct paperwork to receive permission to go through the second gate.  So it involves tying up their donkey or leaving a motorized vehicle to go through the first gate and advance to the building where paperwork is reviewed and permission granted or denied.  They are only allowed to go one at a time into the building and the next person has to wait until the first person either goes into the fields or goes back home if denied.  As it was getting light and now will be lighter for a few minutes longer each day, it did not seem too complicated for us to be there.  Only one problem arose after the gates were closed and we had started walking back.  A taxi arrived with 4 people…..3 women and 1 man.  They hurried over to the gate and we walked back to the gate as well.  The soldiers reopened the gates to allow them to enter today.  It made us feel good to know it was a happy ending for the start of their day.  However in thinking about how dependent they are on the good graces of the soldiers it raises questions in my own mind with how much is this all about control over other people.  The question for me is why do farmers need any kind of permission to access and care for their own land?

Part of today was spent shopping for necessary household supplies, cooking dinner for our team, eating with the team and then planning how we will divide household responsibilities.  As you can see our food is fresh.  I did the cooking tonight.

"Eat Fresh.............."



We sat outside on our patio to eat our evening meal as it was still nice and warm outside.  All of our team comes from Northern climates where it is out of the question to think about sitting outside in the winter.  Airports in Sweden and Norway are closed due to a big storm in Europe and Obed reports that it will snow as he heads for Minnesota.   This truly is a unique way for me to celebrate Christmas. 

In case you are wondering about our Christmas plans, I received this correspondence from our coordinator in Jerusalem.

"Dear EAs,  I hope you are doing well!  Concerning those of you who are going to spend your Christmas in Bethlehem,  your rooms are booked in the Bethlehem Inn.  You can check in after 12 noon.  The church we recommend you to go to is the Lutheran Christmas Church.  The service starts at 5 p.m. , but if you want a seat you want to be there latest at 4:00 p.m.!!  I'll be there also.  Later in the evening, you can go to the Nativity Square where all the nice concerts and events take place.    J."

Wow, isn't that great?!!  The Bethlehem Inn and Lutheran Christmas Church.  I will be sure to take pictures for all of you.  Christmas blessing to you all.

Susanne