In 2010 Judy journeyed to Palestine with the first group of teachers from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to meet teachers in Palestine to discuss teaching strategies. Abeer Bannoura, a teacher from Palestine, and Judy quickly became friends. Both teachers share a love of reading which they both bring to their classrooms. Abeer expressed to Judy that one of her biggest needs is classroom books. Judy brought that message home to her students at St. Lawrence School, who immediately decided to have a fund-raiser to buy books for Abeer’s students. The students raised money and bought three sets of novels Charlotte’s Web, Holes and The Giver, along with teacher materials and movies of the books. The seventh grade students packed up the suitcase to be hand delivered by Judy to Abeer.
On June 1st the HOPE 2012 pilgrims left Cincinnati and headed for Amman, Jordan via Paris France…and so begins the journey of the traveling suitcase. After 18+hours of traveling the suitcase luckily made it to Amman, Jordan, unlike the suitcases of many of the weary travelers. After three days in Jordan the suitcase made it to its final destination in Bethlehem (or what was supposed to be its final destination). On June 5th the teachers from Cincinnati and the teachers from Beit Jala met. Judy was excited to finally deliver the suitcase to Abeer, but Abeer was not there. So, the suitcase remained on the bus.
Later that day the group of teachers from Cincinnati split. Judy and five of the pilgrims remained in Bethlehem and the others went on to Nablus. The next day, Judy and Abeer made plans for Judy to visit Abeer’s home, which provided Judy the opportunity to deliver the suitcase. But, the suitcase was missing, it was not on the bus. After a few phone calls it was learned that the suitcase had inadvertently gone with the other group to Nablus.
The two groups met two days later to travel to the Sea of Galilee. During this time, many different strategies were discussed on how to get the suitcase to Abeer. Rami, the tour guide of the group who is from Beit Sahour, where Abeer lives, graciously came up with a plan to have Judy and Nancy deliver the suitcase to Abeer. After a very long day of touring and driving to their next destination Jerusalem, they quickly checked into the hotel, and were picked up by a friend of Rami. Elias, the driver, was so kind to do such a loving gesture so late in the evening for total strangers. The four soon set out for Abeer’s house, going from Jerusalem to Beit Sahour encompassed two check points by the Israeli government. However, with little trouble they made it to Abeer’s house. With excitement and joy, Judy was able to deliver the traveling suitcase and sit with Abeer and show her all the materials that her students and fellow teachers joyfully put together for Abeer’s students.
This experience is what HOPE is all about, teachers working together to bring HOPE and knowledge to students. Abeer’s and Judy’s students have been pen pals and have skyped over the last two years. With the delivery of the suitcase, it is our HOPE to discuss these books via skype and to continue the life long journey of learning and understanding.
Post by: Judy Maly
Pictures submitted by: Judy Maly
Okay, now I would like to hear the story as experienced, felt and told by the suitcase itself. The suitcase was the only one who was with the suitcase the whole time. An account of the suitcase’s perspective would make for an interesting read. The suitcase could tell us where it was when it got the assignment, and what it was like being with the students in Cincinnati, and getting filled up and sent on a mission. What was it thinking and feeling, while it was left in Paris and lost in Amman. That ride to Nablus, when it knew it was supposed to be going to Bethlehem – how horrific! And when it thought it had to go to Bethlehem without Judy, I mean, how much more can one suitcase endure? When it got to Abeer’s house – did it feel accomplished, relieved, used, set aside, put upon, unappreciated? And where is it now? It is one thing to hear someone else talk about your being lost and your being found, but it is totally another thing to be able to speak for yourself. Don’t you think the suitcase itself has a story to tell?
Sounds like a great writing assignment for Judy’s class!
Together we can make a better world….HOPE makes it better….knowing each other can make a difference to a better thing which is Peace.
So nice.