Letter from Palestine, 23. A different week.

4^th February 2005

Dear friends!

I wrote that I would be back in Palestine after a week. I thought it would be good to be back as soon as possible. Now I am thankful to have more time home in Norway. The first couple of days were very hard. The last days have been very silent. Everything is just unbelievable. I need time to understand that my father is not here anymore. I plan to go back to Palestine next Friday. The funeral will be Tuesday 8^th February at 1:00 PM in Haug Church.

I could have waited with next letter until I was in Palestine again, but I feel it is right to continue, though it is not as long as normal. I call it a letter from Palestine also this time, though I write from Norway. I want to write about my father, whom I used to call “Pappa”, and Palestine, it is a sort of a small memorial.

In Palestine many fathers are called with the name of their oldest son. If my father had been a Palestinian, he would have been Abu Einar. He could also be Abu Hanne or Abu Karoline. I feel all those names would be right on him. My father identified himself as the father of his children. May be Abu Tommelstad would be the best. He was often called “Pappa Tommelstad” by our friends, especially in Ten Sing (YWCA-YMCA).

One of my friends in Japan, whom I came to know when she was taking part in the olive picking programme of YWCA and YMCA in Palestine, commented my last letter. She wrote that she could not tell her parents that she travelled to Palestine. She works for YWCA in Japan, with international issues, especially about Palestine. Her parents have never understood or supported her. Then I start to understand how wonderful Pappa was.

I think my father has often been the first reader of my letters. He always looked forward to receive e-mails from me. He has commented them and asked questions from a genuine interest in what I do and how I am. The day after my family went home after visiting me in the Christmas holidays, he wrote about everything he had started to read and find out, about religion, history and geography, details none of us knew when they visited me. He then wrote that he already wished to travel to Palestine again.

It has been good to have so many supportive people around me this week, both close home and in the rest of Norway and the world. Thanks for all warming words and good thoughts and prayers.

Silent greetings from Hanne.