May we become aware and dare to change the status quo.

1130PM, December 29th, Damascus. It was approximately 845am when after some delays we were finally on the road towards Syria! In the bus, everyone was exhausted as hardly anyone had slept. We were all trying to maximize our access to Internet throughout the previous night, in order to the get the word out and update pictures and videos.

So after a few minutes, and as the bus was rolling out, members of the convoy began to pass out one by one! It was a comical sight of snoring, heads dangling and constant shifting to find that perfect position, at least temporarily. I could not sleep as usual, I was beyond exhaustion and the adrenaline had taken over.

We had been traveling for approximately 3 hours when the bus began to make unusual noises from the rear. Then after a short period, it pulled into the service station. The rest if the convoy did the same, as we all needed to refuel and take a short break.  When we got off the bus, we saw smoke and a burning smell coming from the back. Our bus was officially broken down! We tried for a while to fix it but had no success. So the women in the bus were asked to join other vehicles and the rest of us to stay put. Four of the younger girls stayed with us as there was limited room in other vehicles and priority was given to our older ladies.

As we sat waiting, Walid (strong brother with the biggest arms I have ever seen, he is originally from Egypt, but is living in Chicago and attends medical school) got up and began walking towards the mountains. These mountains surround us as the road cuts through them and are absolutely beautiful. The color formations on the mountains make them seem pink and green with hints of blue. It is very difficult to explain their beauty without being there. So Walid took off towards the mountains and I went after him to stop him but instead joined him on the climb. As we climbed the mountain we gained altitude really fast and soon could see for miles and the gas station, the bus, the cars on the road and the people looked like moving ants. As we rested on the mountain, others from the bus joined us and we guided them on the best route to get to us. Once we were all together, we sat silently to absorb the energy around us and to feel and hear the wind. It was a priceless moment to be amongst these rock giants with people you hardly know but have become so close to you. After our 5 minutes of silence, we asked Walid to recite a prayer for us. It was a beautiful prayer and he extended it to English, so we could all follow, a gesture which was very kind and thoughtful. When we ended our prayer, we began our decent and headed back to the bus. Once we arrived, within a few minutes the bus was ready to go! Wow! Perfect timing!

We headed out and this time I laid my head on the seat and passed out. I woke up 1 hour later to find that the bus has broken down again! This time in the middle of the highway! We all got out and emptied the bus and waited another hour for another bus to pick us up. Once the bus arrived we packed the luggage’s and got onboard within 10minutes!  That was the fastest I had seen us work and pack the luggage’s! Back on the bus, I passed out again, this time I was awakened at the Jordanian/Syrian border. Gave my passport and headed out to find the bathroom, my stomach was in a bad shape. The bathrooms were surprisingly clean and I must say that I gave it a good treatment By the time I got back, we had received our visas.

Ialso got to speak to my family! It is always so great to hear their voice and just to speak to them, doesn’t matter about what, just to get away from the convoy. I don’t mean it in a bad way, I love the people on the convoy and the reason why I am here but the voice of your Mom, Dad and brothers (not to forget the one you love) tend to warp you into another dimension, away from problems, delays, frustrations and loneliness of the heart. Their voice travels so fast to the soul, as if they have a direct connection and the feeling hits you and makes you drunk with joy and normality. Yet we take it so for granted back home. It is also a grounding which one needs when everything around him/her is fluid and without structure. Basically I absolutely am in heaven when i hear their voice and thank them for remembering me often and praying for me. Also for having patience with me, it is not easy to let your kids or loved one to leave to go on a journey which ends in the biggest concentration camp in the world. So I salute you all for blessing my journey, for pouring water as I left to smoothen my journey and to my Mom, who in her words “I have to bribe God big time to keep you safe”, my Father who always advises and gives me guidance and endurance, my brothers who have helped me make this trip reach others and finally my love who takes my good and bad, who understands me, tolerates me and has always blessed me.

Oh it is hard to be far and yet I meet many along this journey who have not been home for 20-30 years, who have yet to feel the warmth of the Mother’s heart. How big that love is, how deep the depth of love goes to be able to keep the fire burning al this time. Worst is when I hear people begging to join us on the convoy so that they can see their dying fathers, so that they can donate their livers or to give bone marrow to save a child. What injustice is this that denies these souls to reunite, what powers are that allow this injustice to continue and how blind humanity is to not see this injustice. May we become aware and dare to change the status quo.

We finally made it to Syria! We drove to a huge restaurant to eat and from there straight to the hotel which we had originally stayed at on our initial stop in Syria. When we arrived at the hotel, I headed to the lobby, got a room with two other brothers and got into the room. It was a clean and beautifully decorated room, with clean towels and bathroom! I went straight to the bed just to lie down for a minute-well that minute ended up been 8hours. Good morning Damascus!