FROM JAFFA TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH 31
in Jaffa who could relate to such an international
community. We were proud of his circle of friends, which
included many national leaders. He was asked to be an
ambassador for Israel in foreign nations, but chose to stay
in Jaffa.
But there was very little time for the family. In fact, I
can't really say that I knew my father then. It seemed he
was always attending an official function or an important
meeting.
He wasn't a demonstrative person, just strict—and he
seldom showed any physical signs of affection. (My
mother, however, made up for that.) Again, part of that was
the culture. Men were men!
We lived comfortably. Dad's position in government
made it possible for us to have a home in the suburbs. It
was a wonderful home that had a wall around it with glass
along the top for security. My mother was a homemaker in
every sense of the word; raising that brood of little Hinns
was more than a full-time job.
A Catholic Cocoon
As my education continued, I considered myself to be a
Catholic. The process started very early. The preschool I
attended was actually more like a convent. Mass was
celebrated regularly. My parents didn't protest because a
private Catholic school education was considered to be the
best available.
Weekdays I studied with the nuns, and on Sunday I
went to the Greek Orthodox church with Mom and Dad.
But that was not considered a major problem in polyglot
Jaffa. Loyalty to one particular church did not seem that
important.
Was I a Catholic? Absolutely. Catholicism was my