3 days to D-day

After the excitement of yesterday, today is abit of an anticlimax. Was busy re-arranging all my documents in the shelves. But all this took place later at 7.30am. Firstly I got up at 4.30am to go to the Holy Sepulchre. Couldn't decide what to wear - woollen longs or jeans under the habit; finally decided on jeans because I wanted to wear shoes to keep my feet warm. It IS cold. There were 3 groups of koreans making the Way of the Cross at 5am. The souvenir shop opposite our monastery is even opened to catch the early birds. Arrived at the Holy Sepulchre and celebrated Mass at the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. Then prayed Morning Prayer (called Lauds) and stayed on for another half hour to pray for all of you. The Armenian Orthodox had a feastday I think because they had a very solemn Liturgy down in the Chapel of St. Vartan (It's a crypt below the Holy Sepulchre where tradition says St Helena found the Cross). The walk home was very cold because a wind was blowing quite strongly. Rushed home as soon as I could. Bbrrrrrrr....

Bishop Twal came for lunch today. He's the coadjutor bishop of Jerusalem - meaning when the present Patriarch Michel Sabbah retires next year, Bishop Twal will take over. He gave a little speech after lunch, encouraging us to study hard and not to forget the Mother Church that is Jerusalem when we return back to our own countries.

So Christian Bale is in town - like who's Christian Bale? Sorry for my ignorance but I'm more in the field of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So ok, I read the news headlines (that's all I can do since I don't subscribe to the online SCMP; and the HK Standard, though free, has little of these type of news) about this Batman thing going on in HK. But we don't need Batman - we've got Jesus Christ!!!! I don't see people crowding around to go to church!?!

3 more days and we'll know if I get my visa. Pray hard. I'm so nervous already. Everyone here is counting the days as well. I'm lucky I've got a bunch of friends here who share my concerns. It's nice to have some moral support especially when you're fighting a losing battle.