Warming up.

Yesterday was a nice day out in the desert. It was cold but the sun was shining. We (The Melborne chinese group studying at Ecce Homo) visited the Herodian Fortress in the morning, then Tel Arad with its ancient Temple to Yahweh and Asherah. Studied lots of biblical passages along the way. Then they took a camel ride out into the Negev desert before lunching on Bedouin food, Bedouin style. It was very educational. Then on the way back we made an unscheduled stop at Hebron and also the Pools of Solomon. That took up the entire day - 9 hours of excursion in the desert. My ankle didn't play up though so it was good. But I was so tired I went to sleep immediately.

Sr Geronima is back and I asked for an early dinner when I got back. Sr Irmina said in polish (Sr Geronima had to translate) that she was worried because she hasn't seen me for 3 days - so I explained that I have to celebrate Mass at the Sisters of Ivrea and have skipped meals the last 3 days. She got all upset and said "You are starving" so she got 5 eggs and cooked up an omelette, with bread and cheese. That filled me up! Sr geronima said that Sr Irmina will feed me up and force-feed me if necessary in the future! Waaah dreadful fate awaits me!!!! A lion forcefed by penguins! However people have been telling me that I've lost alot of weight these 2 months. I think its all the stress that's getting on me. I noticed that my pants are much more loose and I have to wear a belt to keep them up. But on the good side, it means my knees will give me less problems.

It's a little warmer today. About 4 degrees. But terribly dry. I'm staying indoors today as I'm dead tired and I need to study. Said goodbye to the Melbourne group this morning as they're flying out in a couple of hours time. Then Rose the Filipina came over. She cooked curry and fried noodles for me. So nice of her. I insisted on paying her busfare (she has to come out of Bethlehem) as well as the food, and finally she accepted it. I think I'm going to get regular Asian food from now! See me grin - but I'd better not tell Sr Irmina otherwise she'll forcefeed me with polish food.

Thx for the Ketapang leaves from my sis Angela, and magazines from Agnes and other stuff from S.M. Yu. The ketapang is going to help alot because we have hard-water here in Israel and my mouth constantly breaks out in ulcers. Last week I just cured an ulcer and yesteray 3 more broke out. I'm going to try and purify the water with the leaves and see if it works. Brushing my teeth will not be such an ordeal from now on!

Aaaaaaaaannd believe it or not, I got a call to say my bed is coming today. Well you know local time ..... it means in a couple of months, if I'm lucky. I've waited 4 months now. The Melbourne people bought me a down-blanket which is such a help because now I feel warm when I sleep. Any bets the bed will really arrive today?