Last day of exams.

Last night was incredibly hot - I couldn't sleep because of the heat. But I don't want to open the windows because the mosquitoes are worse than the heat. Just have to settle with the lesser of two evils.

I saw Dr ben Daniel yesterday morning - or actually he called to ask me over to his clinic. He said he read my blog! Hmm I never knew my blog has a local audience too! Anyway it was good to see him because as a family doctor he has a way to make you feel comfortable. My asthma is still bad so he's got me on Flixotide (2 puffs twice daily) to supplement the Ventolin. This morning just before Mass I got a real bad attack and was brought out of the Church. The superior was pretty alarmed I guess as he came immediately after Mass to see how I was. And Sr Veronica said she was praying throughout the Mass that nothing happened to me. Well I'm still alive - fortunately or unfortunately. I've learned to live with it so I don't panic as much as those around me.

One female canary died this morning as I was watching it. Poor thing, she was brooding over her chick and the stupid male canary didn't feed her or the chick - apparently he hasn't learnt how to feed yet! So she died and I'm left with a 2 day old chick. Didn't know what to do so I put the chick into "Jughead"s nest as she's got a egg in there. She's a good mother and has 5 chicks this year. So I think she'll adopt this orphan. Otherwise it'll die of hunger.

Today is the last day of exams. many students are packing up and leaving either for their holidays or going to Germany or England to study languages. On Saturday night we'll have other students come to join our community in Vespers, then we'll have a barbecue in the courtyard to celebrate the close of the academic year. Me? I have to go to Tanzania for the Plenary Assembly of Catholic Biblical Federation for 10 days before returning to Israel to complete my work. It's going to be a long ride as I have to fly to Addis Ababa first (5 hrs) then a 4 hr wait, then a 2 hr flight to Dar es Salaam. I will be very exhausted and need to conserve some energy now.

Today's reading is Sirach's praise of Elijah the prophet. Elijah is said to "turn the hearts of fathers toward their children" - a verse repeated also by the prophet Malachi regarding Elijah. This theme is then picked up in the Gospels when speaking about Elijah but alluding to John the Baptist. Well what do you think "turning the hearts of fathers toward their children" mean? Done that lately?