Sr Vincenta is back

The nights have become unbearably hot and humid - quite impossible to sleep. And the morning canon which is fired at 4.55am rocks the whole house. Mind you, most of us are already up because the muzzein starts singing the Koran at 4am and crowds have already gathered in the central mosque (Dome of the Rock). Yesterday being the Sabbath, soldiers and police were stationed every 10 meters all along Damascus gate down to the junction of the 3rd Station. Jews going down to the Wailing Wall pass by this road as well as the Muslims who go to the Golden Dome Mosque (Dome of the Rock) so tensions can flare up and there have been several stabbings recently (last few months).

Jadallah our janitor bought me some ktayyif (pancakes with walnut baked in honey - I dislike the cheese ones) and they tasted real good. Shared with the community this morning at breakfast. They were picked clean. Also the Missionaries of Charity bought me shrak (thin large round bread) that I shared with the community. It was finished just as quickly. The sisters also wanted to buy 1 kg of guavas but the guy was nasty and wanted to sell only the whole pack which is 2 kgs. So the sisters bought it anyway and gave me 6. It's nice eating tropical fruit again. Here in Israel they're beginning to plant exotic fruit like guavas, lychee, mangoes and rambutan. Pretty expensive though.

Matthew my Indian classmate came back yesterday - had his operation and is better now. Also Sr. Vincenta is back to help in the kitchen. She was here several years back and her presence will help lighten the load for Sr Veronica who is running between the kitchen and the sacristy, and Sr Justina who's specialty is washing dishes only.

I think I'll go out and take a walk today even though my right ankle and calf hurt - need to get some fresh air outside of the Old City.

Another thought from Mother Teresa: "In loving [Jesus] we come more and more into that oneness with him, and we allow him to live his life in us. And this living of Christ in us is holiness."