Hail

We had a sudden and very strong hailstorm last night (actually this morning). It was just past midnight and I was still up doing my work, when I heard several loud booms : things don't sound too clear through the double windows. For a moment I thought we were bombed. Went to open the windows and heard thunder roaring. Then a sudden downpour of hailstones - small about 3 to 4 mm - bashing on the walls and windows. Then it stopped after several minutes, rain conitnued. Then after a while, another barrage of hailstones came. Well hail is usually the precursor of snow. But the rains have to continue for several days first in order for snow to form.

Today the skies continue to be dark and gloomy. It rains in bursts because the wind is too strong and blows the clouds toward Jordan. Yesterday I said to the guy in charge of the local nursery (plants that is) that we didn't have a proper winter. He said this week we'll have a proper winter because there'll be heavy rains. Sure hope he's right.

Since the sisters working in our kitchen have been reduced to two (try feeding 35 people with only two cooks - well we have a fulltime cook for lunch but not for dinner), I've been helping out after dinner by clearing up and setting the tables. Now they call me the substitute sister. Well I personally feel that if we eat, then we also have the responsibility to prepare and clean up before and after eating. Tomorrow morning I'll have to be substitute sacristan because the sisters (they also work as sacristans in our chapels) want to go for a special Mass in the Holy Sepulchre and no one is available to prepare the altars for Masses when groups arrive. I'll bring my book down to the sacristy so I can continue studying while waiting on the groups.

By the way, the free online course on St Paul of Tarsus will soon be offered again - a nice way to end the Pauline Jubilee Year - so those who missed out the first time round and sign up now with dsbiblecentre@gmail.com

Also another online course on the Passion and Resurrection will be available next week. So sign up soon.