Don't judge a book by its cover

Yesterday was awfully hectic. Was in charge of the sanctuary while everyone else took a holiday. Hundreds of Brasilian pilgrims came, then a cruise ship of visitors came (several hundred people) and my greatest nightmare - groups of Israeli students came. The first few groups of these students (on a field trip to study different religions) were utterly disrespectful and arrogant. While Mass was going on, they shouted and chatted and ate and drank at the back of the Church. When someone told them to tone down, they started clapping and whistling to disrupt the Mass.

Later on, several boy students came into the Church. Boisterous looking, with earrings, rolled up sleeves, talking with an attitude. I thought this must be trouble so I went up to them. Surprise - they asked quietly and politely about the symbols found in the church. They had a homework on Christianity and they wanted some answers. So I introduced them to the various symbols. Then 4 girl students joined in, asking more questions and writing down in their notebooks. Their interest and courtesy took me by surprise - after the rowdy crowd of students earlier in the morning. In fact the most surprising was the cheekiest guy among the group - he refused to leave the church, asking more about the priesthood, the Mass, confession. And I thought he was the one who would give the most trouble. He was the one who went out several times to call other students in to listen to my explanations. I was pretty guilty of my prejudice after that. As they left, he and another girl said the church was the most beautiful and peaceful place they have ever been and they love it very much. Well, it goes to show you must never judge a book by its cover.

Helicopters have been flying overhead the whole day and night - way into midnight. We think they're either bombing Gaza or watching out for the Turkish flotilla that's coming in to break the blockade of Gaza. Whatever it is, we pray no one gets hurt.

By the way, my diarrhea has stopped because I took the age-old remedy - coca cola!