Gaza update

The weather has suddenly changed. It's gone all cloudy and humid ... very. It's like it'll rain anytime ... but doesn't. And the nights get down to 18 degrees and very windy.

Yesterday saw skirmishes between arabs and israeli military in several villages around Jerusalem. Nothing serious but it disturbed the opening of the school year. Ultra-orthodox jews were also demonstrating against the govt. for arresting several of their kind for not reporting when called up for military service. But since the High Holy Days (Yom Kippur, Rosh haShana and Sukkot) are round the corner, most ultra-orthodox avoid causing trouble.

Sisters from Gaza come to visit

The sisters of Mother Teresa from Gaza managed to come out to Jerusalem yesterday and immediately came to visit me. They recounted the horror of moving 28 handicap children in pitch darkness at midnight while neighbours were running for their lives after receiving warnings that their neighbourhood would be bombed by Israeli planes. As their convent is quite far from the parish church, the sisters did not think they could carry all the children out in time so they carried the children, one in each arm, and left them under a tree near the church while they ran back to save more children. There were only 4 sisters at that time. The parish priest also came out to help the sisters. Everyone sheltered inside the church compound for several days. The sisters also care for bedridden elderly in another house situated across the road. They also had to carry these elderly to safety. This run to safety took place 3 times during the 50 day war. Fortunately Israeli authorities telephoned them to assure them that their convent and church will not be bombed. Now that the ceasefire is holding up. three of the sisters have come to Jerusalem to rest from the stressful situation. Your kind offering of US$20,000 was donated to the sisters so they can buy medicines and food for their people under their care.