Christmas Eve

My Christmas wreath

Christmas Eve. Appears to be very calm ... unless you realise there's a security helicopter hovering overhead since dawn which means there's danger of a riot somewhere in the neighbouring villages. Police presenc eis down to a minimum. But in the Christian Quarter it's bustling with activity. The scouts are practicing with their bagpipes which drowns out the entire Quarter. Christians are doing their last minute shopping. The parish church is being spruced up last minute for the Midnight Mass.

I think Bethlehem will be crowded. Entry to the Basilica is by tickets only. I'm going to Shepherds Field instead where masses can be celebrated by groups. In the Basilica, all the bishops will be there and priests concelebrate. Local christians and diplomat corps will be present as will also the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. That means lots of Palestinian security around and inside the Basilica. But in Shepherds Field, we're free. By the time Mass ends and the trip back to Jerusalem, I think it'll be 3am. And it'll be freezing. Right now at 3am it's 14 degrees. Tonight it'll drop to 4 degrees in Shepherds Field.

Stewed lamb dinner

Yesterday was an unbelievably exhausting day. I actually walked over 5 kms up and down the hill from one hotel to another visiting several groups of pilgrims from Asia. They called and asked to see me so I had to meet one group every 40 minutes. That included walking/running time between the various hotels in the City. My feet are killing me. Anyway I had to stop by Mandarin's to drop off some chinese medicine that Ah Ling will boil later during the year. She had stewed a lamb shank and it was absolutely delicious. Her son-in-law and I ate 2 helpings.

Well my feet are still hurting very much. I need to rest them before going to Shepherds Field tonight.

Grateful thanks to all for your gifts: Marvien, Yvonne, Fiona, Agnes, Miriam, Gigi, Rose, Cecilia, Paulette, Irene, Letty, Jordan and Joanne, Auntie Chan, Cavero family, the Sunday Mass group, Theresa and Roger. Everything arrived. Appreciate them very much. Gifts for the poor in the Holyland are acknowledged in the Holylandassist blog.