Storm over

Sunrise after the rains

The rains have subsided and the air is so clear and clean. I have almost forgotten how clean air smells ... without dust, pollution ... just damp wet clean air.

Last night the winds were very strong and that made the rain appear harder than it actually is. Buddy was afraid and hid below my pillow. I had the 2 heaters on ... as they are small and don't warm up the room entirely. Temperatures were around 4 degrees to 9 degrees ... not higher. That's a lot colder than in Tel Aviv which registered 12 to 16 degrees. The streets still have puddles but most of it is dry. That's safe for walking.

Jerusalem Old City after the rain

Just received sad news that a franciscan sister in Congo was murdered. Terrible. And the tragedy in Aleppo is making headlines everyday. Thousands of refugees are fleeing east Aleppo to the west. Hundreds of children and elderly killed. No water, food, or shelter in this winter escape. God have mercy. I cannot imagine celebrating Christmas when I see the suffering of these christians.

There was also a small earthquake near the Sea of Galilee yesterday. 3.8 on the Richter scale. We usually get 4 of these earthquakes each year. Never reaches 4 but then again we're expecting a huge one for several years now ... it's quite a delay.

Have a very bad headache today. Probably stress related as the chinese convent had no electricity yesterday, with water leaking into their corridor, then the convent of european sisters upstairs quarreling with our engineer for not preventing the short-circuit; I had to intervene through countless phone calls and messages while preaching a retreat. Then there is the library .... I prefer a thunderstorm and snowstorm anytime over problems with people.