Touring tunnels and ancient pools

Farewell dinner at Mandarin's

Last night the fare-well dinner went pretty well. Almost everyone came on time. Only Johannes could not make it as he was guiding a group. There were 9 of us in all .... and Mandarin Restaurant had a big makeover. New chairs and tables ... and a round glass turn-table that doesn't work. We had the usual rice and noodles and sweet-sour pork  .... and Therese made zongzi (rice dumplings). It was a farewell dinner for Deacon Philip Huang who studied here for 4 years now and will return to Hong Kong for his ordination. He's a great guy ... quiet but very disciplined and strong in his values and principles. He'll make a great priest. It was also a farewell to Therese Yuen who studied at the Hebrew University, earning an MA in biblical studies. She's very studious, often coming to use our library and she's a very good cook.

Going down the Canaanite tunnel

The dinner was especially great because Sr. Maria Ko found time to join us. She was my professor 26 years ago and I am professor to Philip. That makes 3 generations. And there was also permanent deacon Peter Fan from Ottawa diocese but originally from Hong Kong. That's the chinese religious community here in Jerusalem. Hopefully it'll grow.

I got home by 11pm last night from the dinner and tried to sleep but the noise from the Ramadan crowds kept me awake. There's this crazy guy who rides his T-Max up and down our road till 3am. If you know the T-Max, its a monster that roars so loudly you can hear it 1 km away on a Jerusalem night. And it was less than 4 meters from my room. And then I had class at 4am which meant I had to prepare my lessons at 3am. I hate Mondays.

At the Pool of Siloam

In the afternoon, though utterly exhausted, I accompanied 4 of my students to visit the ancient Canaanite tunnels and the Gihon Spring in the ancient City of David - today in the arab village of Silwan. We went down the very steep entrance tunnel and I showed them the Upper Pool where King Solomon was anointed king and where Isaiah prophesied the Emmanuel prophecy. It was a fantastic trip .... extremely tiring as it was going down and up very steep slopes, sometimes in the hot sun. We ended up in the Pool of Siloam where Jesus told the blind man to wash his eyes. I think the students learnt a couple of things that they've never heard off. I was more than exhausted climbing up the hill back home but I was very satisfied that my students are still interested to learn even after the exams.