High Fever

I am sick ... don't know why ... could have been too much sun and exertion. My fever was pretty high ... so much that after Mass when a nun hugged me she immediately said "You have a very high fever". So what happened?

Courtyard in Ecce
Homo convent

Well it was a heavy morning to start with. I had to go off to Bethlehem for Mass and confessions because there was no priest available in Bethehem area and the nuns are short-handed, only 3 caring for 10 mentally handicapped adults. They have no workers so they cannot leave the convent for Mass in the parish, leaving the patients by themselves. The bus ride to Bethlehem was pleasant, at 8am. Students from Jerusalem were on their way to the 4 universities in Bethlehem and there were also some tourists. Once reaching the final stop in Beit Jalah (not Bethlehem), I had to walk almost 2 km to reach the convent in Bethlehem ... and the hills (roads) in Bethlehem are very very steep. After Mass and confessions I felt quite sick and weak. The nuns called a neighbour to drive me to the bus station in Beit Jalah where I took the bus at got back to New Gate in the Old City to start work. But near the bus station I bought a roasted chicken - a Bethlehem specialty - for our new indian sisters working in our kitchen.

Barbecue chicken in Bethlehem

When I reached home after work at 2pm, I had a very high fever. Felt very very sick and tried to sleep. I only managed half an hour's rest ... then at 5pm I had to go next door at Ecce Homo to preside at the inauguration Mass for their new academic year. That was when an old friend - a german nun - said I have a very high fever. So now I'm home ... hoping to rest.

Now news about the country: wolves are noted in entering holiday camps to scavenge food ... and possibly drag little children away too. Scary? There had been 10 attacks so far in the past 4 months.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/wolves-in-israel-are-raiding-campsites-to-snatch-children-experts-warn/

And while Europe is reeling over the series of ISIS attacks ... yesterday the secret service of Israel - it's former leaders - imagined the scenario if ISIS attacked the Vatican. It's an obvious target and for sure, italian security has to pay great attention to what the Israelis are forecasting.   http://www.jpost.com/International/What-if-ISIS-attacks-the-Vatican-505361