Aid to orphanage

Preparing the boxes of fruit
& veg for the orphanage

November is gone. December is here. 2020 is on its way out but not the pandemic. I don't know how yesterday passed ... it just went. I can't even remember if I wrote on this blog. Work goes on as if it never ends ... Oh now I remember ... I was out in the morning delivering fresh fruit and veggies to the St. Vincent de Paul orphanage in Bethpage on the Mt. of Olives. The Poor Clares in south Jerusalem had harvested their autumn produce of cauliflowers, brinjals, capsicums, bananas, tomatoes, pears and oranges. Usually alot of extras that they themselves don't eat, they give to M. Teresa's sisters. The last time there were alot of it and the MC sisters couldn't distribute them in time before they spoilt. So I suggested giving them to the orphanage instead. So yesterday I brought some 12 cartons and the 3 elderly sick Sisters of Charity were delighted. They have a hard time raising funds to care for the 18+ girls in their care, since they rely alot of on pilgrims for donations.

Fruit & veg at the orphanage

I managed to lay out a simple Christmas decoration on my table ... it gives a little cheer to an otherwise horrendous year. Most of the decorations are old ... like 10 years old .. and all are broken. Still I don't want to waste money on these things, so I only bought a paper boa of green pine needles. That's enough for me. And Buddy and JJ watch it from afar ... they're very timid with new things in the room. I'm making my own Christmas presents this year ... infant Jesus statues on oyster shells. I'll put up a pic when it's done. It's a little gesture, something unique but simple for my friends and workers.

Corona infections in Palestine has run out of control ... Nablus city is closed. Other West Bank towns are under tight lockdown and Israel has decided to close the borders every Friday and Saturday; and every night from 7pm to 5am. Well as long as the people continue to congregate without masks, no lockdown will succeed. It's all about information and convincing the people that's its for their own good. Israel too has spiked to 1000+ cases a day. Govt is mulling a 3rd lockdown. But at this point, who cares? It's a bouncing ball going up and down ... so long as the people don't keep the rules.