New Year

Basilica of the Nativity

 Disaster this morning as all the lights in my room blew up. I only had only the light of the fish tank to brighten my room ... and at 3am it is very very dark. I need to get it fixed today as soon as possible but our worker has already left. I may have to fix it all myself ... except that I need to know which bulbs and neons I need. It's such a mess, and after yesterday's exhaustive series of talks and classes ... I just don't feel up to it. My head is all dizzy from lack of sleep, and my whole body hurts from the midge bites. They have started attacking my torso now. And those on my legs have begun to blister. I may be developing an allergic reaction to it.

Anyway it's the eve of the Jewish New Year. Road blocks are at every major street corner, police are everywhere ... and road closures have been issued. The borders with Palestine will also be closed. I had to rush off to Bethlehem this morning to bring in aid to the sisters before the borders close. In the rush to get things ready, I forgot where I placed my keys. It was another 20 minutes of wasted time searching for it .... which eventually I found at the adjoining door of the library reading rooms. After my embolism 2 months back ... my memory has deteriorated.

At the MC chapel (Bethlehem)

Made a short detour to the Basilica of the Nativity and prayed for you all there. Then I went to the MC convent to deliver the aid and celebrated Mass for the sisters. Yesterday they celebrated the feast of M. Teresa and the altar is still adorned with the flowers and picture of Mother. It was good to be the sisters.

After that it was a quick rush to leave Bethlehem as the borders would close in 4 hours, and there was heavy traffic at all the border-crossings. Many Palestinians who have permits to work in Israel were trying to move to Israel so they would not be locked in Bethlehem and lose several days work. I decided to go home through the desert beyond Shepherds' Field and there was no traffic there ... only one truck in front of us.

Anyway it's going to be the Jewish New Year ... so Shanah Tova to you all!