Migrants event

Barbecue and mooncakes

The chinese community gathered on Friday evening to celebrated a belated Mid-autumn festival. It was not easy for the workers to come from various parts of the country especially the north because of the war. Still about 20 managed to come. They prepared meat for barbecue and I brought mooncakes which they were homesick for. It was also a good break for some of them who live daily and nightly under missile attacks. That night they could sleep in peace.

Migrant Day Mass

The next morning there was the Mass for Migrants Day [resided by the auxiliary bishop Rafic of Galilee. Several hundred migrant catholics from over a dozen countries gathered for the Mass, each in their national costumes. After Mass there was a cultural show and pot luck lunch from each nationality. It was very enjoyable and for a few hours, everyone forgot there was a war going on. 

The regional events the past few days were quick and unexpected. Jerusalem is still calm and safe though security has been stepped up. Families from the north especially Haifa and Akko have moved down south.  Our Sunday Masses were more crowded as a result for these Christian families displaced by the war.

Un-mercenary saints

 It's the weekend again ... another week has flown by. Soon the end of the year will arrive. Winter appears to be cold this year ... judging from the chill that we're already experiencing now. What is lacking is the rain. It should come in the next few weeks after Sukkot ... fingers crossed.

Cosmas and Damian

Yesterday was the feast of Ss. Cosmas and Damian, the 2 Syrian brothers who were also medical doctors. There was once an ancient monastery dedicated to them here in the Old City., Today it is the 6th Station of the Cross run by the Little Sisters of Jesus (Charles de Foucauld). A few of the remains still exist in a closed-off part of the chapel. The MC sisters wanted to see so I brought them there. The ancient mosaic floor was still there with some arches. We prayed for the sick in the ancient ruins. Cosmas and Damian healed the sick without asking for money ... hence their greek nicknames "the holy un-mercenaries." With the high medical prices and insurance, we need to pray to these 2 saints to protect the sick who are poor and cannot pay for medical services. 

There's an icon of them inside the ruins. Few people get to see this place as it's not open to the public. But it's good to know it exists. Special arrangements can be made to see it after contacting the Little Sisters.

Ancient ruins of the monastery

The fighting in the north has not abated. And just after midnight a missile from Yemen entered local airspace into Tel Aviv. Luckily it was detected and taken down before it hit any targets on the ground.  The damage would have been substantial. At 4am the roar of fighter jets disturbed the silent night  ... they were flying in droves and I could hear them overhead my room. Everyone here is praying for peace ... for a stop to the violence. But it remains as elusive as the winter rains. Maybe Cosmas and Damian can heal these wounds of hatred.

Autumn

Acorns

As the weather cools to 16 degrees at night, and very humid with lots of dew in the early morning, many autumn fruit have ripened and are on sale in the streets. Pomegranates, dates, guava, peaches and dragon fruit. It's very expensive though. I noticed the acorns on oak trees growing as well. There're a couple of oak trees in the park outside Damascus Gate and I enjoy watching them flower in Spring and the acorns ripen in autumn. We don't have squirrels to hoard them ... but there're woodpeckers who do the same job.

I've been forgetting many things .. leaving them here and there and not finding them. I expected this. It's the 2nd week as I wean off prednisone and I know these are the side-effects. And I'm getting muscular spams as well. Right now my neck muscle is sprained and I cannot turn my head. It's such a bother. Now I worry if I will lose my way home. Happened a couple of times before. I'll have to write a note and keep it in my pocket so I can remind myself where I'm going.

Fighter planes were roaring overhead all morning. The war in the north has worsened and many on both sides are dead or wounded. Our annual Franciscan feasts in Nazareth have all been cancelled. Our friars in Galilee tell us of daily missile alerts and explosions. It's tragic. 

Rain

Scurrying in the rain

The first rain this autumn has fallen. Sunday Mass had just ended and lots of people were coming out of the church when the sudden shower broke and sent people scurrying home. But everyone enjoyed it. Children were dancing and playing in the rain while adults were happily telling each other that the rains have come. It's a blessing. Let's hope it won't stop here. We desperately need it as it was a drought year last year.

A week has past since the last blog. It's been an unsettling week. My course of prednisone is reduced to 10mg and the withdrawal symptoms begin ... depression and confusion. However my breathing is very much improved. And I can walk longer distances because the breathing is better. I just cannot climb stairs. Or carry heavy stuff.

The war in the north had escalated the past few days. Our hospitals in Nazareth were told to move their patients to underground carparks. Hundreds of missiles were into the country, causing injuries. Likewise Lebanon was wrecked by attacks. It's a tragic situation. So much suffering. Maybe the rains will bring some blessings of peace. We so much need it now.

Rain clouds

Cloudy morning

It's chilly in the mornings ... very humid with lots of dew at dawn. Rain clouds blew over us into Jordan. It was so cloudy we couldn't see the almost full moon last night. But you can feel the dampness even if it didn't rain. The ground is wet and slippery. Let's hope it'll rain and snow this winter. We need it so much. Last year it didn't rain at all and the land is parched.

And the dates on the palms are ripening. Wild parrots nip them and Palm Plaza is littered with half-chewed dates and broken branches. I pick up a few each morning for JJ and Dudu to chew. 

Tomorrow will be Mid-autumn festival ... but it's of course not celebrated here. It should coincide with the Jewish feast of Sukkot but the hebrew calendar has added an extra month so Sukkot will be a month from now. I'm hoping to receive some mooncakes so at least the asian religious in Jerusalem can celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival. Fingers-crossed that they'll arrive.

Weekend

Sunset

Definitely autumn weather ... chilly winds in the nights and mornings. You almost need a light hoodie when going out. Autumn fruit are on sale on the streets .... pomegranates, grapes, olives and dates. I'm not even asking the price as prices have skyrocketed. Luckily most houses have a grape vine or an apricot tree so there's a little fruit to eat.

Yesterday there was heavy bombardment in the north, It's been quite aggressive and there's no let up in the northern border fighting. No casualties though. I thought the tensions would be reduced soon as the US warship departed 2 days ago ... and the street-block at Herod's Gate has been removed. Things are easing up ... at least for us here in the central part of the country. But many people are less optimistic than I. sigh*

Tomorrow the muslims celebrate the birthday of Muhammed. It will be calm. There'll be no violence in the City nor in the Mosque compound. That's been the trend this war. I've never seen Jerusalem so quiet in all these years of conflict as this past year. Disinterest? Fear? Hopelessness? I'm not sure. Maybe a mix of everything.

Health-wise my breathing difficulties have been eased alot with the intake of prednisone. It always works ... but like I said before, the side effects are awful. Already I've started losing my memory and getting confused. Hoping that's all I'll have to go through.

Mid-autumn

I didn't realise the Mid-autumn festival will be in a week's time. Time flies so quickly. Several asian nuns here have been asking me about mooncakes .... but because no groups have been coming up, I have no stock to give them. Pity. The number of asian religious priests and nuns have risen significantly here in the Holy Land. The West has no more vocations. 

Happy Feast day

Last Monday our Indian sisters of Maria Bambina celebrated their patron feast (Nativity of the BVM). They're all Indian. A point made about asian religious. They serve in 2 hospitals and our sanctuary here. 

There's also a growing contingent of Burmese nuns here who also work in hospitals and schools. It's a good sign. And vietnamese and indonesian nuns too. All these countries have no diplomatic ties with Israel. But because of the skills they bring into the country, they become a boon to the health and education sectors. That's a big contribution from the asian church.

My health has reached a point where I have to resort to the most drastic medication which I've been trying to avoid. Prednisone. Because it's got strong side effects on mood swings, hallucinations and withdrawal symptoms, I've been avoiding it as much as I can. But the hospital has put me on a course starting with 80mg and weaning off 10mg every 2 days. I had it. I know by Day 3 I'll be having side effects. 

Rexy

Geez catholics after Mass

I still suffer from difficulty in breathing. I'm back to using ventolin inhaler. I dislike that as it makes me swollen. But I need to breathe and for the moment the inhaler is my only help. I'll need to take out my nebulizer and use it again tonight. It's difficult to walk or climb stairs or even simply be. Every moment is choking and gasping for breath. The wheezing is so bad and loud ... I sound like the TARDIS from Dr. Who.

I was happy yesterday though because my friend brought Rexy his baby Pomeranian to stay with me for a day. He's very playful but he feels comfortable with me so I can brush his fur and groom him. I bought a new cushy toy for him ... a porcupine ... and he loved chasing it and chewing it. Then he lies down to sleep as he gets tired easily ... like me. He's my best weekend friend as he keeps me company and I don't feel so sick alone. Often as I play with Rexy I remember my beloved dogs I had before: Suzie and Duke, Trampy, Rex and Regis ...

Rexy

Still despite my health, yesterday I managed to make my way to celebrate Mass for the Geez Rite catholics. I was driven halfway there, and the other hapf I walked slowly for 40 minutes through the park. Most of them are Tigrinians, some Eritreans. It's my last Mass with them this year as their chaplain will return next week. Next week I'll celebrate my last Mass with the Konkanis in Herzliya 100 km away as their chaplain will also return from summer holidays. I'm the summer substitute for many communities. Though I'm ill I still try my best to serve them. I only require someone to drive me from one place to another as I cannot walk far or travel by bus or train anymore. 

The war in the northern border continues to see destruction on both sides and casualties. Likewise in the south, cross border bombings continue. The City continues to be tense. Police are everywhere. Mounted Police are also on patrol. Settlers attack arab villages and kill a girl. Jews continue to come and spit at us in front of my house. Is there any wonder people are afraid to come and visit?

Sick

It was a panicky day when I felt unwell 2 days ago. A choking on my throat and numb left shoulder. I know that feeling ... an angina attack. The people in the office immediately drove me to Clalit, my medical insurance clinic 4 km away. The doc ordered an ECG and other tests. after which he said I had to be admitted to hospital for more observation as I have flu symptoms plus angina symptoms. He called for an ambulance to take me to Hadassah Hospital but I refused as my insurance does not cover ambulance transport. That's US$200. So I opted to go to our Catholic hospital next door but Clalit would not release me until someone accompany me there. I had to call my office to send someone to come and the doctors here spoke with him to ascertain he'll accompany me to hospital. That done, I was warded in emergency room for tests etc... for some 4 hours. Eventually I was told I can go home as there's no further indication for worry. But that's our hospital. Not everyone agreed. Well I'm now weak and tire easily. I prefer to stay in my office as there're more people around who can help me if I need it.

Homegrown tomatoes

With tomatoes costing US$10 a kilo ... we're now planting our own tomatoes. It's a small harvest but we're happy. This morning I bought a roasted egg from the vendor in the street. It cost US$1 for one normal-sized chicken egg. Nothing is cheap anymore ... not even healthcare.

Sick

Requiem Mass for Doreen

I found out that my bout of diarrhea and vomiting was not only me but many other people living around my area (radius 15 km) have been suffering from the same illness as well. No one knows the cause and its definitely not food related. It's something in the air. Conspiracy theories abound. All I know is many people have the same symptoms on the same day in various parts of the City and suburbs.

And it's been 3 days also that I'm suffering from asthma symptoms. Lots of wheezing and difficulty to breathe. I should go to the doctor. The national is over by now so the clinics should be opened.

I'm still sad that Doreen, our Armenian parishioner, died suddenly last week from a brain hemorrhage. No words, The weather seems to reflect my mood ... dark gray skies, threats of rain that never come, chilly yet hot.

First week of school is underway. The streets are suddenly packed with students, parents and cars once in the morning and once in the afternoon; at the start and end of each school day. Then the rest of the time the streets are relatively quiet. Life isn't back to normal but we try to tell ourselves it is. 

Back to school

Back to school

Today is the first day of school. The streets are full of students in uniforms and bags. Teachers carrying textbooks and lists hurry to school. Parents comforted primary 1 and kindergarten children as it's their first time in school without their parents. Entrances to school are jammed with cars bringing students for the first assembly of the academic year. However school will last only till 11am. That's because a nationwide strike has been called to pressure the govt to accept a ceasefire deal.

Yes the country is at a standstill today. Private and public sectors are all joining in. Banks, post Offices, public transport, shops, restaurants, schools, all will be closed. Since last nights hundreds of thousands of israelis have blocked major highways, burning dumpsters and clashing with police. Event the airport is closed. An estimated 2.5 billion $ will be lost today as the economy shuts down. In any other country the govt would have crashed ... but not here. Where will all this lead us? We're crushed between leftists and rightists; between muslims and jews; between israel and palestine. Christians are in a difficult situation ... our patriarch has told us not to take sides. But that only means we become enemies to both sides. 

I guess all the stress has upset my health. I've been vomiting and having diarrhea for 2 days now. It's making me weak. Maybe I should go see the doctor, But the clinics are closed ... they're on strike too.