Another night over

Another tough night fighting the bugs. But much better I must admit - I had help! The Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's sisters) came to my rescue. I had to give them a talk as usual yesterday afternoon (actually I was late) and they saw the red patches spreading from my neck up to my head (yes even into my hair), so they gave me a very powerful spray for bugs, and two sisters came back with me loaded with new blankets and a sleeping bag. They took my blanket (over 15 years old and never washed, having passed many many owners) and bedsheets to wash (and beat I guess - there's one sister here who's famed for killing bugs I hear). So last night there were less bites, about 35. I'll have to sleep on the floor from now on till I get a bed - but it's freezing in winter so I'll have to figure out how to warm the floor. Anyway I think I'm developing a reaction to the bites - I'm getting a fever the past day and vomited once.

Lang called. He's from the youth group in Sydney and is now in Tel Aviv for a week to participate in an exhibition on architecture. He's having the weekend off so I'll be bringing him around the Old City. Unless I die from the bug bites first. I'm waiting for his call again to confirm the hour - hhmm like in the spirit of Advent ... waiting.

Had a shock this morning when they told me Fr Angelo died. He's a Japanese friar who used to work in the Holy Sepulchre. He went back to Japan for a holiday and died. I went off to the Holy Sepulchre to pray for him. Other friars who used to work there also came. We talked about this shocking news and reminded each other that it's Advent, so we all have to be prepared for either Christ's coming or our going to him. Probably me first - the bugs are lending a helping hand.

Dark skies

A HK group of tourists arrived with John, the sales manager of El Al (I promised to mention him in my blog - so this is it, John! He says he reads it everyday ..... hhhmmm so how come sales managers have so much free time to read blogs?!). They're all tour agents from HK and the trip was organised by Jet-tours, escorted by Andy. It was a familiarisation tour. And of course on my part it was nice to meet with Honkies again (never dreamt I'd say that!!! bite my tongue!). Well John was very very nice because he brought a bag of my stuff over for me. Really appreciate that especially when he was busy with the group and all. (Pat on the back!) The group is leaving for HK tonight; so buon viaggio!

The sky is threateningly black and everything just looks so dull and listless - the muezzins are singing from every mosque in Jerusalem now (2.19pm) and the loudest and closest to us is always the best. He can hold his note for over a minute! And he sings so smoothly. Takes away the horrid itch and pain from my body. Oh from the bag that John brought, there was an ankle guard - thanks to whoever sent it to me! need it real bad as my ankle is hurting.

Anyway Eduardo who helps in the kitchen tells me that the weather report is warning of a severe storm on Wednesday - thunder, hail and floods (all in biblical proportions - it's the only way here in the Holyland!) The Lowlands like the Dead Sea and Jericho will be in big trouble as all the water will be rushing down to them, bringing along boulders and entire mountains. It is really frightening and many people have died being caught up in a flood in the desert. Keep this in mind because later in the Advent readings you'll hear about God changing the weather, the desert will have water flowing over it etc... man this is really biblical background! Wish you were here to see it!

OK must eat my lunch now. I'm late because I went off to Mt. Zion to get the bag from John. Strange isn't it? Mt. Zion for you is like from the psalms, singing of its beauty, reminders of David and Solomon's palaces there...... for us, it's one giant carpark where tourist buses park. Anti-climax! Sr. Pieta is in the kitchen cleaning up and she says there's gulash (chunks of boiled beef in simply language) - I've got another name for it but let's leave it for now ......

And as you have guessed from the photos, Regis will be leaving soon. Poor boy, a victim of human whims. He's so obedient and playful. You guys better say goodbye to him for me, and take lots of photos. Even the sky in Jerusalem is crying for you, Regis. Be a good boy in your new home.

Advent appeal

Well showed my bug bites to several friars in the house. 2 are of the opinion that it's a rash - an allergy because it's so profuse and clustered. Others say it's definitely bed bugs. Well whatever! I'm still stuck with the itch and pain. One thing everyone agreed was: get rid of the bed immediately, and sleep on the floor if necessary. The bed and mattress have to be burned.

Now to business - the Advent appeal has nothing to do with my bed bug problem. It's actually from Fr Vincenzo. His area where he lives (Musky in the outskirts of Cairo) is very poor. The children are malnourished and eat only one meal a day of boiled vegetables (1 or 2 leaves). The janitor of our monastery works part time in a school, and he collects half-eaten bread, cuts of the dirty parts and with the bits leftover, he brings back to our monastery to feed the children. They're all christians. Vincenzo says that they get to eat meat only twice a year - in Easter and Christmas when our parish cooks something special for them. The cook scraps the grease from our cooking pans to bring home to feed her children - a little fat in their diet. Vincenzo is very upset by the situation.

He asked if any of you kind people out there can donate a little money so that the children (and adults) can have a little something more to eat during Christmas. In fact he reminded me twice last night before I came home. Just US$10 is enough to feed a child for several weeks if not a month. Because of the poverty, corruption is rampant and so he warned not to send any money directly to him. It will definitely be stolen. He asked that I collect the money here in Jerusalem and pass him the money whenever a friar goes to Musky from here.

So share a little Christmas cheer to the less fortunate Catholics in Cairo - US$10 is little but it means alot to the children in Musky and the surrounding villages. But remember a cheque of US$10 will get a large commission deducted by the bank and what you're left with is actually less than US$5, so think of a better way to avoid bank charges. You can pass the donation to Katie who'll give you a receipt. The money will be brought to me when the next pilgrimage group arrives, and I'll acknowledge it in my blog. Then I'll pass it to the friar who's going to Egypt.

Thanks people! Christmas will be so much more meaningful when you share it with others.

St. Francis Xavier

Yesterday afternoon was dark and dreary - it rained and stopped and then rained again and stopped. Fr Stefano de Luca, the archaeologist of Magdala, called me during lunch to say he's in Jerusalem and wants to shop around Salahadin Street and would like me to come along. I didn't feel like it but went anyway; walked a full circle round the streets of East Jerusalem, some streets I never knew before. Bought a reading lamp for 60 shekels which I thought was pretty expensive, but it was the cheapest around here. The shop-keeper of the restaurent opposite the shop where I bought the lamp, suddenly ran out scolding lots of bad words in arabic. Everone else ran out to the street to see what had happened. Apparently someone ate his lunch there and ran off without paying the bill. Pretty bold to do such a thing in broad daylight.

At 7pm I went out with Fr Vincenzo for a pizza as promised. He misses pizza; then again he misses food in general, because the village where he stays is so very poor, there is hardly anything to eat. He himself has lost several kilos. I got Osvalda to come along - but she was pretty grumpy having to walk over 2 km to the restaurent in East Jerusalem. Don't forget Vincenzo and Osvalda live in West Jerusalem; and Osvalda isn't young (ahem!) nor fit (She's given up dieting). Then Vincenzo scolded me because I forgot to invite Sr. Helene, an arab FMM sister who's our very good friend. She knew me since way back in 1992. But she is old ..... over 70 I think. She just came back from Rome for a holiday but caught a cold. Anyway she showed up at Zahara restaurent (zahara=flower), one of the best restaurents in East Jerusalem, keeping its colonial atmosphere with turkish architecture. Very lovely place. Back in 1995 when I and my classmates earned our licentiates (Master's degree), it was traditional for the licensees to offer a meal to the school. The 3 of us organised a dinner here at Zahara for 40 people; and the price was very reasonable (split by 3 of course!). And their pizzas are real italian stuff - none of those weird spangled "pineapple and ham" type of pizzas. Vincenzo had a Napolitana, Sr. Helene had a margarita, and Osvalda and I had greek pizzas. It was almost 9pm when we finished dinner. Walked home - actually at Damascus Gate Sr Helene turned right to go home and I turned left into Damascus gate to go to my home. Vincenzo had to accompany Osvalda back to Casa Nova uphill; which is pretty tough for her since her knees are not strong (she's very very heavy).

But back home, the night was absolute torture. Didn't sleep one wink because the bugs kept biting me. I have a ring of bites around my neck now - literally a full circle of bug bites all round my neck because it was the exposed part. I also have bites on my tummy and knees. it is really bad. I've had it with this bed. Believe me its not one or two but it's in clusters of 7 or 10 bites. You people can start sending me medicated oil or mopiko to relieve the itch and pain of these bites because there's no such thing here in Jerusalem. And please don't think: I better not send anything because others will be sending it - and the result is everyone thinks like that and nothing gets to me!!!!! (which is exactly what is happening) Hey I'm desparate ok? The itch and pain can literally drive me crazy; to the point of crying. There's nothing I can do to kill those bugs. Sprayed a whole can of baygon last night; applied a whole bottle of anti-bite medicated spray on my whole body, and they still keep coming. It's living hell. I've tolerated this for 3 months now, and this is it. I can't wait for another bed. I need to burn this bed immediately or the bugs will lay eggs in my clothes etc...

And St Francis Xavier? Well he better do a miracle to get rid of those bugs.

Advent

Yesterday was pretty much a slow day. My chest was still aching from the asthma so I didn't feel up to anything. But Jadallah called me to say he wants to bring me to Salahaddin Street with the car so that I can buy a table - so I thought I'd better grab this chance. It's not everyday that he's free and able to use the car just for me. Well I ordered 2 small cabinets (about 2 feet high and one and a half feet wide) with locks so I can keep my passports. Till now I hide them in a ....... (not telling you! my secret!!) but I always forget where I hid them, and fear sometimes when I throw rubbish out, I might also throw them away .... ooopps let the cat out of the bag!!! Anyway bought also two wicker baskets to keep my laundry and toiletries. The shop owner wanted 120 shekels (HK$240) each which was outright cut-throat. We bargained till it reached 80 shekels each. Is that expensive by HK standards?

Ate an early dinner and slept by 7pm. Well, I did some reading and got a chapter from a book photocopied. Too restless not to do anything.

Got up at 4am this morning and prepared to go to the Holy Sepulchre. Felt a little warm, so I put on less clothes and wore sandles. When i reached the courtyard, found out that it was raining - big time! Thunder and lightening. Funny I never heard anything from my room. It probably rained the whole night because places around looked flooded. Anyway I was too lazy to climb up 4 floors and change to thicker clothes, so putting on my hood (Capuche), I hurried through the Way of the Cross up to the Holy Sepulchre where Stations 9 to 14 are housed. Was pretty wet and cold by then. But felt pretty good because it kept coming to my head that today is Advent - preparation for Christmas! The first day of the new liturgical year.

I celebrated Mass at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel then prayed the Office for Advent. Some other franciscan sisters were also praying the Office, and the Holy Sepulchre community was chanting it in their choir. I don't join them because they chant in latin. Solemn Mass had just ended at the Tomb and the crowds were dispersing. Bro Cristoforo, cantor for the Holy Sepulchre asked me if I had a relic of Fr Allegra to give him. He knew Fr Allegra when Allegra was in Jerusalem teaching from 1972-1973. In fact Cristoforo is also archivist of the Custody and has alot information on Allegra in the Holyland. We found out that Allegra was in the Holyland on a certain year but this was never recorded in his chronology in preparation for his beatification. Strange! No one seems to know of this, but the records clearly show his signature in several Sanctuary guestbooks where he celebrated Mass. We're looking deeper into this mystery. Was there bi-location involved?

Advent again - a new year. The dark sky and cold, wet weather is so theatrical and dramatic in setting the stage for the season. We read from the Mass readings and the Office (that's a series of psalms, Bible passages and readings from the fathers of the Church) that God is coming; humans in their weakness are incapable of saving themselves from themselves so God is going to intervene. But when? How? Advent tries to answer these questions by preparing us for that great moment when God's Son, invisible and eternal, took on flesh that is visible and destructible, to live among us - in Bethlehem, in a manger, one winter night, cold, wet, like today.

Another week gone

Yesterday night was really fun. I had dinner at Terra Santa College and met up with old classmates (actually only 3 are left; everyone else is a 1st year student). Fr Vincenzo was there, as well as Sr Ann the musician and Irene and Arlette the italian volunteers. As usual the sisters in the kitchen did a fantastic job - they are very very good cooks, the best in the custody. There's one student here called Pavarotti from Modena - yes, the same name and same town. And yes he's his cousin or nephew or something like that.

Walked back 2 km to the Flagellation. Pretty creepy because it was not only dark, but the streets in the New City were dead quiet - it was of course the Sabbath. I haven't walked in a Sabbath night for a long time - and the emptiness is so strange. No dogs, cats, cars. I wonder if that was how the ancient Israelites spent their Sabbaths.

The Muslim quarter on the otherhand was just closing down for the night - Friday being heir day off and Damascus Gate is filled with Bedouins bringing in their products to sell. All sorts of vegetables, fruit, cooked food ..... the sight and smell of the Middle East. But the rubbish they leave behind is by the tonnes. Cleaners are everywhere sweeping and washing down the stone pavements; making it very slippery to walk. Hundreds of cartons and plastic bags are scooped up and thrown into mini-tractors specially built to climb the stairs of the Old City. Reminds me that another week is past. November flew off so quickly.

Earlier in the afternoon Jadallah bought kniffeh for everyone to celebrate the birth of his 5th daughter. It's very nice: cheese baked in honey with pistachios. I had half a piece then realised it had honey. My face is now slightly swollen today. But even worse, I had an attack of asthma last night at 3am. It was pretty bad and I was awake till 6am. Was so exhausted I fell asleep till 7am. Anyway am very tired still and wheezing, so I'm going to rest again. No work today.

back again

Yes I'm back again after 2 hours of studying secondary participle clauses. Next week we start analysing the Acts of the Apostles. Not going to be easy!

I forgot to say that Jadallah our handyman is on holiday because his wife just gave birth to their 5th daughter - no sons. We were all happy that mother and baby are ok, but he couldn't hide his disappointment that it wasn't a son. And he's got lots of problems with housing as well. I hope he gets an apartment from our Custody Housing Project because he works so hard, and he deserves it.

I bought 3 books from the library this morning - whenever there are duplicate books, the library sells them to students, and I got 3 that will make interesting reading. Its all about the background of early christianity. I always thought that God created the universe with his Word; and this Word became flesh and dwelt among us as Jesus Christ; so words are very important. They share in the creative process of God's action, and in a way we should respect and use words properly. St Francis of Assisi used to pick up bits of paper from the ground and kiss them and put them in a reverent place because he said that the pages contain words and with these words we can assemble the name of God etc... And this brings to mind last night's renewal of vows because after Mass there was a reading from Celano (a biographer of St Francis from the 13th century). Strange I never read this passage before (Fr Marcello also said he never heard of it), but the passage goes to say that when Francis was thinking of how to write a Rule for his friars, he had a dream. He saw tiny grains lying on the floor, blown about by the wind. Then God told him to pick up the tiny grains and make a piece of bread with it. When he awoke, it became clear to Francis that the tiny grains on the ground were the pieces of Gospel/Bible teaching that people throw away and reject. By putting the Bible together, the bread became the symbol of our Rule which is meant to feed/nourish. Interesting.

Anyway from this digression, the lesson is simple - read! Wonder at how a wriggle here and a stroke there when put together becomes a word. Put words together and you have a sentence to express your thoughts. It's architecture - constructing sentences, building on it, giving it form so that sense can come out of it. Each time we speak or write, we're architects of words. And these words have power because we give them power. A word from a judge or lawyer can destroy forever a person's life or bring justice - "guilty". So why not just reflect alittle today about words. What if there was no language today, that humans never developed words. What would the world be like?