Traffic jam

I see from the Jerusalem Post that traffic yesterday in the New City was a nightmare due to the construction of the light-rail system. See http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331191360&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull It's a necessary evil I guess (2 years of construction!) because it attempts to solve the congestion, heat and safety of Jerusalem's inhabitants as well as the swelling number of tourists.

Today the sisters serving in our monastery celebrate their patron feastday - Our Lady of Mercy. They sang (only 2 left in the community!) very well during Mass. I guess they'll have lots of guests (Polish of course) today streaming in.

Meanwhile health is a big thing in our community now. I think eventually we'll have a little grp who'll take a brisk walk after dinner around the city (2kms - 4kms) just to stay healthy..... unless we get mugged, of course! My BP has been 130 over 85 this entire week. And my nose has been bleeding for 2 days now despite using the nasal spray. In fact it was yesterday when I was working on my paper when suddenly I found my table and shirt splashed with blood from my nose - no warning! The local doc has no idea what's happening. I think it's the BP gone up and blew a capillary.

Anyway back to work .... the silence of the library is great. Only the doctoral students are left - we don't have holidays (unofficially) as we're very pressed for time to finish our papers and use of the library. Talk about tension. Talked to Fr Vincenzo 2 days back and he's asking me to help out in Cairo. Like I can't even help myself here!

Thanks

To the following people, thanks for their generosity:

1) Agnes Leung, Danial Ko & Eliz So for the Kassis family, Caritas Baby Hospital and sponsorship for Fr Sun/Sr. Jiang.

2) Raymond for sponsorship of Fr Sun/Sr.Jiang

Thanks

Thanks to the Millenium group for their generous donation:

1) To the Holyland: Lina Lee, Lourdes Chan, Lo Yuet Ho, Au Fai Ah

2) Cecilia Ho, Chan Yee Hung

3) Sponsorship of the chinese priest and sister: Lee Lai Ching and friends, & Sophia Ho

We will remember you all in our prayers.

kosher donations?

So here's the story: American Evangelical Christians are big donors to Jewish welfare agencies in Israel because they believe that by serving the Israeli cause especially in the gathering of all the Jewish people into Israel, the Messiah will return. However the problem now is can Jews accept donations from Christians because it is not kosher? See http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331156879&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Meanwhile many pilgrims are also doing their part to help the local Christians who are suffering especially in Gaza. Many Singapore groups are offering basic hygiene needs such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and especially basic medicines like asperin and water-purification tablets. (Wish other groups would be likewise be so generous). I collect all these and find means to get them transported into Gaza for the Christians. Usually the Missionaries of Charity are the only ones daring enough to enter this most dangerous region of Palestine. But the recent examples of Fr Blaise (Missionary of Charity - male branch) and Bishop Lafont who entered Gaza and risked their lives to see for themselves the dire situation of the Christians - well it's pushing me to enter Gaza myself to bring the next lot of medicine. I know full well the risk involved (see what happened yesterday http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331170502&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull ) and when I do decide to enter (and exit alive), I'll let you know. If not - then well .... it was a blessing knowing you and may God bless you always. Just remember one thing - there are Christians in the Holyland who are less fortunate than you are. Do your part to help.

a sewing machine

There was a touching piece of news I saw a few days back on TV. They were reporting on the Burmese (Myanmar) refugees on the Myanmar-Thai border. Some had a lucky break and will go to America to start a new life. One man was asked what he hoped for when arriving in America with his family. One would have expected him to say a life of peace, or education for his children, or freedom of speech or religion, or proper housing and sanitation. Instead he said "I want a sewing machine. Then I can work and feed my family." Such is the honest simplicity, pride and honour of this refugee people. He only thought of his duty to provide for his family - not for luxury but for a simple life to get by.

From Sr. Maria Jiang

Sr. Maria updates through an email dated July 26th:

"...davvero mia cosa le preso tanta fatica, e io dal cuore le rendo grazie! spero adesso tutto pronto. Adesso sto faccendo un servizio a un anziano sacerdote, prossima settimana cioè Agosto sarò in Inghilttera a studiare un po' inglese, e Sep, tornerò a Roma ad aspettare la sua notizia."

translation ad sensum
"... indeed you have taken much trouble to arrange for my things [studies, scholarship, visa etc..] and I thank you from the heart. I hope everything is now in order. Right now I'm helping an old priest, and next week in August I'll go to England to study some english. In September I will return to Rome and await your instructions [for the visa]".

Donation update

Thanks to all the generous donors for the various help you have offered:

For the Musky children US$6,700 (all transferred to Musky already). As was previously reported, Fr. Vincenzo is not only using the money to provide food for the children but also sponsoring 3-5 students to go to school. This project to help the poor children in Musky (Cairo) is always open for more donations.

For the Kassis family US$5,100 (all given to the Kassis family already). Mr Kassis thanks you all. This still falls short of the necessary help the family needs (6 in the family) so please continue your generous support.

For the scholarship of Fr Paul Sun and Sr. Maria Jiang US$22,696. Both have recently written to express their heartfelt thanks to you all. Your continued donation is still much appreciated.

For the Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem US$250. We are hoping to help fund a generator for the hospital.

Your beneficiaries here in the Holyland assure you of their prayers and thanks.