Thursday, March 5, 2009
Terror attack
Just a few hours ago a terror attack in Jerusalem - http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1236246868064&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull it's the same tactic used twice before in July last year: a bulldozer
Good news for asthma
Good news for severe asthma sufferers like me who have to use prednisone with terrible side effects. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7922986.stm
Your adoptee
Fr Vincenzo has sent me this information regarding one of the children in Musky whom you are sponsoring.
Name: Raimond Fu'ad Fayez
Age: 9 yrs old
Class: Primary 3 (2008-2009)
Sponsors: Benefactors from Hong Kong/Singapore
History: Raimond suffers from a form of allergy that makes him lose his appetite. His parents work to make a living. They have no other income and the salary does not meet up with the cost of living, nor for basic necessities. His father Mr Fayez suffers from kidney problems. The cost of medicine has risen. Often Mr Fayez has to help his own mother who is ill. Mrs Fayez had an operation on the throat as a result of some allergy several years back. The family lives in a shack built on the roof of a building, like most inhabitants of Cairo. This shack does not protect them from the cold nor rain. They cannot afford to pay rent for a proper apartment.
Name: Raimond Fu'ad Fayez
Age: 9 yrs old
Class: Primary 3 (2008-2009)
Sponsors: Benefactors from Hong Kong/Singapore
History: Raimond suffers from a form of allergy that makes him lose his appetite. His parents work to make a living. They have no other income and the salary does not meet up with the cost of living, nor for basic necessities. His father Mr Fayez suffers from kidney problems. The cost of medicine has risen. Often Mr Fayez has to help his own mother who is ill. Mrs Fayez had an operation on the throat as a result of some allergy several years back. The family lives in a shack built on the roof of a building, like most inhabitants of Cairo. This shack does not protect them from the cold nor rain. They cannot afford to pay rent for a proper apartment.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Shrek
The weather did a 180 degree turn and it's very sunny today with very few clouds. But it's still cold. This afternoon I was back at the pharmacies to buy more medicine and dettol and valium (finally got it, but only one box). The kids are totally traumatised in Gaza. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7921416.stm God have mercy.
Last Monday when I was buying medicine at the pharmacy, an american couple (tourists) came in to buy Alka-seltzer. They were surprised to see me buy so much medicine and asked where it was for. When I said Gaza, they were very touched and offered some money to pay for the medicine. Goes to show there're still people who care, like you.
Meanwhile I had chicken sandwich - local style of course. I gathered the leftover chicken (to save them from being thrown away) from last Sunday's lunch and removed the meat. Wrapped them up in "shrek" (not the cartoon ogre! It's a large unleaven bread about one foot in diameter, very fine about only 2mm thick) which the Missionaries of Charity gave me; added wasabe salad dressing (really good stuff) and ate one for brunch and another for tea. It was good. Didn't have lunch though. Today lentil soup was served. I ate instead 4 brussels sprouts for lunch with plain water.
And it's back to more studies. Today I thought discourse analysis would be an interesting twist in my research. So have been reading up on it today.
Last Monday when I was buying medicine at the pharmacy, an american couple (tourists) came in to buy Alka-seltzer. They were surprised to see me buy so much medicine and asked where it was for. When I said Gaza, they were very touched and offered some money to pay for the medicine. Goes to show there're still people who care, like you.
Meanwhile I had chicken sandwich - local style of course. I gathered the leftover chicken (to save them from being thrown away) from last Sunday's lunch and removed the meat. Wrapped them up in "shrek" (not the cartoon ogre! It's a large unleaven bread about one foot in diameter, very fine about only 2mm thick) which the Missionaries of Charity gave me; added wasabe salad dressing (really good stuff) and ate one for brunch and another for tea. It was good. Didn't have lunch though. Today lentil soup was served. I ate instead 4 brussels sprouts for lunch with plain water.
And it's back to more studies. Today I thought discourse analysis would be an interesting twist in my research. So have been reading up on it today.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Wet Monday
The weather remains gloomy. The sky is overcast and a constant drizzle carpets Jerusalem. It's like it's going to storm, but it never really gets there. A bit frustrating.
I was out this morning to buy medicine for the Missionaries of Charity - got loads of stuff but had to walk back home (almost 1 km) with 5 heavy bags. Finally I couldn't go on, so I telephoned the sisters to wait for me at the 3rd Station so they can bring the medicine directly to their convent and later into Gaza, without me lugging them through the Way of the Cross back home and then back to their convent later in the day. (I bet when you guys make the Way of the Cross each Friday in your clean churches and well-organised liturgy, you never realise the crowds that actually walk up and down the real Way of the Cross here in Jerusalem, doing business; the grime in the streets, the shouts, the jostling, the Israeli soldiers standing around with their guns, the arab kids playing and eating, everyone spitting, and people like me carrying heavy stuff home). I was exhausted when I got home. Spent 2000 shekels (almost US$650) getting the urgent supplies. Still have to go back to get more tomorrow morning. They need simple things like antibiotics, paracetemol, cough syrup, baby powder and lots of valium (which I can't get) as the people in Gaza are breaking down under pressure. Oh, and lots of dettol as well. I also really want to get water-purification pills but I can't find them. Anyway this good deed was made possible through your kind generosity. We'll be praying for you.
A heart-warming news article for Lent. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/03/02/china.disabled/index.html?iref=mpstoryview If only we all could do something to make life better for others.
I was out this morning to buy medicine for the Missionaries of Charity - got loads of stuff but had to walk back home (almost 1 km) with 5 heavy bags. Finally I couldn't go on, so I telephoned the sisters to wait for me at the 3rd Station so they can bring the medicine directly to their convent and later into Gaza, without me lugging them through the Way of the Cross back home and then back to their convent later in the day. (I bet when you guys make the Way of the Cross each Friday in your clean churches and well-organised liturgy, you never realise the crowds that actually walk up and down the real Way of the Cross here in Jerusalem, doing business; the grime in the streets, the shouts, the jostling, the Israeli soldiers standing around with their guns, the arab kids playing and eating, everyone spitting, and people like me carrying heavy stuff home). I was exhausted when I got home. Spent 2000 shekels (almost US$650) getting the urgent supplies. Still have to go back to get more tomorrow morning. They need simple things like antibiotics, paracetemol, cough syrup, baby powder and lots of valium (which I can't get) as the people in Gaza are breaking down under pressure. Oh, and lots of dettol as well. I also really want to get water-purification pills but I can't find them. Anyway this good deed was made possible through your kind generosity. We'll be praying for you.
A heart-warming news article for Lent. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/03/02/china.disabled/index.html?iref=mpstoryview If only we all could do something to make life better for others.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
1st Sunday of Lent
Somehow I was totally exhausted yesterday - probably for not sleeping after I accompanied Ephrem to New Gate in the stormy night. The professors were saying my eyes were extra small because I was too tired and should go to sleep, which I did - the whole afternoon.
Woke up at 5pm to prepare for Vespers and Lectio Divina by prof. Sabino Chiala, a monk from the Bose community who's an expert in ancient Syriac writings. gave a very good commentary on the Sunday readings. But the church was so cold - even our Slavic Fr. Tomislav who's used to the cold said it was extraodinarily cold yesterday.
The Lenten schedule of liturgies is underway. That means 1.30pm Saturday there's the solemn procession of friars inside the Holy Sepulchre; then at midnight they sing vigils and proclaim the resurrection of Christ. This goes on for every Saturday of Lent. It was too cold, rainy and I was too tired to go last night. So maybe next Saturday.
Today I'm cleaning my room. The sky is threateningly dark and the storm will likely break in an hour's time. So cleaning my room sounds like the best idea.
Woke up at 5pm to prepare for Vespers and Lectio Divina by prof. Sabino Chiala, a monk from the Bose community who's an expert in ancient Syriac writings. gave a very good commentary on the Sunday readings. But the church was so cold - even our Slavic Fr. Tomislav who's used to the cold said it was extraodinarily cold yesterday.
The Lenten schedule of liturgies is underway. That means 1.30pm Saturday there's the solemn procession of friars inside the Holy Sepulchre; then at midnight they sing vigils and proclaim the resurrection of Christ. This goes on for every Saturday of Lent. It was too cold, rainy and I was too tired to go last night. So maybe next Saturday.
Today I'm cleaning my room. The sky is threateningly dark and the storm will likely break in an hour's time. So cleaning my room sounds like the best idea.
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