Ultra hot

Unbelievable heat  - 43 degrees in Jerusalem at 3pm yesterday. In the night it was 34 degrees. It was so hot no one could sleep. How long more shall this continue? The forecast is a cooler weekend - cooler meaning 2 or 3 degrees less. Not much comfort.

The streets were all blocked yesterday at Friday muslim prayers. Soldiers and police everywhere. Crowds pushing to enter the mosque but restrictions were raised to 50 yrs. More tensions as a result.

Heatwave still on

Yesterday electric users broke the record of electric consumption. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=185218  Air-con (which is rare in our area) are on full blast and though it's pretty nice ... it actually causes more heat in the atmosphere.

It's unbelievable that while we're dying of heat and drought here, in Pakistan and China there's unstoppable rain, floods and storms. What is God trying to say?

The dean came to my room and felt how hot it was. Then others came and felt the same. It is possibly the hottest room in the house because the breeze doesn't blow through; and the sun is constantly bashing on its walls ... the window being blocked by the bellfry. I have to pour water on the roof above to cool down the temperature. But still it's like boiling point. Jadallah our janitor came in for a moment to repair something and said he couldn't stand being in my room for another minute "It's a sauna" he yelped and left drenched in sweat. Good luck to me .... anyway the dean suggested I move to an empty room for a couple of weeks until the heatwave passes.

Outside at 3pm the heat was like a wall that not only bashes you right in the face when you walk out of an aircon building - it actually chokes you. It is that hot and dry. I spray the canaries with water as they cling in their cage with their tongues sticking out like dogs. Plants have all withered.

Meanwhile the muslims celebrate Ramadan like never before. Fireworks are blasted every night and the usual rowdy gangs frighten people by throwing firecrackers at them. Kids are given toy guns by their parents and they fire at everyone that passes by. Somehow I seem to miss something here .... violence is a celebration?

snippets

Many things happening this week. Two days back a gunman took the Turkish ambassador and wife hostage in Tel Aviv. Horrifying lapse of security. Bodes bad. Things became serious on all security issues.

The fires in Russia destroying tonnes of wheat is not only affecting Egypt but I think also Israel. People are saying that bread is going to cost alot.

And the heatwave is getting worse. Tomorrow will be 44 degrees. The govt. is installing water-saving devices in 100,000 homes.

In Gaza a woman was shot dead because she was accused of witchcraft. I'm trying to find out if she was muslim or christian.

Yesterday Nadia our assistant cook made Ktayiff, my favourite Ramadan food. It's pancakes with walnuts cooked in honey. Not good for my diabetes. But I managed to sneak one for breakfast today. The jerusalem dialect pronounces it as Atayif therefore no one could understand me when I asked for Ktayif. Took some time before they got it and Sr. Vicenta warmed up one for me in the oven.

So things are reeling around the country in this super heatwave. Wonder when things will cool off.

Grateful for your help

Fr Vincenzo just sent me these photos of Faizah Farid and two of her sons. With your help, they now are able to live under a proper roof. They're in Musky in Egypt. And they thank you very much. Below is the letter sent by Faizah Farid (translated into english)

In the former "house" under the staircase

Dear Father

I am Mrs Faizah Farid. With my husband we left our village of birth - Minyah - to Upper Egypt in search of a better future. Our hopes were not realised. I am now a widow for 4 years. I lost my husband who died of a tumour and I have 5 children ranging from 8 to 18 yrs old.

I worked as a doorkeeper in an old building since last June. I received a monthly salary of US$40. I did not have a proper house and I slept under a staircase with my daughter and 2 youngest sons; the two older boys sleep on the terrace in summer and on the staircase in winter.

I worked at extra jobs and earned a mere extra US$30 a month. It was absolutely impossible for my family to survive. With pain I prayed to God. I did not know how the Franciscan fathers knew about me, but with their help I was able to live with a little more dignity.

Then suddenly this year I was told to leave my work and "home". I cannot tell you how I felt at that moment. I lost all hope but I still trusted in God. I did not know who to turn to. I went to the Franciscan Fathers in Musky. I was terribly afraid. They told me to wait and pray.

One day they told me to look for a room to let. I did not expect much. I looked for a tiny room. The owners asked for 30,000 egyptian lire which was beyond my possibilities and imagination. Where could I find the equivalent of US$6000 for this tiny room? Only a miracle could help me.

In the beginning of June the Franciscan Fathers of Musky told me that if Charity is a miracle, then Providence will work it out. The friends of a chinese franciscan living in Jerusalem can help me.

Now I have two little rooms. We have no beds, tables, chairs, nothing ... but for once we as a family could live under the same roof.

Dear Fr. Lionel, I do not know how to read or write. I asked the Franciscan Fathers to write this letter for me and recount my story to you.

Thank you.

I wish I could add more but words cannot express my thanks to God and the Virgin Mary, the Franciscan Fathers in Musky and especially to you and your friends.

May the Lord give you peace, serenity, without worries and success in all your work

Um Nashhat (Mrs Faizah Farid), Nashhat, Ashraf, Nisma, Kirillos, Ghierghes

Former "house" under the staircase

In the new apartment

Thanks

Thanks to the following people for their help:
Cecelia Fung & Patrick Lui, Catherine Wong, Rosary Church group, Tim, Rise people, Holy Spirit group (Matthew, Lucia & Dominic, Conrad), Anna Ling, Rose Chiu, Catherine Chan.

Meteor Shower

We missed the fantastic meteor shower yesterday. The sky was too cloudy and the mosque had its lights on full blast throughout the night. Pity. It occurs once a year between Aug 12 and 13. Maybe you saw it?

Ramadan sweets are on sale now. My favourite is Ktayff - the walnut-wrapped pancakes cooked in honey. It's a no-no in my diet. Yesterday was bad ... i had too much coke and ice-cream (it was too hot) and I felt real sick later - nausea, giddy and blurred vision.

The wakers are doing their rounds ... at about 3am they beat their drums and gongs to wake up muslims to eat before the sun rises. They also wake us up as we live in the muslim quarter!

1st Friday

Tension in the Old City as muslims celebrate the 1st Friday of Ramadan - and when Jews begin the Sabbath. 3000 police are in and around the Old City. Restrictions put on West Bank muslims below 50 yrs old from entering the Al Aqsa Mosque. Roads all around the Old City have been closed off. Traffic congestion everywhere in the New City. Absolute chaos as far as I can see. From Damascus Gate I saw two fights among arabs ... the fasting and heatwave are making their tempers pretty short.

Anyway let's hope this Friday will pass without incident. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/08/13/israel.friday.prayers/index.html?hpt=T2#fbid=VOdRnPhVsKO&wom=false