Desert

The Kidron brook in the desert

The MC sisters told me to take a day out of Jerusalem ... I've been so stressed and upset by the recent attacks I'm getting a nervous breakdown. Remember 2 of the sisters were also attacked. The sisters and I went out into the desert to get away from it all.

It was very very hot. Scorching. But we managed to visit Mar Saba monastery in the eastern desert, and the Herodion fortress in the southern desert. We climbed down the steep valleys into the Kidron brook which was gushing with lots of water. The Kidron valley begins in Jerusalem next to Gethsemane and travels 32 km into the Dead Sea. Midway through the desert it passes below the Mar Saba monastery. The monastery was built 1500 years ago by St. Saba and has been inhabited all these centuries.

Mar Saba monastery

We had a picnic lunch at the Herodion ... the palace fortress built by King Herod the Great and probably died and was buried there as well. We could say we ate lunch at Herod's palace!

It was a pleasant and happy outing ... but the dark thoughts of violence are never far away. Tensions at the southern borders are rising with several rockets fired from Gaza into Israel ... who responded with a barrage of missiles. The PM has promised to annex the Jordan Valley if he wins the election .... and palestnians are furious and ready for war. And of course our situation in Jerusalem where we get attacked and threats everyday.

Light and Dark

St. Louis Hospital lighted up

More tensions at our northern borders today when military posts in Syria were bombed by unknown sources; and Lebanon shot down an Israeli drone. We had hoped that things had quietened down after last week ... but it hasn't. Let's see where it's leading us.

Am still very perturbed by the recent attacks .... arab neighbors ask if I'm ok, if I wanted them to accompany me to go to work or whatever. It's nice that they care ... but the danger is everywhere. I just got another vague warning message this evening. I dread going home from work at night as the streets are dark and I never know what to expect. I try to put it off by taking long walks around the New City ... saying hi to staff at Main restaurant or Mandarin restaurant ... just to make sure they know I'm still alive. There was a pleasant surprise this evening ... I saw St. Louis Hospital all lighted up. It was beautiful. A little brightness in the huge darkness.

Cloudy

Cloudy morning

It's the weekend again ... and the weather continues to be very strange. It's very chilly at nights and people are now wearing sweaters and hoodies. Rain clouds cover the sky in the early morning and dew is heavy. This morning we had no sun till noon time due to the heavy rain clouds. But it doesn't rain ... they just blow across to Jordan.
There's been a fatal stabbing attack just an hour ago at the palestinian border of Qalqiya (nearer to Tel Aviv). Yesterday at the Gaza border 2 arab youths were killed during the weekly protests against Israel. Gaza then fired rockets into Israel who responded by bombing military targets. But our northern border with Lebanon and Syria is quite. Thank goodness.

My herniated disc is still hurting whether I sit or stand. Am due for another medical checkup (a followup after the last CT scan) ... and get some tests done to see if my situation is improving or not. Fingers crossed.

M. Teresa feast

St. Teresa of Calcutta

I'm not sure what to write. Am still very perturbed by the recent attacks. The police called just a few hours ago to check on me and asked if everything was alright. 

It's the feast of M. Teresa of Calcutta today. I had Mass for the sisters in Bethlehem. Maybe M. Teresa will work a miracle. I herniated a disc on my lower back while carrying heavy boxes of books. It's making getting up and sitting/lying down very painful. I have to stand most of the time to relieve the pain.

Danger

It's becoming dangerous for me to live here in the city. Prior to the Saturday attack, I had received 2 warnings ... one from a high ranking person ... that muslims intend to harm me. Now several of our muslim neighbors and shopkeepers have come to ask after me and said they will watch my back when I go out or return. You never know what happens in this country ... and I never know if I'll come home alive.

Summer ending

Mounted police at night

The much awaited attack by Lebanon finally came ... relieving us all from the suspense. A barrage of missiles were fired into northern Galilee at Israeli military targets. In return, Israel fired a barrage of missiles into Lebanon. It was all symbolic gestures as both the lebanese and israeli leaderships do not want a war. The attacks were compulsory gestures to appease their home crowds. After all Israel in 2 weeks will be holding elections. Nevertheless military presence has been stepped up throughout the country.

Bumble bee

Summer is almost over ... and someone reminded that it's just about 110 days to Christmas. Time surely flies. The 2nd decade of the 21st century will begin. The beginning of autumn can be felt in the nights when temp fall to 17 degrees. Rain clouds have blown over us the past 2 mornings ... right over us and into Jordan. Soon the jewish High Holy Days will start ... Rosh haShana (New Year), Yom Kippur (Atonement) and Sukkoth (Booths/tabernacles) all within a month. Most shops and offices will be closed or work shorter hours.

Nothing eventful here in the local newspapers ... but everyone ... and everyone here whether jewish or arab ... is talking about the situation in Hong Kong. Most don't understand why it's happening other than it's popular discontent. Arabs admire the staying power of this 3 month protest ... which they have not succeeded. Israelis are curious as to why a small thing could blow up like this.
Well one thing everyone agrees on .... there's no turning back for Hong Kong. Some new solution must be found ... one outside the present dynamics.

Attacked

Yesterday I and 2 MC sisters were physically attacked by a muslim on our way to Mass at 4.45pm along the Via Dolorosa. There were many witnesses ... tourists and locals ... as well as the security cameras. We made a police report. It's the 2nd time by the same person. Not to worry ... everything is ok. No injuries.