Last week of Lent

Few hawkers

The rains have finally stopped today. It's very sunny and I think it'll go up to 20 degrees in the afternoon. But indoors it's still very chilly. Yesterday evening the rain was hard. I hear near Bethlehem there was a hailstorm. There was thunder and lightening that's for sure. I think the past few nights it was done to 7 degrees.

The wet weather has damped the few hawkers who set up stall at Damascus Gate for Ramadan. Just a motley group selling toiletries and jeans, and a cart of strawberries. No music, no clowns, no buntings and lights. Event eh shops that usually sell Ramadan sweets and delicacies are not open. I guess the economy is affecting everyone. There's been alot of calls for help: from paying rent and electric/water bills to buying food and medicine. A co-ordinated effort between the Custody, Patriarchate and other Catholic agencies make sure aid is not duplicated.

It's the last week of Lent. This Sunday begins Holy Week. It'll be a busy time as the migrant communities who make up the majority of the Church members will be holding their own liturgies based on language. Everyone helps everyone else with communion and confessions. It's good collaboration especially among the asian chaplains.

Rain

Damascus Gate

It's been raining for 2 days now.  Heavier than a drizzle. And there was thunder and lightening last night as well. That's 180 degree turn from the hot weather of the past week that reached 20 degrees. Suddenly winter clothes, hoodies and umbrellas are back again.

I must say I'm not totally against it raining now. I was planning to plant some flower seeds and they need this cool wet weather. Many rose stem-cuttings had died due to the hot weather last week as well. Hopefully those remaining will recover.

Ramadan remains subdued and very joyless. Next week is our Holy Week. It would be the same as few Catholic groups come. Majority of the groups that come - and there are many - are protestants. A couple of days ago I met a Nigerian group of about 50 pilgrims. Same time there came 150 Indonesian protestants. So where are the Catholics?

Confessions

inside the confessional

The weather begins to warm up. Nights are 11 degree but day time hits 20 degrees. Still you're never sure how much clothing you should wear. It's a series of taking off and putting on. 

Meantime the flowers and trees are enjoying the warmth. Most of the Spring flowers are out and strawberries are abundant. I think fruit and vegetables will cost less because of this wet and cold winter. We need prices to come down as the cost of living is skyrocketing.

Ramadan began a night ago. The canon fired 7 times when the new moon was sighted. There were scuffles at the Al Aqsa mosque entrance when some young worshippers were refused entry. Luckily last night no incident took place. Police have stepped up checks at all the City Gates. Palm Plaza and Damascus Gate was empty as a huge contingent of police shooed away everyone except those going home. I have never seen such an empty, sad Ramadan.

I sprained my ankle over the weekend and am hobbling slowly. Mobility is always a problem when you're old. I'm wearing anti-slip shoes as the paving stones are slippery from the heavy dew. This is the type of weather I associate with Holy Week. Confessions are on the rise and I'm moving around several churches in several cities to help hear confessions. 

Crowds

Crowds at the Holy Sepulcher

Holy Week is in 2 weeks and I went to the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Mass. Climbing up to the church is difficult as the stairs now appear big obstacles. There were big crowds (relatively) of tourists and local migrant workers. Many groups start the Way of the Cross early as 5am every Saturday. And lines form to enter the Empty Tomb. All that is good news. The City isn't so empty and quiet as people think.

It's the weekend. Yesterday was the last Friday before Ramadan. Usually it would bring in thousands of muslims into the Old City, with stalls set up in every corner selling anything. But this year it was silent and empty. It was rather sad.

The weather seems to be warmer up though a cold wind whips up every now and then. Let's hope it keeps up and lead us gently into summer

Flowers

Almond flowers

It's still cold though the sun is up and bright. Spring flowers are popping up everywhere which are delightful. It makes the place colourful again. And slowly the butterflies will come too. Almond flowers are the most recognisable throughout the land ... with it's white and pink flowers. 

From my little terrace garden I have nasturtiums, freesias, anemones, cosmos, narcissus, syrian oregano all in bloom. They're not just colourful ... many are sweet scented as well. It's lovely to sit there in the afternoon and have a cup of tea if it's not too cold.

I see from the morning sky that the swallows have returned from Africa on their way back to Europe. That's a sure sign the weather is warming up. Our cat "Princess" is big with kittens ... I hope she finds a safe place to give birth. She usually has 3 kittens and we always give them away when they're weaned. Poor girl gets terribly lost and cries for her babies but after a week she'll be back to her old self.

I'm facing alot of strange happenings with my computer or phone or social media. Been locked out of FB, someone changed my password. My phone doesn't work on certain apps ... I cannot share photos from it. My email was blocked for several hours. Fake accounts are on the rise. Be careful everyone.

Cold

Indian group making the Way
of the Cross

We're into March. Spring should be spot on but instead we're having cloudy drizzly days again. And it's cold again.

As we approach Holy Week it's time to get stock of ourselves: what we've done and what we've failed to do. And also what was done to us. A sobering time to consider what rebirth means and entails.

It's so wonderful to see groups coming to make the Way of the Cross every Friday and Saturday. Local migrant workers come with their chaplains. Most come from other cities far away. There are also groups from foreign countries. Most are family groups of no more than 10 people. Larger groups are usually from Asia. 

Well the cold isn't bothering these groups. They actually get to enjoy the churches to themselves because they're not crowded. And they do have a great spiritual time.

Cold weekend

Bright sun, cold wind

The weather is very cold even though the sun continues to shine brightly. The wind is very strong and cold.  Winter has returned and Spring is put on hold. Many people are falling sick because of this strange weather.

But one good thing about this cold spell is strawberries are larger and juicier. A friend came by and bought me a small box. It was delicious. I'm sure the Spring fruit will also be a good crop this year. We just hope in Summer it won't be a drought and the crops will fail as a result.

Students are studying for their exams ... many walking to school with open textbooks in their hands. Education is the passport to the future ... whether it be technical education or whatever. It's just very sad to see young people stopping school at 15 yrs of age because they have no interest... and loitering the streets, getting into trouble. Pride and dignity in work is still a long way from being inculcated in this society.

By the way, viewership number 25 today ... from 1300 the previous day. Smells fishy?