Call for help from Fr Vincenzo (updated with english trans.)

An urgent email from Fr Vincenzo (Musky, Cairo). English translation in red.

Il Cairo, 26 dicembre 2008
Caro Lionel, Dear Lionel

Non so quando potrò inviarti questo messaggio. Da quasi due settimane il cavo internet per l’Egitto è rotto da qualche parte tra l’Italia e l’Egitto. Dicono che sia stata attivata una deviazione attraverso un altro cavo, ma funziona molto lentamente. Da diversi giorni non riesco a collegarmi.
I don't know when I could send you this message. For almost 2 weeks the Internet cable of Egypt was broken somewhere between Italy and Egypt. They say they used another cable as a diversion but it is very slow. For several days I could not connect to the Internet.

Durante il Capitolo conventuale abbiamo cercato di decidere che aiuto chiedere. Le necessità della gente sono un mare aperto. Ho visitato alcune case. Ti assicuro che la situazione va al di là di ogni immaginazione. A Natale ho visto sul TG2 un filmato della “Protezione animali” sulla cura degli animali abbandonati. Se alcune persone qui potessero ricevere la cura che ricevono i cani in Italia, sarebbero fortunate.
During our House Chapter we tried to decide what help we could ask. The needs of the people are an open sea - I visited several cases. I assure you the situation is beyond any imagination. On Christmas I saw a film on TG2 (Italian channel) that dealt with care for abandoned animals. If some humans could receive the care the dogs have in Italy, they would be very fortunate.

Purtroppo giorno 24 mattina il nostro sacrestano mentre puliva la chiesa è stato chiamato dalla famiglia. Il muro di casa cominciava a crollare su una casa sottostante. Abbiamo incaricato qualcuno di valutare danni. La spesa va dai 4.000 agli 8.000 US$. Il signor Kamal lavora qualche ora da noi e a fine mese mette insieme un centinaio di US$.
Unfortunately on Dec. 24th our sacristan received a call from his family while he was cleaning the church. The wall of his house began to collapse over another house below his. We got someone to evaluate the damage cost. It's between US$4,000 to US$8,000. Mr Kamal works several hours a day at our place and at the end of the month, earns about US$100.

Stiamo cercando un modo di aiutarlo con qualche fondo del convento e della beneficenza, usando in parte quanto hai già inviato. Siamo indecisi se chiedere l’aiuto di qualche famiglia che frequenta la nostra chiesa. Il problema è che quelli che frequentano il nostro convento sono quasi tutti poveri. Chi può dare qualche aiuto darà solo un centinaio di dollari. Un’altra difficoltà viene dalla mentalità della gente, in parte dalla loro povertà e in parte dalla loro gelosia che subito comincia mormorare perché aiutiamo una famiglia e non un’altra.
We're looking for a way to help him either from our monastery or from benefactors, using in part what you have already sent to us. We are undecided in asking for help from some families who come to our church. The problem is those who come to our church are almost all poor themselves. Whoever can help, can only afford about US$100. Another difficulty is the mentality of these people, in part because of their poverty and in part because of jealousy and gossip about why we help one family and not another.

Ogni anno ricevevamo da una famiglia locale trasferitasi in Canada qualcosa come 3.000 US$. Ora ci hanno scritto che trovano difficoltà a inviare i soldi a motivo delle leggi canadesi.
Di attività di beneficenza qui ne abbiamo diverse: adozioni a distanza, aiuti scolastici, aiuti per il vitto e spesso anche l’alloggio, aiuti per le medicine e l’assistenza medica, per la colonia estiva, tre o quattro escursioni durante l’anno per far uscire i ragazzi dalla cerchia ristretta del Musky e altro.
Every year we receive something like US$3,000 from a local family that has migrated to Canada. Now they write to say they have difficulty in sending money to us because of Canadian law. Our charitable work here includes: adoption of children (sponsorship), schooling assistance, help for food and often also lodging, medical help, 3 or 4 excursions a year for the children around Musky and its surrounding.

Caro Lionel,
che cosa posso dirti? Vorremmo aiutare qualche famiglia ad affittare qualche appartamento di due stanze, ma è praticamente impossibile per le nostre possibilità. Se verrai al Cairo ti farò visitare qualche casa. La foto della casa del signor Kamal è un lusso. Lui ha almeno un po’ di spazio in cui muoversi,.
Dear Lionel, what can I tell you? We would like to help seevral families to pay the rent of 2 room apartments , but it is practically impossible and beyond us. If you come to Cairo, I will show you some of these houses. The photo of Mr Kamal's house is a "luxury". At least he ahs a little space to move about.

Se può essere utile ti invio il conto della banca che noi usiamo esclusivamente per la beneficenza
If it is useful, I'm giving you our bank account that we use exclusively for charitable donations:

Br.No. 140
BANQUE MISR OVERSEAS BR.
153 MOHAMED FARID ST., CAIRO – EGYPT
SWIFT : BMISEGCX140
TEL : 7961111 – 7962222
FAX : 7960800 – 7960833



Kanisat al-Latin al-Franciscan bil-Musky

Customer ID : 16375255
National ID : 510615

Egyptian Pound Account No.: 14000100143172
American Dollar Account No.: 14012000053205
Euro Account No.: 14013000010656

Termino salutandoti caramente e auguro a te e ai tuoi amici che ci sostengono un sereno Anno Nuovo e benedizione da S. Francesco.
I end by warmly greeting you and wishing you and your friends that help us a serene New Year and the blessing of St. Francis.

Vincenzo

New Year wish for peace

2008 has rushed out so quickly. It was a year that I lost many good friends: our chinese Carmelite Sister Josephine Loh in Nazareth, Daniel Cavero, David Jeaffreson, Fr Michele Piccirillo, and a few days ago George our former doorman just to name a few. It was a difficult year of trials and struggles that is climaxing in this war in Gaza. But our Christian faith tells us that out of this darkness comes light; that God will always triumph. May 2009 be peace-full.

Tonight we'll sing Vespers and the Te Deum during Adoration. Then we'll have dinner. It'll be a simple way to end the year and we dedicate the New Year to the Virgin Mary whose feast we celebrate tomorrow as the Mother of God.

To all my benefactors, collaborators, friends and family, I assure you of my prayers and thanks for your kindness to me and to the poor whom I try to serve here in the Holyland.

I cannot wish you a Happy New Year while I see so much suffering around me. I wish you a peace-filled and hope-filled New Year.

end of another day

The Old City remains tense and soldiers are still stationed at every major crossroad and gate. I can smell burning tires and there's a helicopter flying overhead. I had to go to Bethpage on the Mt of Olives and deliver a box of sweets to the orphanage run by the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul. It's a huge box that needed 2 people to carry, so our handyman Jadallah drove me there and helped me carry it into the convent. The sweets are a gift to the 28 orphans from the Faith Tours group of pilgrims. Along the way we saw burnt garbage and tires in the middle of roads, stones and rocks strewn across to block vehicles.

At lunch, a chinese priest friend from Canada came to visit and he stayed for lunch - he studied at our school 17 yrs ago so the professor know him. After lunch I had to go to the Jewish suburb of Talpiot to do some errands for the dean and superior. Again Jadallah drove me there. It was a nice break as the huge shopping malls have a sense of normality and apparent calm; until you walk out and see soldiers everywhere again. We got some of the things we needed, and we couldn't get some others. Then we drove home. The soldiers at St Stephen's Gate is turning back everyone from entering the Old City, even those who walk, but we could make it through as we have the sign of the Franciscan Custody on our car and I look typically like a foreigner. They didn't even check the inside of our car.

Anyway I'm exhausted and need to rest.

Meanwhile Israel is rejecting a truce and will go ahead to destroy Hamas in Gaza. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/399313/1/.html and more casulaties today in bilateral firing of rockets. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230456524549&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and Egypt is seen to be in collusion with Israel in this atatck. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230456532029&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Violence spreads

Rioting and demonstrations are now in East Jerusalem and the surrounding suburbs, including the Old City where I live. There's talk of a 3rd Intifida by Palestinians and "all out war" by Israelis. See:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230456521714&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7803598.stm

There is fear that Lebanon might start attacking Israel from the north as Israeali troops are now all deployed in the south. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230456521637&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Caught inbetween

It was a frightening moment when I was caught up in a large, passionate demonstration by Hamas here inside the Old City yesterday evening. Our community had gone up to St Saviour's monastery for our annual exchange of greetings with the Custos. It was a much appreciated hour when the Custos updated us on things about the Custody of the Holyland, answered our questions, joked, ate panettone and drink cocoa (It's pretty cold outside and raining and very dark at 5pm). When our hour was up, the community went back home to the Flagellation Monastery but I stayed behind as the Custos wanted to speak with me. We chatted for some 25 mins., caught up alot on the past few months and then at 6.30pm I decided to leve for home (on foot of course).

I took the narrow streets in the Christian Quarter which I felt were safer than the main streets that are filled with armed soldiers; and I wore my habit to play safe. But as I reached the crossroads toward Damascus Gate, I could hear shouting and chanting "Allahu Akbar" in unison. It got louder and more aggressive. I realised I was stnding in the way of a huge anti-Israel rally on my left and a huge contingent of Israeli soldiers on my right - all it takes is one bullet and all hell will break lose. There was no place for me to go as both ends of the road were blocked by the two groups. It was a panic situation being caught between two opposing groups. And only after having a bottle thrown at my head only a few hours earlier ... i felt it was time to get out quick.

Only hope was to return back to the alley - which fortunately the Missionaries of Charity's convent is situated. I rang the bell and two sisters pulled me in and locked the door immediately. They told me to stay over night at their convent if the demonstration got ugly or went on late into the night. I also quickly changed my clothes to civilian as the anti-Christian feelings of the Muslim extremist might get me killed out in the streets now. The sisters were adoring the Blessed Sacrament (Holy Hour) so I joined them, give them Benediction and after an hour decided to try and go home. Jesus' presence was very reassuring.

Two sisters insisted on accompanying me back home (if we could) as it would be safer - both Jews and Muslims respect Mother Teresa very much and will not harm the sisters, so Sr Capilla and Sr Sophia were actually protecting me. The street was alot quieter now, but still with many soldiers and pockets of arab youths taunting and shouting slogans. We hurried down to the 3rd Station of the Cross then turned up the road to my place which is the 2nd Station.

It was one scary moment facing a wall of angry arabs punching the air with their fists, shouting slogans and taunting the armed Israeli soldiers. And Israel hs now officially used the word "war" : http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/29/gaza.israel.strikes/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Attacked

Just ten minutes before lunch, I went out to the small back garden with our janitor Jadallah to clean out the place when a glass bottle was flung from the 4th floor of our neighbouring building which smashed into the wall to my left, leaving splinters of glass on my face. Luckily I was wearing a woollen hat pulled low and thick winter clothing so the glass did not cut the rest of my body; just scratching my face. I will definitely say here that it was from the muslim house next to our garden - and Jadalleh was beside me as witness. The exploding glass as loud enough for our workers in the kitchen to hear and came out to see what happened. Our 4 arab workers, Jadalleh, Edward, Majed and Khalil rushed out to the back door to catch the culprit but no one was around and the house was closed shut. As you can see, the violence has reached our own doorsteps.

And just a few minutes ago, our doorman Majed informed me that Isareli soldiers have closed our gates; hence pilgrims cannot come into our church and we cannot go out. I don't know what's happening but it sounds like the army is conducting a search or attack in our quarter of the Old City and doesn't want any escape routes to be open. Believe me, it doesn't sound like fun living here right now.

Earlier this morning I was out in the car with our Dean to do some errands, and we saw empty streets in East Jerusalem, streets with burnt tires and garbage in the middle as protest to stop traffic, dumpsters on fire, and soldiers just about every 10 metres, soldiers everywhere.

Where are we all heading?

Thanks

Thanks to May Yu for her support to Musky and the Holyland.