Crouching tiger ...

It's been drizzling since yesterday evening. The streets are very slippery and the souvenir shopkeepers have switched to selling umbrellas. A brisk profit. One thing for sure, everyone around is saying Thank God for the rain.

The situation in Egypt and Jordan is once again the worry for all of us here. And we've been thinking of Fr Vincenzo and his community in Alexandria as well. We have lost contact with him. Pray for their safety.

The Year of the Tiger certainly is moving out with a vicious roar, mauling everything in sight - political upheavels in the Middle East, natural catastrophes around the world, swine flu claiming it's first victims in many countries ... Let's hope the Rabbit brings back some calm and balance.

Again Goodbye

It's 2.15am and I've just come back from the Ecole Biblique. No, the school is closed at this hour, but I accompanied a Hungarian student who was leaving us. The shurut (airport shuttle minibus) picked him up from there at 2am. It's dangerous to be out at this hour so I told him I'd accompany him; he protested because I am still sick, and said his two other classmates will accompany him. As things would have it, both guys overslept so luckily I was available to help him carry his luggage and walk the dark, quiet street up to the bus station opposite the Ecole.

I never knew this student well, as he lived mostly in our other monastery in the New City. But we've chatted several times. Very nice guy, quiet and polite. But like all our casualties, it's because life here strikes hard and harsh. He is leaving after 3 years of studies, just one final step away from graduation ... such a pity. As we waited for his shurut in the cold wind, beneath the bare branches of the hibernating trees that cast shadows dancing under the street lamps, he said to me "I admire your courage in staying here. I can't do it."

Wishing you all the best, Entre, in your new apostolate. There's nothing to be ashamed; rather it takes alot of courage to recognise one's limits and act upon it. You're still a hero. Goodbye.

One month almost gone ...

The growing unrest in Egypt and now in Jordan is unsettling ... alarming us here. It's not just a simple question of unstable borders that Israel shares with Egypt to the south and Jordan to the east. Rather it's the grim prospect of an extremist Islamic takeover of the two arab governments. It bodes badly for Israel. It still has to contend with Hizbullah at the northern border with Lebanon. Then Gaza will be an open gateway to the extremists in Egypt; as will the Jordan River Valley for those in Jordan. The repercussions for Israel will be unthinkable.

It rained in the early morning and the wind was cold. Terribly grey skies. Few groups are visiting the land. There is a strange emptiness in the streets.

My headache has slightly subsided as did the fever, but the cough, sore throat and phlegmatic lungs are still weighing down on me. Could not do any studies today. And my internet line was cut ... or hacked. Shukri our technician had to come and restore everything. Awful ... he did say it was possible someone hacked into my computers and blocked or spied on them. So watch out! Jadallah came and helped me clean up my room - it was a thorough cleaning in preparation for the New Year. I couldn't do it all alone, with being ill and all.

And in 2 days, January 2011 slips into history ......

Friday

The situation in Egypt is making us all nervous. We're worried for Fr Vincenzo and his community in Alexandria where riots have been taking place. An Egypt ruled by extremist Islamic groups will be very bad for the Copts living there; and definitely bad for us here in Israel. Our school excursion to Egypt next week has been cancelled.

Rioting and protests escalating in Amman, Jordan as well. Not good as Israel is now sandwiched by two unstable countries.

Jerusalem today was on high alert. Lots of soldiers at all intersections leading to the Old City. Roads were temporarily closed during the noontime Muslim prayer. There were fears of rioting due to the killing of a Palestinian youth yesterday. Clashes between Jewish settlers and Palestinians spread to 4 other places around the country, including Gush Etzion south of Jerusalem. I haven't seen anything like this since the last Intifada.

My fever and headache is still bigtime. Unfortunately I could hardly rest - calls and visits nonstop throughout the morning. I had to go back to the Pharmacy and pay for the medicine I took yesterday - Rami the pharmacist was very kind and allowed me to take home the medicine even when I didn't bring enough money to pay for it. Paid my debt, then went off to the Supermarket to get basic necessities before the weekend starts. Managed to rest only at 3pm this afternoon. Hope tonight will be better, with no fever and less headache.

Sick

Three days of hibernation. Feeling very sick. The diarrhea has stopped but now it looks like I've caught the flu or something. Fever, severe headaches, cough with tonnes of phlegm, respiratory problems. Just got back from the doc who's put me on heavy antibiotics. Then the sharp pain on my right shoulder was diagnosed as probably a rotational whatever ... which could lead to frozen shoulder. Apparently the ligaments are inflamed or something so my shoulder hurts when I raise my arm. On pain-killers as a result. Last night the whole sick-thing was so bad I couldn't sleep a wink.

Meantime Palileaks is shaking up our whole society. Everyone is worried at the instability the reports are causing in our country. Protests in Gaza. Accusations of treachery thrown back and forth within both Palestinian and Israeli govts. Then the larger picture of riots in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Yemen against their govts. Instability is the word here - and it's getting dangerous. An unstable Middle-East will do no good to anyone around the world. Today a Palestinian youth was shot dead in the West Bank allegedly by Jewish settlers http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/palestinians-rock-throwing-teen-shot-dead-by-west-bank-settlers-1.339538 . Yesterday helicopters were flying overhead in our area.

On a better note, yesterday we remembered Fr Allegra who died 34 years ago. There was a small display of his works and life at our school, organised by Osvalda.

Thanks

Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Poon and Mr. Anthony Ho for the sweets and medicine which were sent to the orphans at St Vincent de Paul's convent.

The Wake Jan. 23

At the wake of Dr. A. Yau this evening.