News from Haifa

Monday 24th July 2006:

We woke up today to the sound of the fan and the radio alarm – what a nice way to wake up! (less than 2 weeks of conflict and already we appreciate the good simple things in life, like absence of sirens one morning!). Anyway, Allan woke up and got up; I woke up and groaned and turned over and tried not to scratch my one-day-old rash which kept me awake a good bit of an otherwise hot, humid but “rocketless” night. I developed this rash late yesterday afternoon before finishing at work, then forgot about it during an overdue visit to the Shrine of the Báb, and was plagued by it all night and still this morning. I think I am allergic to the Katyushas that have been falling at intervals over Haifa, and am considering sending a note to Mr. Nasrallah suggesting a different and more skin-friendly brand of rockets like Chinese fireworks, and the stuff we use on Australia Day (if his budget allows! or he can limit their use to one hour every night between 8-9 pm when they can be seen and enjoyed by all the countries of the Mediterranean???). Allan thought that a close-up photo of my rash might be topical for this blog up-date but I could not condone such wanton cruelty!

At home and at our place of service we have protected areas which are quite safe, but this little boy from Oz is still not used to having rockets fired at him. The general routine is that the sirens will go off - yes this is why we feel much safer than news reports will indicate – and then we wait and in less than a minute we hear some loud bangs, some soft booms or nothing at all. Last week we went a whole day without the sirens going off. On the weekend there were about 9 siren alerts, occasionally accompanied by some loud bangs.

Seriously though, we are both so touched by all the loving and caring messages from all our friends in Oz. We apologise for causing you worry, and sadly realize what it takes to get some of you to write! However, rash aside (oh, if only!!!), we are really very well; and are discovering the truth in the observation that anxiety makes people eat more! Coupled with our temporary inability to walk by the beach, I have sadly put on weight (Allan is still trim and handsome!). Just to give you a glimpse of the magnitude of our suffering: On the weekend (Saturday evening) we went to the home of a Canadian couple, who also enjoy “Monty Python”- we had all decided we needed some stress-release, and had a few laughs with them and, purely out of politeness, partook of some yummy home-made traditional Canadian desserts! We have been coming to work every day as usual and really are blessed to be surrounded by calm, friendly (and a few slightly more cuddly than before) colleagues, and it is business as usual! You can’t even keep pilgrims away: about 150 dear souls are enjoying a somewhat abridged pilgrimage with an invitation to visit again whenever they can in the next 2 years for the full version.

But the highlight of the week was last night’s visit to the Shrine. It was so lovely to walk along the path among the fragrant frangipanis, rose bushes and majestic trees and feast all the senses: Rose and jasmine scents, bird-song, crunching pebbles underfoot, breath-taking vista of terraces, bay and the magnificent Shrine in late afternoon of a balmy Summer day on the Mountain of the Lord ….can it get any better? Then, we entered the Shrine, where other colleagues and pilgrims were quietly communing with God, and were enveloped in peace and calm - all our daily cares and worries fell off, one by one, to be replaced with feelings of humility, joy and immense gratitude for all the blessings showered upon us ….then prayerfully remembering dear ones - family and friends……. then praying for all who are suffering around us and in the whole world….. Thus cleansed and replenished, we quietly made our way through more beauty back to the car and drove home!