Brother Mark Elvins is currently visiting Bethlehem.
Here is his first report from the Holy Land.
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Greetings from the Holy Land
After waiting two days at
Heathrow Airport , with two cancellations, I flew out to Tel Aviv on BA
flight 163 at 10.30 p.m. After a sleepless night I landed at Tel Aviv
at about 6.00 a.m. on the Sunday of the Baptism of Our Lord (the flight
had been delayed for half an hour at Heathrow with de-icing). I
sleep-walked off the aircraft and almost missed the cab driver who had
come to meet me. After half an hour's drive I arrived at Bethlehem.
The University had to cancel my accommodation but the the
kindly Blessed Sacrament Fathers took me in, providing a room for a
month. I was greeted by a most hospitable Italian Superior who
fortunately speaks very good English, I was also met by Salim and Laila
Asfoura, Catholic Palestinians who run a travel agency, these have
agreed to provide me with free transport to all the needy people I have
to visit.
After a very large cup of coffee I collapsed in a bed for four
hours. Upon awakening I joined the community for lunch, conversing in
elementary French and Italian, but thank God also English.
At
3.30 p.m. I met up with Dr.Michael Whelan, the former head of the
Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and he arranged for the monies raised to
be withdrawn from a local bank, including four thousand five hundred
pounds held for my use with the Latin Patriachate. I said the Sunday
Mass in the house chapel, for the Indian sisters who expressed a
preference for English to Latin.
On the Monday morning I was given a taste of my free
transport, visiting the Hospital, the University and Laila Asfoura's
Travel Agency. Here I was given a mobile telephone (a novel plaything
for my antique disposition). I then made my first call to meet Dr.
Jacques Keutgen, Director of the Order of Malta's Maternity Hospital
who promised to arrange a meeting with Sr.Sophie, Superior of the
Daughters of Charity and her social worker Flavia.
I spent the afternoon walking around Bethlehem getting my
bearings and making a sketch map of the area. That evening I said Mass
for the Sister followed by the usual generous Italian supper.
This morning I heard from Flavia, the social worker, who has
arranged for me to meet her and Sr.Sophie on Friday morning to select
the most needy cases of poverty in the area for support. I am just off
to visit the Hospital and greet the Director and thank him for all his
help and cooperation.
Pax et bonum,
fra Mark.
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