UPDATE FROM OCTOBER 13 2012. KORCE.

26 OCTOBER 2012 UPDATE OF EVENTS FROM OCTOBER 13 2012. Got word on October 13 from our International Office in New York, of the appointment of a new statutory official in relation to Trafficking issues. I made contact at once but so far have not been able to elicit a meaningful response, that would enable us to co-operate in order to improve the setup for those we have contact with locally. October 15-17, I had three visits in two days to our local Mary Potter clinic, the local hospital and thirdly to the Polyclinic. All of these took place because of a sudden, stiff, knee which was duly diagnosed as arthritis. Thank God, my knee has gradually returned to normal, while I am on the lookout for any similar symptoms and hoping that they will not re-appear! We were invited to join the Maltese Society in a trip to Tirana on the 19 October, National Holiday in Albania. This was to attend a Mass scheduled for the opening of the Year of Faith. I decided to pass on the 5.30a.m. departure, even though we had been without Mass on Sunday. They arrived in good time for Mass, but to an over-crowded Cathedral and so had to stand for the THREE HOUR MASS in Italian-Albanian. The fact that I had taken a wise decision was confirmed for me when Sister Lalini arrived home after 10.00p.m. Life is very much back to normal now! Had a visit from a Peace Corps. Volunteer on Wednesday morning. Laurie's visit was a reminder for me of all the help that contact with the various volunteers has been for me, not least with Mike, whose friendship had the added bonus of his medical qualifications and expertise in my hours of need. Thank you, Mike! Today is quite significant for me as Sister Lalini has just left for Tirana. She is en route, with Sister Mirjam, to a Mission Course in Angers. Their going is also a very pleasant reminder to me of the very well-planned Irish Angers Pilgrimage of Friends that I was fortunate enough to be part of last month. Over the coming weeks, I hope to put together a Powerpoint - of very limited interest - of the highlights of that week. Now, as the next few weeks open up, my thoughts will turn increasingly to Belfast. In fact, this very day, a Soroptmist letter in front of me tells of a Rally being held at the WATERFRONT at 1.00p.m. to Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking locally. This is being attended by 1,200 members of the Soroptmist group as there is a Global Conference being held in Belfast this week. Our plan was, that our group of Friends would attend this Rally and afterwards, come together for a lunch. This was to facilitate them saying "Goodbye" to Sister Anne O'Byrne. who is due to leave Belfast in the coming week. Have a great weekend. Every blessing and joy be yours!