MY JOURNEY FROM ALBANIA TO BELFAST

14 SEPTEMBER 2013 MY JOURNEY FROM ALBANIA TO BELFAST. A week later, I reflect on that "TRAVEL GLITCH" when I got to RINAS NENE TERESA AIRPORT, when leaving Tirana. The British airways Flight I had been booked on, had been rescheduled days BEFORE RESERVATION WAS MADE FOR ME BY WORLDWIDE TRAVEL. British Airways offered to re-schedule me on a night flight on Sunday,to arrive in London at 2.00a.m. on Monday. This plan was not acceptable. I was glad to have Sister Mirjam with me as we searched for a solution. ROME came to mind and there was just one seat left, which sufficed for me! An ongoing flight by AER LINGUS PRESENTED A PROBLEM, as the Albanian British Airways staff couldnotbook the flight, so I was temporarily moved onto BA Staff, inside the counter to make the booking. I was so intent on this task, I did not notice Mirjam filming the incident, until i saw it on Facebook later. I was so glad to get to Dublin and had a good onward journey to Belfast. Needless to say, the "GLITCH" is still in the hands of the WORLDWIDE TRAVEL AGENCY and our TRAVEL INSURANCE. Otherwise, all is well and life has been very good. Jubilee went smoothly - Sister Rose sang the psalm beautifully. My first "official" work day is on Wednesday next. With two Anglican Franciscan Brothers, I will help lead a one-day pilgrimage to Lough Derg!! Have a blessed weekend as we move into Autumn. Tomorrow, 15 September, Feast of Our Lady Of Dolours, marks the fourth anniversary of the beginning of our Albanian Mission adventure in MONS. BELGIUM. I thank God for every day of my time in ALBANIA. I KNOW it is time to be back in Ireland now and thank God it is good to be here.

MAJOR TRAVEL GLITCH - NO PLANE FOR ME AT RINAS AIRPORT................

5 SEPTEMBER 2013 FEAST OF MOTHER TERESA..........MAJOR TRAVEL GLITCH FOR MEAT NENE TERESA AIRPORT, RINAS This evening,I experienced quite a SHOCK at the airport. The plane I was scheduled to take to LONDON GATWICK had been cancelled. Cancelled, not today but ages ago - the only contact they had was a girl at the WORLDWIDE TRAVEL AGENCY and the message never reached me in any shape. So, a new JOURNEY began and a HUGE LEARNING CURVE for Mirjam and me. WATCH THIS SPACE!

PHOTOS, KLITI KALLAMATA, VOSKOPOJE AND CALLERS!

1 SEPTEMBER 2013 PHOTOS, KLITI KALLAMATA, VOSKOPOJE AND CALLERS! One photo was an attempt to show the beautiful place we selected for our final outing with the group of blind people and their carers The second photo was to mark my visit to Ana and Desart's new apartment, as yet incomplete. Yesterday was a very special day for us! Our friend, Kliti Kallamata came, as planned, and gave Lalini and me a two hour presentation on his Doctoral Thesis. This was mainly on the iconography of Voskopoje - a mountain village area less than 20 miles from here. Kliti's research was thorough and detailed. His family had lived in the area for generations and his background as a historian and architect was a powerful tool indeed. What made the day so very special was that Bea, our proprieter, had arranged lunch at VOSKOPOJE, in a restaurant close to the monastery researched. We were driven there by the restaurant owner's son. The road was scarcely more than a mountain ridge. The monastery contains the oldest Church in the Balkans and dates back to the 12 century. We saw there a few of the icons that Kliti had used in his thesis. This was truly a memorable day. Today, Nicky called early to say "Goodbye" and she stayed most of the morning. Then, Aurora, a very different person. Lastly, Nadia had arranged to come in the evening, after Church. Nadia is a friend now and in our early days, she had the difficult task of teaching the four of us Albanian, through French! Quite a task both for Nadia and for us! It was good to recall those days now , with humour! Happy September to each one with lots of blessings.

ANA' S APARTMENT, DRILON -MJELMA.

ASSUMPTION, INES MURZAKU, BLIND PROJECT, NEW HOME!

21 AUGUST 2013 ASSUMPTION, INES MURZAKU, BLIND PROJECT, NEW HOME! Assumption Day is our special feast here in Korce and is also celebrated by the Orthodox Church on the same day. Mons. Hil Kabashi, his Vicar, Rev. Jaroslav Car, OFM, Conv., and two Franciscans Concelebrated Mass. Our little church was full, with as many Italian visitors as Maltese and just nice room for the locals! We all enjoyed refreshments afterwards. A few days earlier, I had had a letter from Professor Ines Murzaku, Department of Religion, Seton Hall, New Jersey. She was requesting help with research into the development of Monasticism in Albania, in the context of earlier developments in the Balkans and Russia. Having discussed this request locally, I was referred to our Diocesan Vicar. I was particularly happy to see him arrive, driving our bishop. I was able to refer my request for help to him, explaining the background and my earlier involvement with sending information to this same person. Later, three neighbours came to dinner. Xhanetta, was celebrating her Birthday and we really enjoyed the shared meal. Today, we had our evaluation of the project for the blind. Great appreciation was expressed, and the gratitude of the blind people plus their carers. Over the coming week I will hopefully complete a short report on the project. We still have a home visit to finish completely. Also, this morning, I was invited to see Ana's new apartment. Ana has been involved with us since we came as Albanian teacher and , more recently, a co-worker with me in various projects that need more than my basic language skills. I was delighted to be shown around by Desart and Ana. They look forward to the completion of the construction work to make wedding plans. Happy feast for tomorrow - always special for Receptions and Professions and, of course it is also Elma's wedding anniversary. Blessings for everybody!

MIRJAM'S VISIT, DELVINE, GIROKASTER, BLUE EYE, CORFU AND MORE!!

MONDAY, 13 AUGUST 2013. MIRJAM'S VISIT, DELVINE, GIROKASTER, BLUE EYE, CORFU AND MORE!! Sister Adrienne finishes her brief visit here and is packing, so I take this first available moment to update on events since Sister Mirjam arrived on Monday, August 5, for a week. We had a vague plan and as the house had many callers that evening, we had no opportunity for discussion. Nicky, Zana, Marieta and Aurora were surprised to welcome Mirjam. We set off mid-morning on an adventure as we took a road advised by friends and we had a delightful journey to Delvine via Greece and wonderful roads. We were welcomed to a very German set-up, with five Sisters. Four were German and the fifth an American friend of mine. Our bishop advised her to contact me if she wanted to speak English, so we became friends, via SKYPE!!!The house had two other German visitors, so Mirjam, was in her element! Next morning, we headed for Girokaster, famous for being the home of INVER XOHJA, its Castle that gave Albania's infamous history and we saw the amazing architecture of this city clinging to the mountainside! Reluctantly we left for the BLUE EYE, fascinating beauty spot where we ate lunch beside the rushing river! In the afternoon we spent several hours at the famous BUTRINT site and museum, finishing our day with a great get-together at the Castle in Saranda that overlooks the bay and CORFU. A whirlwind tourist day for sure! Next morning saw three of us en route to Corfu via IGNOMETSIA PORT. We had a wonderful two hour cruise each way and the conditions for the ferry were ideal. The day could not have been better and we returned to Delvine as daylight ended. Much could be written about that special day. We returned here to Korca on Friday, bringing Sister Adrienne with us. On Saturday, we went to Pogradec and went towards the house "site" of a couple of years ago. We met the Orthodox priest and he took us to his Church nearby and gave us a detailed history. It was a garage during Xohja's time and the people hid the icons in their homes, returning them when the Church was once again a Church. We then continued our journey to OHRID, MACEDONIA. We visited the Catholic Church and met Father OLIVER, Byzantine Rite, who replaced our good friend, Father Stefan KUSAN,SJ. who died earlier this year, RIP.We were entertained by Father, his wife, and three children. He has both German and some English so we managed well. We saw that there is an English Mass there on Sunday evenings and regretted our boundary crossings as otherwise one could plan on attending, when we do not have Mass here. We got back early evening for a very important invitation - we were invited to a barbecue celebration of the Feast of Saint Lawrence. With the 19 Maltese Society Members plus us three, we had five Nationalities together to celebrate both Mirjam's and my Birthday too. Regret the photos are stuck in my camera,so I cannot show you the celebration trio. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening. We managed a festive lunch at "LIFE GALLERY" on Sunday and the celebration continued.....after Mass, another cake, sung greetings, and all enjoyed the wonderful cake.Celebrations continued here for a few who came back with us. All good things come to an end and Mirjam headed for Tirana early on Monday morning to take her role at the Franciscan CAMP WEEK. I could see Sister was very happy with her visit. A greeting for the lovely feast of the Assumption on Thursday - we hope to have the Bishop here on that morning. DEO GRATIAS for the past week!

SATURDAY, 3 AUGUST 2013 PRESPA, PORTIUNCULA INVITATION WITH SIGNIFICANT VISITORS. An early start on Thursday, saw 22 of us on the road to lakeside Prespa at 8.30a.m. Ten of the group were blind and thank God, we had a glorious time of sunshine, plus a delightful cool breeze. We relaxed, and later enjoyed chatting with the many family couples. Later we walked and then the group enjoyed a delicious meal of local fish that is special to Prespa lake. All were really happy with the day of meeting other blind people. Also one was a musician and had brought his accordion, so there was much singing! We returned to Korca in the early afternoon. That same evening, I traveled with our Maltese friends to the Franciscan Sisters at Bilisht. A priest was visiting from Sicily and the Director of Missions from there was visiting too. A great sharing ensued , as two of the Sisters had been in Bilisht almost twenty years ago. The many dark moments in Albanian history were recalled and the heedless violence of those days. I find it helpful to hear of these things, as it explains how much the people have come through in the recent past. Yesterday morning, we were invited again to Bilisht for a festive Mass as they celebrated Portiuncula - a feast special to the Franciscans. In the afternoon a mother and daughter came for English class. They seemed a little disappointed when I gave a week's holiday for next week! August is already well in and will probably include holidays as well as this Bank Holiday weekend. Every blessing on your travels and leisure as well as everyday demands!