Back in Dubai once more after visiting the friars in UAE, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. It was in Kuwait on Friday night that we thought of President Bush and his Desert Storm, as we experienced the real thing. A vicious sand-storm hit Kuwait from Iraq and Saudi Arabia about 5.30 pm, blotting out the sun and sending people running for shelter. Because of the volatile political situation in many of the neighbouring lands, at first many of the locals thought that the oil fields had once again been bombed. The effect was much the same as what had been experienced back in the early nineties during the Iraqi invasion - but it turned out to be Mother Nature this time. The following day, clean-up operations began. There was sand everywhere, trees down but, in general, relatively little damage given the ferocity of the wind.
There is instability in many of the countries in the region and uncertainty as to what will happen next. Communication is limited so it is often difficult to have accurate information, but people keep up their good spirits. Dubai has been badly hit by the recession but Abu Dhabi seems to be relatively untouched.
Sunday 27 March 2011
Sunday 13 March 2011
La 'le Padraig
Tomorrow morning I leave for Dubai to visit the many frairs working in that part of the world. They come from many countries, principally from India and the Phillipines and their task is to offer pastoral care to the millions of immigrant workers in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula. I hear talk of some trouble in Bahrain and rumblings in Kuwait, but , please God, all will be quiet while I am there.
The last few weeks were spent in Austria and Alto Adige, in view of the forthcoming unification of these two provinces. There are few vocations in that area of the world and the hope is that, by combining forces, the brothers there will be able to create something new together. We hope for the best.
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