Yesterday at a HK detention centre I had the joy of showing two more Tanzanian inmates    photos and messages from/of their families I had met recently in Tanzania. For one man it was the first time he'd seen a photo of his 13-month old baby. For the other, the site of his family at home made him lose all sense of time and concentration as he broke into a big smile and experienced a great peace.     

At the same detention centre I also had the joy of being told by the main welfare officer that there are now only six Tanzanians at the centre ....compared with 30 before this website's "anti-drug" campaign began. And a phone call to the women's detention centre had more good news: no new Tanzanian women inmates for many, many months now. DG!

...but there might have been two new women inmates if Dar airport authorities had not been vigilant on Jan 26. See menu of Jan 29, below. Well done, Dar authorities!

Isaiah 9

The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light.
On those who live in a land of deep shadow, a light has shone.

For the yoke that was weighing on them, the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken and removed.

For there is a child born for us,
a son given to us, and dominion is laid on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonder-Counselor, Mighty-God,
Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.

Lord, Prince of Peace, thank you for the peace and hope and joy of your friendship and love

Psalms 9-13

So many people live and act as if God doesn't exist. Some foolish people even say there is no God.

So many people have left the way of justice and truth. So many people follow the way of falsehood.

Lord, help us to live as we should.
Help us not to slander, help us not to wrong others.

Dear Lord,  thank you for so often rescuing me

Recording

Ephesians 1.16-18

I never fail to remember you in my prayers and to thank God for you

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you more and more wisdom and knowledge to see ever more clearly his great love for you

May he enlighten your mind to hope for the glorious life he has prepared for us in heaven

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, may I see you more clearly, love you more dearly, follow you more nearly, day by day

Recording

Recommended: check these readings early morning, think about them during the day, check them again at night. This habit gives us extra energy, courage, motivation, peace and compassion for each day

 Luke 8.22-25

Jesus and his disciples got into a boat to cross the lake

Jesus was so tired that he went to sleep in the boat. Then a sudden storm caused big waves to lash the boat

Jesus' friends woke him up  and said "Master,  we are sinking".

Jesus  ordered the wind and sea to be calm. Straight away the wind and sea were calm.

The disciples said to each other
"Who is this? Even the wind and sea obey him."

Jesus, please calm the storms in my life

Recording

Most HK media have already capitulated ....will not publish "sensitive" material.
Even Ming Pao under pressure from Beijing: 
Ming Pao staff slam decision to pull June 4 report

c.f. Apple Lets Down Its Asia Users

My Islam File 
-  the videos I have watched
 and learnt from

ISIS is a wake-up call to learn more about Islam. I'm trying to learn more by watching videos like this one: Muhammad's life (with English subtitles ...and narrated in perfect English ...excellent for English students)

My weekly article in today's Ming Pao newspaper
with the topic: LNY Hajj has begun
is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK".
Free access to article with recording today from about noon to 8pm HK time. Text without recording

Continuing the international dial out number story (see Smile at yesterday's menu):  When man told me to use "+" as dial out number, I asked if my old Nokia mobile had a "+" sign.  Then he showed me "+" at bottom left of menu ...with "*". Just click twice and you get "+"

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Tuesday,  please bless the people of South Asia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 3rd of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Gansu

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 3rd of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Burundi

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

   Presenting ourselves on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord

The feast of the Presentation is about all of us and our communities' abilities to be dedicated to God and one another

(NYT Review of Books)

Who Is the Pope? 
A review by Eamon Duffy of three new books about Pope Francis 

The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope

A Big Heart Open to God: A Conversation with Pope Francis

Pope Francis: Untying the Knots

Yesterday at Lo Wu Women's Prison I had the joy of showing five inmates some photos and messages of/from their families in Tanzania. One inmate particularly grateful that her two teenage children are back at school after missing the first couple of weeks of the new school year because no money for fees ....fees being paid through kind help of this website's readers

c.f. readings for Presentation of Jesus

Malachi 3.1-2 

My recording of this reading

Psalms 24-26

The Lord's is the earth and all its peoples. It is the Lord who is Creator of the universe.

May all hearts open their doors to the Lord. Let him enter, the king of glory.

Lord I hope in you all the day long. Forgive my sins and help me walk in your truth.

God my savior, teach me your way of truth

Recording

Hebrews 2.14-18

The Son did not become an angel.
He became a man, so that he could die for us

By his death he took away the power of the devil

He himself experienced temptation. He is able to help us when we are tempted

Jesus, please help me when I am tempted to do something wrong

Recording

Luke 2.22-32

When Jesus was 40 days old, his parents took him to the Temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as the Law required

In Jerusalem there was an old man named Simeon. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that before he died,  he would see the Christ of the Lord

Prompted by the Spirit, he came to the Temple, took Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying

"Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, for my eyes have seen the Savior. He is a light to enlighten the pagans, and he is the glory of your people Israel"

Jesus, true Light of the world, we praise you Lord

Recording

We are stewards of the Word
The entire structure of the Church Institution will only survive and maybe even thrive, if there has been a New Evangelization

 Tanzania MP: I’ll part ways with CCM 
- corruption so bad that MP has to use his own money to get projects done.
Last month in Tanzania I met another public figure who does the same - uses his own money to do his job. These are the sort of public-minded people who should be part of a new government at end of October DV

Go Simba!

For dialing to another country HK uses 001, Australia uses 0011, China 00, UK 00, Canada & USA 011 ...confusing. Wish they could all just use "+" like Tanzania   (c.f. list of numbers ...Tz not updated?)

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Monday,  please bless the people of Europe & Russia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 2nd of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Fujian

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 2nd of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Niger

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Africa File ("under construction")
-  daily photos and reports of my trip to Tanzania and Malawi Dec 31 to Jan 27

Vatican enlists volunteer barbers to offer shaves, haircuts to the poor

For Lent, Pope wants parishes to be ‘islands of mercy’

He called on Christian communities to become “islands of mercy,” transforming parishes, communities, and groups into places where God’s mercy becomes visible.

“How greatly I desire that all those places where the Church is present may become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference!” said Francis.

“Our heart grows cold,” the pope said. “As long as I am relatively healthy and comfortable, I don’t think about those less well off. Today, this selfish attitude of indifference has taken on global proportions, to the extent that we can speak of a globalization of indifference.”

c.f. Readings for "Sunday 4"

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

My recording of this reading

Psalm 95

Come ring out our joy to the Lord.
Hail the rock who saves us. Let us come before him giving thanks.
With songs let us praise the Lord.

A mighty God is the Lord, a great king above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth. The heights of the mountains are his.

To him belongs the sea, for he made it, and the dry land shaped by his hands.

Come in, let us bow and bend low.
Let us kneel before the God who made us.

For he is our God, and we are the people who belong to his pasture.

Lord, you are our Creator. Our life comes from you. We praise and love you, Lord

Recording

Recording

Mark 1.21-28

Jesus and the fishermen went to the town of Capernaum. On the Sabbath Jesus began to teach in the local  prayer hall.

The listeners were deeply impressed by Jesus' teaching.
Unlike the religious leaders, Jesus taught with authority.

That very day in the prayer hall there was a man possessed by an evil spirit.  The spirit shouted out "Have you come to destroy me, Jesus of Nazareth?  I know who you are: the Holy One of God."

Jesus said strongly "Be quiet! Come out of him!" The evil spirit threw the man on the ground and with a loud cry went out of him.

The people in the prayer hall were amazed. They said "Here is a teaching which has authority. Even evil spirits obey him."

Jesus' reputation quickly spread throughout the whole district

Jesus, Holy One of God, please protect my family from evil

Recording

 Hour of Love  HK radio program 9.05pm HK time each Sunday night
- with recordings of messages from relatives in Tanzania of inmates in HK prisons

MPs uproar over runaway corruption in Tz government

This kind of impunity is dangerous for our nation
For this nation to get back to line, leaders of this kind must first be taken out of office, have their property confiscated and then taken to court. If we don’t do that, then the public outcry over theft, embezzlement and misappropriation of public monies shall never end

 Inside one of Brazil's most violent prisons - in pictures

While in Tanzania I needed to phone HK. I asked someone what the international dialing out code was. Was it OOO or 001 etc? Person replied you need to use "+".  I said I realised every country had a country code, but I was asking what the dialing out number was. Person replied again "it's +".  Then the penny fell. Tz is ahead of other countries on this one. No hard-to-remember dialing out number. Just the "+" sign. What a great idea!

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Sunday,  please bless the people of Africa

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 1st of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Anhui

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 1st of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Congo

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Photo reports of my Africa visit (and see below, menus of Jan 25-29)

Jan 25 Dar Es Salaam     Jan 19Arusha-Mwanza
Jan 17 Tanga/Namanga    Jan 16 Pemba-Tanga
Jan 15 Pemba flight    Jan 14 Clouds Media
Jan 13 (BBC/hospital)    Jan 10 (10 photos)
Jan 8-9 (23 photos)     Jan 7 (30 photos) 
Jan 6 (28 photos)       Jan 5 (53 photos)
Jan 3-4 (50 photos)   Jan 2   Jan 1     Dec 31     

2013 speech by Tanzania's Dr Slaa at University of Samford, USA 
c.f. Samford's own report - Tz to imitate "Asian tigers"

"Africa is transitioning from mismanagement, dictatorship and corruption that have plagued the continent. Corruption is the main vice depriving Tanzanians and other Africans a chance to a better education, better healthcare and economic prosperity.

CHADEMA party’s priority number one is education! Priority number two is education and so is priority number three"

Alabama Delta Chi Hosts Next President of Tanzania

Isaiah 7

A foreign king and his army attacked  Jerusalem. The king of Judah and his people were full of fear.

God told Isaiah to say to the king of Judah: "Keep calm, have no fear.  You will not be defeated.

The Lord himself  gives you a sign of his protection: a maiden is with child and will give birth to a son
whom she will call God-with-us."

Lord,  please help me understand how you are God-with-me every day

My recording of this reading

Psalm 8

How great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the earth.

When I see the heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and stars which you have arranged, then I stop and think: what are we insignificant humans that you should care about us?

Yet you have put us in charge of the world. Everything is subject to our control.

How great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the earth

Recording

Ephesians 1.9-13

God the Father has let us know his sacred plan: the whole show, everything in heaven and everything on earth, is one big orchestra with Christ as the conductor

We Jews are special instruments in the orchestra. We were chosen to put our hope in Christ before he came

And you non-Jews are also on the stage, now that you have believed the truth of the Good News

All of us have been stamped with the Holy Spirit. He's the composer whose music we are playing

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thank you for the gift of life and the gift of faith. Help me play well!

Recording

Luke 8.19-21

Jesus' mother and his brothers came looking for him. They could not get to him because of the crowd

Jesus was told "Your mother and brothers want to see you"

Jesus replied "My mother and brothers are people who hear the word of God and put it into practice"

Jesus, please help me put your word into practice in my daily life

Recording

Kristina Keneally

The view from outside glass house Australia

10 years ago
 on this day

that what i call it talent

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Saturday,  please bless the people of Central & North America

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 31st of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Tianjin

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 31st of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Nepal

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

HK police arrest 6 African asylum seekers, seize illegal drugs and US$730000 cash

HK ‘drug kingpin’ Wong Chi-ping forced to burn meth haul in Indonesia  (+ death penalty?  - see this report)

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Daily photo reports of my Africa visit:

Jan 25 Dar Es Salaam     Jan 19Arusha-Mwanza
Jan 17 Tanga/Namanga    Jan 16 Pemba-Tanga
Jan 15 Pemba flight    Jan 14 Clouds Media
Jan 13 (BBC/hospital)    Jan 10 (10 photos)
Jan 8-9 (23 photos)     Jan 7 (30 photos) 
Jan 6 (28 photos)        Jan 5 (53 photos)
Jan 3-4 (50 photos)   Jan 2   Jan 1     Dec 31     

Yesterday afternoon I arrived back in HK after the last of 16 flights over the past month. Thank you Lord for a safe trip!

Today is due to be spent going through photos and other items that need printing for the Tanzanian prisoners in HK

While in Tanzania I met with about 30 families of inmates in HK. Next job over the coming weeks is to visit those inmates and deliver messages from their families ...and spread the good news that Dr Slaa said "the return of our people is a top priority for me"
(see Jan 27 menu, below)

I will also try to put all Africa photos and reports into one file ...hopefully in the coming days

Isaiah 6

In the year 740 B.C., I had a vision of the Lord God in Heaven:

Above the Lord were 6 angels who cried out "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God. His glory fills the whole earth."

Then I heard a voice asking
"Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?"

I answered "Here I am, send me."

Then the Lord sent me to be a prophet to the people

Here I am, Lord, send me.
I'm willing to do anything you want me to do

My recording of this reading

Psalm 7

Lord God, I take refuge in you.
Please rescue me from people who are trying to hurt me.

Lord, please stop bad people from doing bad things. Please help good people to keep on doing good things.

Lord, I will sing to you and thank you for your goodness to me.

Lord, please help me to avoid evil and to do good

Recording

Ephesians 1.1-7

From Paul, appointed to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before the world was made, he chose us in Christ, to live through love in his presence

He chose us, in Christ, to be his adopted children, to make us praise the glory of his grace

This grace is his free gift to us in his Beloved Son, through whose blood we gain our freedom
and the forgiveness of our sins

Father, thank you for upgrading me from human child to Divine Child!

Recording

Luke 8.4-15

One day Jesus told the people this story:

A farmer was planting seeds in his field. Some seeds fell on the path. Birds ate them

Some seeds fell on rocky ground.
They became sickly plants, without roots, and died

Some seeds fell among thorns.
When they became plants, they were choked by the thorns

Some seeds fell on good soil
and produced a rich harvest

People who hear God's word without good will are like the seeds on the path. They are easy prey for Satan

People who hear God's word only superficially are like the seeds on rocky ground. As soon as difficulties come, such people easily give up

People who hear God's word with one ear, but with the other are listening to the call of greed and pleasure, are like the seeds among thorns. Greed kills the word

People who hear God's word with good will and put it into practice
are like the good seeds which produced a rich harvest

Jesus, please help me be good seed! 

Recording

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Friday,  please bless the people of South America

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 30th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanghai

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 30th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Haiti

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

I'm due back in HK today DV

Daily photo reports 
of my Africa visit:

Jan 25 Dar Es Salaam
Jan 19Arusha-Mwanza
Jan 17 Tanga/Namanga
Jan 16 Pemba-Tanga
Jan 15 Pemba flight
Jan 14 Clouds Media
Jan 13 (BBC/hospital)
Jan 11 (7 photos)
Jan 10 (10 photos)
Jan 8-9 (23 photos)
Jan 7 (30 photos)
Jan 6 (28 photos)
Jan 5 (53 photos)
Jan 3-4 (50 photos)
Jan 2 Jan 1  Dec 31     

More details about 2 women arrested at Dar airport (where I'm typing this!) trying to take drugs to HK (despite all the publicity!). Scroll down this report which was scooped 24 hours by this little website - see menu of Jan 27 - because arrests took place on Jan 26, not Jan 27 (as implied by linked report)

Email from a Jamii Forum friend:
Some at Jamii Forums have recommend you to visit a place locally called Kinondoni kwa Manyanya. It is a local area situated at Kinondoni District in Dar Es Salaam. This is a place where most most drugs are sold publicly. It is also a place where you will be able to see most drug users and how they have been affected by the use of drugs, bse in every 10 people there, four of them have been affected by the use of drugs. There is a bus stop there sometimes you may find a lot of drug users sitting there with nothing to do. I should also remind you that one of the politicians who was named as a drug lord in a letter you published on your website is a member of parliament representing Kinondoni constituency. 

Isaiah 5

My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He planted choice vines in it and expected it to produce good grapes. But it produced only sour grapes.

That vineyard is Israel. Its owner is the Lord. That chosen plant is the people of Judah.

The Lord expected the people of Israel to produce justice.
But those people have produced only bloodshed and injustice.

Those people have no time to think about the Lord. They have no interest in what he has done for them.

So they are consigning themselves to ruin.
The vineyard will be trampled on and become a waste.

Invaders will attack Israel. The people of Israel will be taken into exile. All because they rejected the Lord.

"I am the true vine. My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit   he cuts away.  Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more" -  Jesus  (Jn 15.1-2)

My recording of this reading

Psalm 6

Have mercy on me, Lord, I have no strength. My body is racked with pain. Please heal me, Lord.

I am exhausted with my groaning.
Every night  my pillow is covered  with tears.

Lord, please hear my prayer.

Dear Lord, please help people who are in distress of mind or body

Recording

Galatians 6.14-18

As for me, the only thing I boast about is the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world

It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not.
What matters is that we become a new creature

From now on, I want no more trouble from you.
The scars on my body were suffered for the sake of Jesus

May his grace be with you

Jesus, may I look at everything in the world from up on your Cross

Recording

Luke 8.1-3

Jesus went to many towns and villages, proclaiming the Good News

The 12 apostles went with him, as did a group of women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and several others

These women used their own money to support Jesus and the apostles

Jesus, thank you for all the women who support the spread of the Good News in today's world

Recording

Feb 8

 10 years ago today

If you see this in Tanzania it means .... illegal drugs sold here!

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Thursday,  please bless the people of S.E. Asia & Pacific

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 28th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Beijing

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 28th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Lesotho

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

I'm due to leave Dar Es Salaam today. Due back HK tomorrow DV

Daily photo reports 
of my Africa visit:

Jan 25 Dar Es Salaam
Jan 19Arusha-Mwanza
Jan 17 Tanga/Namanga
Jan 16 Pemba-Tanga
Jan 15 Pemba flight
Jan 14 Clouds Media
Jan 13 (BBC/hospital)
Jan 11 (7 photos)
Jan 10 (10 photos)
Jan 8-9 (23 photos)
Jan 7 (30 photos)
Jan 6 (28 photos)
Jan 5 (53 photos)
Jan 3-4 (50 photos)
Jan 2 Jan 1  Dec 31     

Yesterday at my hotel saw a happy gathering for 30 relatives of Tanzanian inmates in HK prisons. Not convenient to post photos, but photos taken will make inmates happy in the coming weeks DV. 

At first the gathering was very quiet since people did not know each other. But as the meal progressed and a few announcements and speeches were made - including by some of the guests - the atmosphere changed to one of semi-joviality

Relatives were glad to hear the words of Dr Slaa (see yesterday's menu, below): "Getting our people back (to Tz) is a top priority for me".  

Local prison social worker Grace explained how she will be a co-ordinator for the group, so that in future if any family has problems with school fees etc, they can contact her ....and this website will try to provide her with resources 

Reporter from Tanzania's largest selling Swahili newspaper came at end of gathering, with copies of five editions which featured stories about my visit and the danger of drug trafficking to HK. I'll try to scan and post these stories in the coming week

So, thank you Lord for the past four weeks. Has been an experience I'll never forget ...and one which hopefully has done a bit of good for needy families and promoted the campaign to alert people to the danger of drug trafficking. And Lord please bless the kind benefactors who made this trip possible.

Isaiah 3-4

Jerusalem is falling into ruins because its people do not keep the Lord's way.

Jerusalem's leaders mislead the people
and lead the way in doing wrong.

But soon the Lord will take action. He will raise up a people who are good.

The Lord will protect these special people. He will be their refuge and help.

Lord, please help our nation to avoid evil and do good

Psalm 5

At the start of this day I pray to you, O Lord, my King and my God.  I offer you my prayer and ask for your help.

Through the greatness of your love, I have access to your friendship.  I bow down in reverence and worship.

Lead me, Lord, in the way you want me to go.

It is you, Lord, who bless good people.
You surround them with favors, as with a shield.

Lord, I adore you as my Creator

Recording

Galatians 6.7-9

God cannot be cheated. Where we sow is where we will reap

If we sow in the field of self- indulgence, we will get a harvest of corruption

If we sow in the field of the Spirit, we will get a harvest of eternal life

Never tire of doing good

Jesus, help me sow in the field of the Spirit by doing good

Recording

Luke 7.36-50

A religious leader invited Jesus for a meal. A woman who had a bad name heard that Jesus was at the leader's home

She entered the house and knelt behind Jesus, crying. Her tears fell on Jesus' feet and she wiped them away with her hair. She covered his feet with kisses, and put  ointment on them

The leader was thinking "If Jesus is a prophet, he would know what sort of woman is now touching him"

So Jesus said to the leader "I came into your house and you did not follow the custom of pouring water on my feet. But this woman has poured out her tears on my feet

You gave me no welcoming kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses. You gave me no welcoming oil on my head, but she has anointed my feet

And I tell you that her sins must have been forgiven, or she would not have shown such great love. People who are forgiven little, show  little love"

Jesus, please forgive my sins. Help me show great love

Recording

Worn out days
Our attempts in the management of formation, both in their success and in their failure, have brought us to a point where we can no longer just accept things as they are. We must search for new ways of fostering vocation

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Wednesday,  please bless the people of East Asia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 27th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Tibet

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 27th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Uganda

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Pope Francis:
Thank you Holy Spirit

Inspiring photos:

Link
Link		Links 01  02	Link
Link	Link		Link
Link	Link		Link
Link	Link

Newness, harmony, mission

Engagements of Pope Francis

Zenit.org - reports from Rome

This website's kind bloggers
(past and present)
with archives of articles:

Bakhita
 Hazel C
 Daniel Daring
Inigo Joachim
Brian Lewis
 Judith Lynch 
  Martin Mallon
Chris McDonnell
Bill Mulcahy 
Des O'Donnell
Darlene Starrs
 TASMAD
David Timbs 
Peter Wilkinson
   Harry Winter 
  John Wotherspoon

This website tries to stop "tanks"
(war, global warming, exploitation of the poor, globalisation of indifference, liturgical "reform of the reform" & other anti-Vatican II forces etc)

  Weekly Archive  of main page menus

Previous archives 
2013  2012  2011 2010  2009  2008

Previous Bible Blogs of this website

Previous Smiles file

John W: Previous Daily Blogs

The unjust treatment
 of Bishop Bill Morris

Hans Küng:  Letter to bishops  

Revolution to stop authoritarianism 

Fr Joseph Ratzinger: 
Writings on Vat II 

Robert Mickens:  
Vatican Implosion

Nicholas Lash:     Vatican II: 
Of Happy Memory - and Hope?

Robert McNally:  
Crisis & Criticism in the Church 

Priests 9 Masses a day
 - need to ordain married men

Why are women not being
 ordained to priesthood?   (updated)

A Call to Action
Assn Catholic Priests Ireland
Bp Pat Power
Bp Geoff Robinson
Bruce Duncan
Catalyst for Renewal
Catholica
Catholics for Ministry  
Catholics for Renewal 
STANDUP4VATICAN2
The Swag
VII - Voice of the Church
We Are Church

Excellent articles on Mission
  Hugh McMahon SSC

Imposter Priests
- refusing to pass on the teaching of Francis' The Joy of the Gospel

My Islam File

Political leaders who live(d) a simple life style and care(d) for the poor

HK Democracy File - essential reading

HK Asylum Seekers File

IS (ISIS) File - Essential Reading

Gaza File - essential reading

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1998 ICEL Sacramentary

Misguided Missal 

The new translation
Ghastly process/result

Ron Schmit:
 1962 Mass a condemnation of Vat II

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 Sacred Space  Daily prayer online.
Available in 19 languages

Jackie Evancho  - To Believe

Pray-as-you-go.org
Daily prayer with beautiful music

Whole text of 1966 Jerusalem Bible

The Last Supper -  Bohdan Piasecki 
(click to enlarge)

Bob Welsh - My Christmas Eve

 A Tale of Two Brains

The Story of Jonah 
as Told by The Cutest Little Girl
(gets even better as it goes along)

YouTube from KLM!

North Africa refugee boat - Link

Abortion Survivor’s Letter
 to the Abortionist

Tribalism lives on, 
for better and for worse

Video: Sydney Peace Prize Lecture by Julian Burnside  

16 Documents of Vatican II

This website's 
Reflections on the 16 documents
 of Vatican II

Be careful of junk reading re Pope:
Chancery report in English
Chancery report in Chinese

Why I collect rubbish for Pope

Taking a stand

Navigation Aids      

  Standing up to bullies

"Reform of reform" agenda

Too Western/European 

Abortion - a true story

The evil of compulsory celibacy

Link between compulsory celibacy
 and sexual abuse

"Same-sex marriage": 
two elephants in the men's room     

     Near Death Experiences

Globalisation of Indifference

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 this website each day

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To publish an article on this site please contact Fr John Wotherspoon omi:   jdwomi@gmail.com  

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John W's other sites: 

www.doctorjesus.org

www.riccicenter.com 

www.simplebible.info 

www.china8.org 

  www.jesustower.com 

www.oneminuteenglish.com 

China Library
 - essential reading for anyone interested in China's Christian history