Times of Malta 28th May to 12th June

We were in Malta for 2 weeks, meeting up with some people, to work on ourselves plus taking some time to pray.

Meanwhile, we met up with many of our friends in Malta and were totally impressed at their hospitality!!! Thank You!!

At Igor & Marica's

With little Abner and Marica; preparing to go out...

With the Zbirka Family at the Valletta Waterfront

Sharing noodles with Igor & Roger

We stayed at Igor & Marica's for a few days before moving to St Joseph's Home in Santa Venera where we stayed for the rest of our time in Malta.

At Santa Venera

St Joseph's Home

Mdina by night

Our 1st evening at St Joseph's home, Fr Frankie brought us for a tour around Mdina in the evening. Ended the evening at Bugibba with crepes near the seaside. Great idea, Fr Frankie!!!

Outing at Valletta

With Nicky

Derek showing off his favourite Maltese drink, Kinnie

At Ebejers'

With the Ebejer Family: Mario, Chris, Mariella & Jeanella

At Micallefs'

With Stephan & Elena

Stephan was Derek's 1st room mate in ICPE when he was in Malta in 1989. When we visited them last in 2005, they had 2 cats - Zeb & Zoe. Now, they have 3!! Elena is holding Z..

At Mater Dei Hospital

With Gabriel, out of the ITU and looking good...

At Sultanas'

With Stephen & Caroll... plus nice Chinese Food...

At the DeBonos Seafood Restaurant in Marsaxlokk

With Ray, Ray's sister, Vivian & Joshua

Vivian has been promising us a nice seafood meal if we come to Malta. We nearly missed the opportunity since there were many to visit. So blessed to be pampered with good food...mmmmm

At Nicky's

With Nicky's mum & aunt

Marsaxlokk

Pretty Bay

San Anton's Garden

We had a great time in Malta. Grateful to God for his providence in so many ways... from friends to food to beauty of nature to good counsel and great weather...!!

Inner Healing Seminar with the Linns 20th - 25th May

We just had a long and full week with about 50 people participating in the Inner Healing Seminar with Matt, Dennis & Sheila Linn here in Allerheiligen. It was nice to see many familiar faces again, those who came for the PCS in the past years.

Derek led the worship, with the Band of followers. The band has revived again since Karol & Karolina Fromont joined us last month.

I was taking care of the book table and our Snack Bar. It was nice to be a business woman for the week...

Hello Rome!!

Derek was in Rome for 10 days helping out with some practical work at the Cappellos residence. In the meantime, he had the opportunity to go sightseeing and snap some shots.

I was in Rome from the 6th till the 15th of May. The main task was to help out the Cappellos to prepare their home for a major renovation. Our mission leaders have been busy with various projects, so we (Edgard and I) were asked to help out. That was what we did.

The day after we arrived till the day before we left, we were packing, moving, carrying and cleaning. That was a change to the normal thing that I was doing in Allerheiligen.

During the weekend, we spent our days around Rome city and the vatican. One of my highlights was climbing the stairs to the top of the dome at the Vatican. It was more than 500 steps!

I am glad for this change of work for a week. It has given me time to think about future, life, vision, mission. Praying that all these will lead us to a greater commitment to the call God has placed in our hearts.

International Kitchen with FSJ 5th - 9th May

Wanna have a taste of various cultures and a wide range of international cuisine? Come and have an experience with us in Allerheiligen...

For this reason, 13 young people from the area of Hildesheim-Hanover (North Germany) came to us for a week of discovering the richness in culture and food from many different nations.

They are doing the FSJ programme with Caritas Hildesheim and have their 4th Seminar week which they can choose from a range of different activities. This group of people chose to learn more about various cultures and food...

Together with Katja (from Hildesheim) and Mark (my boss), we led the week filled with action, adventure, fun + lots running in our heads especially with the organisation of the various events happening simultaneously.

We had a day on Malaysia where Derek & Edgar presented some facts on Malaysia while Grace helped in preparing a meal - Honey Garlic Pork mmmmm with mixed vegetables and rice.

The FSJ kitchen team was busy preparing the meal and joting down the recipe which they hope some day, they will be able to prepare on their own... They started the morning having fried noodles for breakfast...

While a team was busy in the kitchen preparing the meal, another team was decorating the dining room. We celebrated "Chinese New Year" again... as how one would celebrate in Malaysia.

There were 20 others from the FSJ who were in Allerheiligen at the same time, doing another programme on communcations. Mmmm yummy... everything ready to be enjoyed.

The following day, we presented Mexico, starting with burittos for breakfast. Patricia Papenkordt gave a presentation on Mexico and eventually cooked a Mexican dish with the FSJ kitchen team. No photos - I was busy coordinating the day. Too nervous giving announcements in German... We had a nice meal - Tortillas with beans and chicken in mild chili sauce. Simply irresistable!

On that afternoon, we celebrated the Eucharist together with the community. All of them stayed for the whole mass although not many are (practising) Catholics. That evening, they had "An evening with ICPE" where some of us from the community shared our conversion stories. Many of them were moved by the stories and the songs led by the Next Generation band - the youth of our community! (Still no photos; still nervous...)

Malta! Stefan & Pat led the team to prepare baked rice, a Maltese dish after Fr Joe & Mark gave a presentation on Malta. They had fun in the kitchen with Stefan's endless entertainment!

They also prepared Hobz b-sietz; that's bread with olive oil + olives + capers. Yummy!! Let's have a food tasting session before it's served, says Sophie!

Preparation for the International Night

The idea of the week came from this event that we celebrate as a mission on every school. I had the idea of introducing this to the German youth to give them a taste of the richness of various cultures while sharing Jesus with them. Everyone in the community contributed a dish or 2. Some of us had some extra helping hand from the FSJ...wrapping spring rolls, for example.

The FSJ youth prepared a 3 course meal from Niedersachsen, the state where they come from. Tobi & Florian had a chance to bake a cake for the first time in their lives!! It was delicious!!! And they were very proud of themselves!!!

The evening started with a grand buffet of about 16 dishes from 10 different countries. We had a presentation from some countries and ended the evening with the presentation of the state, Niedersachsen.

The other FSJ group doing the communications seminar with Krzysztof presented a few pieces of what they learned over the week.

It was a very nice evening indeed. We ended the evening with dessert from 5 different countries. It was a non-stop eating session. (No photos, for the same reason - too nervous and busy coordinating the evening...)

We thank God for the nice weather this whole week and the nice people whom we had a chance to work with. Hoping that the seed of faith and love is planted in these young people during their time with us!

Allerheiligen at Easter

Derek is 40!!!

The celebration at our home...

... with Chicken Rice and Roasted Pork
(mmm... just like the coffee shop at home...)

...surrounded by the community with lots of well wishes...

...together with the Next Generation youth...

...and the rest of the community.

Derek's Birthday card from the community, "Spice for-tea".