"I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?" (Ps 112) What can help Jamaica? How is God to save it?

I am with Food for the Poor in Jamaica, seeing the work they are sponsoring. Today we stopped at the Golden Age Home, a care facility for the disabled. It was a chance to meet the people we raise money to help, and to find out what they need, and it is always profoundly moving, reminding me why I am compelled to continue in this ministry.

For this woman, it was simple. She came running up and hugged every new visitor, and she was happy. All she needed was a hug.

Today I head out for Jamaica, my first stamp in a new passport. I am going to see the work of Food for the Poor, a charity that I have worked with for years. In the airport this morning I had an overwhelming sense of starting out all over again, as if I were still a teenager, knowing nothing, having no idea what to expect. All of these people, going to who knows where. The beauty of this morning, the beginning of a day full of blessings, but who knows what?

Cairo, Egypt. I am here for about ten days to work with my Dominican brothers here and to explore just a bit of this rich culture.

My first impression is quite good. I am used to arriving in airports in the developing world that are a delightful mess. Cairo is that, and it is not that. It is delightful, and a mess, but quite impressive in other ways. The architecture and grand buildings are just astonishing.

Here is the courtyard of the Mosaiko Cultural Center, the place where I live and work here in Angola. Sort of boring, but I thought people might like the mundane things as well. Feel free to skip this post.

Notice how clean it is. This is an outdoor courtyard. Above you can see the netting that filters the sunlight so it is not so hot. The cleaning lady comes every day and sweeps and mops. You can see her broom. As in Nepal, brooms don't have any handles. You have to bend over to sweep. The same goes for the mopping. She just uses rags and bends over the whole time.

Out here at Kilometer 12, there are no stores, but there are many stands in front of people's houses selling crackers and drinks. There is also a large market where you can buy anything from cassette tapes to dried fish.

The people in the market are always friendly and ready to answer questions; "Is there anyone around who sells socks?" The people in the top photo stopped us when they saw my camera and asked to have their picture taken, a common event here. People love to have their picture taken here (Why do Americans hate it so much?).

I finally arrived in Angola. It feels strangely like home. Not much has changed in the two years since I have been here, except now it is the end of the rainy season. Hotter and wetter than last time I was here.

Here is what I have been doing all week; wrestling with this satellite dish. I brought new components from Rome to upgrade the speed and reliability. The old equipment is no longer supported. Of course, the new equipment doesn't work. At all.

Tomorrow is the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, famous Dominican preacher and the first woman writer of the Renaissance. In celebration, Yves Beriault and I took the train from Rome up to Siena in the heart of Tuscany.

I am in Rome for a few days for a meeting, and had a chance to have wonderful lunch in a beautiful Roman piazza with Bruce WIlliams, an old Dominican friend. It is good to circle back to old friends and familiar places. Better to do this over good food and wine in such a picturesque setting. He and I had lunch in this same place about two years ago, as I was on my way to somewhere (always).

Returning to Ohio for just a few days, I look out the window as evening falls. It is Spring outside, and the daffodils are up. Their spring-green leaves and yellow buds glow in the golden evening sun. Beautiful.

But what has caught my attention is giggling. My nieces are in the front yard, giggling, kicking a soccer ball around. I have a great life, but it has a serious lack of giggling. I don't think there is a happier sound in the universe, pure joy, completely unabashed.