Missionary Gas

Last night was the start of the Catholic festival of the Novenas, and outside houses coloured candles were lit making the narrow streets feel alive. The city's illuminations were also switched on and turned the river Medellín into a vast colourful display of Christmas themes. Fireworks were set off most of the evening, and music could be heard until the early hours. In the midst of all the excitement we were interviewed by a reporter from El Colombiano as to our impressions. Back in the Seminary staff have spent the last week studying rule books. Well that's a bit of an exaggeration because I skipped a couple of days, but one day was spent on the Seminary rules, up to number 90, then part of another on student evaluation forms. The last two days were spent on how to fill in a form to do research projects. The guest speaker on research projects was a very nice wee Christian lady with a voice like Adolph Hitler in a bad mood. Rather unnervingly it carried into the gents' toi

It will probably get up to 30° C today. Summer is almost here and I write this wearing shorts and a T-shirt. In the shopping centres a wintery Father Christmas doesn't look right, but the flashing lights, 9 foot glittering decorations and Catholic nativity scenes fit in well. Colombians don't do subtle and pastel but, like their flowers and birds, it's strong colours, and preferably big and in your face. Something like 10,000 light bulbs are in the city's decorations with a couple of miles of the river turned into a Blackpool illuminations type of spectacular. I was woken up last night at midnight with the constant sound of rockets and fireworks going off. It lasted for an hour and every part of the city seemed to be alive with exploding lights. Colombians enjoy their displays loud and spectacular, and in that order. Years ago a missionary book was written with the title, Give up your small ambitions. Maybe the title should have been, Give up your small spaces. If you w