A Good Samaritan in the Judean Foothills

I lost my wallet today at an Archaeological Park in Israel. Not to panic. I didn't even know I had lost my wallet. That is not until I received an email telling me that someone had found my wallet at Beit Guvrin, the last place we visited before returning to Jerusalem this afternoon. It was a brief email that provided a pair of phone numbers I could call to contact the woman who was in possession of my wallet. The email buzzed my Blackberry and I was alerted right away. I checked my pockets and sure enough my wallet was not there. I immediately thought of the cash and credit cards and started composing an email back to her asking her to check to see if my my credit and debit cards were in the wallet - what a pain if I had to actually cancel those cards. As I started writing the email, it occurred to me to wonder how she got my email address - it was not on any ID in the wallet. I looked at the email again, it had come through my opwest email address through the automated "contact a friar" section of the Western Dominican Province Website. Hmmm.

I called the number on the email and the woman was thrilled to hear from me. She asked me to wait a moment because she was on the other line with California - she had tracked down the phone number of the Western Dominican Province and was calling California to ask how to get in touch with me - wow! "Don't worry!" she told me all your credit cards and Driver License, and money are still there. I see you are a priest and I knew you would not have much money and would want this back! I remembered you - you came in with your 2 friends and you bought an ice cream! [that's when I had taken my wallet out...] I saw your picture on your ID and I recognized you immediately! I knew I would find you! I am good at finding people."

I asked her how she got my email address. Oh I saw Western Dominican Province on a card in your wallet and I looked up the website. I found you and clicked on 'contact him' and sent you an email. But I did not know if you would have email and I knew you would be worried so I called the phone number for this Office to ask about you in Israel and that is when you called."

"Thank you, Thank you , Thank you!" I exclaimed. "This makes me sooooo happy!" She said "I am as happy as you are that I found you."

I got her name and made arrangements to go back to Beit Guvrin tomorrow. My cash, my credit and debit cards and my faith in humanity are all intact as I head to bed tonight...

Thank you, Lord