Korespondent w Warszawie

I hope I got the grammar right -- I only started studying Polish about 10 days ago.

But the message should be clear, even to those who know no Polish. AFP recently advertised an opening for an English-language correspondent in Warsaw, and I have applied for the job.

This morning, they published the list of candidates, and my name was the only one on it. In principle, this should mean that I will get the job, though they have been known to readvertise. And even if they do offer me the post, there is still the question of whether the financial package will be sufficient.

I am very excited about the prospect of moving to Warsaw. Our bureau covers not only Poland, but also the neighbouring Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. While much of the work would be "desking," there would also be the opportunity to get out and about and do some occasional feature stories.

Equally as important, I have come to the conclusion that, after seven years covering the Middle East, my mind and spirit are in need of a change. The endless stream of death and destruction, punctuated by empty talk of peace, has become soul-damaging.

There is, of course, some downside involved in moving. For one, I am very fond of Cyprus and quite content living here. There is also the matter of my teenage children, who are still in school and would remain here. But there are cheap flights available, so I should be able to visit them here, or they visit me in Warsaw, with the prospect of white Christmases an enticing one.

And there is the question of my vocation in Christian ministry, and particularly within the ACC.

I have not previously made any public announcement, but I am pleased to say that the commission on ministry of the Diocese of the UK accepted me as a postulant for Holy Orders. I am now struggling to determine whether I have the necessary resources -- spiritual, mental, physical and financial -- to meet the demanding conditions that have been set before me.

I must confess that I am not encouraged by my initial discernment, but I see no obstacle to doing in Warsaw anything that I might do in Nicosia. Indeed, there is perhaps an even greater harvest awaiting me there.

In the meantime, I shall carry on with The Continuum. Perhaps, in fact, this is the most important ministry I could possibly be doing: I am deeply gratified to have heard from so many people thanking me for creating the blog and commending me for its ministry of communication and reconciliation.

I bid your prayers for me, my family, the ACC and the blog in the days, weeks and months to come.