Day Three

First day of an American breakfast! We had frosted flakes and we were all amping it was not foul or some other meal we have had every other day. Man this day was packed, well pretty much like any other day. But non-the-less super super packed. So after our epic breakfast, a good quiet time and another legit bible study the day began. Today in bible study we were taking about fruit bearing and what it looks like to bare fruit and man was this just straight to my heart. All I could think of during this talk was what someone once told me, “Don’t doubt in the dark what God told to you in the light.” It’s just the statement of my heart these days and during our discussion of what it looks like to have fruit or what it looks like to be pruned, my heart was super gripped by the fact that we should recognize the pruning as pruning not as doubt or resistance. Today was a day to see Alex and go to the orphanages, so we met the driver outside and while we were waiting Sam got nipped at by this pack of dogs next door. The lady was so funny, she came and said no no they have injection so they won’t bite. Ya right lady, all that means is he won’t die of rabies when they bite him. The driver came and we were off. We went and saw Jeff where he was staying. We hadn’t seen him since the drive out of Cairo. He was staying at this home for mentally handicapped kids, a mix between a school and a church is what I gathered. We were a bit late because of traffic and miscommunication but we still go to tour the place and see the kids before they jumped on the bus. The principal of the school told us that the main man wanted to have tea and talk before we left, so we went upstairs to see him. Viktor had run into a volunteer there that was from Sweden and so him and his wife talked for a bit with Vik, it was pretty cool to see how small the world is. Even to the point that a good friend of Vik’s volunteered at this school for six months and this FarFar (grandpa) knew her very well too. So we sat down the Egyptian man says, let’s have Feca. Yup that is right I went all the way to Egypt to have Feca with some more Swedes. We had coffee, tea, and some amazing sweets. We all had to have self-control because we were starving (no lunch) and all that sat in front of us where sweets. It was so cool to sit and here all about how the school came about and what they do there at the school as well. The heart that goes into this place and the love that is showered on these kids, so much patience and understanding. We talked and talked and talked and it was super epic to hear about the Swedish couple and why they were there. They were retired and now giving their time to this place and their story was crazy encouraging. All I could think of when I talked to them was my own grandparents. My grandpa was pretty much at this exact time having open-heart surgery in the states. I can’t believe I’m missing this time to sit with them, It’s hard to imagine not being there for my grandma in this scary time but I know God has it under his control and I must trust he has his hand on my FarFar. I love you Grandpa and know I am praying for you every day. We haven’t had Internet for a few days and I have a lot of trouble not knowing what is going on. I just pray that there is no news for me to know in any urgent manner. After seeing Jeff and the school he has been at it was off to the boy’s orphanage. We went out for a quick lunch and shwerma was the choice of the day, basically it’s a meat sandwich that the meat has been roasted on a stick with veggies. It’s good but super heavy and greasy. We than were off to pick up Tim and our meeting place was the mall. I swore to myself I wouldn’t buy starbucks in a foreign country but they had the cheapest prices of coffee at the mall. They were pretty comparable to US prices but well I got coffee. Egypt doesn’t have soymilk so I had a vanilla latte…. Sick. Bad idea, I really do hate milk and all of its tastes. We got Tim and were off to the boys orphanage. This place rocked my socks. The house was amazing and the boys just stole my heart. Especially these twin boy and the younger one, John. I have some good photos of these boys but a lot of them are taken by them. I let them play with my camera, which they pushed button after button so who knows what the pictures really look like - too dark - too light - blurry, what ever. I got to talk to Justina a lot as well, a girl who used to live at the orphanage because her aunt help start it. She was a pharmacist and was super good with English. She told me a lot about the history of the house and how boys come and go. We only got to see the younger boys but older ones stay there as well. We again had Feca with soda and treats. It was so fun to bless these boys with toys and clothes and be blessed by their heart and joy. All they wanted to do was to take photos and play and I could have stayed with them for days. I wanted to be able to know more of their stories and Justina gave me a little insight to John and his twin but I wanted to know more of all of the boys. We sadly had to say goodbye but in excitement that we were off to see the girls. What a different feel the girls place was, very proper and quiet. Most of the girls were studying for exams so we had the chance to talk to all of the older woman that ran the place. We again had a little feca, this time it was Mango Puree (so good). Ida was the woman I talked to the most and she had so many questions for me. She was very interested in my purity ring that I wore and when I told her my Dad gave it to me, it’s a symbol of purity in honoring God with my life (sort of the best way to explain it with the language barrier) she started to understand. She told me she had never met an American who loved Jesus and she was impressed that I married God (she told me a was a nun). It was fun to talk with her and get to know her a bit more. It sounds like we might have the chance to meet up with them again in the next few days, depending on surf and plans here in Agomy. Somehow talk about the bites on my hands and face came up and before I knew it they were giving me all sorts of medication to help. They are so crazy nice. Basically I was given a form of benadryl, anti itch cream and off spray. We said our sad goodbyes and we left to go home. I really didn’t want to leave just yet, we were all sharing so much. The girls were getting used to us being around and they started to open up more and more. But God has a plan and I hope it is for sure to go back. We blessed them with as much donations as we could and jumped back in the van for our ride home. The day was done and our hearts were overwhelmed with the day in Alex. Sam got super sick on the way home, getting car sick here is very easy and it got the best of him. Once we were home we headed to the store because on Fridays (the holy day) everything in closed down. Than from there is was back home from Fathalla (the store) and off to bed.

My prayers have been filled with the cry for God to use me where ever I am and what ever I am doing. In every situation I want to be used and seen as a light of God’s love. Being at the orphanages just throws a whole new perspective of life in Egypt and less in a sad way and more in a way of hope and restoration for these kids. At the girls home there was a wall of pictures of the woman who were know married that once stayed at the home and the older woman were so proud to show us their frames. God is doing mighty things here and I am glad I can be along for the ride.