Thanksgiving in Cairo; ministry in Egypt

We had the awesome privilege to travel to Egypt to come alongside a ministry to the Christian minority there.  We were there during Thanksgiving week and had 3 days of work and 3 days of touring.  Our 3 children who live at home (Savannah, Rebekah and Quentin) also traveled with EB and me.



On six different occasions I spoke to students in both Cairo and Alexandria.  My topics ranged from "How to Experience God's Love and Forgiveness," to "Loving Others by Faith" as well as "Our Joy in Christ," based on John 16:33, a talk I have given frequently as of late.  Notice in the picture above how the guys and girls are separated on different sides of the room.

What a privilege it was for us to fellowship and worship with Arabic believers!

EB spoke with the moms and wives who are part of the ministry there.   As usual, EB was popular among the ladies in Egypt who wanted to keep talking with her long after her session ended.   In this photo, she and Rebekah and surrounded by a group of college students.

 My friend and translator for the week was Bushra.  He and Quentin hit it off well.

Here I am with two heroes of the faith in Egypt.   I am holding a can of cantaloupe Coca Cola.

Typical street view in Alexandria.

One day we spent touring the pyramids.  I was amazed at how big they are!   And I love this picture of Rebekah.  It so captures her personality!

Quentin gets into the act as well!  Nacho Libre meets Tim Lincecum

The camel ride near the pyramids was the touring highlight of our week.  Although Savannah said she also loved shopping and bargaining in the 900 year old bazaar that we visited (more than once) in Cairo.

 

Goats on a roof:  Just another day in Cairo!  Why not, "Fish in a Tree"?

The mosques were plentiful and beautiful in Cairo.   We even saw several with "Christmas lights" but we knew that could not be...

bedouins near the pyramids

McDonalds in Arabic!

On the last day in Cairo, we hung out for awhile at Starbucks.  We knew there was snow in Budapest and wintry weather in the States.   We savored the moment in the warm sunshine and short sleeves on the Starbucks patio.  It was kinda neat too to see Starbucks written in Arabic!

The sunset over Alexandria:  One of my Christian heroes is Athanascius who lived in the 3rd century in Alexandria, Egypt.   Athanascius influenced the church to retain the doctrine of the deity of Christ when it looked like the church would abandon such belief.  From his work, the church received the Nicene creed.  I was grateful to walk the same streets he walked and to teach the same message he taught.