arrived at last!

At such an early hour, I should be sleeping. However, I feel far too rested to sleep any longer. Awoken by the call to prayer, resounding from the nearby mosque; it doesn’t seem so foreign anymore.

The actual trip to Cairo went well. I found myself extremely exhausted, experiencing dizzy spells as I tried to unpack. Flying into Cairo felt like a dream. Looking out my peep hole of a window, I could see the desert sand rush towards us. For a moment, it seemed like we would touch down on that sand. In just enough time, asphalt appeared under the landing gear, and we came to an abrupt halt. Once inside, we were ushered down uneven marble stairs, into a narrow hallway. The narrow hallway opened up into a large room full of lineups and activity. Welcome to Cairo!

Driving in Cairo is something else! In some places, there are lines. No one uses those lines however. Even on more major streets, four lanes quickly become five or six. The horn is used regularly, as a means for traffic control. Both very new and very old cars are full of dents!

Thursday marked my first day working with the clinic. I met my mentor Ruth and her husband Jon. This week, a few clinics were set up all over Cairo. I participated by examining children’s eyes at the Maadi Community Church. The moment the first group of children walked through the gates, I felt my heart grow ten sizes! I can’t explain why; I felt so full, even though I had yet to do a single thing! Maybe this is what it means to be walking where He leads. In many ways, this is the beginning of making my dreams reality. He has placed these people in my heart, and I can already feel His love for them (if only a portion).

Many shops are closed on Friday, some all day, while others only during prayer and the message (which is played over the loudspeaker at the mosque). This is also our “Sunday”. We attend a church called Maadi Community Church (MCC), which is a conglomeration of believers from all over the world. The service is in English – you cannot know how thankful I am for this!! It was fantastic to praise Him with so many from around the world. You can see more on their website: http://maadichurch.com/

It does not seem like I left home almost a week ago. I have found my little place in my community. This week, I tried my best to tidy things up to make them feel like home. We have so much potential in our little apartment. I will try to post pictures of our community later.

Thank you for holding me up in your prayers! It means so much to be part of the functioning Body!

Heather