Welcome to Cairo

Cario is pretty great, and everyone that I'm working with is so welcoming. I feel like I've been going to the church for years. I really have never experienced such a constant welcoming to complete strangers, it's amazing.

The Egyptian people in general are super friendly too. They really want to please you all the time. It's hard since I can't communicate very well yet, but we start Arabic classes next week so that's exciting.

I am just so thankful for all of this. Here are some pictures. I'll have more up later.

This is Cairo. It is not a bad picture. It just is really this polluted.


So, We went to the pyramids this morning



and I rode a camel.

This is some of my group. From left to right: Kelly (Texas), Asha (England - she is a worship intern), Cheri (Canada), Brent (Canada), and me. We're missing Curt and Matt. They opted out of the camel ride.

Well, that's all for now.

Arriving

I arrived in Cairo Sunday night, and after four airports, two delayed flights, and eighteen hours, I was finally here.

My first impression of the city was of the driving. When they tell you that Cairo has bad drivers, they are not exaggerating. I'm not really sure why they take the time to draw the lines on the ground. And, they really don't turn on their headlights at night. This is not just a rumor. But, some how, they each manage to fall into place and it's kind of, well, amazing that everyone is still alive and more people do not get in wrecks.

The family I am staying with is great. They've actually just moved here from Texas, and they have two daughters, both younger than me so I feel pretty much at home. (They also have two little dogs that are kind of crazy... just like my parents dogs.) I'm living in their garage apartment, and you can walk into the storage part of the garage where there is a Mango tree that they have built around. It is just like that Frank Lloyd Wright house in Chicago.

The suburb I'm living in is filled with trees. I was so surprised when I got here. They told me part of Maadi used to be a canal and where I live would reap the benefits of the flooding and that is why the soil is different here.

The streets are crowded and busy, but it's nice. Chaotic and peaceful all at the same time. I can feel there's a rhythm, and I think in time I'll just fall into it.

We haven't started work yet, I think we start Orientation on Wednesday, the 29th, and I'm not sure when we'll get started on projects but I'm pretty excited. This city is different in so many ways, but still feels so familiar. I just can't wait to see what is in store.

I'm hoping that this blog is going to work and gets more interesting when I start actually working. I'm planning on posting pictures when I have some.

Thank you again for your support and prayers. You all are wonderful.