Update 55

Each morning we take the elevator down from our nice hotel room on the 4th floor of this All Saints Conference Center and walk out onto the courtyard. And each morning I'm humbled at the sight before me. So many refugees. Dressed in bright colorful wraps & head dressings or long black tunics, some with niqab (face veil) or western clothes with dropping scarves or men in pants & jackets. Most are holding or watching little ones. Across the courtyard is the church and more refugees sit on its steps. I think to myself, "Now there's a church that hears & lives Jesus' message."
As I walk between them, I see their faces clearly. Their color tone varies between pitch black to a light toast color. Eyes also vary from sparkling to dull. Most smile at me...and again the color varies between bright white...to brownish...to gapping holes.
The smaller children are chasing each other, playing with stones or in a small pile of sand left-over from a construction project. Rog & I gravitate to them and offer balloons. Some hesitate but a mom/dad quickly comes over and tells them it's ok (I think anyways). Then they reach out & a smile escapes. Each smile enriches my life more. If we happened to miss seeing a child, s/he may wander over ...but never begs. His bravery is rewarded with a balloon.
I often stop and admire a small baby cradled in his mother's arms. Many times they offer me to hold the baby. I admire the wonderful beauty of each and every one. As they pull on my fingers & I smile at them, their little faces flash a smile back at me. I think how much better our world would be if faces of all shades just smiled at each other. As I hold the baby close, I pray that somehow this baby will find a way out of poverty and to a good future.
It's an incredible way to start the day. Hours later when I cross the courtyard again, I am pleased to see several balloons still being played with. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to share God's love here among the refugees.
I'm attaching a prayer my wise friend Sue Ivey sent me. It captures my thoughts & prayers.

For those who see home and all it means disappear behind them;
For those who cannot see a home in the days ahead of them.

For all those who dwell in daily insecurity,
For all those who are weary and without a safe place to rest their heads.
For all families in migration, we pray.

May the image of the Holy Family who also had the experience of fleeing oppression
Stay with us at this time
And stay with us each night
As we are blessed with returning to a home.

May we also be blessed
With compassion for those
Still weary, still seeking,
Still with so far to go.

Refugee pictures

Sent from my iPhone

Refugee pictures

Sent from my iPhone

Update 54

We've been to the zoo where the thing that you do is....watch a multitude of domestic cats crawl in and out of the cages that held flamingoes, ducks, ostriches, etc.
Really...one made a duck his lunch! Unlike the aquarium, no animals were stuffed or pickled!
The Cairo Zoo reminded us of the US zoos about 50 years ago. Animals in small concrete floored cages. Also reminded us of why we quit going to zoos for a while. Though there was a decent number of species, usually only a few of each. We did see some hippos out of the water for the first time!!
We especially enjoyed watching many young Egyptian families having a splendid day. We didn't see any other foreigners there and since we were asked several times to be included in their photos...even had one couple sit their child between us & then take a photo...we got the idea that we were a rare breed on exhibit too!!