Sent from my iPhone
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Update 70
Here's the rest of the story of our trip to Israel ...kinda the nuts & bolts part. First night in Tel Aviv we had sketchy accommodations, then trying to get around proved to be tricky & expensive. Luckily our room in the Old City with old stone walls...though very minimal...we loved the authenticity and it made it easy to get around. David's tomb and the upper room (site of the Last Supper) was in the building right next to us. It was an easy walk to many holy sites. We hopped local buses to get to the ones a bit farther away.
In Egypt we were in the midst of Muslims easily identified by their clothing. Here the Jewish men proudly wear their skull caps, tallits, tall black hats, short pants & white shirts...many with beards and long side curls. Women wear long black skirts & scarfs. Again telling the world they are Jews. The Wailing Wall, massive Dome of the Rock mosque and 5' golden menorah are their most holy sites. Later we'd experience how the entire public busing system & most stores shut down Friday at sundown & stay closed until Saturday at sundown. After two days in Jerusalem and Bethlehem we headed to Tiberias...about 2 1/2 hour bus ride. The roads were excellent. The landscape was lush green with lots of rocks on the rolling hills. Even saw a few flocks of sheep. The spring flowers were in full bloom!! And everywhere !! They were sneaking out of cracks & crevices and filled hillsides in their vibrant colors. I took way too many pictures of them. Huge fields of corn, grapes, veges, palm trees, banana trees and miles of netted covered crops. Saw several tractors but unlike Egypt, no one stooped over & working in the field.
The bus stopped many times to pick up & drop off...and often young soldiers with their guns slung over their shoulder got on. Here all youth...boys & girls...must serve. Not sure how long. Both here and in Egypt there are guards at most every corner.
Again our Airbnb was sketchy ...made us think that probably that's how most middle class live
After dropping our bags, we took a bus into town to see the sites there. Tiberias was once the main city in this area and so there were several old structures there to remind one of it's past importance.
We didn't find a guided tour that would match our plans so we did it our way. The next morning, we took the bus to Tabgha and we just started walking a trail along the Sea of Galilee for about a mile to Capernaum where Jesus called the fishermen to follow him and where he walked on the water (along the trail we saw several markers labeled, The Gospel Trail, how'd we find that??). We took a taxi to a nearby hill where he spoke to the five thousand delivering the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount.
We met an adventurous Indian couple from Toronto who were not with a tour. They were happy to share the taxi with us down the hill to Tiberias. There were many tour buses filled with tourists at each site but we agreed that the tour group experience did not appeal to us.
Since we'd visited the church "built on a rock" where Jesus told Peter to build his church we thought it was fitting to finish the day with a "Peter's fish" dinner in Tiberias. And as our luck continued, there was a small church built in 1040 AD next to the restaurant. The door was open so we went in...glorious paintings of the storm & walking on water bible stories adorned this simple , tiny church...later we came back to celebrate Mass there. Could not have planned a better place to be that night.
Next morning, our luck ran out as it was pouring rain and since it was Shabat, we couldn't get a public bus out of town. So we paid the big bucks and hired a taxi (driver was Muslim) to get to Tel Aviv. Again the road was excellent. The driver pointed out the Palestinian Wall as we followed along it for several miles. He drove us right to our Airbnb...and a bit better than last night...not what we expected...but then we are used to expecting the unexpected! It was still raining and we were hungry so we walked to what our host said was a "close" place to eat. It was at least a mile...in the rain...and it was a bakery. But... we did find a restaurant a couple blocks later. Had a huge and delicious authentic Israeli dinner.
Our host told us the area we're in use to be all Arab. After the war in '47, Jews were allowed in. It's really a run down area with lots of high rise housing.
When we got back, hung our coats to dry and a German couple who were staying there also joined us. They offered us beer & wine and we sat and chatted for over an hour. ..mostly about immigration. Germany is also at a loss as to how to address the issue. They told us there are more immigrants in Berlin than Germans!
They made a point of telling us that they believe as travelers, we were ambassadors of our home country. Good point.
We had to be up early to catch our flight and many connecting flights home so we went to bed early...excited to think we will be home in 36 hours!!
from my iPhone
In Egypt we were in the midst of Muslims easily identified by their clothing. Here the Jewish men proudly wear their skull caps, tallits, tall black hats, short pants & white shirts...many with beards and long side curls. Women wear long black skirts & scarfs. Again telling the world they are Jews. The Wailing Wall, massive Dome of the Rock mosque and 5' golden menorah are their most holy sites. Later we'd experience how the entire public busing system & most stores shut down Friday at sundown & stay closed until Saturday at sundown. After two days in Jerusalem and Bethlehem we headed to Tiberias...about 2 1/2 hour bus ride. The roads were excellent. The landscape was lush green with lots of rocks on the rolling hills. Even saw a few flocks of sheep. The spring flowers were in full bloom!! And everywhere !! They were sneaking out of cracks & crevices and filled hillsides in their vibrant colors. I took way too many pictures of them. Huge fields of corn, grapes, veges, palm trees, banana trees and miles of netted covered crops. Saw several tractors but unlike Egypt, no one stooped over & working in the field.
The bus stopped many times to pick up & drop off...and often young soldiers with their guns slung over their shoulder got on. Here all youth...boys & girls...must serve. Not sure how long. Both here and in Egypt there are guards at most every corner.
Again our Airbnb was sketchy ...made us think that probably that's how most middle class live
After dropping our bags, we took a bus into town to see the sites there. Tiberias was once the main city in this area and so there were several old structures there to remind one of it's past importance.
We didn't find a guided tour that would match our plans so we did it our way. The next morning, we took the bus to Tabgha and we just started walking a trail along the Sea of Galilee for about a mile to Capernaum where Jesus called the fishermen to follow him and where he walked on the water (along the trail we saw several markers labeled, The Gospel Trail, how'd we find that??). We took a taxi to a nearby hill where he spoke to the five thousand delivering the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount.
We met an adventurous Indian couple from Toronto who were not with a tour. They were happy to share the taxi with us down the hill to Tiberias. There were many tour buses filled with tourists at each site but we agreed that the tour group experience did not appeal to us.
Since we'd visited the church "built on a rock" where Jesus told Peter to build his church we thought it was fitting to finish the day with a "Peter's fish" dinner in Tiberias. And as our luck continued, there was a small church built in 1040 AD next to the restaurant. The door was open so we went in...glorious paintings of the storm & walking on water bible stories adorned this simple , tiny church...later we came back to celebrate Mass there. Could not have planned a better place to be that night.
Next morning, our luck ran out as it was pouring rain and since it was Shabat, we couldn't get a public bus out of town. So we paid the big bucks and hired a taxi (driver was Muslim) to get to Tel Aviv. Again the road was excellent. The driver pointed out the Palestinian Wall as we followed along it for several miles. He drove us right to our Airbnb...and a bit better than last night...not what we expected...but then we are used to expecting the unexpected! It was still raining and we were hungry so we walked to what our host said was a "close" place to eat. It was at least a mile...in the rain...and it was a bakery. But... we did find a restaurant a couple blocks later. Had a huge and delicious authentic Israeli dinner.
Our host told us the area we're in use to be all Arab. After the war in '47, Jews were allowed in. It's really a run down area with lots of high rise housing.
When we got back, hung our coats to dry and a German couple who were staying there also joined us. They offered us beer & wine and we sat and chatted for over an hour. ..mostly about immigration. Germany is also at a loss as to how to address the issue. They told us there are more immigrants in Berlin than Germans!
They made a point of telling us that they believe as travelers, we were ambassadors of our home country. Good point.
We had to be up early to catch our flight and many connecting flights home so we went to bed early...excited to think we will be home in 36 hours!!
from my iPhone
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Update 69
Here in Israel are so many names I've read or heard about in the Bible since I was a child...surreal:
Bethlehem, Jerusalem , Capernaum, Damascus, Zion, Jericho, Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, David, Solomon...
For 5 days those names were swirling around me.
Bethlehem - how many times have I imagined that scene. Today it's a sprawling city of 22,000 & on the "birth site" sits an elaborate church...far from the stable. Yet the holiness remained.
The Sea of Galilee - peacefully surrounded by rounded mountains. A replica of boats of the time period make it easy to envision Jesus sitting in one with his disciplines...walking on the water...and calming the storm.
Capernaum- where Jesus chose 5 of his discipline and lived during most of his ministry. Here Jesus told Peter "upon this rock I will build my church." A simple but very inspiring church surrounds the rock. A contemporary church with a glass floor sits above and in the middle of the excavated remains of Capernaum. Here He fed the multitude by multiplying 2 fish & 5 loaves of bread. Here He taught us the beatitudes...and the church built there is octagonal & 8 stain glass windows featuring them. Here so many were cured. the man lowered through the roof, the leper and the centurion who had such faith that whatever Jesus said would be fulfilled.
Our bus ride between Jerusalem & Capernaum gave me a true sense of just how far Jesus & his disciplines had to walk. We passed the Dead Sea (lowest spot in world) and followed the Jordan River (now the border of the West Bank & Jordan). The mountains that surround Jerusalem made the picture of Jesus entry on a donkey so real.
Many of the great gates of Jerusalem still proudly stand. Inside the old city wall we stood in the Upper Room, then lingered in the Garden of Gethsemane where flowers were blooming around a massive old gnarly tree trunk.
Then we walked the Via Dolorosa...the path Jesus was forced to walk carrying the cross. On that spot of the crucifixion , a stunning & lavish church sits.
We stood on a platform looking toward a hillside where there's a large cave...perhaps Skull Hill. It's empty of course.
When we planned our trip to Israel ...it had not occurred to us how appropriate the timing is...a couple weeks before Easter. A tiny miracle.
How I wish I could go back & see it as it was 2019 years ago...instead of today: sprawling with markets, hawkers, tourist & humongous churches.
I had to close my eyes and focus my thoughts to recall the Bible stories to bring them to life...that feeling was so very surreal and I feel so humbled and honored to have been this close to Jesus.
Sent from my iPhone
Bethlehem, Jerusalem , Capernaum, Damascus, Zion, Jericho, Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, David, Solomon...
For 5 days those names were swirling around me.
Bethlehem - how many times have I imagined that scene. Today it's a sprawling city of 22,000 & on the "birth site" sits an elaborate church...far from the stable. Yet the holiness remained.
The Sea of Galilee - peacefully surrounded by rounded mountains. A replica of boats of the time period make it easy to envision Jesus sitting in one with his disciplines...walking on the water...and calming the storm.
Capernaum- where Jesus chose 5 of his discipline and lived during most of his ministry. Here Jesus told Peter "upon this rock I will build my church." A simple but very inspiring church surrounds the rock. A contemporary church with a glass floor sits above and in the middle of the excavated remains of Capernaum. Here He fed the multitude by multiplying 2 fish & 5 loaves of bread. Here He taught us the beatitudes...and the church built there is octagonal & 8 stain glass windows featuring them. Here so many were cured. the man lowered through the roof, the leper and the centurion who had such faith that whatever Jesus said would be fulfilled.
Our bus ride between Jerusalem & Capernaum gave me a true sense of just how far Jesus & his disciplines had to walk. We passed the Dead Sea (lowest spot in world) and followed the Jordan River (now the border of the West Bank & Jordan). The mountains that surround Jerusalem made the picture of Jesus entry on a donkey so real.
Many of the great gates of Jerusalem still proudly stand. Inside the old city wall we stood in the Upper Room, then lingered in the Garden of Gethsemane where flowers were blooming around a massive old gnarly tree trunk.
Then we walked the Via Dolorosa...the path Jesus was forced to walk carrying the cross. On that spot of the crucifixion , a stunning & lavish church sits.
We stood on a platform looking toward a hillside where there's a large cave...perhaps Skull Hill. It's empty of course.
When we planned our trip to Israel ...it had not occurred to us how appropriate the timing is...a couple weeks before Easter. A tiny miracle.
How I wish I could go back & see it as it was 2019 years ago...instead of today: sprawling with markets, hawkers, tourist & humongous churches.
I had to close my eyes and focus my thoughts to recall the Bible stories to bring them to life...that feeling was so very surreal and I feel so humbled and honored to have been this close to Jesus.
Sent from my iPhone
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Update 68
Saying good bye to our class was tough. They are a great group of "kids"... 17 - 40ish. About 20 of them showed each Tuesday & Saturday for 1 1/2 hours to improve their English. They were attentive, actively participated and worked hard at trying to understand our lessons. If they failed to understand, they asked questions & kept trying.
They loved it when Rog or I got silly or when we bounced innocent jabs back & forth between us.
We were so very pleased that most of them did very well on their midterm exam. And we told them so! Some, of course, wished they'd done better.
I'd read Leo the Late Bloomer to them after trying to explain that everyone learns at their own rate. When I got to the page where Leo blooms....one of the kids shouted out, "That's us!!" Teaching is so very rewarding!!!
We had the students each write a short story about themselves so we could keep a piece of each of them.
And then we meet in the court yard for cookies & juice and pictures.
The last class was the next week. We covered the necessary lesson and then Rog blew up a balloon and told them who ever caught the balloon could ask anyone any question.
They loved asking us questions. A few used their turn to thank us and one asked himself a question!
I won't write about each one...but a couple...so I won't forget...
Zebeb: early on I noticed she was leaning over close to her book to read...I asked if she could see the board..nope. I asked if I could try to get her glasses. She smiled. After talking to the RE director, she got an eye exam and had new glasses 2 weeks later!! That sure made both of us very happy!!
Akmed: Such a huge smile, struggled but kept trying. Told me, "I was ignorant...you made me...how you say? Intelligent? Yes! "
Hussein: I'll really miss you. When Rog said he'd miss him too, he said...not as much as I will miss you. You bring us hope. I will never forget you.
An unknown girl who wore a niqab (so only her eyes were visible) was in the class that met after our class ended. She said to Rog: "I'll miss you and remember you."
These are the treasures we store in our hearts...the reason we love volunteering.
Sent from my iPhone
They loved it when Rog or I got silly or when we bounced innocent jabs back & forth between us.
We were so very pleased that most of them did very well on their midterm exam. And we told them so! Some, of course, wished they'd done better.
I'd read Leo the Late Bloomer to them after trying to explain that everyone learns at their own rate. When I got to the page where Leo blooms....one of the kids shouted out, "That's us!!" Teaching is so very rewarding!!!
We had the students each write a short story about themselves so we could keep a piece of each of them.
And then we meet in the court yard for cookies & juice and pictures.
The last class was the next week. We covered the necessary lesson and then Rog blew up a balloon and told them who ever caught the balloon could ask anyone any question.
They loved asking us questions. A few used their turn to thank us and one asked himself a question!
I won't write about each one...but a couple...so I won't forget...
Zebeb: early on I noticed she was leaning over close to her book to read...I asked if she could see the board..nope. I asked if I could try to get her glasses. She smiled. After talking to the RE director, she got an eye exam and had new glasses 2 weeks later!! That sure made both of us very happy!!
Akmed: Such a huge smile, struggled but kept trying. Told me, "I was ignorant...you made me...how you say? Intelligent? Yes! "
Hussein: I'll really miss you. When Rog said he'd miss him too, he said...not as much as I will miss you. You bring us hope. I will never forget you.
An unknown girl who wore a niqab (so only her eyes were visible) was in the class that met after our class ended. She said to Rog: "I'll miss you and remember you."
These are the treasures we store in our hearts...the reason we love volunteering.
Sent from my iPhone
Update 68
Saying good bye to our class was tough. They are a great group of "kids"... 17 - 40ish. About 20 of them showed each Tuesday & Saturday for 1 1/2 hours to improve their English. They were attentive, actively participated and worked hard at trying to understand our lessons. If they failed to understand, they asked questions & kept trying.
They loved it when Rog or I got silly or when we bounced innocent jabs back & forth between us.
We were so very pleased that most of them did very well on their midterm exam. And we told them so! Some, of course, wished they'd done better.
I read Leo the Late Bloomer to them after trying to explain that everyone learns at their own rate. When I got to the page where Leo blooms....one of the kids shouted out, "That's us!!" Teaching is so very rewarding!!!
We had the students each write a short story about themselves so we could keep a piece of each of them.
And then we met in the court yard for cookies & juice and pictures.
Our last class was the next week. We covered the necessary lesson and then Rog blew up a balloon and told them who ever caught the balloon could ask anyone a question using English.
They loved asking us questions. A few used their turn to thank us and one even asked himself a question!
I won't write about each one...but I must put down a couple...so I won't forget...
Zebeb: early on I noticed she was leaning over very close to her book to read...I asked if she could see the board..nope. I asked if I could try to get her glasses. She smiled. After talking to the RE director, she got an eye exam and had new glasses 2 weeks later!! That sure made both of us very happy!!
Akmed: Such a huge smile, struggled but kept trying. Told me, "I was ignorant...you made me...how you say? Intelligent? Yes! "
Hussein said, "We will really miss you! " Rog told him we'll miss them, too. He replied, " Not as much as we will miss you. You bring us hope. I will never forget you."
An unknown girl who wore a niqab (so only her eyes were visible) was in the class that met after our class ended. She said to Rog: "I'll miss you and remember you." Why?
These are the treasures we store in our hearts...the reason we love volunteering.
Sent from my iPhone
They loved it when Rog or I got silly or when we bounced innocent jabs back & forth between us.
We were so very pleased that most of them did very well on their midterm exam. And we told them so! Some, of course, wished they'd done better.
I read Leo the Late Bloomer to them after trying to explain that everyone learns at their own rate. When I got to the page where Leo blooms....one of the kids shouted out, "That's us!!" Teaching is so very rewarding!!!
We had the students each write a short story about themselves so we could keep a piece of each of them.
And then we met in the court yard for cookies & juice and pictures.
Our last class was the next week. We covered the necessary lesson and then Rog blew up a balloon and told them who ever caught the balloon could ask anyone a question using English.
They loved asking us questions. A few used their turn to thank us and one even asked himself a question!
I won't write about each one...but I must put down a couple...so I won't forget...
Zebeb: early on I noticed she was leaning over very close to her book to read...I asked if she could see the board..nope. I asked if I could try to get her glasses. She smiled. After talking to the RE director, she got an eye exam and had new glasses 2 weeks later!! That sure made both of us very happy!!
Akmed: Such a huge smile, struggled but kept trying. Told me, "I was ignorant...you made me...how you say? Intelligent? Yes! "
Hussein said, "We will really miss you! " Rog told him we'll miss them, too. He replied, " Not as much as we will miss you. You bring us hope. I will never forget you."
An unknown girl who wore a niqab (so only her eyes were visible) was in the class that met after our class ended. She said to Rog: "I'll miss you and remember you." Why?
These are the treasures we store in our hearts...the reason we love volunteering.
Sent from my iPhone
Monday, March 11, 2019
Update 67
They were two ten minute encounters yet both are burned into my memory.
The first...I'd headed to the RE center, as usual, and a lady walked up to me & rapidly started to tell me her story. I quickly realized I wasn't the one she needed to talk to but she didn't give me a chance to tell her. So I just listened to her desperate plea for help.
She was a Saudi but had lived in Australia for 16 years and had an Australian citizenship. She'd gone home to Saudi Arabia to get her mom who was dying of cancer and her sister who was diagnosed with Down syndrome. She'd been in Egypt for 3 weeks desperately seeking the papers she needed to take her mom & sister back to Australia with her. Her Visa was running out. She was adamant that money was no problem. She'd spend anything she needed. She gave me many more details but that was her basic story.
She felt like she had knocked on every door she could think of but she was not going to give up. She'd stay strong and find a way.
After a tender and long hug, I took her to see GG(asst director) who in a matter of minutes was helping her.
I'm really guessing here, but since I was the one asking GG to help her...and GG knew we'd just given RE a large donation...I think & hope that alone cracked open the door. I'll never know if that's true or not...or if the lady gets her mom & sister home. But I felt God had put me in the spot I needed to be for her.
A couple days later...I met Sally. Again, I was coming across the courtyard as usual. Rog was talking with Sally, a young gal who was dressed nicely and early for church. We chatted for a few minutes...she was from S. Sudan & had been in Egypt for less than a year so I asked her if she had been able to find a job. Tears filled her eyes. She fought them but they started to flow. She said she had been cleaning for a lady but the lady was always accusing her of things and telling her what a bad job she did. And had refused to pay her. She said it was so hard in Egypt. They hated the color of her skin. They were mean. She had tried so hard. She had been knocked down so many times and didn't know if she could get back up. She had no family here. She felt so alone. (Yes, I was crying by now too.).
I asked her if she had tried getting help from RE. She didn't know anything about them. I gave her a brief overview. It was Sunday so they were closed so I told her to come back tomorrow.
She looked so relieved to have a door open and as she hugged me...Rog put some $$ into her hand. She said...No No. Rog told her she deserved it. She had worked for it. She finally took it.
We had to leave and she went to church.
We got back about an hour later to meet up with Maddie, RE staff. As I stood talking to her, Sally came rushing over and gave me a huge hug saying she was so glad to see me again.
So fate again. I introduced her to Maddie who knew the questions to ask her to see if she'd qualify for RE help...which she did.
So again, God had me in the right spot at the right time.
Here in Egypt if things fall into place, they say "Hamdeellah" which means "Praise Be To God"...HAMDEELLAH!
Sent from my iPhone
The first...I'd headed to the RE center, as usual, and a lady walked up to me & rapidly started to tell me her story. I quickly realized I wasn't the one she needed to talk to but she didn't give me a chance to tell her. So I just listened to her desperate plea for help.
She was a Saudi but had lived in Australia for 16 years and had an Australian citizenship. She'd gone home to Saudi Arabia to get her mom who was dying of cancer and her sister who was diagnosed with Down syndrome. She'd been in Egypt for 3 weeks desperately seeking the papers she needed to take her mom & sister back to Australia with her. Her Visa was running out. She was adamant that money was no problem. She'd spend anything she needed. She gave me many more details but that was her basic story.
She felt like she had knocked on every door she could think of but she was not going to give up. She'd stay strong and find a way.
After a tender and long hug, I took her to see GG(asst director) who in a matter of minutes was helping her.
I'm really guessing here, but since I was the one asking GG to help her...and GG knew we'd just given RE a large donation...I think & hope that alone cracked open the door. I'll never know if that's true or not...or if the lady gets her mom & sister home. But I felt God had put me in the spot I needed to be for her.
A couple days later...I met Sally. Again, I was coming across the courtyard as usual. Rog was talking with Sally, a young gal who was dressed nicely and early for church. We chatted for a few minutes...she was from S. Sudan & had been in Egypt for less than a year so I asked her if she had been able to find a job. Tears filled her eyes. She fought them but they started to flow. She said she had been cleaning for a lady but the lady was always accusing her of things and telling her what a bad job she did. And had refused to pay her. She said it was so hard in Egypt. They hated the color of her skin. They were mean. She had tried so hard. She had been knocked down so many times and didn't know if she could get back up. She had no family here. She felt so alone. (Yes, I was crying by now too.).
I asked her if she had tried getting help from RE. She didn't know anything about them. I gave her a brief overview. It was Sunday so they were closed so I told her to come back tomorrow.
She looked so relieved to have a door open and as she hugged me...Rog put some $$ into her hand. She said...No No. Rog told her she deserved it. She had worked for it. She finally took it.
We had to leave and she went to church.
We got back about an hour later to meet up with Maddie, RE staff. As I stood talking to her, Sally came rushing over and gave me a huge hug saying she was so glad to see me again.
So fate again. I introduced her to Maddie who knew the questions to ask her to see if she'd qualify for RE help...which she did.
So again, God had me in the right spot at the right time.
Here in Egypt if things fall into place, they say "Hamdeellah" which means "Praise Be To God"...HAMDEELLAH!
Sent from my iPhone
Update 66
We're only an hour plane trip from Cairo...still in Egypt...but in a totally different environment...kinda a paradise. Sharm El Sheikh is a resort on the Red Sea located on the tip of the Sinai peninsula. It's drop dead gorgeous! Warm, brilliantly sunny, sapphire water, coral pink sand, blooming flowers, tall lush palm trees all under a crystal clear blue sky. Vastly different than the rest of Egypt that we've seen. We seldom "do resorts" but I so wanted to shed my sweatshirt and feel the sun. The locals all told us this was the place to do it. We booked it Sunday night and left Tuesday after dismissing our class 10 minutes early. At 9:30 pm we were enjoying the Movenpick buffet.
After weeks of a busy schedule & traipsing all over Cairo, it felt luxurious and I was content to be confined to a beach chair with no agenda but to soak up the beauty...eat...read...walk the beach...eat...read...take a dip in the pool...and then watch the glorious sunset. Though many snorkeled in the cold clear sea, I preferred spotting the colorful fish from the dock.
Here it's mostly Russians and Europeans on vacation. Haven't seen many Egyptians or other Africans except the wait staff.
Though I feel pangs of guilt, it mostly makes me feel so very grateful!
Sent from my iPhone
After weeks of a busy schedule & traipsing all over Cairo, it felt luxurious and I was content to be confined to a beach chair with no agenda but to soak up the beauty...eat...read...walk the beach...eat...read...take a dip in the pool...and then watch the glorious sunset. Though many snorkeled in the cold clear sea, I preferred spotting the colorful fish from the dock.
Here it's mostly Russians and Europeans on vacation. Haven't seen many Egyptians or other Africans except the wait staff.
Though I feel pangs of guilt, it mostly makes me feel so very grateful!
Sent from my iPhone
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Update 66
Walking around Cairo is like walking in a mine field. Every step a possible twisted ankle, stubbed toe or tripper ready to take you down! (Elsi can relate!). Unique and unusual obstacles to avoid. Mazes to maneuver. Often you just give up and walk on the street.
And always your peripheral vision must be in high alert as cars navigate the narrow side streets and speed up in any open area. Most dangerous are the motorcycles that whiz through the tiniest cracks in traffic or even on the sidewalks.
Walking around Cairo is no feat for the faint of heart!
Sent from my iPhone
And always your peripheral vision must be in high alert as cars navigate the narrow side streets and speed up in any open area. Most dangerous are the motorcycles that whiz through the tiniest cracks in traffic or even on the sidewalks.
Walking around Cairo is no feat for the faint of heart!
Sent from my iPhone
Update 65
Mr. Lee invited us to visit him where he teaches refugee children at the St. Andrews Church. The school is run by a Scandinavian and employs mostly teachers who themselves are or were refugees. Mr. Lee is from S. Sudan.
As we enjoyed watching the kids play a game similar to Duck, Duck, Goose, he told us that the kids were from many African countries. Countries where they'd be fighting rather than playing. Here they were all friends, colorblind & accepting. There they'd grow up to be bitter enemies for no other reason than the tribe they were born into.
Then he spoke of his own country. He told us it was so very beautiful...yet so dangerous for his tribe. Though all in S.Sudan look very much like the Dinka, the ruling tribe. The only thing that identifies you is your accent.
He tried to return to his home once a long time ago. He'd heard gun shots in the night. When he opened his door in the morning...there were 7 bodies. His sister told him it was a light day...usually many more. No one dared come and claim the bodies. They'd be dragged away and never seen again.
On this same campus, many UNHCR lawyers help asylum seekers to get their papers. Most had come by camel or on the Nile illegally because their home countries wouldn't give them papers to leave. They fear arrest daily. Sometimes police wait outside the gate of St. Andrews ready to arrest.
Seeing the joy on the children's faces as they chanted and chased each other, I had to think of their future...would they be passed over (like the Duck), chased (like the Goose) and get caught or make it back to their safe spot.
Sent from my iPhone
As we enjoyed watching the kids play a game similar to Duck, Duck, Goose, he told us that the kids were from many African countries. Countries where they'd be fighting rather than playing. Here they were all friends, colorblind & accepting. There they'd grow up to be bitter enemies for no other reason than the tribe they were born into.
Then he spoke of his own country. He told us it was so very beautiful...yet so dangerous for his tribe. Though all in S.Sudan look very much like the Dinka, the ruling tribe. The only thing that identifies you is your accent.
He tried to return to his home once a long time ago. He'd heard gun shots in the night. When he opened his door in the morning...there were 7 bodies. His sister told him it was a light day...usually many more. No one dared come and claim the bodies. They'd be dragged away and never seen again.
On this same campus, many UNHCR lawyers help asylum seekers to get their papers. Most had come by camel or on the Nile illegally because their home countries wouldn't give them papers to leave. They fear arrest daily. Sometimes police wait outside the gate of St. Andrews ready to arrest.
Seeing the joy on the children's faces as they chanted and chased each other, I had to think of their future...would they be passed over (like the Duck), chased (like the Goose) and get caught or make it back to their safe spot.
Sent from my iPhone
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