Respite

Yesterday, our family left Cairo, arriving in Berlin, Germany last night.  We were not evacuated, nor were we in any trouble--but we needed a respite from the intensity and uncertainty that has constantly been surrounding us over the past several weeks.

With the possibility of confrontations anywhere between political rivals, and some anti-American sentiment expressed by both sides, our movement through the city was limited to smaller areas of our immediate community.  Not only was our "range of motion" limited, but the hours during which we could be out seemed to be limited, as well.  The ministry opportunities had been greatly decreased due to the proximity of protests either near the church, or along the routes to or from the church--there were times that we felt we could meet at the church, but we wouldn't be able to get there or get home.

As a result, the family was experiencing a great deal of cabin fever as we were spending increasing amounts of the long summer days inside.  We had planned to vacation within Egypt, but that was also interrupted -- three different reservations were interrupted for one reason or another!  Though the kids did get out some, the uncertainty was making all of us a bit tense.

So, we needed a break!  Thanks to the hospitality of our Regional Coordinators, and to the Ohio Church if God ministries who bought our airfare, we are able to retreat to Berlin for some much needed physical, emotional, & mental R&R.

Titus and I will leave for Budapest, Hungary tomorrow so I can speak in the summer session of the Budapest Lectures.  We will return next week and spend some time seeing this beautiful city.  As an added bonus to meeting the Hungarian leaders, we'll be able to see our 3W teammate Dave Simpson and a few of their Bulgarian leaders as they drive over to participate.

Grace is happy to be where there is green and "cleanness" everywhere -- she and Keli are hopeful for the opportunity to see and feel rain -- an unexpected anticipation after a year and a half in the desert climate of Egypt!  Titus & Zeke have been laughing and playing with Marco all night--each if them happy to have someone around as the downside of summer for international students is the annual summer departure of all your classmates to their respective corners of the globe.

We're looking forward to seeing 3W teammates, the Phillips family, here in Berlin, too.  This will be a wonderful time for us to reconnect and recharge before returning to a busy ministry and activity schedule in August.  We will continue to stay in touch with friends in Cairo, and to monitor the ever-changing events there -- we'll post relevant and important stories here, but otherwise we'll share things from Europe for a couple weeks.

Thank you for your continued interest and prayers for us and those that we serve.