Egypt Begins 2014 with Decisions, Deaths, and Divisions

Headlines in the West are not always a great way to understand what's happening around the world.  "If it bleeds, it leads," is great for attracting readers and viewers, but not necessarily for educating on the depth of what's happening around the world.  From Syria to Ukraine to Egypt, there's more than what you're seeing on the headlines.

Here are links to headlines closer to Egypt, providing maybe a different set of information from what you are seeing beyond this region.  These stories are not the full story, but only snapshots.  There is so much depth and nuance to everything that is happening here that it would be impossible to fully convey all the meanings and possibilities in any post.  We're not attempting to influence your opinion, nor to make you think we have it all figured out--we're passing along the setting to the services we're providing and we trust this will help you better #PrayForEgypt, and maybe a few prayers for us, too :)

Here in Egypt, the New Year began with the need to make a decision on a new draft constitution.  In a two day referendum, the overwhelming majority of 98% approved the draft.  While well more than 30% of eligible voters participated unlike the previous Constitution's referendum, there was a similar resignation to the fact that it would pass, so why even show up to vote to the contrary.  In fact, though there were a lot of banners throughout the city encouraging citizens to vote for the latest Constitution, there were a lot of stories of those who had an opposing view either being arrested or their materials confiscated.  The prevailing thought from those on Twitter was that if you opposed the Constitution, you had to keep it to yourself or you might end up in jail and labeled along with the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist.

from the Ahram Online photo gallery

Though the military has launched strategic efforts to clamp down on radical factions within Egypt, a

war on terror, the incidents of violence and terrorist like attacks have only seemed to increase:

• there were the four bomb blasts on January 24, the day before the third anniversary of the Revolution that ousted Mubarak

• but other bombs have been found, too - some disarmed, others are duds, but still others go off - they have been found near the often targeted police stations (prompting increased security zones), and along the Metro public transit lines.

• police have been targeted - one officer killed outside of a church recently

• and a high ranking official with the Ministry of Interior was gunned down outside his home - though the government is encouraging restraint from stating that he was an intentional target pending an investigation 

There have also been the continuing instances of clashes between demonstrators and police; around 50 died on the anniversary of January 25 throughout the country.

While former president Mohamed Morsi is in jail and faces various court cases for accused crimes including a jail break in 2011 prior to his rise to power, all Egyptian eyes are pointing forward to the next Presidential election that should take place between now and April as the date is still pending.

Also pending is whether or not Field Marshal (recently promoted from General) Abdel-Fattah El-

This cartoon, as shared on the blog
Egyptian Chronicles, is typical
of the "hero worship" seen of
El-Sisi in the past 6+ months.

Sisi will run for President.  For those of you who may not know El-Sisi, here's a quick and probably too general description of the events of last summer.  El-Sisi was the General who confronted former President Morsi prior to the June 30 demonstrations last summer, urging him to do something to appease what many thought could get out of hand; Morsi dismissed the possibility of a large demonstration, and later gave a nearly 3 hour long speech that only made everyone more polarized.  The resulting demonstration, estimated as the largest in the history of the world, and continued nightly.  The military made a statement through Sisi, urging Morsi to do something by a deadline, and when nothing was done, Sisi led the military to remove President Morsi, received a blessing on a transitional government "roadmap" by political and religious groups, and quickly became the face and "heart throb" of the last revolution.

Private citizens have been petitioning for Sisi to run for President for months.  This week, the SCAF (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces) officially gave permission for Sisi to retire and run for the Presidency as a civilian--essentially endorsing his candidacy if he chooses to run and relinquish his role as Defense Minister.

This, as you would expect, has been met with mixed opinions as well.  The overwhelming mood is that if Sisi chooses to run, he is assured to be the next President of Egypt.  This popular opinion should not be equated with popular approval.  There are the Islamists who feel they did and won everything democratically only to have it all forcibly removed from them (Presidency, Parliament, and the previous Constitution).  Then there are the young revolutionaries who "fought" against the regime of a former military man, then against the SCAF led government, and now find themselves looking at the very real possibility of a SCAF approved, former military man running nearly unopposed to become the next President.   Throw in the increasing violent factions of each group, and you have a country with growing divisions at a time when there is so much in decline.

What is not in decline is hope.  I don't think that hope is increasing, but it's definitely holding steady, even if only on a razor's edge.  Egypt has so much promise, so much possibility, so much to continue to offer to the world; and yet, so much hangs in the balance while we cautiously wait and wonder what will happen next.

We ourselves remain safe, and though we have an even greater sense of vigilance these days, we are encouraged as ministry has not only continued but actually kept us all quite busy in the past month.  We pray for the peace and future of this our host country; we share the above reports and links not to alarm you nor to criticize anything or anyone here.  These reports are some of things we are watching and they form the backdrop to the interactions and the service we provide to believers in this region.

Thank you for your continuing interest, and we encourage you to continue to #PrayForEgypt.

Four Bomb Day

First of all, we are fine.  Thank you for the prayers and concern that have been sent this way for our family and those whom we are serving in Egypt.

It's the Eve of the 3rd 2011 January 25 Revolution anniversary--hopefully not the eve of a third revolution in three years.

We check news first on Twitter when I wake up in the mornings, as young reporters and activists throughout the region are usually commenting first on what's happening at any hour of the day. But before I could pull up Twitter, I had a message from a young friend in Beirut who heard about the Cairo explosion and wanted to make sure we were all right.

(Beirut citizen checking on Cairo resident--strange days!)

I then quickly flipped to Twitter where the reports were just coming in of an explosion; by the time the news was providing pictures, witness statements, and details, a second blast became the news.  

And then a third before a 11:00 am local time.

An ominous beginning for a weekend that anticipated possible trouble tomorrow.  

While walking to the local international church this evening, news of a fourth explosion came across the Twitter feed.  

Though a group claimed responsibility, first people on the scenes of the blasts chanted for the execution of Brotherhood members.  Calls have been made state authorities to stand up in the squares tomorrow in support of the interim government and "roadmap" - yet others plan to stand and shout their displeasure for one reason or another.

Things are tense and uncertain.  Yet we are at peace.

Remember to #PrayForEgypt this weekend, for the believers, for the communities full of innocents trapped in cycles of violence, for leaders to have wisdom AND humility.  Pray for peace.

Though all this going on, it's still a busy weekend of ministry for us.  Pray we are able to encourage and serve with wisdom and grace.

Reflections on Oscar Nominated "The Square"

Our family had been asked to serve in Egypt in November 2009, and in January 2010, we began the process of being approved for the role in which we are currently serving.

We were officially announced days before the January 25, 2011 Revolution that eventually toppled Mubarak.  Within one year, January 7, 2012, we had moved to Cairo.

The events of January 2011 and all the events that have continued in one unexpected domino fall after another have been the backdrop to our lives and ministry these past several years.  Watching news, reading stories, speaking with Egyptians about hopes and fears, interpretations and implications, the conspiracy theories and the concrete--as well as trying to explain these things to concerned friends, family and curious supporters worlds away--all of this has even saturated into who we are at some levels.

That's what made the interest for the documentary, "The Square," all the more intriguing.

Here's a good CNN introductory video piece on the film:

As that video states, "The Square" has recently been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Film -- not only would this be a first for Egypt, but also a first for growing media mogul Netflix.  Netflix is the online, streaming video giant that recently began providing original TV shows (some of which received Golden Globe nominations this year), and recently won the rights to begin filming a series of television shows based on Marvel comic superheroes.  If that is half as successful as the movie franchise has become, added with the potential for an Oscar with this film, then watch out for Netflix becoming a major player in media.

But, I digress :)

I watched "The Square" via Netflix today.  I wasn't sure what to expect, or how much of the recent events would be covered.  I was honestly surprised to see the toppling of Mubarak very early within the film.

Then I was sucked into the drama of the real life characters dealing with military rule, the growth of

Khalid and Ahmed are two of the real life characters
you follow the documentary.

the Muslim Brotherhood's political presence.  We watched several of these things unfold from a distance, but we were here for the events portrayed in the last 45 minutes or so of the film.

Yet, the brilliance of the documentary is not only taking you to the front lines of the street clashes, but into the thoughts and conversations, the arguments and the emotions of the main characters.

Maybe it is because we have been so close to these stories and events, but I thought this film was excellent.  I felt it truly portrayed the struggles, the aspirations, the uncertainty, and the differences of opinion in what has been so many shades of gray in this continuing, ever-evolving revolution.  There is, as you would expect from a documentary, a bit of language; and there are several graphic, gut-wrenching scenes of wounded and deceased--but this has been the reality here in Egypt.

If you are one of our supporters, and you sincerely want to understand what is going on in the hearts and minds of some of these you see on the streets in your nightly news stories, then watch "The Square".  If anything, I think it will help you understand some of the recent events and the ongoing uncertainty, as well as help you to better #PrayForEgypt.

Thank you for your interest and ongoing prayers and support.