end of January reflections

(January newsletter will be sent soon--if you're not on the email list, email us so you can get the exciting, superbly-crafted first issue of 2012!)

As we conclude January, we should remind you that we have not yet been here a month--that won't take place until February 7--but here are a few reflections on our first few weeks...

0 We hope none of us are ever as sick as Zeke was a couple weekends ago--that kid went through the ringer!

1 One of our favorite people that we have met from the community is Ahmed.  Ahmed is one of the gatekeepers at the community school the kids attend.  Ahmed is learning English and he is happy and downright excited to practice with us when we come through the gate--and since we have been encouraging him and conversational, he especially likes to see us coming.  Ahmed's English is slow, deliberate, and simple--if you are not careful, you may take Ahmed for being slow and simple--but he's not!   He's just learning and applying a very different language from his native tongue.  Today, he asked me to help him pronounce "drawers" from a list of household furniture items he was learning; (stop and think about that one, because the "d"-"r" sounds quickly followed by the "w"are really kind of tricky).  Ahmed makes me smile--and he makes me nervous--because soon it will be us being slow, deliberate, and simple in our speech as we look for patient, understanding and encouraging native-Arabic speakers to help us!

2 Speaking of language, though we won't begin formal language training until later in February, we are picking up a few little things here and there as we interact within the community.  Two important phrases here in Egypt are "inshallah" and "alhamdulillah".  Inshallah means "if God wills" or "if God wishes"--basically, "God willing".  This is used in nearly every case of anything related to the future: "I'll see you tomorrow, inshallah"; "My train arrives at 6 pm, inshallah"; "The repair man will be there tomorrow, inshallah"--engrained within the language and culture of the Egyptian people is this fact: if God's not in it, it ain't happenin'.

"alhamdulillah" is another concept engrained within the language and culture of the people; it means, "praise to God," or "thanks to God".  If you ask someone, "how are you?", the reply will never simply be "good"--it's always, "good, alhamdulillah".  Any positive state of being, result, coincidence, etc. is always accompanied with a praise and thanksgiving to God.  Isn't this our Biblical understanding, that "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father..." (James 1:17).

3 We have been able to meet with three younger adults of the Cairo Christian Fellowship on our own, and we have had a really positive response from them.  They are all eager for things to begin.  Similarly, we have enjoyed a very positive response from all the members of the CCF, and they too appear to be in a hurry for things to happen and change a bit.  Though we had intended to come in, get our bearings, and begin to lead slowly toward larger, different ministries, we have come to a group that has been waiting for more than a year for a pastor, and the younger ones have been waiting far longer than that for something different to happen.

4 We have a great team in Europe and Middle East -- four families ministering across the region have been praying for us and encouraging us with regular emails.  Three families are in Germany: Aaron & Nicole Varner,  Kelley & Rhonda (& Christian) Phillips, and our coordinators Patrick & Jamie Nachtigall (& Marco); along with Dave & Kathy Simpson in Bulgaria.  The emails have included their own ups and downs, as well as helpful stories to facing the challenges of acclimating to a new culture.  We haven't experienced any overwhelming culture shock, though we're told that comes sometime between months 2 and 6, but we're glad to have the support of these colleagues and friends.  We have also been blessed by Abby Smith far away in Bogota, Colombia as well as by Zach & Audrey Langford in Birkenhead, U.K. -- Abby has shared similar encouragement to the 3W Team, and Z&A sent a wonderful care package, complete with notes for each of our kids, whom they know well.  (By the way, you can follow the work of Three-Worlds at Three-Worlds.com, on Facebook at "Three Worlds" and also on Twitter at  "3WCHOG")

5 Five new furnishings that we're spoiled by: the T-Fal skillet, the hot water tap on our water dispenser, our roomy shower with plenty of hot water, Apple-TV (we brought this with us), and magic-jack.  Of course, the villas and large garden are an extraordinary luxury; it's hard to describe what a blessing this place is until you see it first hand, particularly within the context of Cairo.  As we've been attempting to furnish the villas, another amazing and fun upside to getting started here, we have gotten several double takes as people ask, "oh, you live in a villa?"
("yes," we reply, "we have two." -- just kidding!)
We are looking forward to planning for and overseeing the renovation of Villa 18 so that it can regularly host groups and teaching opportunities.

and the 6 biggest challenges in our first few weeks:

1. language, particularly when it relates to customer service at any level; 
2. baksheesh--this is not just the term for tipping, it's also an expected bribe--backsheesh is expected at nearly every level, and if they think you have a lot, the expected baksheesh is more; 
3. the attention Grace draws from school age boys throughout the city, particularly on our way to and from school--her cold, piercing stare doesn't scare them away--but, she continues to handle it well; 
4. the change of calendar--beginning the work/school week on Sunday, while still worshipping Sunday night, and weekends being Friday and Saturday--this has us all turned around when it comes to scheduling anything;
5. not having/using a smart phone--we were really spoiled by texting on a full qwerty keyboard, GPS, and mobile internet!  Language plays a part here, too, because texts in Arabic are all the more confusing!
6. being tired and simultaneously feeling unproductive--being exhausted, as we've been told by Aaron and Abby, seems to be a natural part of the transition into a new culture; we think it has to be from just the sensory, mental, physical, emotional and spiritual overload you are going through, regardless of how much you are actually doing.  And, after doing so much in ministry, working second jobs, and trying to get to the field through the long itineration process, not doing all of that seems like we're being lazy.  Of course, we know that we will be tired from actual ministry activity soon enough!

Thanks for all your ongoing love, support, prayers, encouragement, and more--we hope you are enjoying the blog and updates.  By the way, Ken won't be going to Alexandria tomorrow as originally planned; the conference with the national church pastors had to be cancelled, and we're awaiting a reschedule date.  Until then, we're tentatively scheduled to meet several national Church leaders in Cairo in a few weeks.

Re-Post: Why Young Christians are Leaving the Church

First, CLICK HERE TO READ Patrick's excellent article about young adults' views on church.

Second, if you haven't read unChristian and you live in a western nation, make it your next book purchase and dialogue about it with some between the ages of 17 and 27; it will simultaneously break your heart and lead you to deep moments of prayer and reflection, ultimately changing the way you interpret every church environment in which you may find yourself.

(I had not yet heard of nor seen a copy of this new book--i'll be interested to see what young adults here in the Middle East think and say about these views on church and Christianity).

Third, i couldn't get Patrick's media player to load on his page, so i'm attempting to put the file here for you to listen, along with an iconic image of a young adult just wanting to be heard...

In other news...
Winter is becoming a bit more "normal" here in Cairo these past couple days--70 degrees and sunny :).

uncertainty amidst anniversary

according to what little history i've read about July 4, 1777, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence had some gatherings and celebrations throughout Colonial America despite being in the midst of what we now call the Revolutionary War.  the citizens of Philadelphia reportedly lit candles in their windows and bonfires in the streets to illuminate the night sky, while church bells rang briefly and nearby ships added a little cannon fire to break the silence.  not quite the fireworks and patriotic display we are accustomed to today in hindsight of that monumental event, which makes sense as the uncertainty of the hopeful independents battled for a chance to make their own political and national path.

today, January 25, 2011 marks the first anniversary of the gathering in Tahrir Square--thousands are expected to gather there again today, though similar uncertainty looms.  no one will say the revolution that led to the resignation of 30-year President Hosni Mubarek was a bad thing (see videos), but all seem to agree that the revolution is incomplete in that the goals have not yet been achieved (goals that differ from person to person), the quality of life has not improved for anyone (particularly for the millions living on around $2 a day), and the economy has definitely suffered with the decline in tourism as a result of all the political uncertainty in the country.

yet what should we expect?  we have grown so dependent upon instantaneous results, as if we expect a government and society to refresh as quickly as the page on our web browsers.  if i remember our American history correctly, even after the years of Revolutionary War, there were years of rebuilding and bumbling--even 200+ years later we still have Tea Party and Occupy movements decrying that something is still wrong.  is it really possible to conceive of a developing nation, with decades (if not centuries) of political and societal baggage and rampant poverty, to progress to stability within just one year's time?

so how are we spending the anniversary?  indoors; quietly continuing to do things around the villas by way of organizing and repairs.  the kids are out of school today, as many things are closed throughout the city.  we have some Muslim neighbors who have organized a community watch for the evening, reminiscent of their watch during last year's Revolutionary days when the fear for safety and looting despite curfews loomed.  such an organized watch further indicates the uncertainty everyone seems to be feeling around us.  this is also perceived by other governments as many expatriates have been encouraged by their homelands to keep a low profile, stay away from city centers where demonstrators may gather, and a variety of other similar cautions. 

but it is a remarkably beautiful day -- it rained last night (a rarity here) and with the rain came not only a cleansing of the dusty buildings, pathways, and trees but also a clarity in the otherwise normally smoggy skies.  perhaps the rain was God's little reminder that He is able to cleanse the grime and cut through the haze to bring beauty, even in our times of uncertainty.

   Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
   He lifts His voice, the earth melts. 

...  

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.” 

~ Psalm 46:6, 10

 

videos from Al Jazeera/English (copied from YouTube)