Is it really a quarter to three in the morning? I glance at my watch to double check, yep sure is. I look around at my room and question, is this really all of my stuff packed up and ready to leave in the morning? Am I really wide eyed in the middle of the night reluctant even to climb into bed? Really…am I this darn emotional?
This will be the last blog I type from this room of mine in Cairo. I’m leaving behind dear friends who have been my family for over a year in this place. They feel the separation too, but I doubt if any are awake now. hah. Maybe this is how it always is when you leave a place? …nothing like an 8 hour drive on less than 4 hours of sleep…
We had a grand celebration tonight. The biggest Christmas feast I’ve probably ever been a part of…foodwise that is. We could have easily fed 20 more people. All the good stuff complete with everyone’s favorite recipes. Gosh, I love our potluck parties! Our community friends even joined us which was such a blessing. The nuns were a riot…seriously, I’ve never seen nuns fight over white elephant gifts before in my life, but it was a pretty good show. haha! How I treasure these people!
What gets me is their hearts. Never before have I seen hearts so big. They give so freely out of a place of need themselves. Not one gets paid a salary over $10,000 a year and yet the staff of Two Rivers has provided over 25% of my support money for this trip. Who ever heard of missionaries sending out and providing financially for another missionary? It seems a little odd to me, but I am ever so grateful for these dear ones. Thank you friends for giving so freely!
The nuns I volunteer with at the Kitchen Table, the local soup kitchen they’ve run in this community for 10 years, surprised us with gifts over a meal at Applebee’s the other day. We weren’t expecting a thing from them, in fact we were trying to bless them by taking them out! These sisters have only a $30 stipend for personal things each month—they have no room for gifts! (talk about a vow of poverty, eh?) Their gifts to us were not financially costly, but they were gifts of great price. I received a small, simple book over 10 years old of Mother Theresa’s famous words and writings. It was one of Sr. Mary’s prized possessions. I know she loved that book, yet she chose to pass it along to me as a blessing. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. A gift from the heart…these don’t often come along very frequently.
It’s these people I must say my goodbyes to tomorrow morning. People who have shown me love in every possible way. Who have rejoiced with me, been silly with me, sang with me, cried with me, prayed with me, fought with me…who have seen me at my worst and at my best. People who desire to see me know the heart of my God and to grow in Him more as I go. I would not be the same without them.
One last time of prayer and fellowship awaits me at 8am tomorrow…and then a year separates us, though our spirits will forever be connected. I love you family!
…better get to bed now…finally…
