We’re back in Cairo after ten days serving in Quissia, a rural town smack-dab in the middle of Egypt. We’ll be here in Cairo for a couple of days of debrief and preparation before we head off to Kenya to begin our next phase of ministry.
Our time in Quissia was both challenging and interesting. I found it challenging because we were serving within the context of the Coptic Orthodox Church, a body with a long and treasured heritage, but unfamiliar ground for us Protestant folk to be sure. I found it interesting in that we were able to find a great deal of common ground: our love for our Savior, our gratefulness for His sacrifice, our desire to serve the body and to take care of orphans and the poor. In these, we were united with our Coptic brothers and sisters.
During our time there, we were fortunate enough to stay in the house of Bishop Thomas. The Bishop was very hospitable to us, and upon his return from a speaking tour of the U.S. and Canada, he made time to talk with our group, sharing his insights on church unity, what it is to truly be “in Christ,” and the ever-increasing danger of the spread of Islam. I found the Bishop’s thoughts on all of these topics thoroughly fascinating, and I’m quite sure that if he had continued to talk indefinitely, I would still be there listening.
On the topic of church unity, Bishop Thomas said that it’s not about being identical, but about being united in spirit and in purpose. It doesn’t matter that you worship one way and I worship another. What matters is that we are united in our desire to love and serve our Lord.
Amen, Bishop.
And it was in this spirit of unity and love that we served the people of Quissia during our time there. For me, I was blessed to work at a boys orphanage most mornings, and then I did a variety of other things in the evenings, including speaking at youth meetings, sharing stories from our travels, performing our drama, and leading a bible study.
I was even asked to teach a class on how to make a CV. My response was something like, “Sure, I’d love to. Just one thing, though…what’s a CV?”
Turns out a CV is a curriculum vitae, which is what speakers of British-English call a resume. I am something of an expert in this field, as at one point in my life I had six different jobs in five years. I wrote a LOT of resumes. The class had about thirty students in it, and it went pretty well. I even taught a second session on how to have a great job interview.
Throughout our visit, the Christians of Quissia were wonderful to us. Their hospitality and their eagerness to share fellowship with us were overwhelming, humbling, and very welcome. Thanks to everyone we met there.
As we stand on the verge of our final three months in the field, we are faced with some challenges. Money is beginning to become a distraction. Katherine and I are right on target (thanks again to all of you who contribute to make this work possible), but there are a few World Racers who still need additional support. And with some expensive travel costs on the horizon in Africa, the need is all the more immediate.
All of the American World Racers have decided to band together to make an effort to get every World Racer fully supported. We are currently about $16,000 away from this goal.
So, I ask you to consider making a donation to one of the World Racers who are the most in need (Ashley, Casey, Jessica Friske, Kim Kinsley, etc.). Go to their blogs, check out what God is doing in them and through them, and see if the Lord might move you to contribute to this work.
That’s all for now, folks. Peace out.
