A Week Of Travel: Cairo to Dahab, Dahab to Petra, Petra to Jerusalem

Doors in "City Of The Dead."

Much has happened in the past two weeks, I will try to condense it the best that I can. Our last week in Egypt we spent studying the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament. A week was not nearly enough time to get the depths of it, but it was a good week of looking at potential boring books with a fresh perspective. Last Saturday before we left Cairo, I was able to visit City Of The Dead which consists of Ancient tombs that people live in. We where not able to meet as many people as we hoped but it was quite a site to see a rather large city full of these old tombs. Following the study of the Pentateuch, this past week we have traveled through parts of the Middle East, visiting the places where the Israelites themselves traveled from Mt. Sinai, the middle of the desert, to Mt. Nebo and ending in the holy land of Jerusalem, Israel.

Mt. Sinai at sunrise.

Traveling to Northern Egypt, we spent a night in the coastal town of Dahab getting a good nights rest. The next night we all bundled up in . . . MANY layers and drove two hrs to the bottom of Mt. Sinai. Being a Alaskan you would think I would be able to handle a little cold. But as we began to trek up the mountain, as exciting as it was the cold was miserable. In these past months of traveling I of course have stayed in great shape . . . after slowing down my team several times hiking in the cold, I quickly opted for a camel ride up most of the way. After a short camel ride and 750 steps later we had arrived at the top at 4 in the morning, two and a half hours of death cold later we awakened to the sun rising over the mountains.

In light of the cold I did not have time to reflect on the reality of the significance of where we where that morning, and barely the motivation to take photos. God met Moses on that very mountain, that is where he received the Ten Commandments for the people, the very commandments that we live by today. After reading the book of Exodus and then hiking up Mt. Sinai, the book became so much more alive to me. I can picture so much more vividly how the Israelites felt in the cold as they camped at the bottom of the mountain, awaiting to hear God speak to them through the thick cloud atop the mountain.

“Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered in smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.” Exodus 19:17-19

Overlooking on Mt. Nebo towards Israel.

Following our Mt. Sinai adventure we traveled into the desert on camels and spent the night under the stars at a Bedouin camp, it was a very bonding experience as a team all huddled under the stars. Leaving Egypt we traveled onto Jordon where we visited Mt. Nebo. By day thankfully, but it was still quite chilly, with the wind blowing we where able to look out and barely make out Israel in the distance. The same place where Moses looked out on the promise land before he died.

Another view from Mt. Nebo.

“Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land . . . . . Then the Lord said to him “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” Deuteronomy 34:1-4

Rock walls of historical Petra.

Sadly we only spent two days in Jordan, the morning we left though I was able to visit historical Petra and see the old treasury and tombs. And finally after a week of lugging out stuff everywhere we have arrived in Jerusalem, Israel. Here we will remain for 3 weeks until we return to Egypt, it will be good to be settled down for a while. This week we are having a teaching on “The heart of an artist.” Looking at how God can use our passions for him. You can keep in prayer sicknesses as some people are coming down with colds; I am hoping to not be one of them. As well as ministry opportunities here in Jerusalem. Thank you for your continual emails and prayers they are very encouraging.

Colorful door in "City Of The Dead."

Back to the World : Cairo, Egypt

Camels herded together at the Camel Market.

            When I was home I was made aware in an even bigger way of how many of you are behind me, and daily lifting me up in your prayers.  This was a wonderful realization, and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing with you what God is doing because of your support for me. I feel that it is unfair of me to neglect in constantly sharing with you what I am experiencing since you are just as much a part of this as I am.  So please forgive me for my previous lack of communication, I am going to try to do much better this year.

            I arrived in Cairo, Egypt on the second of January after a very restful time home. I was also very excited to get back to my other home that is my school family. The first few days the airlines lost my bag, but I heard many of you where praying and 2 days after my arrival at 3 am my friend John Paul was awakened to pounding on the door . . . and the arrival of my bag! We have spent the past few days adjusting to the culture and the new time zone. Friday morning we where able to go to the camel market, it was very interesting to see. It was the beginning to see a large part of the culture here in Egypt. For the most part the people where very friendly. My friend Morgan and I where invited in for tea, and we where both offered five camels for a hand in marriage . . . . We now pretend we have doting husbands awaiting us at home.

            The next day we all piled into two vans and headed off to see the pyramids and Garbage city. The pyramids where interesting enough, considering they where built thousands and thousands of years ago. But what I really enjoyed was Garbage city. This large area of Cairo, is where all the garbage of the city is taken and sorted. The streets are lined with bags and bags of garbage. But the people are very proud of what they do. At first I was not excited at the prospect of visiting this place because the smell is not pleasant. But as I walked around with my friend Ellie, my heart felt warmed to these people. Not long after we had walked we where quickly invited into a house of two young women and their children. Their smiling faces as the talked to us excitedly in Arabic, as if we may understand.

    Grandmother, baking bread in a small house in Garbage City.

As they ushered us into their house there was a lady making bread in the stove, but they quickly led me into the adjoining room where there was a young girl on the bed with a broken leg. We were given permission to pray for the healing of this young girl Amira. Although with the language barrier we where not quite sure they fully understood what we where doing. But shortly after we prayed, they took out these large posters of paintings of Jesus and marry, and where pointing and trying to explain to us.

Garbage city is largely made up of Coptic Christians. A religion I don’t fully understand, but I think it is a lot like the orthodox religion. I do not know what their full understanding of Jesus is, but I think they did understand our prayers. After leaving this small flat in Garbage city with giant pieces of bread, I felt extremely blessed by their hospitality and a love for the people of this city. I hope to have a opportunity to return to this city and revisit that family.

Young Christina saying goodbye in Garbage City. 

Tomorrow we begin school, a week on the Pentateuch. The last of our school is finally arriving and we are ready to hit our studies again. You can continue to pray for the finances, as several members of our school are in great need. As well as God will have divine appointments with every person we come across. I am very excited to see what will happen this month.