Friday, August 27, 2010- Although a little late!

Less than a week in Egypt and I can already pretty much get around Maadi, which is the I live in. I still have not been to my school but I hope that I will get to visit on Sunday, which is the beginning of the work week here. I think I am finally getting on a regular schedule. I am waking up at a semi- normal time and getting hungry for dinner at 6ish rather than 9:30pm! Today I went to a place called CSA today which is a place expats can go for help, classes, coffee and to workout. They also have free wifi, which is one of the reasons I went, plus I wanted to explore more. Jenna had to go to work so I walked with her there and after spending some time at CSA, I caught a taxi and went down to road 9 to try to get a cell phone again today. I tried yesterday but I didn't have my passport so I had to wait. Cell phone minutes here are different than in the states. You get little scratch cards and when the minutes run out you go buy another scratch card. Well I got the phone and a new card, got back and it didn't work. So I will traveling back to Mobinil again tomorrow for a third try at a working cell phone! It is a good thing that I have not got lost because I would have no way of calling my roommate to ask her how to get home but it has all worked out. She is surprised that I have done so much and went out on my own after only being here for a short time.

This evening I got to experience my first international church service at MCC. If we were new, we had to stand up and say what country we were from. There were several visitors and they were from all over. Kenya, Holland, Australia, and Ireland (yes Suz, Ireland!) just to name a few. There are so many nationalities represented in Egypt! I have met so many people! The worship, the sermon and the fellowship was fantastic. I was almost in tears after the first song because I was so overwhelmed and overcome with joy that the Father had led me to a group of believers in this new land. It will definitely help when there are hard times and also in times of joy and celebration. After church I went to my roommates uncles house who had a group of people over doing the draft for fantasy football and then we went to a game night filled with high school students. The people I was hanging out with are young adult church staff and they went to game night not only to have fun but for mentor opportunities too. I have been here less than a week and so many opportunities have been presented. From places to serve in the community (orphanages, refugee schools, to tutoring public schools here), places to serve in the church and also a great group of people to stand by me and help me when I need it. Not to mention the staff, parents and students that I have not met yet to be an influence on. My roommate and I have also kind of started talking about maybe doing something with all the children who live on our street, there are a ton! We both have a heart for children.

I am trying to keep in the front part of my mind to stay balanced and not go forward with to many things too fast. There is so much to do here and so many different ways to work with kids outside of school but I need to remember that I am here for the long haul and not to burn myself out like I have in the past. I need an equal balance of time with the Father, serving, time with friends, time for my job and a time to rest (which I am the worst at!) Pr for the many opportunities that are ahead. And pr that I keep my life in balance and do not become so busy that I will burn myself out. Thanks for reading. I miss all of you :-)