Single for four more days

Well it is almost midnight here in Oregon and of course I can't sleep, a combination of wedding jitters and late nights. My family and are staying with an older couple that own this HUGE mansion....probably could feel half of cairo for a month. We are blessed to be living here and they have been really generous....but consumer America has hit me across the face and Im having a hard time knowing how to react. Wealth is easy to enjoy, but is it right?
Wedding plans are going well, it should be a beautiful day with many of our family and friends. I am sad that you mespers won't be there and the hafla will be less fun without you guys but it will go on! I miss you guys a lot.
I guess the reality hit me that I am getting married. It really hit me at my bridal shower this past weekend when the guests left and told me, "oh Emily well this time next week you will be a married woman." I had just recieved a million kitchen things that I am not really sure what they all do, and was surrounded by all these married people...and lets just say that the weight of responsibility fell on my shoulders all of a sudden. Oh don't worry I am not getting cold feet, but the reality that Emily Condie is becoming Emily Christensen in a short four days....is hard to believe. I don't really feel that different inside, yet everyone calls me bride and bussles around in a flurry of activities. Kind of like some magical will happen on June fourth and I will be transformed into a WIFE. Kind of like on your birthday and people say well how does it feel to be a year older and you look at them dumb-founded and say, "well feels the same way as five minutes ago." They look at you disapointed and walk away.
The wedding day will feel sureal I think.....but being married to Brad sounds sweet to me. We are ready to stop saying goodnight and leaving each others houses and are ready to begin this adventure of marriage. I feel like I have been back from Cairo for a million years and yet some days I feel like I am going back in August to start another semester. Finding a job has been a bit depressing, because I think I had some unrealistic ideas that I would get off the plane in OR and employers of great places would be offering me jobs :-) I have a hard time taking rejection from places and will start for real job searching when I get back from the honeymoon. I am actually going on a vacation by myself WITH A BOY....and I am not having to hide it from my parents! It is so weird that after a one hour ceremony everything that was NOT OK becomes ok :-)
Ok I am starting to ramble. Thanks for all the good memories MESPers, I think about you guys often, probably more than you think.
I will write when I get back from my honeymoon. love you all!

Sorry Marcia

I would love to attend a hafla in Des Moines, but i already committed to a bike ride to the nearest town for breakfast with my family and some friends from church. However, i could leave by noon and get to Des Moines by 4 pm!!! As impulsive as i would love to be, it isn't going to work this time...sorry:( the good news, however, is that i will most likely be heading up to the twin cities sometime before june 14 (or 21, i'm not sure). if anyone else wants to meet up while i'm there i would be obliged.
In other news, i'm excited for many reasons, but three specifically today:
1) I can wiggle my toes
2) tomorrow is a day off!
3) i get to go to work on tuesday and it's hay time!!!
i understand that this probably does not excite most of you, but the hay (alfalfa) is ready to be harvested (for one out of four times this summer). This means a few long, wonderful days of hard work, good food, tractor driving, and great sunsets while in the field.
I'll spare you anymore rambling until next time
later,
ANdrew

P.S. After days of searching, the little boy has not yet been found. On Thursday there was a memorial (funeral) service for him and today was a tough sunday, but God's grace is amazing.

P.S.

If you're coming to my house call my cell phone: 515-371-0627 for directions or mapquest me. 14072 Lakeview Dr. Clive Iowa.

Am I being ridiculous?

Also, there is a slight decrepancy (to my advantage) between the grades the CCCU sent me and the grades Taylor posted on my transcript. Anyone else? Do I need to say something? It's with my Arabic grade. Oh, Nahid that crazy turban wearing woman.

Life After MESP

So, I've been back in America for exactly eleven days now and home in Iowa for a little less than that. It feels like I've been home for a lot longer than though. I've been enjoying myself, looking for a job, hanging out with my family, and seeing friends. The past few days have been consumed with graduation frenzy. Mark graduated yesterday and the big celebration is tomorrow morning. Now, I should've of thought of this earlier, but I'm really not kidding. Ulasich, Corrine, Cecka, Margaret, Kroeze you should come to the party I promise it would be worth it. Honestly, there's nothing quite like a hafla thrown by a bunch of Egyptians. Its not that far--like taking the train to Alexandria from Cairo and not even comparable to the drive to Siwa. My professional opinion is that you need a little Memorial Day adventure.

So, Barrett was right his little disposable camera's did turn out really well, and I regret making fun of him all semester as I wade through thousands of pictures. How's that "virtual tour" going for you Denny? Currently, I am slightly fixated on the this scrapbook that I have in my head. We'll just wait and see how it turns out in reality. I'm always a lot more creative and talented in my brain than I am in real life.

Following in the footsteps of Claire I've been doing a lot of reading, just because--it's been such a long time since I've had time to do that. Anyway, I read this book that I think is helpful coming off of MESP I actually borrowed it from Ulasich and I know that Steve has read it too. Anyway, its called "A New Kind of Christian" by Brian McLaren. It addresses the shift from modernity to post-modernity that Jim Wright talked about and discusses a lot of things that came up during our semester. Its not very well written, but I found it useful in helping me produce more coherent thoughts. I guess its a little bit controversial--so there's my disclaimer. Find a copy--tell me what you think.

In highschool when any of my girlfriends were being critical of someone or something I would tell her that she was in critical corner. I think I'm stuck in critical corner. I went to my home church for the first time this morning and I had a really hard time. The contemporary, well-packaged, middle American, suburban church just really rubbed me the wrong way. I'm struggling to find a balance between critical corner and complacency. I don't want to forget the reasons why my church and this Christianity of the affluent make me uncomfortable, but at the same time this is where I am and I need to enter into that as well. So right now I find myself in a stalemate, not exactly sure in which direction to move in order to find a solution. I'll keep you updated.

Can you believe Emily's wedding is in less than a week? I feel like I've been looking forward to it all semester. No vehicle was found for us to roadtrip out there from the Midwest, so I suppose the show will go on without us. I wish I could be there to see her in her strapless dress wedding glory. Can you just imagine?

Gosh, I miss you all. I must go now I have a very pressing errand to run. I am in charge of picking up the balloons for tomorrow. A very important job you know. I love you. Hope to see some of you tomorrow. You're an impulsive bunch. See you on the flipside. MMG.

STAR WARS: Episode III spawns a mini-MESP reunion

So, finally I've successfully posted these pictures from last week, from opening night of Star Wars. We ended up being first in line for the midnight showing, due to our own dedication (read: craziness) and a rather dispassionate crowd on the Cape.

Heather and Chris came down to wait with my sister Tiffany and me for insanely long periods of time in the Cape Cod Mall cinema. There we played board games, got mesmorized by the continual looping of televised advertisements in the lobby, and took turns strolling the 12ft. mall to eat Thai and look at the caged puppies in Debbie's petland. twice.

Eventually we met up with Mr. Paul Case and friend. The six of us sat together (with no popcorn!) for what was, in my opinion, the only good movie of the three prequels.

Sadly, the attatched pictures do not contain Paul or his abovementioned friend, as they did not sleep over the next day, which is when the photos were taken. Since the movie was a midnight showing, we were all too tired at 3:00am for a group pic.

I'll let Chris describe what he will of the details, just wanted to give a background explaination for the pictures. We had a good time that day, at the dinner table with my Mom, and the next day when Tiffany and I gave Heather and Chris an abbreviated tour of Cape Cod. It was good to look at Heather's hard copy pics (unlike Kip, I hate technology) and use Englabic (English peppered with Arabic words/phrases) without having to translate. I think my family must have enjoyed hearing stories about you all that were a multi-way conversation rather than a monologue.

So. Four MESPers in one location within the United States. I challenge the Midwesterners to beat that.

:o)

with love,
Chels

The travesty is that I didn't take the flash off of my camera in time.

The fortunate part is that in a small way this manages to immortalize the moment when Chris took down a man (twice-and-a-half his age) in front of the whole theater as we waited for the movie to begin. People were yelling "go Luke!" because Chris was wearing Jedi garb. (incongrously, he has the red saber)

"It's over Chris...I have the higher ground!"
~ Chelsi-Wan-Kenobi

(I defy gravity in a mid-air saber attack on young Jedi Knight Micklewright. Anyone surprised to see us dueling?)

Jedi Knight Chris and Senator Morrison team up to defeat the Evil forces of Chancellor Clarke. and in her own front yard, ouch!

Gracing the beaches of Cape Cod with our majestic selves. aka...goofing off near Chelsea's house the afternoon following the midnight movie.

prayer

i tried to post this earlier, but it hasn't showed up yet; so if there ends up being two posts about this by me, please forgive me...
if i may, i would like to humbly ask for all of you to pray for the family of a 4 year old boy who has not been found yet. He and he dad and sisters were fishing a small creek outside of town when suddenly he was gone. we have been searching yesterday afternoon and all day today but have found nothing. I'm not really sure what to ask you to pray for, but the family and our community need many. The body has not been found and i'm heading out there again tonight in hopes of some sign. Everything from divers to tracking dogs are being used to no avail. Despite this, God is good-this morning there were 500+ volunteers (on a monday morning) ready to search all day and we had to turn others away. Many places have donated tons of food and water for everyone along with many other needs that have been met. That's all i have to say right now.
thanks,
ANdrew

prayer

hey ya'll,
if you could all pray for my community that would be great.
a 4 year old boy from my church was missing yesterday afternoon. he was with his family by a creek fishing and hanging out when suddenly he was gone. we spent last night and all day today looking in the river, it's banks, and surrounding areas looking for him. it has turned into a very large search party. i am amazed that we have had to turn away volunteers. this morning at 7 am there were 500 or so people helping and that was enough. it is amazing to see how our community has provided food, water, excavators, prayer etc. for this whole thing. so anyhow, that's the short story and we could use some prayer.
thanks
ANdrew

small town newspaper

i was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper when i realized how much each of you (even margaret) would laugh at the stuff i was reading. There were many times when i tried to explain to you all what small town life is like and then i would get responses from people like Amber saying her town is small with a measly 70,000 people (or something like that). anyhow, i was enjoying my read through the paper and there was one article that i found extra-funny and i thought, "I have to share this with my old MESP buddies; they'll find it hilarious" (yes, i said that to my mother)...without further adoo (sp?), here is only one (i'm sorry) article from my town paper:

Cars damaged
ORANGE CITY-Two cars were slightly damaged in an accident in Orange City on Friday afternoon, May 6. No injuries were reported. Kirk C. Vande Zandschulp of Orange City was driving a 1990 Ford Pickup in the parking lot of Dutch Mart near Albany Avenue. Philips backed into a parked, unattended 2000 Pontiac four door driven by Rebecca Van De Griend of Orange City. Each car sustained approximately $700 in damages.
(All names were changed to protect identity :)

Exciting eh? After reading that i went on to read the list of traffic tickets issued in my entire county. Yep, every single one from seat belt tickets to speeding tickets to "permit unauthorized person to drive" tickets
THE END

From A Far...

Funny that the date on the last post is the 20th, when here in good ol' rainy WA it is still only the 19th. one more reminder of how far apart we are. and a reminder of the last remaining hours of my youth - tomorrow I officially become 21 and must mature. Momkin I will make sahlab.
Thanks for all your blogs - its great to hear from you all. And I would like to reinforce Lindsay's plead for people to come to Emily's wedding. I'm planning on being there, and with Lindsay and I, what else do people need for a haifla? It will be great fun. Pardon's are given to those out of the country.
Life has been .... going here. I went back to work about 4 days after I got back to America and haven't stopped since. Yesterday we poured cement, today we built steps and put on siding in the rain. Oh the joys of the Pacific NW!
Well, I'm going to sign off for now. Catch ya later

bethany

Goodbye Egypt

I suppose this post is long in coming. I apologize for my delinquency. I've enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts. So thanks to for that.

I spent my last night in Egypt in Agouza after putting Claire in a taxi at 2:30 am. There were a couple roach sighting--I was going to sleep in Margaret's bed but the pests have managed to penetrate to that room as well. One of our special friends also made a guest appearance in my suitcase. Sick. It was strange to be alone in the flat. I'm not sure that I understand that I am back in America. Everything feel familiar and yet novel at the same time. Saying goodbye to Barrett at JFK had such a sense of finality. Like the final breaking of the fellowship.

This morning I went out to get milk before breakfast so that I could enjoy a bowl of Luck Charms. As I pulled out of my driveway at tractor drove by and I knew I was home. Secondly, I turned on the radio to my favorite country station and the song that was playing was that one about how the artist "likes his women a little on the trashy side."

Tomorrow I'm going to Indiana for the weekend to see my friends before they spread across the country for the summer. Not much else to report. I'm feeling sleepy. I'm out. I love you each.

Peace in the Middle East.

P.S. Margaret--there's a spell check on the tool bar where you compose your blog. Welcome to the age of technology, no one can spell.

shorts and a sweatervest

The perfect outfit! Today as Kate, my student supervisor, pulled our old, brown, decrepit full-size van that starts one out of three times into our parking space at the end of a hard day of cleaning dorm-room carpets, we saw one of our favorite (well, favorite is subjective) history professors named Dr. Sewell standing outside the classroom building wearing none other than a sweatervest and shorts combination! My friend Sarah said, "that made my day." And it made mine as well. Dr. Sewell is from Australia, and he brings a bottle of water to class every day--never failing to joke that no, it is not vodka.

Andrew U, thanks for reminding me about the MCC/Spectra guy. I giggled. And his friend was so effiminate! I'm giggling just thinking about him. (Man, my spelling sucks--I keep having to check how to spell things.)

You Guys Goin' to Spectra?

Hey team. I'd like to thank Andrew K (Drewburger) for paving the way to posting boring, mundane things. As many of you know from my recent posts or emails, I don't really have anything to do around here except sit around and wait for emails or blog posts from my beloved MESPers (i.e. feel free to email me). Hopefully my schedule will pick up soon. Until then, I will post the mundane, or the small happenings in my day.

I don't remember how it came up, but as I was baking cookies with my mom (I'm so domestic) I started thinking of our friend from church. Some of you will remember our large-biceped, small-headed, Canadian friend from Maadi Community Church who we would regularly see at Spectra. I think my favorite memory of him was when we saw him across the street after church and he yelled to us in a very effeminate voice, "You guys going to Spectra?" We yelled back "yep" as we watched his short shirt lift up to reveal his rippling six-pack. To this our friend yelled back, "Ditto!" We turned and continued walking, with astonishment on our faces, wondering about this unique man who, multiple times, held awkward conversations with us while we devoured Brownies on Ice. And today he makes me smile. I hope the memory of him makes you smile too... Almost as much as our Japanese friend in Turkey. Man, some people are just so funny, it's beautiful.

the way i feel

i feel like i really have no need to post anything, but i'm sitting here after a long day of working and i don't feel like doing anything else. i was thinking about how we all seem to think we can only post things that are exciting or new on this blog...I'm here to change that i guess:)
as much as i love reading everyone's crazy stories, i also thoroughly enjoy reading what everyone is up to in your NOT mundane lives. These blog things excite me and i tend to log on often only to find no one has posted. This is fine, but i will warn you that i will post stupid, not funny, nominal things (like i'm doing right now) just to feel that special, cute, psudo flamboiant connection with everyone again :)
so come on! post anything so i don't have to???
that's all i have to say about that (whatever "that" was)...

P.S. the best part about blogs is that no one can really tell us (except in writing) what to write about OR how pointless and stupid our ramblings are...i'm going to go eat my last borio

The BEST story

well well well,
its me, finally coming of age in the age of technology, also to the age of so-called reason after slurping up aged yogurt one fine summer's day in my kitchen. hey, and I'm 21 years of age as of May 10th. AGE. okay, I'm done.

well this is Lindsay. I've been a little slow getting onto the blog site but now that I've made it here, I've read almost every blog and its been better than my first night in the states when I got to eat a bean, rice, and cheese burrito from my favorite hole-in-the-wall Taqueria! so thanks y'all for the great stories and memories, its been a walk down memory lane today. (awww)

Contrary to my headline, I don't really have the best story of all.. unless you want to hear about the unfolding adventures of my life thus far... cause truly, they make one heck of a good story called Lindsay. okay maybe not today. well I'm back in Newberg having spent a week at home in Bend kinda just chillin at my house and watching my mountains. :) Now I'm back in the thriving metropolis of Newberg (which isin't really thriving at all), sleeping on my friend's floor, searching for jobs. Yeah, I applied at Home Depot (who knew you didn't pronounce the t? :)) and GI Joes and those are really the only two places I've had luck in finding availability. so if you are coming to Oregon for a job... don't.
But yeah, life is good. oh yeah, Sharm al Sheikh was awesome! you know, the clear blue water and amazing coral life, don't forget that hot sun, and imprinted upon my mind were the European men laying in sun chairs with their topless girlfriends on top of them. AHH!! yeah, that was a bit of a shocker for my Muslim-accustomed eyes.

I have one announcement: everyone should come to the wedding. why? because you have free housing! and I'm planning on making either Baleela or Kosheri... or maybe both.. and Sahlab. yeah, so if thats not a bribe, I don't know what is. ha! turns out I'm moving into my house on June 1st, and so there might still be a few boxes lying around, but I'll try and take care of that before ya'll get here. I hope everyone is enjoying the States. I find that I don't want to be by myself all that much. amyone else get that feeling? alright, lates.

Lindsay (skitz1416)

p.s. hey, um, maybe we should start a list of IM names? just wondering if anyone else is a computer nerd like me, and likes to talk on IM with people. k, for real, bye.

American Dogs and Egyptian Men

Well, I consider myself duly chastized by Andrew U. Sorry. To tell you the thruth, I've been collecting things in my head that I want to write on here, but my things are like a mere picture representation of a spectacular fireworks show in comparison to the fabulous real-life fireworks experiences that I read about in your stories about Israel and other such exciting travels. So since this blog is obviously a competition to see who has the best story, I have neglected to post thus far because my stories will probalby lose sadly.

But I have been making a list of things I've noticed--world traveler returning home, as I am. Here goes:
1. American dogs are a little like Egyptian men. Think about it: they have nothing to do, so they sit in their cages or in their tea shops all day, paying special attention to any strange person who walks by. In the case of Eygptian men, they seem to especially appreciate American girls. In the case of American dogs, they bark loudly and try to jump on you. I'm not sure if the dogs discriminate according to gender or nationality.
2. Large groups of white people make me nervous. After puzzling about this strange phenomenon for a while, I deduced that it must be because I can now understand all the silly conversations going on around me. After four months in an Arabic speaking country, my little ears perk up at the sound of English, and so I am forced to pay attention to all the conversations going on around me--thus my anxiety.
3. The houses are stinking huge here! And there are these huge spaces around them! I think they call them yards . . . .

Hope that placates you at least for a little while, Andrew. I apologize for not posting much before now. (Refer to my excuse at the top of the page.) Things are going well. I'm working for Dordt--cleaning dorm rooms right now. I'm pretty sure it's not what I want to do with the rest of my life though--good thing I almost have my B.A. I looked inside my diploma folder at graduation only to find rather than a diploma signed by president Carl Zylstra, a note saying that I must return the folder immediately after convocation, and that my diploma will be mailed to me when I complete my program (student teaching.) I was so close! Those secretary people--you can't put anything past them.

Ma Salama

What you've all been waiting for . . .

I KNOW you're all eager to read more about the "bitter searching of our hearts" so here it is ( just think of all those women singing "aahh" while you read) :

"Villanelle For Our Time" - Leonard Cohen

From bitter searching of the heart,
Quickened with passion and with pain
We rise to play a greater part.
This is the faith from which we start:
Men shall know commonwealth again
From bitter searching of the heart.
We loved the easy and the smart,
But now, with keener hand and brain,
We rise to play a greater part.
The lesser loyalties depart,
And neither race nor creed remain
From bitter searching of the heart.
Not steering by the venal chart
That tricked the mass for private gain,
We rise to play a greater part.
Reshaping narrow law and art
Whose symbols are the millions slain,
From bitter searching of the heart
We rise to play a greater part.

Cheers (you can all thank me later . . .) :)
-Dena

Oh Canada

I want to say "thanks" to you too, Cecka - you're amazing at making us all feel loved! To the rest of you, I hope you know that even if I haven't posted/emailed/everything else very much, I'm still thinking about you - one of the first things I did when I got home today was make my mom sit down and look at our group picture so I could tell her about all of you:)

I'm finally back in Canada - it's been a long trip home! My adventures started at JFK, where some man kept persistently trying to make me take his taxi to La Guardia (oh memories of Egypt) - at first I was just being nice and politely telling him that I already had a bus ticket, but after he asked whether or not I was over 18 (because he said he "just had to make sure") I decided he was pretty much a loser. One of the airport guys who had told me where to catch the bus seemed on the verge of "rescuing" me from what he called a "hustler" - I should have told him that after being in Egypt I wasn't going to fall for sweet-talking men (yeah,yeah, Barret and Andrew K, I know you're probably thinking "whatever" after the incident with the freaky man on the bus in Jerusalem, but this was different!).

Anyways, after flying to Chicago and catching my connection to Omaha, Nebraska, I sat next to a man on the plane whose grandpa was from Lebanon - although the only Arabic he knew was "keyfak", it was still really, really great to sit next to someone who knew at least a little about the Middle East (he was even a member of what used to be called the Syrian Orthodox Church): one of God's little blessings when I was feeling really sad and tired about leaving Egypt (and about not really having slept for 2 nights straight). After dozing in and out for a little while, I was woken up by the Lebanese guy saying "look at the light show outside the window" - the lightning was crazy, probably the craziest I've ever seen it. From up in the air it looked like every streak was hitting the ground. After watching for awhile I fell asleep again and woke up to some intense turbulence (it felt like a roller coaster). The guy next to me looked like he was praying pretty seriously and although I tried to pray too, I was suffering from a lot of jet lag and yup, I fell asleep again (some of the people on the flight later said that they were afraid for their lives - maybe I should've been, but I'm not that dramatic). To make a long story short, we couldn't land in Omaha because of storms and tornado warnings and instead got rerouted to Cedar Rapids, Iowa (where the airport was already closed). After a big ordeal with people yelling and swearing about being "stranded", they put us in a hotel for free (although I only got about 3 hours of sleep because we weren't there long). I called my 3 roommates who had come to pick me up and they told me that they had decided to sleep in the airport to wait for me rather than drive the 2 1/2 hours back to Sioux Center - I have really amazing friends :)

After hanging out for a few days in Sioux Center (and getting to have wonderful sahlab with Margaret and Andrew K), I took a bus back to Edmonton - it was a long ride, but I figured that after all the time we've spent on buses in the last 4 months, a few more days wouldn't kill me. Once we got into Canada it was strange to be sitting with a bunch of people who were neither American or Egyptian - and after Egyptian and Israeli bus drivers, these drivers were pretty dang slow. I got to see a lot of prairie, and a lot of trees - just doesn't match the desert. However, I got a great "deja-vu" of the middle east this morning when I was sitting in a little middle-of-nowhere town in the middle of the Alberta prairie and watched as a tank rolled by through the streets. Who would've thought I'd see such a strangely familiar site (I'm thinking of border crossings in the ME) in a country that barely has a military . . .

I've been home now for about 5 hours and it's been great to see my family although I've got one sister in Greece, and I'm waiting for the other one to get back from work. I still haven't "settled" into life yet so I don't really know how it feels - it's strangely normal to be back home and "normal" is probably what I'm most afraid of. I still want to use our strange mixture of Arabic and English and it's weird to think that everyone around me doesn't know what a "higab" or "falafel" is. When my mom was driving me home from the bus station I saw a woman wearing a higab walk into a restaurant - I was excited to point it out to my mom.

Anyways, that's about enough for now - my life has been "in transit" for the past week or so and now I'll have to see where it goes from here . . .
As for Survivor: Agouza, I'm going to have to jump on the bandwagon and vote for Marcia - after all the debating she had to do with some Israelis/Palestinians to convince them that she was Egyptian and not Indian, I think she deserves it (that, and the fact that she survived getting hit in the face by a tomato) :) BUT, I am still waiting for Marcia (who was the first person to tell me what a blog actually was) to post something on here - I can't really vote for her if I don't even know if she's alive . . .

Hope that all's well wherever you are - Josiah, can you be a little more specific about the missile? I mean, the way you wrote that Hizbollah fired a missile at your kibbutz is the same way someone would write about the weather . . .

Cheers to you all . . .

Props to Cecka

for her faithful blogging and comments on others' blogs, as well as emails updating us all on the situation in our beloved Middle East, not to mention phone calls to me and other MESPers.

I'm a little disappointed in some of you, though, who I have yet to hear much of anything from. I mean, come on, are Cecka and I the only ones sitting around doing nothing? I guess I need a life. And a job. About that....

So, I raise my coke can to Cecka and thank her for her incredible encouragement even after the semester is over. Thanks Cecka.

Josiah with our favorite German speaking Serb, Amanda, who was such a big part of our Tobasco hostel experience, I couldn't not post her.  

Barrett with some wild Christians on the Via Delarosa on the Orthodox Good Friday 

Jeru Crew 2 (Barrett- why are you always squinting or blinking in pictures?) 

Jeru Crew 1 - in the wonderful Tobasco (Hebron) hostel of the Old City

how bout some normal life :)

well ya'll, i haven't been to work yet. spent the last few days trying to explain to my body that it's supposed to sleep when i lay in my bed-NOT when i'm walking around. i think we've finally got this problem solved. I don't like sitting around when there's so much i could be doing, so in these past few days i have already begun to work on vehicles :) ...i couldn't help myself. today i mowed the lawn in a winter jacket and stocking cap (touque for you canadians). it has been cold and rainy (almost snow) which isn't much fun (i was expecting summer!). However, the rain has postponed planting season so i have made it back in time to plant beans! this obviously does not excite any of you, i know.
finally, though i understand most-if not all-of you cannot (or do not wish to) come to iowa, BUT this coming thursday, friday, and saturday is the Tulip Festival and Orange City will be hopping! you are all invited then or any time. on top of this invitation, (especially for Barret:) anyone can come and ride in a tractor or combine with me.

Josiah, any idea why the missles were aimed at your kibbutz? how do they know this? do you get to carry any weapons?

so long,
ANdrew

Survivor: Agouza

Calling all MESPers, your vote counts...
So, as Marcia and I have had the past few days to hang out and talk in beautiful Ain Sukhna on the Red Sea (welcome to Ghali family vacation), we have decided that she and I are the last contenders in Survivor:Agouza, and we need you to vote on who wins.

I know what you're thinking: what about Josiah and Barrett, aren't they still in that part of the world? Well, we're not including them in this final decision because Marcia intends to push Barrett onto the plane before her (thus maintaining her "longevity" argument, as you'll see below), and we've determined that in Josiah's and our minds, he's moved on to something completely different, although no less exciting, and therefore has moved on from the competition. Now to the closing arguments:

Marcia says that Survivor is all about longevity, and since she will be the last MESPer to leave Egypt, she should win. Technically, she will be the last MESPer to leave Egypt. However, I am appealing to be considered over her for this prestigious honor based on the fact that I have spent more actual time in Cairo, having come back from Greece on May 2nd, spending two days by myself, and then sticking around for the subsequent departures of Lindsay, Dena, Andrew K, Steve, and Andrew U. She came back on May 8th, and has since been with her family, not staying in Agouza. I have been in Agouza, inhabiting both girls' flats, as flat 5 has a better kitchen but all my stuff (and the squeegy shower) are in flat 2.

So its up to you! Should The Survivor be the person who steps onto the plane from Egypt last, or the person who actually spent the most time there of anyone??? Your vote counts!!!

FYI

Seeing as I am alone in Cairo (is that possible in this city?), I figured I would post another blog before I head to the airport in a couple hours. Just to let you all know, some of us (Marcia, Barrett and I - and maybe others) have other blogs that we post on, whether they be group or individual. If you're interested in reading those you can look to the right of our blog, click on the name of the person you want to see, and click on a blog that they are a member of. I know that for Marcia and I you'll be able to read all that we wrote about you (and our experience in Egypt)this semester. I also plan to keep posting my thoughts and life experiences if you're ever interested in reading them. Any questions? Let me know.

Well, I took one last walk down the cornish (I'm horrible at these transliterations) tonight and said goodbye. Catch y'all on the flip side.

Andrew

Stop lights, drinking fountains, bathroom, and lightning

i'm sure you all thought we were going to play the "one of these things is not like the other..." game, but i'm sorry to disappoint you. i am happy and proud (i guess?) to say that i am back in good old Orange City, Iowa. It was kind of a three day trip from northern Israel to hear with a lay over in Cairo; but i made it and couldn't be better. I definitely miss Agouza, but as i look outside at the superbly green (if something can be superbly and color?) grass and tilled fields i can only count my blessings.

With all of my travels, as i'm sure you've all experienced, i think i calculated about 46 hours of no sleep. However, when i got home i couldn't wait to look at all the little trinkets i had purchased in Egypt :) Thankfully, i didn't have to work today and slept in (as if you all needed to know that...?)

Here are a few of the "oddities" i noticed when i flew in (this is copied and pasted from an email i just sent, so forgive me for the repeated parts, longevity, and "non-MESP" audience. i don't feel like retyping it :)

After a nearly three day trip from Tiberius to Jeursalem to Taba to Elat to Cairo (all bus) to Frankfurt to New York to Detroit to Omaha (airplane) to hug my parents and brother and then on to Orange City (by car), I am not as tired as i thought i would be. One good night's sleep and i am swell.
There are many "oddities" that i notice about this country of mine. After exiting JFK airport, i looked and saw no cars coming, and proceeded to cross the road. However, out of the corner of my eye I saw a man waiting...i realized he was waiting for the walking light to change and then i realized that there were stop lights on this road and then i realized that i had to obey them again. In Cairo few of the stop lights are used. They exist, but are dark and non-functional. As i walked through the next airport i ran across a drinking fountain (actually two next to each other). I took a drink and had an epiphany! I no longer had to pay for water and could drink anytime i wish. This greatly upped my already excited spirits. I possibly overused the drinking fountain (if this is possible) and thus had to go to the bathroom (normal, i think). I was easily pleased when i remembered how numerous, FREE, and clean the bathrooms in this country are (yes, even those at roadside gas stations:)
Finally, not to imply that these are the ONLY four oddities i am acutely enjoying, i was honored to have a near front seat to an amazing lightning show on the way home from the airport. God is good. The irony is that one of the many things i was excited to see in Iowa again was (is) the thunderstorms...it was a great day to be home.
My parents treated me to an 11 pm breakfast at the Sioux City Perkins where i enjoyed a tremendous 12. Four hearty blueberry pancakes (YES!), 4 over easy eggs, and four strips of bacon...I cannot explain to you how superbly delicious it all was. I must also say that i did not finish it on my own...you may be thinking, "What? he couldn't finish that bit of food?" You're thinking correctly. I have found that my stomach has shrunk over these past two weeks. This is due to my Israel trip. We ate bread and peanut butter in the morning and falafel sandwiches at night. Two smaller meals a day :) except for one day we splurged and ate Thai food (very good by the way). Needless to say, while i could have finished the tremendous 12, i was full before i was finished. I'd like to think i could always eat this little, but i'm afraid this will not be.

The Fellowship is Broken

Three days ago the Jeru crew saw Dena and Andrew K off at the bus station. Two days ago we dropped Marcia and Monica off at the airport, and today the remaining three travelers in Israel split ways. Josiah headed to his kibbutz, Barrett went to visit a friend in Haifa, and I returned to Cairo.

The drive to Elait was rather uneventful. With only an hour to get to the border, cross the border and get to the bus station for the 12:30 bus to Cairo, I hurried a taxi driver to the border, expecting a swift passage through. Much to my dismay, though, I arrived just after hundreds of Polish people. I am convinced that if I was there just two minutes earlier, things would have been different. Instead, I stood in line behind many-a confused Europeans. Reaching the bus station at 1:10, I was thoroughly excited to wait 3 1/2 hours for the next bus- well, I guess it wouldn't have been my first choice. But that was my only option. So, I took the later bus and enjoyed (more like loathed) two exciting (ridiculous) arabic movies and always fantastic (ear-piercing) arabic music along the way. Thankful to be out of the bus I walked back from Tahrir, stopped at Naima (maybe not the best transliteration) for some potatas wi ketchup, which satisfied my hunger pangs, and came straight here to Silver Net.

I haven't been to the flat yet, and I can't say I am looking forward to it. Steve won't be there with his humor and always delicious figs. Josiah won't be there studying t he world in our bedroom. A movie is not being watched, nor is a riveting discussion taking place by Barrett, Clinton or Evan. And Kroeze isn't there for yet another sleepover. It was weird to walk the streets knowing that most everyone is gone and I will return to an empty flat. I don't want to be there without my boys. So, pretty much, I'm feeling kind of sucky. It was good to see Naima and the guys at the bakery, but I'm feeling rather lonely - man, I haven't even been here 2 hours.

Anyway, Marcia and Claire are in this country somewhere, and I'm determined to find them. I'll probably visit Diaa at MESP tomorrow.

Tangent: Yesterday, Josiah, Barrett and I had the privilege of spending a day in Israel with none other than Dr. David Holt. It was fantastic to walk around Jerusalem with him, as he gave us information and history on things we had been seeing the past two weeks. After lunch and a walk around the city, we convinced (it didn't take much) Dave to come see Kingdom of Heaven with us. You're probably thinking, "They saw a movie on their last day together in Israel?" Yes we did. And it was fantastic. It was sweet to be able to watch Kingdom of Heaven in the Kingdom of Heaven. To watch crusaders defend Jerusalem, while we stayed at a hostel within those walls. I think we all thought the movie was fantastic, and would highly recommend it.

Well, this is getting long. I leave tomorrow night (actually very early in the morning). I'm sure I'll be at Silver Net again tomorrow, so feel free to email me - I'd love something to do, unless my time is spent tearing up the town with Claire and Marcia. From your favorite neighborhood in Cairo,

Andrew

برنامج دراسات الشرق الاوسط

برنامج دراسات الشرق الاوسط

Okay...MUMKIN this will work but as has been expressed by others, this site is confusing!!

Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers for me about Greece. Things have gotten a lot better, but that could be because I'm back in AGOUZA. Have been for a week, actually. I just decided that it was more important to me to be in a place that was somewhat familiar with people I loved. So, I cut my losses, changed my ticket, and came "home." Let me tell you, it's so nice to be able not only to afford food, but be able to talk to the people who are selling it to you. Also, I've been having a blast hanging out with Lindsay, her Nick for a little while, Dave, Diaa, Carol, two girls who were past-MESPers and on their way to Uganda, this guy Dane who's living and working in the Congo, Dena, Andrew K, and Steve. And Marcia, who I saw for about 2 seconds but I'll see her more in coming days.

Actually, I was supposed to go to Alexandria today with Marcia and the Ghhhhalis but after staying up with Dena, Andrew k, and Steve for their 1 am taxi ride, I must have turned my 6 am alarm off in my sleep and missed the train. Oh, well, plenty to do around Agouza, mumkin going to Tahrir for a few more gifts. Is this wierd for those of you in Amreeka to read? I don't mean to rub things in. Actually, I'm really looking forward to getting home, but this last week in Egypt should be a blast, too.

Well, maa salaama for now. You all are in my thoughts and prayers, and seriously, thank you so much for everyone's support of my wierd adventure/situation/mistake. Well, not a mistake, because Athens was really cool, and if anything it made me realize how much I appreciate Egypt, and I learned a lot. I'll just call it "that time I went to Athens for the weekend." Don't I sound cool. :o)

Faith, hope, love...P in the ME
Clairebelle

Why do all good things have to come to an end?

Ilhamdulillah I finally figured this blog out - I've never done this before (I actually hadn't really heard much about blogs before Marcia Ghali) so I'm hoping it all works.

Well, this is one last message from Cairo from me (I'm sure you'll get a few more from those other MESPers who are still in this area of the world right now). Andrew K and I got back to Cairo yesterday after riding a very hot bus from Taba with crazy movies blaring the whole way (but it was great to be back in Egypt, so I didn't mind too much). Israel was amazing - but I can't believe I'm leaving the Middle East in only a few short hours. Agouza's kind of lonely without all of you (some people seem to think we're the new bunch of MESPers - we're getting more "Welcome to Egypt" in Agouza than usual) - Emily, it was strange to look out our flat window and not see the light on in yours. Things are still like they were when we left except Women's flat 5 has an ant infestation and I hear Flat 2 has had some cockroaches (Lindsay was showing me how she freaked out when she saw them). Steve's been learning lots at Anwar's, and we went for Kosheri with some AUC students today (one from Gordon). Tonight we're going to go to "Margaret and Evan's" church with Steve - one last experience.

Before I go, I have to clear one little story up that was told by the male half of Team Israel/the Israel Crew/whatever it was we were called: Marcia did NOT get lost in Jerusalem!!! (I have to stick up for the girls here). She thought we left without her (even though Monica said she'd never do that) so she just took a taxi back to the hostel. Yeah, I have to admit that when Monica and I were walking around the huge gardens of the museum yelling her name I started to imagine some pretty psycho things, but I still knew deep inside that Marcia and her Egyptian self would be fine (I think it was Barrett who came up with the idea that maybe someone had thought she was Palestinian and had kidnapped her - nothing like crazy ideas like that when you're in a strange city and your friend is missing :).

Anyways, I think Andrew K and Steve and I are leaving this library soon (we barely got into AUC because our cards are expired but after examining our cards for awhile the guards looked at Steve's and said, "Oh, it says June" - when actually it says April 26 - and let us through) :) Nothing like Egypt . . . (for example, right now there are a lot of people yelling and cheering outside the library doors - I think I'll go check it out)

Goodbye from the land of Borios and soldiers and laughter and crazy stories . . .

Praying for (as Margaret and Marcia say) "P in the ME" (and missing all of you)

-Dena

Mar Elias Educational Institutions

So yes my job with MESP is over but the big boss is still sending me stuff to post for you guys to read. what better place to do this than the blogg......especially since the list of all your email addresses is PACKED.

Dear MESP alums:

The following email is a response to my request for a job description for those interested in volunteering at Mar Elias Educational Institutions, the schools founded by Abuna Chacour in the Galilee region of Israel. Marie, Abuna Chacour’s assistant, has provided preliminary information including the email contact below. Those interested should read the information below and contact her in order to follow up on possible volunteer or internship possibilities.
Blessings
David HoltMESP Director

office@m-e-c.org [Marie’s email contact]
Subject: RE: Internship or volunteer description/application process

Dear David,We are in the process of drawing up a volunteer/internship program. It will not be operational until end ?2005. Meanwhile I can answer your questions briefly:
1. Duties for volunteers would be almost solely maintenance and gardening. For those with the appropriate background and skills there may be some work in research with the Peace Center or other MEC department at a later date. This is still being negotiated.
2. Length of stay is dependent on the needs of the institution and on the availability of the volunteer.Our policy recommends a commitment to a maximum initial period of one month at the end of which there is a review to ensure that all is well from both sides. After this the period of service will be extended up to 3 months or in exceptional cases up to 6 or 12 months. Those who come for a few days are regarded as guests, as it is not possible to integrate people into our work schedule within such a short time period.
3. Housing and food is provided for volunteers in our Guest House on campus. Costs are negotiated with the minimum for students on short stay basis being $20 per day. A short stay is considered to be 3 weeks or less. It requires an investment of time from our staff to train volunteers as well as having to meet the high cost of living in Israel, so we do not normally waive this basic fee.
4. An application form and information brochure is emailed to each person who enquires. I hope this will be of some help. We will be posting updated information on our website later in September.

Thanks for your patience as we get ourselves up and running.

BlessingsMarie

Hey guys,

So, here is the story: yesterday we went to the holocaust museum (it was just a bit zionist) and had a great time learning and even talking to an Auschwitz survivor. We walked through basically at our own pace and finished at different times. At the end we found that there were six of us, only we had started with seven. Where was Marcia? We waited for about an hour and then realized we should go looking. Various terrible possibilities raced through our minds, but we figured nobody would be kidnapped at the holocaust museum. so we set out wandering through a giant park calling Marcia's name- but no Marcia was to be found. Monica, with tears in her eyes, begged one of the security officers for help, who proceeded to ask, "What do you want me to do?" We knew we would have to find her on our own. Barrett got on the telephone and called various hostels and the operator (who gave us the wrong number to our own hostel). After about an hour and a half of searching, four of the six of us returned to our hostel to find Marcia lying on the couch leisurely reading and eating candy. Meanwhile, Barrett and Monica (it's okay to pair off in-between sexes here) waited behind in case Marcia would show up. After an hour of no contact with the group, they returned in a taxi to find everyone sitting and eating falafel sandwiches (it had been eight hours since they had eaten and left for the museum). Oh Marcia...

Speaking of food, our meals here have consisted mainly of peanut butter (thanks to Monica) and bread that definitely outdoes Aish. Our dinners have been mostly falafel, trying to keep the budget low. Two nights ago, though, we decided to go out for one fantastic meal. We splurged on Thai food, coca-cola and Carlsberg beer (covenant what?). It was well worth it - although Andrew U realized his distaste for beer -at least Carlsberg. Maybe he'll try other kinds in the future.

A few other highlights have been walking around the Orthodox sector of Jerusalem where boys walk around looking funny with their wonderful hair, seeing Arafat's compound and grave in Ramallah, visiting Berzeit University and chatting with students in the West Bank. We also went to Masada, Jericho, and the Dead Sea again.

When everyone else was in the West Bank, Josiah had an Armenian day. As he had already been to Ramallah and made friends with Arafat, he decided to connect with his fellow bretherin, right here in Jru. He went to the Armenian sector, visited the Armenian Museam, and ate at the Armenian Tavern. He had a great time, but was a little bummed that no other Armenians seemed particularly excited that he was trying to learn about his heritage. Whatever...

Andrew squared, Barrett, and J-stoke... Peace!

Wedding Mania

Hi guys,
Sorry it has taken me so long to write something. Like Clinton I forgot my screen name and have been in wedding details up to my ears. There have been various wedding crises but I am trying to keep unstressed about it as possible. It has been hard not to have a place really to call my own and be living out of suitcases and boxes. I am staying with one of my bridesmaid's parents, my mom and sisters are staying at my aunts house 45 minutes away and Brad is about 15 minutes away in our new flat with most of my stuff....still in boxes :-) I have been driving alot, which has been weird and I don't like it very much after being away from being the driver for so long.
The past week has been a whirlwind. I am still experiencing some culture shock....especially in malls and roads. When I go outside my lungs don't quite know how to handle the sweet clean air in Oregon and drinking tap water freaks me out still (but amazingly I still haven't gotten sick, I have even EATEN SALAD :-).
Brad graduated from George Fox last weekend, it was a beautiful ceremony and I got to hang out with my future parents in law. Brad's sister never showed up to graduation, which really hurt Brad. Please pray that she still will come to the wedding. Brad's parents also helped us move Brad into our new flat. It is so cute and I will send you guys pictures once it is actually unpacked. It is really strange to see all my stuff intermixed with Brad's stuff. We can't wait to be married and we are so glad we decided to do it in June and not wait any longer. Being back with him has been wonderful, as if I never left.
I miss you guys a lot and still find myself counting as I leave a place just to realize that you guys aren't here. It was weird to walk along the streets in Newberg and NOT be able to recognize all of the white people....because in Agouza I know them all! I can't wait to see some of you at the wedding. I have a job interview with Northwest Medical Teams, for their international teams coordinator on the 5th of May, I could use your prayers.
love you all,
Emily

ramblings

Hey guys, I wanted to leave a quick line before I head down to school and have unknown internet access. I guess I haven't written yet because things have been so... normal. Like Chelsea was saying, it's the same house, town, family relations (well, those might have improved a little but it remains to be seen). Over the next week when I visit lots of people who want 30second answers to "How was Egypt" might change things a little bit. One of my goals for this summer, as some of you know, is to make peace with my mother over the little things she does that drive me nuts. I think it's going better than past trips home though its early to tell. I'm riding down to school with my roommate and I'm praying that will go well. I know that she's jealous of me being able to travel when she can't because she's putting herself through school so I have to balance between telling my best friend about the trip and not telling her too much. I hope it goes well. Despite the surrealness of the past semester, you guys are in my thoughts all the time. Claire, remember that the valleys are the places where things grow - it's hard being alone after a whole semester of getting close to people and living in community, but God has a purpose for this time in your life. I am confident that he will complete the good work he has begun in you. I do hope things have gotten better too. Steve, most excellent new verse to the song. Also, in general I'm amused that we all transliterate words differently. :-) I love you guys and therefore I'm going to stop rambling now. In Christ, Heather Joy

Hey there

Well, being back home has been good, and interesting. My sister had her baby the day after I got home, so I am officially an aunt, though I haven't seen the baby yet (they are in CO). Hanging out with family and friends has been really good, and the weathers been nice so I've even gotten to go for a run which felt really good. I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing well - I'm excited to hear more stories from you travelling people, so make sure and keep us posted! Glad to hear you are all safe in Cairo as well. Man, its craziness. However, God is greater.
Time to go make dinner - talk to you all later