News from Donna Ketchum serving EGYPT
Field Address: PO Box 174, Maadi Chiro, Egypt
Send Financial Support to: A/G DFM, 1445 Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802
Insert a Note which includes: Contribution is for Account Number 293271
May to August, 2000 - Newsletter No. 2
SURVIVING THE SUMMER HEAT
As temperatures reach 40 to 45 (that's well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit) life in the overcrowded city of Cairo, Egypt becomes exhausting as the humidity climbs with the temps. The summer heat leads internationals to take furloughs; Egyptian ministries to focus on children's camps by the Mediterranean Sea; upper class Egyptians flocking to their summer homes; and all other nationals trying not to exert too much energy between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. In fact, late hours into the night, it is not unusual to see families picnicking all along the Nile River, sitting on any stretch of grass that may be available, making up for lost time and hoping to catch a breeze.
And then there is ME! I never thought I could be, so greatly affected by the heat as I am determined to keep my daily routine. Because I take public transportation (taxi's, subways) or walk wherever I go, the sun becomes my # 1 enemy in Egypt. There is much to consider before leaving the house. Shorts are out of the question, so I decide which dress would lend the most air or which pair of pants I can pull up my perspiring body. I make a mental list of all that I need to do and where I need to go so I don't waste time in the heat. I put the coldest water possible into my water bottle and try not to carry too much more with me as I venture into the sweltering sun. Forget about a hairdo! If I can get my hair looking somewhat nice, the humidity breaks down any poofing that I have already done or, the ride in the speeding taxi ruins it as all the windows are open to create a/c.
On some days, I walk because exercise is important to me; but, as I peel my pants or dress away from my perspired body, I remind myself that walking is not the best idea in this heat.
And, the other mode of transportation, the subway, lends to body heat on top of the sun accessorized with odors too! As the sliding doors clamp shut, I realize my mistake as the lady next to me presses her overheated body into mine and her child who's height reaches to my thighs is standing on my foot of which I decided to clothe in sandals this day! It is then I try to remember who I am in Christ and fail miserably as I have irritating thoughts dancing in my head about what I would like to do to the mother of this child stepping on my toes as she pushes her child closer. I try not to breathe through my nose and pat my tissue as the sweat trickles down my face. I regret putting on mascara this day as the perspiration bleeds the black tar into my eyes that are now burning. As the subway screeches to a halt, bodies jerk into new positions, but I am lucky enough to have reached my destination! Alas, I look forward to the number one enemy, the sun, which I only have to battle solo to survive this Egyptian summer day!
A LITTLE ACT Of KINDNESS
Surviving the summer heat is tough, but I learned that there are others who have it worse off than me. Nahed is a little girl of about 8-years old. She is fated with belonging to a poor family that has Employed her into child labor. My heart was captured as I saw her tiny face and heard her voice call out to me on my way to the subway, "Aiyizza mandeel innaharda?" Nahed sells little packets of tissues to the passers-by and cannot go home until everyone is sold.
Day after day, I have seen her sit there from as early as 7:30 a.m. and not leaving until 6:00 p.m. Child labor is common in Egypt. I began buying one or two packets. Nahed knew she had a long-term customer that first day I stopped. There was a sweetness about her. She respected my wishes on the days I said "not today". She became protective of me, her international customer, as other vendors seeing me overpaying for packets of tissues solicited their wares to me. But, I didn't mind her protectiveness; she had a life with no comparison to mine.
One day as I was walking back from the subway, it was close to 6:00 p.m.; I heard a little voice call out, "Aiyizza Kuli
wahid?" I looked and said, "mish innaharda, Nahed" (not today). As I walked away; I was trying to figure out what she
was saying to me. I knew Aiyizza meant 'want', and wahid was the word for number 'one', and I also knew kul meant
every. I couldn't put the thought together. I saw my Arabic teacher the next day and explained the situation. His eyes
lit up and smiled. He told me Nahed was asking if I wanted every one! This little, girl had wanted to call it a day and
I refused!
I pondered about what the cost would be to buy her out. At the beginning of the day, with a full load of tissues, it would probably cost me 20 Egyptian pounds, which is a little under $6.
I began to plan for my next encounter with Nahed, and surprise her I did!
GEARING UP FOR THE NCT TEAM
As preparations continue for New Covenant to join me in Cairo this fall, a prayer group was formed. The focus of the NCT team will be prayer and going into the different areas of Cairo to claim them for Christ.
An American/Egyptian prayer team had been implemented to set the spiritual stage and begin to break the spiritual barriers. A great work has begun.
However, as the summer heat began to exhaust the warriors, we decided to take the group to the water. We began to hold our prayer meetings on a felucca (small sailboat) on the Nile River. What an awesome experience!
Unfortunately it wasn't awesome enough to keep the group excited to come out in the heat! But, a few of us diehards began to invite people we had met along the way and the prayer group turned into an outreach. I sort of felt like the king who planned a dinner party and everyone was too busy to come so he invited those out on the street corners.
Our guests included a recently converted couple and a mom and two sons from Bahrain who were escaping the record-breaking temperature in their Arab country.
God proved faithful as He utilized this time for His purposes. And as the temps fall, the original people are regrouping.
WE WILL BE READY FOR YOU NCT!
CYPRUS
As all the leaders serving in the Middle East looked forward to their annual conference for revival and refreshing, I was asked if I would consider coming to help lead the children's portion of the conference. I obliged and felt blessed to be able to affect the MKs (missionary kids).
And, blessed I was as I danced silly to worship songs, told stories with Biblical meanings, held daily treasure hunts with Biblical hints and played games to teach about trust. However, I began to recognize that most of these children were special, they truly were sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
And sensitive they were! Halfway through the week, 18 prayed to receive the Holy Spirit and 15 began to manifest the presence by speaking in tongues. What an honor it was to pray with the individual children as they asked questions and
desired to speak in their spiritual language.
A SUMMER VISITOR
You may remember Saber from my previous newsletter. He was the little orphan from LTO that was burned at the age of 2 months. This summer Saber was scheduled for more plastic surgery in Cairo. He was staying with my American friends Bonnie and Skip who have bonded with Saber as they have become his number one agents for care and provision while he is in Cairo. Bonnie and Skip had to take a two-day trip. So, Saber got to visit" Aunt" Donna! We had a ball as we shared meals, played games and walked the city.
ON THE MOVE!
I personally am not fond of moving. But, an opportunity came up that I just couldn't refuse. I was living on the 9th floor of a 10-story building.
My landlord is a Muslim and I was slowly finding my way into her heart. She has a big family and Tuesdays and Fridays are family gatherings at her flat with enough food for the neighborhood. And, the neighborhood is also invited. l began to take the time to sit and visit.
Although my landlord does not speak English, her children do. This makes communication so much easier. I like them! I have realized that beyond the pressures of Islam, there is hope for relationships.
But, the true test came when I was asked if I wouldn't mind moving down one floor to the apartment below me. My landlord's son and family owned the apartment, but were now going to move in with her as she became burdened with the day to day task of managing an apartment building.
Why me? Although the population in the apartment building is predominantly Muslim, they trusted me, the Christian, to live in their home. They actually used the word TRUST. An apartment in Egypt is rented furnished. And, although their apartment rents for 500 Egyptian pounds (approx. $145) more than I was paying for the upper flat, they wanted to honor the same rent I was currently paying.
I knew this was a chance for me to be a Christian witness and I obliged immediately. The blessing of it all is the apartment is cleaner, in better condition and the furniture, etc. is also better than where I was originally on the 9th floor.
God is so faithful; He has blessed my home in Egypt!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
MOKATTUM MOUNTAIN GARBAGE VILLAGE
I was invited to visit a Coptic Christian area where one woman's burden turned a garbage dump dwelling without water, other services, support, recognition, technology, ability for hygiene, or any hope for literacy or education into an enterprise for hand crafts.
As recycling is the main employment in garbage dwellings, with the help of the Association for the Protection for the Environment (AEP), Laila Kamel launched a program (and whole new lifestyle) to help the people in this community.
Targeting the girls and women, the first program focused on recycling rags into woven rugs. In seeing the success of this program, two other programs were launched: quilting and recycling paper. The recycled paper was then formed into beautiful shapes of paper that was crafted into greeting cards; gift bags, and notepads of many different sizes.
Starting as early as l3, each girl/woman entered a training program. They learned to read, write, coordinate colors, and most importantly, a skill that enabled them to earn money. They are currently selling these crafts to local markets, at bazaars and they have a small onsite gift shop at the factory.
Most of you, who know of my previous endeavor of owning and operating a gift shop, know this is right up my alley. In my spare time, I have been enlisted to instruct on customer service, as well as hone their product. At this point, I have just begun to sit with the girls and to get familiar and comfortable working with them. I will work with them at a Christmas bazaar in Maadi this year, as well as begin to instruct on customer service in late fall.
I believe that God has put into every person an ability to learn and succeed, if given the chance and encouragement. The change in the lives of these girls and women demonstrates that God-given ability. It is truly a miracle these people were given this opportunity. (some of their handcrafts are displayed at "JUST A REMINDER" GIFT SHOP IN WILLIAMSVILLE, NY)
PTL for:
And so it was - An encounter happened...
When the air in my apartment becomes staggering, I usually dress in jogging shorts and a tee shirt around the house (ONLY!) and open up windows in order to get a cross breeze. On one particular day, since it was cleaning day, I had not yet combed my hair, my feet were bare, nor had I put on my unmentionables.
When it came time to put the garbage out, I wished I hadn't thought to do it. My garbage goes right outside the door into the apartment hallway. As I opened the door, stepping out only one quick step to set the garbage on the floor, a strong wind came through the open windows and slammed the door shut! What was I to do, I was on the outside?
One who knows the Egyptian culture knows you don't venture out in shorts if you want to save your reputation. I had no choice; I had to go to the 10th floor to find my Muslim landlord. I praised the Lord that I decided to trust them with a copy of my key. But, of all days, it was family day! I knocked on the door and they beckoned me in as they usually do; but I did not dare to enter. I meekly called out - "I can't". I was thankful that two of the women came to greet me!
As I explained my situation, they laughed at my modesty (or the lack thereof) and went to get the spare key. I was invited to come back up for lunch.
Please note: I changed my clothes!!
