Well, I'm back from my trip to Egypt! I still can't believe I was able to walk in the same place as so many ancient people in history!
To begin my journey, I flew on British Airways with my friend Julie, my Dad, and stepmom Maritza. We spent over 30 hours traveling if you include 2 flights, layovers, and time spent in cars. We were very excited to finally arrive in Cairo, and also very shocked at how different it felt to actually be there. There was an air of oppression as we exited the plane, and we were painfully aware of the dramatically different way women are treated as we went thru customs and passport control. As women, we weren't acknowledged, or even given eye contact. The spirit of oppression could be felt as we walked around, and felt forced to look at the ground as we passed by the Egyptian men. It was a surreal experience for me.
We were taken to the Anglican Guest house to stay for the night. We were surprised by how crazy Cairo seemed even in the middle of the night, and even more surprised at how nice our room was at the Guest house.
I think we finally were able to crawl into bed around 2am. Then, I was abrutly wakened by the "call to prayer" over the loudspeakers out on the street at 4:30am. Luckily, my Dad had warned me about this, so I put my pillow over my head and went back to sleep! In the morning we met some of the other ISAAC members and joined them on a mini bus for the 2 hour ride to the Palmera Beach Resort on the Red Sea. As we drove thru the desert, I was enthralled by the expanse of my view. The desert was different than I had expected. It was a very dry, and rocky place that had mountains of rock and sand off in the distance. I thought it looked like it was God's big sand box. The hills of sand scattered around the desert looked as if God had used a bulldozer to create random piles of dirt all round his sandbox. (Of course, his "bulldozer would be God-sized!) I imagined it must have been very difficult for the Israelites to escape thru this very same desert on their way to the Red Sea so many years ago.
Once we arrived at the conference site, I was very impressed with our surroundings. Walking thru the doors of the Resort, you could forget that you were in the desert. The resort was full of plush vegetation and landscape around the 5 pools and quaint buildings where we would stay. I spent the next few days helping the registration process for 160 delegates of ISAAC from all around the world. I was honored to greet them all with a smile and try my best to communicate with people from Kenya, Ukraine, Tajikistan, India, Egypt, Finland, Mexico, China, Pakistan, and many other places. I was overwhelmed with how special all of these people seemed, and very honored in the days to come when they would seek me out, remembering my greeting and help. I was proud to have been able to serve each and every one of them.
The ISAAC Congress itself was packed full of information that has helped me personally. The spirit of God could be felt at all times. The Words of God were very clear, and direct. Each speaker I heard, seemed to have the same important message for us, in different and unique styles. God was calling each of us to "not be anxious", to quiet ourselves and be in his presence, to heed his call on our lives, and above all to communicate Christ. (both in our words and in our actions)
God used some very special leaders at this Congress to speak to me personally, and help me heal some old wounds. They were also used by God to open my eyes to his calling on my life, and give me some direction as to how to heed that call. I first believed I was at this event just to help others in a manner of servitude... but God led me to Egypt to show me that I am one of His helpers, and I am capable of helping hurting people around the world in His name. He then delivered me out of my own bondage while I was standing on the banks of the Red Sea.

I was baptized in the Red Sea shortly after sunrise on the last day at the Palmera Beach Resot. My Dad was there to immerse me and raise me up new in the glory of my Lord Jesus Christ!
I was washed new in that baptism, and able to withstand the drama of the next day without any fear or anxiety.

That day was the "exodus" from the Red Sea for all of the ISAAC delegates. I thought I was just suppossed to help get everyone on the correct buses , and help make sure all the luggage got on the right buses! Help, is a very deceiving term! I won't go into all the details, but lets just say that I was working quite hard, and ending up almost running the whole show myself. The ISAAC team was setting disagreements with the travel agency and the tourism police as I did my "helping". Eventually, everyone was off... but the last bus only had 14 seats, and there were 18 of us left! So, my Dad, Maritza, Julie and I were told that we would be given a taxi ride back to Cairo. Well, the tourisim police did NOT like that idea and said no way. They would not let tourists go such a long distance without a security agent. Well, we really had no choice, so the travel agent arranged for us to get on a different bus to go to the Suez Canal. (The Suez canal was the opposite direction of Cairo!) Once in the Suez, we were suppossed to be given a taxi bus (minivan) to take us to Cairo. We got in the Suez bus, and pretended that was where we wanted to go! They loaded all of our bags... 5 large suitcases, and 4 carryons... to the roof of the bus and off we were. Then, the tourism police decided to follow us! There they were, in their Jeep with guns and all, following our bus as it took us in the wrong direction! We drove thru the desert with nothing around us except for mine fields and military bases, wondering how on earth we would be able to transfer to our own minibus! Thank God, the police turned around about half way there, and let us go on our own!
Finally, we arrived in Suez, and much to our dismay, on the side of the road out here in the desert, was a tiny taxi waiting for us!!! We had to leave all of our suitcases with the bus going the wrong direction and pile all of us into this tiny taxi for the 3 hour ride back to Cairo, with the Egyptian taxi driver who didn't speak any English!!! We waved as our bags drove out of site, and wondered if we'd ever see them again.
At this point, I am wondering why on earth I'm not crying or upset. I just praised God that he was looking out for us and knew that all would be fine in the end. About halfway to Cairo, as I looked out the window at miles and miles of desert, I realized I needed to go to the bathroom! It had been since before my baptism at sunrise when I had been last, and here it was almost 5pm!!! I tried and tried to ignore it, since there really was nothing I could do about it. And of course, it only got worse! My Dad turned around and saw my face, and realized what was wrong. Eventually we could see the outskirts of Cairo, and I told myself I could make it. Every bump in the road, and drastic traffic move the taxi driver made almost made me lose it all... but somehow survived. Finally, we could see the Cairo Marriott looming in the distance. The taxi driver didn't see it though... and didn't understand my Dad's "BATHROOM" and sign language as he turned across the Nile River and started driving away from our destination!!! We managed to communicate to him that the Marriott was "over there" and got going the right way again. Then, the sun began to set, and as the Ramadan fast was broken, the streets became lined with Muslims ready to feast in the streets with their friends and family. We were stuck in traffice a mile from the hotel!!! Finally, we see a disgusting looking gas station and my Dad practically yanks on the wheel of the car to convince the guy that I NEED TO STOP NOW!!!
In we go, as I crouch over to try and signal to the attendants that I need a bathroom. They point outside, to a small alleyway behind the carwash! Okay, now I'm ready to burst, and ready to cry! My dad leads me thru this filthy walkway, into an even filthier room, as the Egyptian men stare at me wondering what I'm doing! In the back of the room is a metal door. I open it, and discover a literal hole in the floor where I'm suppossed to go! I can't describe the disgusting conditions I was in.... but I had no choice. While I found my relief, I reminded myself why your always suppossed to go to the bathroom one last time right before you leave on a trip!!!!

Well... that is definately an adventure story that my kids have enjoyed hearing!
Anyway... we did make it to the hotel, and our baggage did arrive to meet us the next day. (Thank God) We spent a few days here in splendor. Our room was on the top floor (20th) with a great view of Cairo. However, if you've ever been to Cairo, you would know that every morning and every night, the smog and pollution covers the 20th floor of all the buildings! But Iwasn't complaining... because here we had a big plush bed with lots of pillows and actual hot water pressure in the shower! We could even see the Pyramids off in the distance behind the city line from our balcony on a clear day.

Our trip to the pyramids was incredible. We bartered with the camel men, and were escorted on camels thru the desert around the pyramids. We got lots of good pictures! My guide was very nice, and took a few pictures of me on my camel.
Thanks Ali!
If you want to see all the pictures Go to my Kodak site http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=7wneetyl.64qxv31p&Uy=h5m1wg&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&UV=871899309964_980142212109 to see all 200 pictures!

After the pyramids we went to the Khalili. This is a large outdoor market in Egypt.
It's nothing like anything I've ever been too.... and we were very greatful to have an English/Egyptian speaking friend with us to help with all the "bartering" that happens there as you shop!
The market was very crowded, and full of beautiful things. I enjoyed looking at the people and took in the culture as much as I could that day. We only got down 3 blocks of it, and had to leave. I think we could have spent hours and hours there and never seen the end of it!

Well, that's all I have time to write for now! It really was an amazing trip, and I could never describe it with words that even began to compare to what I experienced.