Sunday, January 20, 2008

Sinai Desert

While we were in Egypt and heading to Jordan and Jerusalem we were given the opportunity to climb Mount Sinai. We didn't do it because it is something to check off a to do list but we really wanted it to take us deeper with studying the first five books of the Bible and have God take us to a new height with Him. To really be able to understand what Moses did by climbing the mountain twice to get the tablets from God! 

We started climbing the mountain at 1 am because we wanted to see the sunrise at the top (what photographer won't do to get a good picture)!!  We were wrapped up in multiple layers, coats, gloves, scurfs, hats, and even blankets going up the mountain because it is still winter and absolutely freezing when the sun isn't up. I was determined to get up the mountain with my own two feet the whole way up but I knew with my heart rate and chest problem still not being 100% God was going to have to carry me up that mountain. So that was my prayer as I headed up the mountain. As much as I believed that God could get me up the mountain it just wasn't God's plan for me right now in life. 

I climbed for about an hour until my heart just wouldn't let me up any farther. At that point I was frustrated and didn't understand why I couldn't just get up the mountain but after one of my friend/staff paid for me to ride a camel the middle part of the climb. During that time I struggled with God and really just felt Him tell me that it wasn't about me getting up the mountain by foot but my heart to get up the mountain. That I had the heart which is exactly what He askes of me right now in life. That I am willing to do anything and everything for Him even when I can't physical do something because of money, equipment, or health. He taught me that its what's on the inside of my heart that He cares about. So I took the camel to the bottom of the 500 stairs that lead to the top. Climbed the stairs with God carrying me every step of the way! 

When we got to the top we tried to sleep for an hour or two but it was simply too cold. So we curled up in blanket and sleeping bags together waiting for the sun to come! Around 5:30 the sky started to change colors and about an hour late the sun was shining bright right at us. I was amazing at the site of the sun and felt God whisper that one day soon the sun would rise in my life! That He has amazing things planned for my life and I just have to keep waiting for the sun to rise! I know that when it does it will be beyond anything I ever imagined in my life!! 


Right after we climbed the mountain we drive about an hour to the middle of no where and met some of the Sinai tribe people with camels. We loaded all our stuff onto the camels and headed into the desert, where we spent the rest of that day and half of the next day. It was an experience of a lifetime and let me tell you it definitely took me and my camel so time to get comfortable with each other! At first it was not my favorite thing the world to do and completely different from riding a horse. However, in the end I loved it. 

[My Smelling but oh so faithful camel]

After we traveled around on the camels  and hiked around in the rocks, they cooked for us and we spent under a little canopy. It was so cold and we were so tired that we went to bed at 8:30 that night, trying to not freeze. The view that night was amazing! I didn't know that many stars were even in the sky. Its amazing what happens when there are no city lights and buildings around. Its like nature comes alive! After that night we eat breakfast and took the camel ride back through the desert to the cars. It was hard and tiring but something that I can say I did and have a better understanding of the people that live out there. 

[Rock formations in the Sinai Desert]


[All of our uncomfortable faithful camels]

Cairo, Egypt

To start off the year my team met in Cairo, Egypt where we spent our first two week studying the first five books of the Bible. We were able to go into the city and explore a little bit here and there but mostly spent time in the little city of El Maadi. God blow my mind as we studied the five books. I think we overlook those books very easily and don't realize how much is in them. We learned a lot about the Egyptian history and culture which put the books into context and gave me a clearer understanding.

[Boat on the Nile River. Cairo, Egypt]

[Man crying in front of the Temple. Cairo, Egypt]

[Market in Cairo, Egypt]

[Guard on a camel at the Pyrmaids]

[Me and Melanie at the Prymaids]

[Me in front of the Prymaids]


There is a place in this world where people not only have jobs working in other peoples garbage but they live in it also. As we walked through the streets of Garbage City, I was blown away that these people live in this place and know nothing else in their lives. They live in a city that has big walls and door on both ends of it that seem to separate it from the rest of the city and they live among the trash. But if that wasn't enough to blow me away, I noticed the looks on these peoples faces. The men and women were more proud of what they do then anyone I have ever seen. Their was no shame in their world for doing what the rest of the world would find shame in. Then there were the children that were beaming with joy! Not feeling sorry for themselves that they live in the world that they do or don't have the newest toy. Instead they are happy and love their lives. 
[The Streets of Garbage City]

[Rooftops overlooking Garbage City]

I feel in love with this city and God really gave me a huge heart for them.  While we were there me and two other girls on my team met these two little girls that took us into their house. To get into their house we had to walk through the first level where trash was everywhere, up a flight of stairs that were still covered in trash, and inside a three room house. Their home had barely anything in it. In the first room there was two couches/beds that I couldn't even tell what they were made out of. The second room was as big as a walk-in closet that was there extremely run down kitchen that didn't work. The third and final room had no furniture in it and piles of rag clothes, blankets, and other tattered things. It was amazing to see their home and the friendship that these girls gave us. I will remember them and hope to visit them again when we go back to Cairo in about a month. 

[Christina and Me with two girls in their home. Garbage City]

[My crazy curly hair friend and me]

[Little girl sitting in front her front door]

[Little boy sitting in the back of a truck]

[Little girl laughing at her little brother]