What a wonderful time in Egypt!

Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo-Sunday Feb 19th after church

Monday Feb 20th Lenten Services at a Coptic Church-women on one side, men on the other!

Arabic Bible--Genesis..in the beginning God created---read from right to left-opening the opposite way to English Bible

Grandma on a camel called KFC "Kentucky Fried Camel" the owner said

Classic pyramid picture....they are massive!

Sphinx is very cool!

Old Cairo....me too!

Nursing team in Manouf...only a couple actually have any official nursing training

Harpur Hospital in Sadat City

A darling girl who just spontaneously threw her ams around me!

It was such a delight to visit the land of Pharaohs, pyramids and sphinx!
We took a half day to sight-see, but we really put our shoulders into the work in several locations in and around Cairo.

We ate Egyptian food including stuffed pigeon (surprisingly yummy!) and couchery (a rice, pasta, lentil, friend onion dish...pictures above) This chef at the Evangelical Hospital made this especially for me....feel the love!
I was so privileged to visit many hospitals. Our hosts were most helpful and hospitable. Have never felt so cared for.....! Many people asked me if I was going to Egypt in light of the demonstrations and upheaval, how could I not go? We live in such security and freedom. Our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world think nothing of risking it all to love God and serve people. How could I rest at home when the call to share with the members of Christian Nurses Fellowship.? So grateful to Dr. Nabil Jabbour for organizing this journey. He has called this the Barnabas Project. Barnabas means son of encouragement. That was our goal to serve Egyptian doctors and nurses and encourage them through education, mentoring and other resources. It was so inspiring. I cannot wait to go back.
The Lord has poured His love in my heart for Muslim women and nurses. What a joy to share the Christian Worldview of Nursing care! It is different from other worldviews.....Christian nurse are to serve with Biblical perspective, values and Christ's character.....PVC or CVP whatever way helps you to remember :)
Please pray for me as I aim to know Christ more deeply and make Him known wherever I am called to serve.

Home again.....but not for long!

 Ok, I admit that I am a lousy blogger and photographer. I also admit that I am no technological wizard either! Therefore, you will see that I have attempted to capture some of the best moments in a Smilebox!
Please forgive me for my lack of expertise, but you will be able to see some of the wonderful aspects of our adventure together with CURE International and People to People Ethiopia. Here is our adventure by the numbers......      

1.     Plane to Ethiopia to avoid connection and baggage issues (necessitating a 9 hour drive to  Dulles Airport)  
2.    Organizations we collaborated with:  CURE International (conference and training) & People  to People Ethiopia (Paul lecturing at the University of Addis Ababa)
3.       Different venues on this journey-CURE Hospital, University of Addis Ababa, Keriftu
4.       Hotels we stayed at including the one in DC before departure
5.       Times a day, the call to prayer...and the number of cups of coffee we drank a day :)
6.       People all trying to meet us at the airport on arrival...nice to be so loved!
7.       Days in Ethiopia....not long enough!!!

Infinite number of blessings came our way from dear Ethiopian people.....some we have known through the years from Montreal...Nebret, Addis, Mismak, Leya, Enawgaw, Aelaf, Tigist, Moges, Sahlu, Taddela, Captain Adem, Zelalem....so many dear ones and their families have blessed us as we prepared and traveled. We had a great time. We were overwhelmed with the hospitality and kindness of our Ethiopian family that God has given to us. We were picked up, driven around, fed completely, entertained, delighted, assisted in so many ways!! We saw the Lord's hand in providing and caring for each step of this journey. It is very difficult to manage time and energy when asked to do so many things in a short time. Yet we experienced God's grace and help each step of the way.  We stayed healthy and relied on the Lord for our daily needs. Paul experienced for the first time, travels to Africa. It was a good one! We are getting a better picture of how we can be supportive to the work that the Lord has established in Addis and is continuing to grow through CURE and P2P.  We had some precious moments with some very precious people....that is what Africa is all about....relationships. So glad that we have a permanent relationship with God through Jesus Christ and this relationship is all about sharing His love to those near and far. Pure, joy.

                                                                                                                    

Paul, Elisha, Maureen and Florence at CURE Nurse Managers' Conference in Keriftu, Debra Zeit, Ethiopia

http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d7a41774e5459784e54453d0d0a&blogview=true

Enjoy the smilebox!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

Ethiopia here we come!

Ethiopia in 2010 with dear sisters, Aelaf and Ruth by St. George's Church in Lalebala

Ethiopia 2008(?) With dear sisters Tigist and Nebret

We love to travel to the mountains for special family times together.

Yes, here I am again at the airport....always seem to be on the move... loving the kingdom work!

We love traveling together for Paul's conferences and family times.

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'Oh, oh, what am I getting myself into going to Ethiopia?'

Some of you have been asking Paul and me for years.....do you travel together? Of course Paul and I travel together but not for CURE International until now.  God's call has been for me to go and Paul to stay (supporting my calling). However, in less than two weeks we will be traveling together for the first time to Ethiopia. Ethiopia has a very special place in our hearts. When we returned to Canada after a couple of years in Australia, we met some very special Ethiopian families. They had been living in Canada, studying and struggling due to some difficulties in that part of the world. Through many amazing circumstances the Lord brought several dear Ethiopian brothers to our home. We laugh now as we look back....each of us trying to understand each other's culture. For example we asked our Ethiopian friends to come over...when we offered them food they refused.....it turned out that they were afraid that if they ate our food, then our three children wouldn't get anything or enough to eat. I could go on and on with tales of funny misunderstandings.....like the time Aelaf was getting married and her fiance came to the door to bring her to the church...I refused to let him see his bride before the ceremony...until he explained that this was their custom that he would bring his bride from her home to the church! Oh, what humorous stories we can tell on each other...we all made some mistakes regarding time etc. So glad that we loved each other so much. What a blessing! As we mixed our cultures and our love for the Lord Jesus Christ, a bond was developed that cannot be broken. We keep in touch to this day!
It is no coincidence that the Lord has called Paul and me to teach at a CURE Hospital in Addis Ababa. Our travel dates are February 3-13th, 2012. Please keep us in your prayers. This trip will be an experience of a lifetime for Paul...to see for the first time Africa...to see the land of his brothers and sisters, Enawgaw, Aelaf, Tigist, Moges, Mismac, Nebret and others. We love to joke that are in the same family...born of different mothers...but the same Father...our Heavenly One!
While we are in Ethiopia, we will be with some precious people...Ethiopians and people from other countries. Paul and I will be teaching at a CURE conference. Paul will be lecturing at the University. He will be available as a consultant for the hospital in the areas of pediatric anesthesia, regional anesthesia and pain management. I have been asked to teach a couple of sessions too. In these experiences, it is about who you are with, rather than the activities. We will be with nurses, managers, medical staff, pastoral staff and CURE Leadership. Please pray for a spirit of cooperation and unity as we come from so many countries and backgrounds.

How can you be praying for Paul and me? I'll keep it simple using the letters to the country Ethiopia.


E-Energy, Excitement, Eagerness to serve, Eternal perspective
T-Timing to complete responsibilities
H-Health and safety as we drive to Washington, DC for our flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (and back again!)
 I-Insights into the needs of the CURE Hospital and healthcare of the country
O-Opportunities to be a blessings, Obedient hearts and hands in serving
P-Prayerful preparations, Pleasure in serving the Lord, Purposeful activities
I-Individual encounters resulting in fruitfulness for God's kingdom
A-Afterwards may our lives be changed forever,  Attentiveness to God's call to serve near and afar, Appreciation for all that God has accomplished!

In our devotional times, I will be sharing with the nurses from Paul's letter to the Colossian church. The overriding theme is 'Christ in you, the hope of glory' Colossians 1:27b. I love the contrasts in this lovely letter written so warmly to a group of people Paul never met. What a joy to be reminded that we have come from darkness and that as believers we have been brought into the kingdom of light in Jesus Christ. I could go on and on about the many contrasts of sin & forgiveness, debt & redemption, putting off & putting on...! Can you tell that I am excited? What a privilege to open up God's Word and see all that He has for His own to bring fullness, completeness and wholeness to our lives....ultimately, the blessing of eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ. If you want to hear more...you will have to come along!

Anyway, dear blog followers and readers, now you know how to pray for us. The real work of any service with the Lord is prayer. May we be faithful, joyful, trusting, peaceful and loving servants in this rich opportunity in Ethiopia. To God be the Glory!

The Wedding--A beautiful picture of Christ's love

Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Guyse--Congratulations!!!

The family photo....pure joy!

Thank you to all the sweet family and friends who supported the happy couple!

December 30th was a wonderful wedding day for Marie and Zachary! It was a fairytale wedding scene....the church; Tates Creek Presbyterian and the reception venue; Lexington Country Club were still decorated beautifully for the Christmas season. I have decided that a Christmas wedding is so appropriate for Christians. Christmas is the celebration of the glory of God coming to earth as the baby Lord Jesus....a love gift to the world. For it is He, who is called Jesus who would show the ultimate love by laying down His life for sinners like me. Jesus' love for His own people called 'the church' is magnificent, extravagant and eternal.  The marriage of our dear Marie and Zachary is a picture for all who attended of these truths. Weddings are magnificent and extravagant events. As believers, we can joyfully and abundantly proclaim that marriage is a picture of Christ's love for His people.
The Lord was viewed large in the lives of Marie and Zachary as Tom Franklin reminded them of the Effort, Economy and Excitement in marriage. A good relationship takes much effort...to make it work...from both parties. The marriage relationship is not a 50%-50% partnership...the 100% sometimes is 10%-90% or 60%-40%...each marriage partner must love and be willing to make up the difference when there is a deficit. God is excited about marriage, just as newlyweds are excited about their new lives together. Excitement should not wear off but increase as the relationship develops and deepens over life experiences and time.  What a great message! Of course I have not included all that Tom said...but these were my 'take home' points! After more than 33 years of marriage...these truths still hold. Marie was a beautiful bride...exquisite in every way. She chose beautiful friends to support her on her special day. Zachary was a most handsome groom. He too chose wonderful young men to support him on his special day.  The whole experience as mother of the bride was amazing as I saw the body of Christ come together to encourage and assist this dear couple as they embark on their marriage.  There was a holy solemnity to the day and at the same time a joyfulness as dear ones joined together in celebration. Won't Heaven be grand?!

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A New Brother....

A New Brother with an amazing story!

It is always fun to meet amazing people at CURE hospitals. Each one has a life story that reveals the providence of God in leading them to receive CURE care.  Recently, I chatted with this young man. He was born with a cleft palate and lip....which had made him an outcast in his community. His father was his champion until he died. Then his mother decided to arrange a marriage to comfort her son. Can you imagine the new wife's reaction on their wedding day? She didn't meet her husband until his wedding day apparently. Having a birth defect like a cleft is a huge thing in Africa. This dear man was so ashamed of his appearance. He was so ashamed of the shunning from his community. He would try to hide his face. He had few work opportunities and fewer still educational or apprenticeship opportunities. One night in desperation, he decided that he would run away. Without telling anyone, he ran away to the big city. It was difficult finding work. It was difficult to live from one handout to another. He wanted to earn his own living. He wanted to make his mother and wife proud of him.  By God's grace, he heard about CURE and the work that the hospitals do to bring healing. Somehow, he found the hospital, was seen in the clinic, hospitalized, operated upon and some time later.....here he is....ready to surprise his mother and wife. What a handsome man!

But wait.....all the healing is not in the surgery! No!  Pastors Hassane, Josh and others played a part in reassuring, encouraging and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.  This young man was so interested. On the day that he was supposed to be discharged from the hospital, he had a small area on his wound that prevented him from hopping on a bus to his home village. He needed a day or two more at the patient hostel so that the nurses could ensure good approximation of the surgical site to minimize scarring.  During the days while he waited and received further wound care, he heard the good news, again. His heart was moved by the Holy Spirit.  I arrived on Thursday night and on Friday morning rounds, he asked me so many questions. I told him about our Anne being born with a cleft. I told him about her many surgeries. He was very interested and peppered me with questions. At last he asked, how old is she? What does she do? When I told him Anne was a medical student and that she would be a doctor in a couple of years, this man was so astounded! He was thrilled! I told him that we would pray with him and for him. We would ask God for opportunities to study, learn and work so that he could support his family.  His face shone after our prayer time.

 Later that day, Pastor Hassane was beaming and he recounted how the young man came to his office inquiring about how to receive our Savior Jesus! So now I have a new brother!

The humorous end to the story came to me on the following Monday. Pastor Hassane said that on Sunday morning around 4:30 am his phone rang. At first he ignored it thinking it was a wrong number. As the ringing persisted, he answered it....guess who was calling? Yes, it was the young man, a new believer who had returned to his village. He wanted to remind the pastor that he was coming to church! Then the pastor reassured the young man that he was being picked up and brought to church. Two hours later, the same call came. How delightful to hear of such eagerness to be with other believers and learn about the one true LORD.  Praise God!

What a delightful testimony! What joy it will be in heaven to be with some from every tribe, nation and people group who have called upon the Lord Jesus Christ for Salvation! This Thanksgiving, I have another special blessing to be thankful for....a new brother in Christ!

Voices......Part 2

Together!

During this recent journey to Niger, for economy, Paul and I decided that emailing and texting each other would be fine. The trip was only two weeks. We would avoid the cost and frustration of dropped calls, voice-mail, and time zone confusion. Who wants to get called at 3:30 AM for a cheery check-in or romantic tête a tête? The deal was that I would call Paul as I was leaving the USA from JFK in New York and when I arrived back there again. Meanwhile we would communicate via cyberspace daily. Simple, right? Everyone texts and emails all the time. Who needs to actually talk for most communication? Of course, this may be fine for some but......I missed the sound of Paul's voice sooooooo much. The first thing I wanted when I cleared US customs and took care of rechecking my bags, was to get a Starbucks? (NO!!) It was to call Paul on the phone and hear his voice! Words cannot describe the delightful sound of my precious husband's voice on that call. It was sweet, kind, gentle and reassuring. He promised to meet me at the Cincinnati airport in a few hours. Paul's voice was full of love and appreciation of our relationship. It was full of hope for our reunion and a special weekend trip to Atlanta for a friend's wedding. How could I get all that from a few moments on my iPhone? I know Paul well. Our first date was October 19, 1974....since then I have been learning his use of words and what each voice inflection, tremor, and tone means. For me, this is a reminder of my relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ......

Do I long to hear His voice through scripture and the Holy Spirit's promptings?

Do I get excited to talk to the Lord in prayer regularly and often?

Are my communications to My Heavenly Father like text messages--abbreviated? 

Do I recognize the tone of intensity, urgency and love of my Savior as I read the Bible?

Does His name thrill me?

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear!

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,

And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole and calms the troubled breast:

'Tis manna to the hungry soul and to the weary rest.

Dear name! The Rock on which I build, 

My Shield and Hiding Place,

My never failing treasure filled with boundless stores of grace! 

(Public Domain)

Yes, coming home to hear Paul's voice has been so exciting and reassuring! Better still, what a blessing to know and hear the voice of the Almighty God of all nations as He speaks graciously and personally through the scriptures. What about the times when I am too tired, too lazy, too jet lagged, too distracted or have a hard time getting into God's Word? This is when I must recall Philippians 4:13.....'I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength'.....no wonder His voice is so winsome!