We are having a great time in Egypt. It’s as if we never left. Our kids picked right back up with friends and we’ve even been to Maadi house already (the American Club). The friends we are staying with were invited to a kid’s birthday party there so we went to eat lunch at the restaurant while their kids went to the party. It was a big party (over 50 kids) and Caleb made himself right at home. He was 3rd in line for cotton candy, took a few whacks at the piñata, got himself a goodie bag, made himself an ice cream sundae with marshmallows and chocolate sprinkles . . . that’s pretty much how he always approaches life. Enjoy as much as possible without worrying or feeling self conscious. Good for him.
While I was inside eating lunch, Calvin was “babysitting” Camille and I turned around just in time to see him sliding her down the huge slide.
Oh my . . .
She loved it. Of course — she adores slides. Why wouldn’t she love the biggest slide ever?
It was quite a “Welcome Back to Egypt” party.
From the party we walked the two blocks to church, just like old times.
The younger boys went to children’s church and Calvin sat with us.
I love going to church at Maadi Community Church because it’s right in the middle of a neighborhood and we meet under a permanent tent in the courtyard of the church property. Being able to worship as part of a Christian community in a Muslim country feels even more significant when you hear the call to prayer going off in the middle of the service. Plus birds flying through church or cats creeping around keeps things interesting.
She got squirmy and wanted to check out the table of beaded items that were being sold to support the church’s prison ministry. She wanted all of it and kept saying: “this one! this one!” as she tried to get as many pieces as possible.
We settled on a pink coin purse
Toward the end of the service, the kids all came out waving palm fronds to celebrate “Palm Friday.” The boys’ Friday school teachers were the same and they walked right into class like they’d only been gone on a short vacation.
I’ve decided that I love Egypt and Oman like I love my children. I love them both, but for different reasons and in different ways. I couldn’t say that I love one more than the other, I’m just happy to have them both.