Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings from Egypt. It is hard to imagine that I have reached the first anniversary of my adventure in Egypt. It has been a very full year—filled with excitement, frustration, new experiences and new understandings. I remember from our orientation in New Mexico last January that the mission buzz words were "partnership" and "accompaniment." As I reflect on the past year, it is clear that knowledge of language and of culture, work environment, time, and many other things impact my ability to "partner" and "accompany." I do my best and pray that somehow God can use these efforts.

In my work at the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS), I have been focusing on writing proposals in two main areas: (1) projects designed to address health concerns among the destitute of Egypt and (2) funding to support the work of CEOSS’ Forum for Cross-cultural Dialogue. In this letter I want to tell you about the Forum.

CEOSS creates multiple forums in which Muslim and Christian religious leaders, intellectuals, university professors, media professionals and non-governmental organization leaders can exchange views and expertise in a free and fruitful environment. CEOSS sees interfaith dialogue as the cornerstone for reducing the recent upsurge of social and religious intolerance and generating positive approaches to problem solving. These forums, workshops, seminars, regional and national conferences constitute an intentional CEOSS peace-building program, the Forum for Cross-cultural Dialogue.

Of course, building trust and encouraging a democratic approach require a long-term commitment. But in the last two years, the Forum has produced some concrete results:

• Conferences brought together prominent Egyptian leaders from religious, educational, health, and civil institutions in an environment that built trust, broke down barriers and promoted understanding. The dialogue was the first of its kind in Egypt.
  
• A network of approximately 500 prominent leaders was established, including Muslim and Christian religious leaders, intellectuals, media leaders, university professors, both men and women. Participants received a list of each others’ names and phone numbers so that ongoing communication could be maintained.
  
• An exchange was initiated between students at Cairo Evangelical Seminary and Al-Azhar (Moslem) University to promote dialogue and mutual understanding.
  
• Cairo Evangelical Seminary developed a new course about religion and science. Religious leaders who participated in the conferences have been invited to come and teach the course.
  

Attitudes may be changing as well, as in the case of one participant, who said "I always believed that I had the absolute truth. I never thought the other could have the truth. But with this dialogue, I realized some of my ideas may be wrong and the other has some truth. I learned to think critically about my ideas and the ideas of the other." In another dialogue session, female circumcision and the role of women were discussed. One man said, "It is a Western idea to liberate women and stop female circumcision." At dinner that day the same group had a major debate on the scientific revolution and the role of women. The next day the man acknowledged that his ideas were greatly changed as a result of the debate.

The next program of the Forum is scheduled for March 1-3. Speakers in the areas of religion and reason, religion and ethics, and religion and society will provide the foundations for discussions. The informal conversations, dialogues, and connections that take place among participants are often as important as the formal presentations.

For prayer:

Give thanks for CEOSS efforts to build trust and mutual understanding, for the personal safety of mission staff in Egypt, and for fforts of CEOSS and other Egyptian NGO’s to improve health conditions.

Seek God’s help with an end to terrorism, wisdom of political leaders in the Middle East, and funding for the Forum for Cross-cultural Dialogue.

In April, Charles will graduate from kindergarten at New Ramses College. He has been excited about starting to read in English and learning to write the Arabic letters. His ability to speak Arabic is impressive. He has started to translate for me! I am learning, but much more slowly.

At the beginning of November, we moved to a new apartment. It is much closer to my work at CEOSS, and is also close to shops, restaurants, and grocery stores. It makes life a little easier. We have also begun participating at the Heliopolis Community Church, an international, non-denominational, English language church near our new location.

I am looking forward to an ecumenical retreat scheduled for the week of March 8 in Larnaca, Cyprus, for mission personnel from four Protestant churches, including PC(USA). It promises to be a time of relaxation, reflection, and renewal. Charles will come too. Childcare is being provided.

I count on your prayers of intercession for strength, hope, and wisdom. I am sure mission personnel around the world count on them too. Please continue to pray without ceasing.

Best wishes. God’s blessings on you.

Nancy Collins

The 1999 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, page 135