|
March 27, 2002
Dear Friends:
As I was walking down the street in Cairo after a meeting with
a relief aid organization, I was passing the National Court House.
There was a rather loud crowd in front of the building and when
I got closer, I could see that they were bringing out a prisoner.
She was beautiful: tall and dark and dressed in a flowing long
white robe, her hair tied back tightly forming a braid. She was
crying profusely as she was being led away in handcuffs, the handcuffs
attached to a rope. The young policeman leading her through the
crowd seemed to just want to finish his duty. People in the crowd
were yelling at her and trying to get close enough to hit at her,
her offense, I thought, must have been great, perhaps murder.
Later, when I returned to my room at the Ramsis College for Girls,
I was telling this to a woman volunteer from South Africa. She
said to me, "Oh, you saw that. That must have been the women
who was convicted of adultery, she was sentenced to death by stoning
this afternoon."
We from the West, the more "civilized" society, would
never tolerate such a conviction, such a patriarchal condemnation
of the woman. However, at the same time, we do support the policies
that our governments put forth that lead to the disenfranchisement
of entire populations of people. Could it be that we simply are
all the same? Is it just that our human strategy takes different
forms? This was something I pondered while eating half a chicken
later that evening in a small restaurant in the heart of Cairo.
How we weave the webs we weave, when we practice to deceive. That
kept running through my head as I thought about the quagmire of
problems in this region. How can those who want to bring about
positive change do it? It seems like climbing Everest without
a rope or any other supplies. I remind myself that I am fortunate
because I have the best resource to help guide me, the teachings
of Christ.
Unfortunately, I could not go up to that policeman as Christ
may do and say to him, "Release this woman." We, as
missionaries of the PC(USA), can only do our best and try to bring
relief to those within our grasp. Therefore, I decided not to
ponder for too long, because there were too many other things
that needed to be dealt with. I arrived in Egypt on March 14th
to investigate the Joining Hands Program there and to try getting
it up and onto its own feet. I met with several social service
and aid organizations that took positively to the idea of taking
part in a Joining Hands Against Hunger project. I am keeping in
contact with these organizations and plan on investigating further.
One of these is Moqawttam. It works with the communities of people
living in what is known as garbage city. Actually, there are now
several garbage cities. Moqawttam workers have gone in and created
a project to recycle the garbage into products that can be sold,
with the profits going directly to the community. They have rugs,
bags, aprons, potholders, pillows, patchwork quilts, and many
other things made from rags found in the garbage. They also have
a paper recycling project that is producing some beautiful finished
products. The profits from their labor have built a school, a
day-care center and a community center. The program has been so
successful that it now works in three garbage cities and has plans
for further expansion. Their goal is to empower young women and
mothers, providing them with a way to be self-sufficient.
Another project that I was taken with was the American Mission
Hospital in the city of Tanta. This is a PC(USA) project founded
by Presbyterian missionaries about 100 years ago. Now in need
of tremendous repair, we are looking to see how we may be able
to do something about this. There are a few things up my sleeves.
I am happy with this first trip to Egypt, the Land of the Pharaohs.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been in Egypt for over 140
years and has done some incredible work. I pray that I will be
able to be an effective part of this continuing work of the church.
The need is great, the poverty overwhelming and the work to be
done—for the work there just isn't words.
The only truly difficult part of this journey to Egypt was that
I had to leave behind in Bethlehem Hala, Nadiim and Adeeb. With
the situation in Palestine as unstable as it is, I worried constantly
about what would happen next. Upon return to Palestine, I have
been able to see that the situation is much the same, but the
need is greater, even though my trip to Egypt was only ten days.
While I was gone, the Israeli army entered Bethlehem once again,
causing destruction and havoc, as usual. I knew that Hala and
the boys would be fine, for my mother-in-law was staying at our
house, but fear is always the greatest part of worry. In our Savior's
birthplace, the hospitals are in desperate need of medicines and
supplies. They don't have the money to buy them from Israel, and
they are treating people who simply can't pay. And so the work
of Our Lord and His Church goes on. Please pray for an end to
the hostilities in the Holy Land and for a peace that will bring
peace. I often think that if only the people involved in this
overdone film would consider some of the teachings of Jesus and
His Golden Rule, all would be okay. However, this is the Holy
Land, and in the Holy Land we pray for peace and the fulfillment
of His Kingdom.
I thank all of those who are praying for us. I also ask for those
prayers to continue, they are desperately needed right now. Together,
I am sure that His work will be done and that we will be able
to see the light at the end of what seems to be a very long tunnel
for the people of the Middle East.
Blessings,
Chris, Hala, Nadiim and Adeeb
|
