July 2006

Dear friends in Christ,

This July we visited Egypt for two weeks. It was our last visit to Cairo—next year when we return there, it will be to stay. We have one year of study time remaining in Scotland, and we wanted to reconnect with our community in Cairo before we began this last stretch.

We spent twelve days in Egypt, but it only took two to feel like we’d never left. The warmth of the community enveloped us immediately. Although we arrived at 2:00 a.m., a group of faculty and several cars were at the airport to meet us. The next morning and for the rest of our stay, visitors filled our home. The night before we left, our friends threw a good-bye party with more than forty people. It was a typical Egyptian evening --  we took chairs up to the flat roof of our building, everyone brought enough food for an army, and we stayed up late talking in the warm summer night. Each one of our evenings that week had been filled with conversation and laughter. As we looked around at the circle of faces, we felt deep gratitude for the people we work with. Each individual is an inspiration to us, and as we return to our studies in Scotland, our passion and dedication are renewed because of the time we spent with them.

The faculty families serving at the seminary live together on the campus or nearby. Most of the faculty are Egyptian, but we are all far from home in one sense or another, and we act as an extended family for one another. Our clan was expanded recently with the addition of four new faculty members, bringing our number to 14—a huge blessing for the seminary. The faculty children now number 24! The oldest faculty kid is leaving home this year for college and the youngest was born a week before we arrived. In between there is a child for every age, and sometimes several (the four two-year-olds keep us all busy!). Calvin and Sammy were instantly part of the group again, reuniting with their best friends and adding new ones. The faculty kids had worked for a month on a gospel play they wrote and produced on their own, rehearsing daily and ending each rehearsal with a prayer time. Seeing their play confirmed for us again how grateful we are that we will raise our children in the Egyptian church. The joy and commitment we see in these children is the highest example we could hope for our children to witness. We are indeed blessed.

Our short time in Cairo encompassed many of the highs and lows that characterize our life there long-term. Our life in Scotland is tame by comparison, and it was a little startling to be shaken out of our quiet routines. In Cairo our privacy, punctuality, and regular bedtime schedule all endure daily assault. But again and again, as we strive to be more flexible and hospitable, we find ourselves receiving grace and joy in unexpected ways.

We struggled with the intense heat of a Cairo summer, frustrated with our broken-down air conditioner and unaccountable delays of the repair. In the meantime, though, we rediscovered the simple pleasure of gathering with friends for no occasion other than the cool breezes of evening. Egyptians can make a party out of anything, and it was good to learn again that the best pleasures in life have nothing to do with comfort and convenience.

My temper rose as the bus taking us to our faculty retreat was delayed from 8:30 until 11:00. I worried about entertaining my kids on the four-hour ride, and how long it would be until lunch. On the bus, though, the older children each took a younger child under their wing to entertain, and everyone shared snacks so there was enough for all. As I struggle to deal with the challenges of life in Cairo, I often look only at my own resources for solving problems. Again and again as my own efforts come up wanting, the community surrounds me with help. I have a lot to learn from Egyptian Christians about the rich resources of community.

There was so much more. Our phone lines were cut off, but in using our neighbor’s phone we were blessed with daily times of sharing and laughter together. I came down with a serious case of food poisoning, but a doctor friend made a house call and had antibiotics in me within five minutes of hearing I was sick. We struggled to agree on seminary policy during faculty business meetings, but found a deep unity and harmony in times of Bible study and prayer together. Our kids didn’t eat well or sleep enough and should have been crankier than they’ve ever been, and instead they had the time of their lives. Just like every day we’ve ever spent in Egypt, we were challenged, stretched, frustrated, confused—and renewed, encouraged, and touched at the deepest level of our being.

Is it good to be back in Scotland? We did take deep breaths of cool, moist air when we stepped out of the airport. My first visit to a grocery store left me in awe at the offerings. Our long hours of study feel luxurious. But twelve days in Egypt grounded us again in both the challenge and the call we feel to ministry there. We can’t wait to return.

Yours in Christ’s peace,

Elisabeth, Darren, Calvin, and Sammy Kennedy

The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 165

To support our ministry financially

Contributions from individuals may be sent to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Individual Remittance Processing, PO Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.

Contributions from churches should be sent to: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Church Remittance Processing, PO Box 643678, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3678.

Write the title (Cairo Evangelical Seminary) and the ECO number on the subject line (862376, 862377, or 051809) of the check and put it on your cover letter, too. Send a copy of the cover letter to Middle East Office at 100 Witherspoon St. Louisville, KY 40202-1396.

You may support the Kennedy’s ministries with the Cairo Evangelical Seminary by giving to these Extra Commitment Opportunity (ECO) accounts:

Cairo Evangelical Seminary, General: 862376

Cairo Evangelical Seminary, Library: 862377

Cairo Evangelical Seminary, Student Scholarships: 051809