If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we would find in each person's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility. -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Pyramids and Camels!!!


Meet Obama. The coolest camel in all of Egypt.
I think this is the most awkward creature God made, it really shows his humor. BL
Ben and Itty-bitty
I would not say it was the most comfortable ride, there was some serious chafing going on. BL
Me and Obama
Our first sight of the pyramids
This is downtown Cairo in the background. It is amazing how there is vegetation on one side and desert on the other.
Obama and Itty-bittyf

The guide really made us do this. I went along with it, I was too concerned with my chafing. I guess they are just so awkward and large it makes for a very bumpy ride. BL


Walk like an Egyptian...hahaha the guide made me do it....:)
I was trying to think of something witty to say here, but I think the picture says it all. BL
If you look closely you can see my camel smiling, I told him to.
Our guide ditched his horse and then decided to jump on my camel with me. After a few minutes down the road, I began to feel very uncomfortable with this arrangement. Lets just say I don't want to be that close to any man. I quickly joined my wife. BL

Can you believe this is down the street from us? I'm just saying, most people have a Walmart or a large mall. We have King Tut pyramids, I'm not bragging, I'm just saying. BL



The Sphinx
Some delicious Arabic food for lunch, shwarma and kushire
This was in downtown Cairo. The buildings we beautiful!
This is supposed to show you how bad the traffic is all the time....but how about a cool building instead!
We went to the Egyptian museum after and it was filled with overwhelming history. We need a full day alone just to absorb all of it. It was amazing....

SL

Monday, August 24, 2009

Learning the ways

We are working very hard to adapt to this country and culture. Right now, the hardest part is struggling to adapt to the time change. Every day gets better and better. But, there have been a few sleepless nights. Here are a few more pictures from around our home. Tomorrow we are going to be tourist for two days and see the Pyramids, and we couldn't be more excited about it!

Busiest market I have ever been in. We were informed later that it was only this busy due to ramadan.
This is nothing in particular. I just thought the arabic was pretty.
This was the day of the first Cowboys game...and of course, Ben had to show his spirit :)

our faith calls us not to stress our own rights, but, as Christ, to deny and empty ourselves, preferring the interests of others above our own (Philippians 2:1-11)

Yesterday we were having a conversation with a man and he threw in there that he hates women....and that I speak bad arabic.


Sound it out....sssss-bbbbb-rrrr-iiiiii-tttt-eeee.
Sprite!
This is our armed guard, asleep.

We thought about buying watches, but this is even better. It lets me know when it is 8:00, 12:00, 3:30, 6:30, and even 5:00 A.M. :) BL

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Well today is the start of ramadan so everything is closed. We are stuck in our apartment and I took this as the perfect time to update our blog. Here is us saying our goodbyes to everyone in the States :)

The Long Family at my graduation
Couldn't have done it without you :)

I did it...woohoo!!!
Making Jackson take a picture with us haha

Kate wanted one

The best picture ever. This is hanging in our new apt here in Egypt. Our home group leaders Emily and Clay had a going away party for us. We love them!
Ben's best friend, Rob. I luff you
Kelley's bachelorette party!
Our sweet pastor, Beau
Our last sunday at The Village
This is sir Maddox, I may have favored and spoiled him in Little Village....
Can't you see why :)
Giving our final hugs to our dear friends Kristen and Jonathan

We miss and love you all
Grace,
Sarah

Thursday, August 20, 2009

We have arrived!

We just found that we have a balcony!!
This is our next door neighbor. Every mosque lights up green and plays the holy prayer 5 times a day on their loud speakers. Tonight is the night before ramadan, the islamic holy month.
Arabic street signs

Traffic

Me in the back
Ben in the front of the cab
A huge mosque on our way to carrefour

The Road our apartment is on
The sun setting on the tip of Africa as we approach Egypt.

Last night Ben and I arrived at our new home in Cairo. We got in around midnight, which was perfect because we were exhausted from our 24 hour travel. We live in a town outside of Cairo called Maadi, and we love it already! I will post some pictures of our apartment tomorrow when we finish cleaning. We took a cab to a huge store/market called carrefour and I took some pictures of the city on the way just to give you an idea of what it is like. Some areas are different then others, you never know what you are going to see!