July 17 - 18, 2007

Tuesday I left Dale working at the hotel and headed into Ma’adi. I met Jen and Fiona, and we went to see Shrek 3. I loved it, and we had a lovely coffee afterwards, but I sure missed Joel. He would have remembered way more funny lines, and would have had us in stitches all over again. I checked in on the cats again before heading out to the Cell Group. I even managed to find my way there and back by myself, with a little help from the map. What a good feeling.
Wednesday we headed into Ma’adi again for a visit to the apartment and after giving the cats loads of attention, decided to check out the new apartment that we are supposed to be helping move into on Saturday. I am still hopeful, but Dale isn’t. Wish us luck that it is ready. The hotel is lovely, but I spend an awful lot of time going back and forth. We then popped into the Virgin Mary Coptic Church which is on the Cornich (Nile Riverbank). Its claim to fame is that Mary, Joseph and Jesus visited there while in Ma’adi. We lit candles and said prayers for all our family and friends. It was very moving. Afterwards we visited Coptic Cairo. This is such a unique place. It houses a Synagogue, a Greek Orthodox Church and three Coptic Churches within its walls. It is believed that Mary, Joseph and Jesus spent a month there in a cave that we were able to go into. Abu Serga: The Church of St. Sergius http://touregypt.net/featurestories/serga.htm The enclosed well was used by them as well, and is currently used for Baptism’s and Holy Water.

It is really moving to see and touch such an important part of our history. The Hanging Church (4th Century) – named because it was built on top of the Water Gate of Roman Babylon – is just down the road. http://www.phouka.com/pharaoh/egypt/photos/cairo/coptic/00coptic.html Artifacts usually only seen in Museums are hung on the walls or sitting out in the open, as they are still being used. Phenomenal. We were then treated to Egyptian Tea by our guide in a small walled in garden behind one of the shops. Lots of local flavour.
More to come tomorrow.
Love,
Laurel