Camel Cruising in Cairo

Just to prove that I am in Egypt I have to share this photo with you... it was totally fun to get on the back of this camel right by the Giza pyramid!
Our first day in Egypt we were blessed to have some tourist experiences - not all positive, but part of the package.
A driver met us at the guest flat at 10.00 and we went to exchange some money. While waiting for each other I saw a large street dog trotting past the bank, an obvious mother with hanging teats of milk. I wondered if I would see more pitiful creatures of the streets like I had in Bali, Indonesia... a far cry from my own little bundle of fur back home in Holland.
The bank process took a long time by western standards and the only thing to do was wait until the person helping us was off the phone and done helping the guy in front of us... all in all a good 20 minute wait, nothing by African standards.
As we walked back to the car and started out into the mainstream of crazy Cairo traffic, I saw that same dog trotting back, carrying a dead kitten in her mouth. Food is food to a street dog, I guess... just hard to see it and the image stays with me.
On our way to south Cairo the city seems endless and we learn there are 20 million people living here next to the Nile! Cairo, city of contrasts... donkeys used everywhere next to motorbikes, buses and battered cars.... patches of rice paddies and plots of farmland between appartment buildings. None of the buildings seem finished - all are concrete grey because they are not required to finish the outsides, only the inside appartments. Minarets, ornately decorated mosques, and suddenly the backdrop of two pyramids rising above the skyline, seemingly just an extension of the city.
We're at the pyramids and what can only be explained as a rush of potential tour guides crowd in upon us. Everyone talking, shouting, pushing.... and our driver chooses one. He 'sells' us a guided tour of the pyramids on horseback (the other options were on foot or by camel)... there is a short tour and a long tour. We go for the longer tour and pay the price up front. We learn later that the price was outrageously high by Egyptian standards (30USD per person) and our hosts here are embarassed that we were "taken in" by the guide. We decide to not get discouraged by this and chalk it up to learning the culture.
We enjoyed being on horses in the desert among camels and pyramids - our 'picture' of Egypt complete. But I am bothered by the poor shape of the beasts we burdened... the skinny and stunted horses with cuts and scars underneath their bridles and saddles... their fear of the whip our guide carried. I kept far from the guide's horse and promised my horse a gentle ride with no running, tho the guide wanted us to run. On our way back to the flat, Johnny saw a dead horse in a gully. I'm glad I didn't see it.
So, for a few hours we were tourists and basically took it all in while we could, knowing that this coming 2 weeks will be very full.
In the evening we met with other YWAMers in a staff meeting and, on our way down the steps, Johnny misstepped and fell, twisting his ankle. It was obviously very painful for him and we prayed immediately. This was also our wake-up call as a team to join together in prayer. We realized that the enemy was trying to discourage and hinder us and we knelt before the Lord, asking His covering, cleansing.
In the meeting we led a time of worship and then I shared about the Call2Worship vision. Our brothers and sisters there prayed from their hearts for us, blessing us, anointing us. We are so grateful and thankful for this family here. Especially the leaders, Magdy and Annelise have been so wonderful and fun and I feel an immediate connection with them.
After the meeting, which ended at 20.30 we go out for dinner. Typical Egyptian - dinner after 8 in the evening! We had a feast of Egyptian foods set on our table and enjoyed every lick... from the sesame dips and shewarmas to camel meat! Amazing... and had our fill of food and fellowship, tucking ourselves into bed finally sometime after midnight.
The morning and the evening of the first day....

Today we leave for the desert - an hour and a half drive to Wadi Natrun where we'll meet up with the School of Worship staff and enter into our mission.
I covet your prayers and I'm very aware that we really need people to pray for us while we're hear. Thanks for joining us in this battle for worship.