Just a little favor

A lot of heavy things are happening right now, friends. My mind is stretched and my heart aches. I can't say much more, but I'm asking for prayer as I make decisions. Pray for my safety and my heart. Pray for my family back home, and my family here. Oh, and i'm still sick, please pray that I can kick this cough!

Thank you.
much love in Christ,
Amanda

Just keep Swimming.

So it's been a while. It's been a crazy month. I feel like I have so much to say and yet no words. So i'll try anyway. :)

It's September and that means the start of school for the kiddos. K started a couple weeks ago and it was going well until she was out sick for a few days getting the rest of the house sick. This nasty flu/cold thingamajig kept A from missing his first week of school and kept us all cranky once we got it. I'm slowly recovering myself :) But the kids are looking up which is good! K is excelling in school, she's ahead of all her classmates in many areas and was the first student to open the teacher's treasure box for completing a booklet. When I saw her coming off the bus with her prize, i jumped up and down and hollered a "Woo-Hoo". Needless to say, the bus maiden thinks i'm nuts, but my girl knows i'm proud. That's what matters, right?

I'm sure a lot of you are curious about how things are with the events of last week. If you don't know what i'm talking about, the American Embassy in Cairo was attacked by protesters and a flag was torn down and burned. That same week Americans were killed at a consulate in Libya, and several other embassies were attacked all over the Arab world. Seeing as I live in Cairo it causes many of us to stop and question what it's like. Honestly, things don't feel much different than before. Vague threats from Obama, even more vague responses from Morsi. But i'm in no immediate danger. No more than I was when I first came. At this particular moment i'm still here. It could change, but now i'm here.

Things I'm looking forward to:
The chance of rain i just heard about- how weird would that be? :)
This weird alignment of planets over the Pyramids at the end of the month that only happens every few thousand years- if it can be seen through the smog.
A starting pre-school! He's going to be slightly traumatized by being left there, but i think he'll love it and thrive once he's comfortable.
My boss is trying to snag me a copy of one the top selling books in the middle east right now. It's about the Revolution and is completely out of stock. Her friend is the author and is looking around. If not, it's on Amazon, but a hard copy from the author would be cool!


I've been busy, sick, tired, happy, confused, homesick, and loved over the past couple weeks. All I know, no matter what, I am thankful. God is good no matter what. It may seem bad, or scary, or inconvenient, but He provides my daily bread in every form. I can't complain. I trust Him and I'll follow Him no matter what that plan may be. Pray for me in that, please.

God Bless,
Amanda

A little bit of life

Sometimes my thoughts and emotions just overwhelm me.  Sometimes that's why I can't write. Other times it's because I don't feel like I have anything to say. Who wants to read random thoughts, right? Then I get complaints, "Why haven't you blogged? You're behind on posts you know..etc" But I can't. I can't write a crappy post just for the sake of posting. Now though? NOW i'm in one of those moods where I HAVE to write. I have to get these jumbled up thoughts out no matter what they turn into. Apologies in advance ;)

Let's start with the fact that I have been so incredibly blessed with my host family. I can't even express what it's like to be here. Yeah, it's often a crazy mix of emotions and figuring things out. It's a 'do you just say "Bless you" when the two year old sneezes, or do you teach him to say 'Hamdelelah' because it's muslim tradition?' kind of situation. When the response to things is supposed to be: Thank God, God Willing, or God Bless what do I do? We aren't trusting/speaking to the same God..So I can't give the impression that I am..but it's rude. It's really not too difficult. It's not something that comes up as often as you'd think, but it does on occasion. Keeps me on my toes. :) Long story short though? I love these people. M is a very special friend during a special time in my life. I love that the two yr old, A, and I have our own bedtime routine. I love that K shares all the good things she did in school that day so I'll tell her I'm proud. I'm thankful that M and I are so on the same page about my place here. To replace no one, but to be a friend and tool in the training up of some amazing kids. Cookie taste tester has been added to my job description, and if you know me at all you already know this is hard. Not the eating part, but the critiquing. Today I got a lecture because I said the brownie cookie was nice even though it was slightly dry. haha..I'm learning to pay closer attention to detail, and not just with cookies :) All in all, I can hardly remember the awkward days when I first arrived. I'm now a functioning member of this foreign family!

I'm learning a lot about myself. It's kind of funny, but really eye opening. M often says she thinks i'm here for a bigger reason than just the kids. I'm here to find myself-as cliche as that sounds, I whole heartedly think it's true. I've been stripped away from everything I know. No family. No friends. No church. Just me and Jesus hangin out in the Middle East together. He's totally taking care of me. I'm being stretched and grown and it's incredible. Tomorrow I'm going to my new church for the 3rd week in a row. I have a couple "friends" who I catch up with all while meeting new people every week too. I enjoy and connect with the sermons. I'm adjusting to the style of worship. I'm thriving in the fellowship. Have you ever stood in the same place with people from ALL OVER THE WORLD singing and just worshiping the risen Christ? I have..and you're missing out if you haven't. I miss Redeemer. I miss the people who have supported me for most of my life. I miss my pastor. I miss my pew at the front of the sanctuary where there is little distraction and my family beside me. I love Redeemer Church..and I always will, but I feel like something clicked now that I'm at MCC. I can't explain it..just know that i'm good. Not only am I around other Americans, but I'm around other christians every week. and it's awesome. :) I'm hoping to get some Arabic lessons started in the next few weeks- all the locals I've met have told me I have a knack for the language. It would be pretty great to communicate better. Pray for guidance and a flexible schedule!

So my friends and family. I'm HAPPY. I'm exhausted most days- between nearly 12 hour days and the polluted air it's inevitable. But I love my work. I love the people I live with. I love the food(i've become quite adventurous with it by the way). This country, with all of it's history and heart ache and confusion is making its' way into my heart. They say once you take a drink from the Nile you always come back(or something like that) and I feel like after a few sips i'm already hooked. God is so good. I can't ever say that enough. Thankfully, I never have to stop. 

Amanda

oh. and Happy Birthday, Dad :) Miss and love you!!

Life is..?

Things I could probably live without:

-The lizards I find all over my room- including in my bed.

-The cockroach we killed in the living room.

-Not knowing what people are saying 90% of the time.

-Having to be driven around, rather than driving myself.

-Sweating from just sitting outside.

-Having to brush my teeth with bottled water because my stomach still gets queasy.

-Cleaning nail polish off my 2 yr olds hands.

Things I love:

-When a little boy comes running Into the room saying, "Danuh! Danuh! Pee pee hamem! Good boy!" after he successfully used the toilet ;)

-Looking through my photos with K and telling her all about each person and event.

-Laughing with my boss. We have some really great moments.

-Baskin Robins ice cream and Egyptian cuisine together.

-A behavior chart that ends the day with a perfect score(for the kids, not me ;))

-Finding a hundred pictures of K in the same pose on my phone.

-Dance parties with balloons.

-Long talks with old friends despite the distance.

-The endless possibilities of my future :)


Life is crazy. Lots of love and laughter. Lots of sadness and heartache. Endless Ups and downs. But my faith is strong and my heart is full of hope.

Life is Good.

Don't drink the water..

There wasn't any actual water drinking involved..only sealed bottled water anyway. I was sick though. for a few days, too. ew. I have to say that it's pretty embarrassing when you have flu like symptoms, one boss sends you to bed in the middle of your work day, and the other boss takes wonderful care of you. Yes, it was embarrassing--it was also a wonderful testament to the people I work for. They made sure I had proper medicine, foods to eat, a doctor came to see me and  they also insisted I had adequate time off. I was so so thankful for them this past week. I'm feeling good as new now and closer with my "family" then before.

Ramadan is nearing it's finish and my "typical" day will change yet again. On the table for discussion right now is whether we will fly to Sharm El Sheikh for Eid(The Festival of fast-Breaking). Its a 3 day feast, or something like it, after Ramadan. Sharm El Sheikh is worth a Google Image Search. It's a gorgeous place at the Red Sea..i'm hoping to get a little diving in if we go :) It'll be nice when school starts and things are more settled. 

Speaking of the Red Sea..today I drove over the Nile again..it just blows my mind to think this huge river was blood at one time. Or that I may get to swim in the very water that God parted for the Israelites. I mean..whoa. I literally live minutes from the pyramids. I drove by those today as well..and I couldn't help but read some of Exodus when I got back home. I want to soak it all in. Give God all the glory. Let Him into my life to over power the Islam that coats my life here. In the same hour that I marveled over the Nile, I walked by a building that had  "RIP Bin Laden" in Graffiti on it. I saw a little boy no older than 7, who washing cars on the side of a road, with his family for money and dressed in rags. I later stood in the place where hundreds of people have died fighting for their freedom and haven't gotten very far. It was a sobering day.  It's going to be a humbling year. I was thankful to get back to my private room, in my house with guards, to order a pizza and eat oreos. It makes me ready to go back to my real home to help my sister pick a college. To see my cousins get married. To be comfortable. But please tell me where in scripture it says to be comfortable? Tell me what reasons other than selfishness and fear that I would abandon this awfully beautiful place? Think on that one. Something is happening here. I'm not sure what, but I can't quit. Check out this conversation:

M: Need anything from the Pharmacy?

Me: Some nail polish remover and hand soap, please!

K: Amanda, it's not good to wear nail polish. You can't pray.

M: It's okay, K.

K: Amanda, DO you pray? 

Me: Yes, I do pray.

K: But you cant have a manicure when you pray!

M: K, she prays but she prays differently than we do..

K: oh..*sits quietly*

My boss proceeded to explain to me what K meant about wearing nail polish. Basically they wash in a certain way to cleanse before they pray and the nail polish blocks the nails and so they aren't pure. That's not my point though. I'm DIFFERENT. Kids notice these things. She knows I look different. She knows I speak differently. She knows I don't fast during ramadan, and she's asked why. She knows I pray, but she knows its not like her family. I don't know if i'm here just to learn and to expose. I don't know if i'm planting seeds and/or if i'll see any fruit. I don't know God's plan for me other than my goals as a Nanny. But I know that he's big. I know that he's more powerful than any being. I know that he can use regular, imperfect me..in whatever way he chooses. So i'm here with arms open asking Him to take me and break me and use me for his purpose only. I miss home..but I'm needed here..maybe for more than just potty training. Pray that the Lord equips me with whatever it is I need. I'm nothing without HIM and he will provide.

    

                                   I'll leave you with a few shots from my trip to the city today:

Told ya there are pyramids!

Nile

The next two are in Tahrir Square

<3 Amanda

Basbousa, Kunafa, Qatayef

It's obvious that I would run into some culture differences when I move to a different continent, right? Well, it's true. Everything from when you eat your big meal to when the weekend is. Nothing really mind blowing, but enough to make things a little complicated. I think the biggest influence is being in a Muslim home. I would say that the majority of the time it's not even noticeable where I am, but Ramadan has changed that a little. As most of you know(I think I mentioned it before) Ramadan is a time of fasting in the religion of Islam. It's considered a Holy month- the month the Qur'an came to earth. It a time to be thankful for what you've been given. You fast to appreciate things more and do charitable deeds. During this month we have Iftar. It means fast breaking and it's the meal we eat at sundown. Normally, breakfast is around 10am, lunch is the large meal eaten mid afternoon, and dinner is a much smaller meal in the evening. During Ramadan the kids and I eat a much smaller breakfast and lunch in order to join those who are fasting for Iftar then enjoy one of the desserts listed in the title of this post :). We've even had guests for Iftar a few times which has been an interesting experience. The children's grandmother joined us last night and she was the first woman I have witnessed praying since i've been here. I often see my male employer praying and his son in law when he visits as well, but no women. She also covered her hair and such. My female employer and her step daughters don't do that. ever. It's amazing how different generations can be. We witness that in the States as well, don't we? Think about the life your grandmother lived, and the things you're surrounded by and even taking part in? Just something to ponder. The most recent culture difference that has messed me up is the way the holidays are here. Friday is the day off so that the men can pray at the mosque. This means that most churches hold their worship services on Fridays as well since people have the day off of work. My boss wasn't even aware of this since we both assumed protestants still worshiped on Sundays and the contract states my holiday is Sunday. Well, she's awesome and thinks it's really important I go to church to get my own life and make friends so she's allowing me to switch my day off. win. I have to say i'm majorly blessed by this family. I can't wait to get connected! I think it's really important that I become more involved where I am and less focused on whats happening where I'm not. 

Things are really taking off here when it comes to relationships in the house. M and I are really starting to be good friends and I'm in high demand with the kids. Just yesterday, M and I were tag teaming getting A ready for a nap after a shower and helping K measure to see if she's grown. Every time I went to help K, A would call for me and vice versa. It's tiring, but good for the heart :) I've also established a time-out routine for my 2 yr old that is somewhat effective. Progress. it's all slow, but it's still progress. 

I have a couple prayer requests. That I would get into a routine that keeps my energy up. I'm so exhausted these days--even with a 2 hour break in the middle--working 7:30am to nearly 8:30pm leaves me with barely enough motivation to shower(don't worry I still do ;)). Also, that it would be a clear task in choosing a church. There are two, in the Maadi area where a lot of foreigners live, that i'm considering. One is a little more contemporary and the other seems more traditional. Both are actually held on the same property just at different times..so at least I only have to find one place! :) Lastly, a lot of you know about my previous work situation. It was a very stressful experience, and though I loved my charge, my boss and I never saw eye to eye about much. It weighed heavily on me and caused our separation to be less than ideal. I was always doing things outside of my job description and it became somewhat of a norm. Please pray that I can have wisdom and discernment in this new home. So far things have been wonderful, and actually my boss has brought more things to my attention than I have noticed, but I need to stay on guard as we become more comfortable that we don't fall into habits that will be harder to be broken than prevented. I like working here and I like living here. I am just trying to find the balance and blend of both parts. Pray for me in that way, please! 

Thank you for your faithfulness thus far in reading about what i've been doing. Hopefully, soon, I'll be venturing out into the real world a little more! 

Amanda

A month in photos