Concrete to Country

talk about culture shock! being in the country today, I saw so many extreme differences, I had to photo blog it! First, I have to tell you.....when we got to Egypt, I hated brushing my teeth - the water there is NEVER cold! Until I became adjusted to it...I forgot..until I brushed my teeth here last week Th night..and Friday morning..and....every time after....THE WATER HERE IS TOO COLD NOW! hurts my teeth!

LOL

you know you're in the country in Michigan and not in the concrete desert of Cairo when you see bear hides hanging and maple trees running with sap into buckets! And when you can sit out back and roast over an open fire and make all the noise you want without a care in the world for who hears you!

GET YOUR HAND OUT OF THAT BEAR'S MOUTH, JASMINE, BEFORE YOUR GRANDMOTHER WALKS BY!
lol



the giant old trees reserving their energy for spring....so haunting and beautiful!


chickens in the neighbors yard as we went for a walk


hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire

Where I need to be

First, I wanted to show you how much fun the kids are having on their bikes! :) With 2 layers on bottom and 3 layers on top, they keep warm riding their bikes. Jasmine is so fast now, when we went on the road, I had to jog beside her! Way to go, girly!








So many of you have lovingly supported me as I act like a toddler about having to return to the US ;)

Today, tho I may not be where I want to be....I was were I needed to be....

I had a beloved friend give me some encouraging reminders via skype this morning, the Holy Spirit used that to remind me of some other things while in the shower...and as I drove to my friend Tanya's church today, I actually enjoyed the sights around me. I opened my eyes....I can praise God in the storm and I will praise God in the storm. There is a storm within my heart, to be sure! But I was able to see His glory in creation...

3 turkeys waddled across the road while we waited

8 deer stood in a field waiting for spring planting

plenty of plump cows and horses adorned the farms

and hills roll alongside us

I also was right where I should be, at Tanya's church and with her family. I was not ready for a church where I was 'recognized' - but God had me at her church for another reason....to remember that each day we must surrender..right where I'm at! And to hear other people talk who had been brought to the US and this was no longer their home...to hear other's hearts who were bleeding like mine....

and to hear my kids reunite with her kids as if no time passed....

today...I was right where I needed to be and each of you have been instrumental in helping me see that - thru words of encouragement when you "get" what I'm feeling and thru prayers and support...THANKS! now enjoy the moments i enjoyed today! Thanks for looking!

Love from Michigan,
Wendy




Joshua is truly a Michigander! 36, sunny...no coat....window is down....BRRRRR! I have not acclimated as much as him *yet*

From Joshua

these are photos off his iTouch from his last day at school and his trip from Egypt to Michigan. Thanks for looking!

Note from Wendy

More things I am noticing...

1. sunrise in Egypt was around 5 am, sunset 5:30 pm
here sunrise around 7 and sunset around 9 and NO call to prayers - so silent in the country, my ears seriously are still ringing. I'm not complaining either way, just an observation.

2. at the grocery store yesterday, I was asked if I needed anything more, I said
"La, nnnno, thanks" that was an Arabic no mixed in with a stuttered English answer! LOL

3. I also ran into a man's cart and said "mmmmmmm sorry" I almost apologized in Arabic! lol

4. Driving was odd!!!! I was the only one on the road, I felt very odd! not sure how to describe it at all.

~Thanks for listening to my little rambles~

men mSr le Michigan

From Egypt to Michigan.

Joshua beat us! While we did pass overtop of him (they saw us on radar) at the tip of Greenland yesterday, they didn't go to Chicago first! ;) The trip for them went very smoothly, so after topping off and checking out the airplane in Goose Bay Canada, Rob decided to push on. Joshua arrived in Michigan around 4 pm. Anas and Rob will continue onto Kansas today. Please pray for Anas' family still! At least Rob can rest for a while and then push to find *ANY* job...it's not like that in Egypt. Anas can't switch social status and there isn't jobs...and the entire pilot industry...well....US can't even hold a candle to it!

Jasmine and I had smooth trips. We had a bit of turbulance, but nothing like we experienced on the way to Egypt 14 months ago. I didn't vomit even once and never even felt like it...

but what did happen is, I sobbed so hard that 2 flights, the crew wondered what they could do to give me a calmer ride, thinking that my problem was extreme fear of flying. The flight from Frankfort to Chicago, there was one Egyptian family sitting behind us to the right across the aisle in the 747. The first time I heard them talking and laughing, I turned and stared at them and smiled. They smiled back and I greeted them good morning in Arabic..the were surprised, greeted me back. The daughter (was a mother and 2 her son, daughter who were at least my age themselves). The daughter asked me how I knew Arabic and I told her that we were just moving from Egypt back to Michigan. we didn't talk alot, they were Egyptian Americans, so they have the same boundaries Americans do. I don't want mine back - I talked to SO many people yesterday in the airport! and Poor Tanya! LOLOL - when I put my arm thru hers at the airport to walk - LOL!!!!!! she said "WENDY, WE ARE NOT IN EGYPT!"

lol

We had meals that supplied sustainance, but I have come to love the fruits and meats of Egypt. I'm sure I'll put my 20 lbs back on quickly with all the preservatives and junk here :( Neither jasmine nor I liked the taste of the meats neither on the plane or the airport and always went back for something vegetarian. THO I HAD 4 SALADS IN 24 HRS! ha ha ha! aaaaaaaah....lettuce! :) without Pharoah's Revenge! HA!

My parents thought of *everything* to make us at home and welcome us as long as we need to stay! My beloved friend Melanie was at the airport with her 2 sons. It was awkward for our kids together, BUT.....her boys had litle handmade gifts that really almost made me cry again, I felt SO welcomed! Melanie told me (she knows me WELL!, didn't ask! lol) told me she's coming to help me get our stuff out of storage and work with me to set the house back up - THANKS LOVE YA GIRL! Tanya offered, but they'll be heading some place warm as a family - GO WITH BLESSINGS, GIRLY!!

Each of us 3 have our own bedroom here for now! My mom got Joshua's food and we'll do some baking today! The heat in here is up to 73! they really are going all out to richly bless us and welcome us! The kids and I slept 9 straight hours last night! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a peek at our trip and Joshua's morning....
You can tell Jasmine cried from Cairo to Frankfort :( bless her heart! She shed a few tears the whole trip, but when we got ON the airplane (even before my tears turned to sobs), she started sobbing and talking about her school friends and teachers we left behind, then she really started carrying on when she got to our church families....





My parents brought up all the toy stuff we took to their basement before leaving...and had it ready for the kids.

Transitioning to Michigan - these were the notes I made in my head...

1. Egypt cured me of my bathroom OCD!
I walked right into the airplane bathroom, didn't think or feel anything...we used it and exited, i giggled and said to myself "Egypt cured me of my bathroom OCD!"

2. The jetway in Chicago brought a neat familiar feeling. I expected the cold winter air to "hurt" my nose and eyes - but honestly, it gave me a familiar feeling - i cherished that cold fresh feeling in my nose! and even when we left the airport in GR to walk to my truck, it was familiar and nice!

3. My truck! WOW it seemed SO big after not being inside anything that big! and WOW were we going FAST! lolololol Only to Ain Sokhna have I been over 35 mph for any length of time! And why my dad didn't go between two semi's on the white lane, bothered me for a bit! WATCH OUT GRAND RAPIDS, WHEN I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL, IT WON'T BE PRETTY! LOL

4. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm BACON IS COOKING BEHIND ME!! I can't wait to eat the bacon!

5. Back on topic ;) I'm just as scatterbrained and silly as when I left! The other thing I noticed was my lack of personal space which I'm sure to struggle with for awhile! At a deli in one of the airports, I walked right up and stood by these two women who looked at me in the familiar American unfriendly way and I wondered what i had done..then I realized how close I was standing to them! LOL

6. I told the German flight attendants thank you in Arabic EVERYTIME they brought us drinks! lol One of the attendants kept offering me wine, telling me it would help me ;) That made me laugh usually! He tried *so* hard to convince me! And the German flight attendants kept speaking to me in French! which made me laugh...the Egyptians thought I was Italian, the Germans (I'm mostly German a little Swedish) thought I was French and then I spoke Arabic - what a laugh this gave me.

Thanks for letting me ramble and put my thoughts out to remember. I've cried already this morning. I made a list of things to get from the grocery store. thankfully, my parents live ina smal town with a small (American-comparison) grocery store. So I won't be too overwhelmed! The kids want bacon for breakfast and ham for lunch, we're having pork chops for Supper. I'm bound to have the 20 lbs put back on before I leave my parents! so..Amy and Ade..no worries, I won't be 'too' skinny for too long!

Best tangible gift - was the nutty bars and swiss rolls that Tanya brought me! MMMM! I'm sure they'll help me put on some American rolls! LOL

Love from Michigan to my Egyptian and American friends,
Wendy

Weeping Wednesday

I think that says it all.

But in between the terrible-byes and the shared blessings....I got some great moments...and snapshots! Enjoy the last glimpse of Egypt....

Started the day at church - praying right here...for these nations.....don't want to forget!


Found my brothers today and had the BEST compliment EVER! Robert told me that I have been like a momma to them - most of them haven't had any mother figure since puberty.....they told me they got along before without a momma, but they really all felt like I was their momma...or big sister, when I said "HOW OLD DO YOU THINK I AM?!" lololol and we all laughed
Simon is on the right in the photo and Robert is on the left of the photo


Spring here is SO fragrant!!!!!!!!!! But the Jasmine trees are killing my allergies, I must confess ;) Not sure what this tree is, but it caught my eye! Had to share it with you.









Amy called me today and said "are you still eating your way thru the last days in Egypt?" LOLOL - yes I am!

I found a BK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO WAY! :( I'm so sad that I waited until today to find it...I didn't try it, cuz I wanted to go Egyptian and eat at one of their little restaurants - like our new shirts? Got one for my mom too!!!






*really* thank you for enjoying this journey thru the blog! thank you for prayers and encouragement for us, for our church, for the people of Egypt too!! The food ministry is still going on!! You can still maintain support at

www.maadicommunitychurch.com
egiving
community care

and watch God feed the multitudes!!

*thanks*

ma3salama, ya mSr!

go in peace, Egypt!

baHebbek, habibi!

Tummy-Ticklin' Tastey Tuesday

Joshua and I used to watch a show called Rolie Polie Olie when he was a wee one..it was the only way to make him sit still long enough to do his nebulizer breathing treatments for his asthma....and one of the sayings he would repeat for years....was tummy-ticklin' tastey. That's what they said on the show if their food was super! Well, in honor of my non-American pals, "if their food was suppa!" lol

Today I had breakfast with some treasured expat friends, lunch with more treasured expat friends and then took a girly trip on a falooca! One more float on the Nile after eating spicey boneless wings with Jasmine at TGI Friday's ON THE NILE!! So...today....I have had a tummy-ticklin tastey Tuesday! With fresh juices unique to Egypt and solid breads that make even German's happy ;)

Here's a glimpse!

Monday: Memories

Monday I got a driver and made a mad rush to the pyramids. I drank in the sights, sounds and smells of crossing the Nile and looking upon the small lush gardens that seem a country of their own..situated in the middle of the city with shanties and women washing laundry in the Nile and men and boys riding donkeys, working their small patches of land whie semi's, taxi's and cars rush thru their day atop the bridge over the small oasis of history.

As I approached the pyramids, I remembered the graduer of my first look. When Jasmine held onto me scared and Joshua ran off without a clue and filled with excitement and I lagged behind with jasmine...behind Anas and Rob who were talking business....and Anas turned and said "come on, Wendy, you alright?" and I was gaping in awe.....

I approached and stood in awe again...

but it only lasted a few seconds..since I was alone, 5 of the Egyptian men who give Egypt it's bad name....approached me....luckily this time, I heard them coming before I smelled them....and I took care of them before they got to me....white lady knew Arabic....responded to their remarks.....oopsie! Oh the shame they felt..and warned others to stay away!

I had some help from Egyptian family - to get myself a good camel ride and driver even! Bless their hearts!! I tried to take a photograph of everything I saw....

Joshua's asthma is flaring, so I didn't keep him out of school to join me in the desert. He left already this morning.....it seemed like madness! Monday madness! I decided to pack the last bag and send it with Rob. I came with 2 kids, 8 carry-ons, 11 suitcases...I decided THIS MORNING at 5:55, that Rob could return with 1 kid, 4 carry-ons and 9 bags! LOLOLOL! So it was Monday madness getting the last of it in.

There's not much left in here...that's tangible, that is.....the rooms are packed from floor to ceiling, wall to wall and the leaky windows are seeping with memories. Memories of first days of fear, uncertainty and PRAYER. Memories of first weeks of rollercoaster emotions when dealing with how to get food, how to homeschool, where to find drinking/cooking water easily and how to manuver in a taxi and walk the streets! Memories of how the kids and I worked through it with prayer, an amazing time of bonding between the three of us..memories of friends coming for a cuppa (meaning to have tea together) and for tea (meaning meals together)...memories of so much laughter, so much growth thru frustration and tolerance....memories.

Drinking in Egypt yesterday...here's a glimpse of a few more of my memories....


In Arabic, it says mSr which is "Egypt"









These little taxi-type cars are called "tawk-tawk"



Cannot get enough "delivery" photos! lol



I'd been wanting to get drinks from one of these little street places...so the driver made it happen! When we were done, I put our glass mugs on the top and he collected them along with 7 LE. MMM fresh mango with orange juice (mixed). Now THAT is going local!

I finally got the local egg delivery guy on camera! COOL!

The Citadel at night - Mohamed Ali Mosque - way cool sunset last night!

Had to show proof of my love for Sam! As he jumped onto my lap when I returned last night!