Tues July 18th Part 2 Two hours that reminded me that God is in the details of ALL His Children's Lives

This post is one really for me and some friends who are generous with their “sacred funds” they give to me when I go on a mission trip. Others of course are welcome to read it but again this is not really about the Medical Mission & the Op Smile kids it’s about an opportunity to “be on Gods mission” and be a conduit for the goodness of others in ways I never seem to be aware of before I leave my home….and will definitely be the most memorable part of this trip to Cairo.

As I mentioned in my first post regarding Cairo I had reached out to the branch (congregation) president in Cairo (Nathan Ayer). He leads an “English” congregation that has existed informally in Egypt for 30 years largely for Americans & foreigners living in Egypt. Mostly people who work in the US or other Embassy’s or large businesses. He connected me to the current president (Marcous) of the “Arabic Branch” which is comprised of about 70 local members 30% Egyptian & 70% Sudan refugees. Before I left the states Pres. Marcous identified some things he would like me to bring & I was able to purchase those & pack them with me to Cairo. He then reached out to me yesterday asking if I could meet him last night at 8:30. I originally said yes then as plans for the team dinner changed asked him if he could come before 7:30 our planned departure time. He said he would be by at 5:30 & after my touring day & my rest I set my alarm to meet him in the hotel lobby. I knew he had some needs for school supplies but did not have the details & honestly was praying & hoping that either thru him or other needs I would be able to appropriately spend the funds I was given in a way to bless God’s children in Egypt.

I told him what I was wearing & waited for him in the lobby. He arrived & we immediately started talking – nonstop for 90 min. He shared with me that until 6-7 years ago the church sent church leaders to Cairo to meet with members but about 7 years ago they formalized the English Branch & the leader at that time was a man named Spencer Penrod who worked at the US Embassy. Brother Marcous was raised by a Catholic Father & Orthodox mother & did not belong to any church at that time. He had worked in Embassy’s in Africa & drove for diplomats & tutored them in languages before he moved to Cairo. This new church leader Bro Penrod hired Mr. Marcous to be his Arabic tutor. He shared that Bro. Penrod had dedicated his life to God and to the Middle East & that thru Bro Penrod God started a huge plan for him personally and Gods children in Egypt.

Bro. Marcous met with Bro Penrod every day for 3 years & in that time Bro Penrod knew he was in the presence of a special man, a man who taught him about God, mentored him in service & changed his life. After 3 years of this influence of Bro. Penrod. Bro Marcous became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Bro Penrod has since left Egypt but his leadership and influence live on thru Bro Marcous. In 2018 the Arabic Branch of the church was formed & a few years later Bro Marcous was asked to lead that Arabic Branch as he does today.  They have 2 couple missionaries who are here to do humanitarian work in the branch & in the country. Church members in both congregations may not contact Muslims. The church is no recognized by the Egyptian Government, but they have a positive non antagonistic relationship. There are 18-20 million Christians in Egypt most belong to the Egyptian Orthodox or “Coptic” Christian Church. As I said their congregation has 70 members & about 150 “investigators” he says he must look for seeds of faith in the investigators to know their heart if about Christ. He said that there are missionaries around the world learning Arabic & they do video lessons with Arabic speaking people throughout the world interested in the church. He also said that there are more & more church resources in Arabic – he feels this is all part of Gods work in Egypt.

We then talked about the needs in the branch…I was tearful the entire time & apologized to him for my emotions that were so tender & raw & on the surface. He shared there are not many opportunities for Sudanese in Egypt as they are discriminated against as refugees & based on their skin color. (FYI there are 7 million refugees in Egypt from many countries). He said that someone working 12 hours a day cleaning or in another labor job might earn $100/month & rent in the poorest areas just above the slums is $150/month so 2 parents working these hours can barely survive w/ their children. They all need help with food & the church supplies rice, oil, sugar & other items to most members. When he recently met with a church leader from Salt Lake he was guided to focus on Education & food for the members to help them attain a better life. So that is where the needs are in 2 ways….first for the children in the branch. They can attend the public schools but are required to wear uniforms (including tennis shoes) and but their own school supplies. To send one child to school may cost $40 a year for the unform, and shoes & supplies. Families with even 2 children can typically not afford to send both children to school. They may send the oldest one or not send any. Pres Marcous wants all the children in the branch to go to school next year & has been praying for a way to make that happen. There are 10 families with 28 children – 7 families have both parents & 3 families are led by single mothers. 28 children required about $1200 for school. He is also trying to get 4 adults into a 3-6 month long “technical training program” to teach them a trade where they can get a higher job & improve their life. The program is led by an organization called Don Bosco (I think it is an NGO?) and is being overseen by a District President in Lebanon who is the self-reliance leader for the church in the middle east.  There are fees to attend. Church members get a 20% discount, church donations can cover 70% & the individual has to pay 10% which is about $300 for the 3 mos of most programs or $100/month – which remember may be all they are earning now to support their family. Plus they have to cut out some work hours.     

Our time was coming to an end. I had exchanged $500 USD into Egyptian pounds that I had for him & gave to him I also mentioned that I had some another $500 in US dollars & he said that US dollars had an even higher rate “on the black market” (sounded sketchy but I let that one go as Hanan said that too yesterday) I gave him all of it without hesitation & knowing this was how God wanted some of his children in Egypt lifted by others…my truly amazing friends. He apologized he could not give me personal receipts due to the situation of the church in Egypt but said that it would all be recorded & accounted for  & registered on the system in the name of “church of Jesus Christ Admin” & said he wanted me to tell Pres Ayer exactly how much I was giving him & they would both be accountable for these sacred funds. Then I asked him to wait & I went to my hotel room & got all the cash I had plus cash from my roommate cause I could pay her back & all together gave him enough money for all the children in the branch to go to school & to support 2 single moms in the Don Bosco program.  I knew that was what I was to do….Yes I had spent money before I left & yes I bought formula for that sweet mom at screening (fortunately I used my credit card on both those purchases leaving more cash that I brought with me). In that moment none of that mattered. I mentioned to the Clinical Coordinator I had funds of there were mission needs & didn’t get a sense that they had big needs as this mission is self-funded by a kind & wealthy man from the UAE who is here w/us…so I am pretty sure if they have a need they would go to him first…his pockets are definitely deep & he is a generous man…Everything I had from others & my own money I brought needed to go to Pres. Marcous. When that happened he got very emotional & neither of us spoke for many minutes. He asked if I could attend the branch to meet these children or families on Friday for church service but I cannot – it’s a surgery day & he asked if he could send me photos in the future of who is blessed by these funds & I said of course…so I will never meet them & neither will my friends but I know someday we may have a grand reunion in heaven & understand how our lives intersected for a brief time in Cairo Egypt…in ways I could never have imagined, with money I thought may have been too much & that I possibly would return partially to my friends but know…our sacred funds were the answer to the faith of the leaders and a group of people in the Arabic Branch in Cairo.

When our time ended & he left & I headed to dinner he sent me these texts…”Sister Nancy there is such unlimited and unconditional love from the saints in your area. May God bless all of their lives & God bless the heart and the daughter of God that was carried here to this country to help us”

Yep more tears….How blessed am I to exercise faith myself as I go into countries blindly praying that God will direct me to where I am to use this money. I also know others pray for me to be led & watched over on my missions. Together we assist with and watch miracles unfold & lives of people we will never know changed for the better….I still have a “full medical mission ahead of me but if I had to go home today I would have fulfilled the purpose for which I was unexpectedly asked to come on this mission back in May when I knew nothing of what I know today.