A THIRD part?! Yes... It's been THAT long since I last blogged, and Egypt was THAT good...!
A few days later, our Egyptian scenery was exchanged once again: for Dahub, a coastal town that earns its keep through diving on the coral reef and luring the tourists into "special only for you deals" in one of the supporting attractions.
As I wrote this, I sat looking out over the Red Sea at Saudi Arabia. We finally have
some time to reflect on everything we've been learning, hearing, seeing and experiencing over the past few weeks. That and doing a little snorkelling of course...
A (slightly) less packed schedule also allowed for more time to spend just wandering the streets of Dahub, meeting, chatting and making friends with anyone who was keen. And many were keen - I have been so touched by the friendliness of the people we have met. Even in broken English, they strike up a conversation and next thing you know, you are being ushered into a seat for Beduin tea or ice cold Hibiscus juice. And if you say you'll come back to visit again, you'd better make sure you do - next time you walk past they will remember and ask you why you didn't come as you had promised.
One such man was "David", a manager of a business in Dahub and a Christian born into the Coptic Church. I was struck by David - his genuineness in the way he spoke, and his sincere hunger to just be able to talk with another Christian. There is no church in Dahub, and the believers do not regularly meet together. David's eagerness for fellowship was almost tangible. One evening we were with him, we prayed that he would be blessed in his business, such that it would be an undeniable testimony of God's favour in his life. When we returned the next day, he very excitedly reported that sales had indeed thrived that day. ...coz that's the God we serve! Please remember David in your prayers.
We are in Israel for a few days, and then return for a night to Cairo from where we will fly to Maylasia and then overland on to Thailand. Hopefully my next update will come sooner than this last one did... :o)