October 1, 2003

Suddenly traveling seems like a thoroughly pleasant experience rather than an endless series of waiting at checkpoints and the whims of various soldiers. We arrived in Cairo after a long but relatively painless crossing out of Israel, though the same couldn't be said for our colleagues who work in Jordan - they got bumped from their flight and will try again tomorrow.

We met up with the rest of the PCUSA contingent at Ramses Girls' College. This is one of many institutions run by the Coptic Evangelical (Presbyterian) Church here in Egypt. It was good to reunite with friends and colleagues, including those whom we have come to know in Iraq and Lebanon, in Cyprus, and during orientation in Louisville.

After some pizza and ping-pong, it was off to Beit as-Salam Presbyterian Retreat Center in Agamy, not far from Alexandria. Along the way we made a stop to refresh at a roadside mall/oasis where the lowlight was the lion cub on a leash with which you could get your picture taken (we abstained).

The evening's highlight was dinner at the Africana Hotel, hosted by members of the local Alexandria Presbyterian church. Upon arrival at the restaurant, the power went out, which in an odd way helped us feel at home.

Some suitable artwork for our time by the Sea.

The Retreat Center in Agamy is dramatically beautiful. We will be here for three days recharging our batteries and getting caught up on what is happening in the rest of the PCUSA world as we know it in the Middle East.