Sunday, February 25, 2007

Cairo & New Friends

Cairo is city of about 16 million people. Crowded beyond belief. Traffic that downright dangerous. Air pollution that is already effecting Shawn and I after only one day. Most of the people are poor. Still, it is an amazing place.






If you're feeling bad for me, don't This is where I ate lunch with one of our Presbyterian missionaries, Dusty Ellington. He's a great guy and a gracious host.















Dusty teaches Greek and New Testament here, at the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Cairo (ETSC).






This is a school Presbyterians started for the training of local pastors way back in around 1860. In 1925 the moved to their current site. The building is a mix of old-run -down, with some nicely refurbished rooms. 10% of Egypt is Christian and 10% of Christians are Evangelical Protestants. We have some good people here doing some great work. We finished the night at another missionarie's home for a birthday party for two missionary kids.
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One more interesting sight.

Cairo is an ancient city and has several large cemeteries where the dead are placed in mausoleums. Oddly enough, over 100 years ago poor people started living in these "Cities of the Dead", sharing these rooms with the departed. They have to leave when a family has to come and visit. This is a shot of one of them.





Tomorrow we meet the group and then on to Luxor.