Changing Perspective

I'll be the first to admit it. I haven't lived in the most stable countries since I moved to the Middle East eight years ago. Some have called me crazy. Some have called me brave. Some just aren't really sure what to say.

The first three countries in the region which I have called home had varying levels (from little to quite a bit) of political unrest and issues with religious fundamentalists. I've had to deal with regular checkpoints along the roads; military men protecting the streets with big guns; inconveniences of needing travel papers to travel between cities; threat of foreigner kidnappings; people who don't like me because of my religion and/or country of origin, etc.

These guys are traffic police in a country I lived in.  You're
not supposed to take pictures of police and/or army so this
is the only picture I have.

We went through a checkpoint in a country I lived in and they
left our travel papers, giving us permission to travel, under a rock
on the side of the road.

Crazy? I don't think so.

Brave? Definitely not...I struggle with fear in a very real way!

Thirteen years ago, I gave my life completely to the One who gave His completely for me. It's been a wild ride which hasn't been based on craziness, bravery, or courage. Instead, my walk with God over the past thirteen years has been my journey into the heart of my Savior who knows me better than I know myself. The challenges and dangers that I may have had over the last few years have only drawn me closer to my Savior, my Friend, my Healer, and the One who gives me the blessing of each new day. Along the journey, I have been healed, met hundreds of new friends, learned new languages, learned about new cultures, and found that living for Him is far more satisfying than living for myself because He knows what I need far better than I ever could!

Egypt is the fourth country which I have called home over the last eight years. It was once considered relatively stable, but the last two and a half years of revolutions and unrest have left it searching for its identity. Unlike the other three countries I've lived in, I have a lifelong commitment to Egypt...a home, a family, and part of Romany and my family identity.

It's one thing to watch cultures from the outside. Of course, as an “outsider” you can enter a culture but now, I see how hard it is to do. Where once I thought I knew things, I now understand that I didn't ever really understand!

A mosque in Cairo, Egypt.

Egypt is a dynamic place. Like much of the Middle East, Christians and Muslims have lived and worked alongside each other since the dawn of Islam. The government has claimed that there are only about 10 million Christians with 60 million Muslims. I have come to learn that the reality is that there are actually about 30-33 million Christians which makes about 40 million Muslims.

A mosque in Amman, Jordan.

The Coptic Church describes itself as the oldest church in the world following traditions which date back to the dawn of Christianity. This church along with Catholic and Evangelical churches have produced great educators, entrepreneurs and businessmen, artists, actors, politicians, etc. for Egypt and the world. Along with these contributions, the churches in Egypt have produced great monks, teachers, theologians, intercessors, etc. for the church worldwide. God has been and is at work in Egypt!

Unfortunately, the works of God don't come without some resistance. The church here has faced its share! Christians have spent thousands of years in a battle for the freedom to worship as they choose. Churches have come under attack and burned. Pastors, priests, and followers have been killed for what they teach or believe. These big acts of violence happen on a daily basis throughout Egypt and the Middle East. It is a normal part of Christians' lives here.

I do have to say, though, that these acts are often contained within certain areas with higher numbers of fundamentalists and/or in times of country-wide turmoil. In most countries in the Middle East, Christians aren't afraid to walk on the streets on a daily basis for the fear that they will be killed. It happens on occasion but not on a large scale or in a way that the Western media portrays it to be. We feel very safe here in Egypt at the moment and we walk around the streets without fear. There are always certain hot spots we avoid, but otherwise, we are free to travel around and do what we want.

A Coptic church in Cairo, Egypt.

The big acts of violence don't compare to the daily struggle for Christians in the region. Romany's village is largely Christian, yet the government has built four mosques. The mosque down the street from his parents' house is in a predominately Christian area, yet the call to prayer which goes off five times a day, is set extra loud for the neighborhood to hear. Romany was taught about the Quran in school and never taught the Bible. These are among a few examples of the daily challenges for Christians.

A church steeple peeking over housetops in the village.

As in any situation like the one facing Christians here, God moves in marvelous ways. It's amazing to hear stories of the way that God daily intervenes in His followers' lives here. He heals, provides, and gives encouragement through dreams and visions. The church continues to remain strong and fervent in prayer because they know that He is the one who saves and moves mountains (literally – that's for another day). There is a feeling of frustration with the challenges they face, but there is also a resilience, hope, and joy that permeates the church and the lives of the people here in Egypt. They know that God has promised hardship, but also restoration (Isaiah 19) and that He has claimed them for His own, “Blessed be Egypt my people...” (Isaiah 19:25a)

Over the last two years of knowing Romany and the last five months living here, I'm blessed to know that God is with His people as He has shown in small part in my life. It gives me a bit of a change in perspective to the challenges that I have faced in my own journey throughout the Middle East in the last eight years.

A prayer room at a conference center in the
desert between Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt.
This area is famous for their monks and prayer.
Now, many churches have conference centers
are located in this area.