Today we visited an area called Warrack, and did another sunday school. These are some of my favorite times. Of course nothing ever runs smoothly (the pastor was away and forgot to tell them we were coming, we didn't know how to get there, we left the puppets home and had to wait for David to bring them all the way from our office, etc...) but it's just so fun. I love the kids, they are sooo sweet and excited. To kill time while we waited for our puppets, we kept singing songs with them. There's no fancy soundtracks or big screens like we have back home, but there's something about the Arabic sunday school songs that i just love. There are so many fun handmotions and stuff. And they get so into it, it's great! Everyone laughs at me because i'm the one on our little team who is really into it, but it reminds me of when i was young. We definately sang Father Abraham and I've got the joy joy joy... But anyway, it's just a great time. Sometimes, my favorite part is just driving down the tiny tiny roads and looking out into the village and observing the way of life that is still so foreign to me. The simplicity of life. The joy of being free from the burdens we carry in the states. The emptiness in their eyes as they worship a false god that has turned a deaf ear to their cries. The hopelessness that takes over their countenance and makes some of them appear like zombies. The shining eyes of the kids we sing with, talk to, hug, shake hands with, etc... I'm always so torn between desiring the simplicity of having just what i need to survive, and wanting to weep for the multitudes that are just so lost in every possible way one could be lost. I don't know if i'll ever quite find the balance.

On Thursday we had the monthly feeding program at the clinic where mothers bring their children to recieve free formula/food. To qualify, the children have to be significantly underweight. The come in, we check them to see if they are growing, improving in health, etc... Talk about sad sights. There was one little girl who was over a year old but looked no bigger than a few months old. She still couldn't sit up on her own. She was being raised by a grandmother who looked like she was definately not capable of providing proper care. (she's in the picture with my friend Jen...she's the teeny 14 month old in the red clothes). I've never seen children so underdeveloped due to malnutrition. When we tried to feed her some mashed bananas in milk, she just couldn't do it. It's sobering to realize that when a child is never fed, the don't understand the concept of eating - and they have a hard time trying to figure out what to do when you stick something in their mouth. Other parents were taking the formula given to help save their child's life, and sold it on the street for profit. One young girl had a horrible case of Rickets. I just can't imagine being a mother and not feeding my children. Purposely. Because i don't feel like putting in the time, or because i'd rather sell their food. It just pains me that it has to happen to the children. That they have to be the ones to suffer. That even if they get an opportunity later on in life to become something, they will carry the deformities, the sicknesses, the permanent damage they acquired here as young kids.

As not to end on a sad note, we had a really fun night tonight. Our group of friends went to downtown Cairo and saw 'the Holiday' in the movie theatre. I'd seen it before in NY but aw it's such a cute story. Great for a cry ;) Then we walked around the mall for a little while and then drove to eat some egyptian food. The real authentic way, too... all of us sat outside on the sidewalk at one big table. i have to say, as risky as it can be....i love eating food from the street here. I love being immersed in the culture as much as possible. Tomorrow i think we'll visit the international bookfair downtown, hopefully pick up some good arabic books to help me learn. Thank goodness for days off. I have big plans to sleep in.

Oh....and if anyone's interested, here is a link to the video i sent to church for the missions banquet. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1haifcv6UU4

Love to all,
Nicole