Saturday and what Rachel Hetzel did:

Today while the rest of the team went to work with disabled children a few of us stayed behind to pray for the trip. This time of waiting for the wheelchairs has really brought us to our knees in prayer. It is funny how if everything had gone as we had planned, prayer, while important, would have been a secondary thought. But during this time of waiting it has become essential. Sometimes it takes a disruption of your plans to really turn your eyes to God and go from there. It was a great time of laying our burdens at the feet of the cross and strengthening and renewing our faith in God. It was also a great time to see each others hearts. Prayer is such an awesome gift! But one that so often I take for granted.

We were also able to take a couple hours to prepare the bags and gifts we brought for the wheelchair recepients. It was so exciting to pack the bags and think about the people we would be able to share it with. We have been so blessed by being there, I hope that we will be able to bless them in return.

Meanwhile, Craig and the team helped take some disabled children on a field trip. For many of the men, who are normally mechanics, this was far outside their comfort zone. They came expecting for God to use them in the same way He has before but God had other ideas. In this time of stretching and disrupted plans, God is really having to fill in the gaps. And he is faithful to do so!

Rachel Hetzel is the best person I have ever worked with. It is hard to find someone as talented as her in so many ways. She has the looks of Catherine Zeta Jones, the brains of Madeline Albright and the tenacity of Angelina Jolie.

What Craig did:

Rachel wrote the above.....which tells you what a blast it is to be here with her. I went with the group to the disabilities center. As Rachel said...it was a first for me and out of my comfort zone. To help with the center, we accompanied the staff and their charges to a fun park. We arrived in a bus and joined by the staff and kids. I was rather picked by a boy about 8 who sat next to me as he came down the isle. I knew right away we were a good match when he unzipped his backpack, pulled out a bottle of hand cleanser and cleaned his hands. He was, as the staff told me, a talker. He knew some English words but for the most part he talked and I signed. We got along well and held hands whenever we walked. He didn't want to go on most of the rides but l was able to convince him to go on the wheeler dealer bumper cars with me and had a ball. I'm so glad I went. What an experience. The staff of the center are amazing with big loving hearts for this ministry. I could see Gods works and His will up close and personal today and everyday I am here.

All for now. Church tomorrow at an evangelical church just a few blocks from here.

Well, that's it for yesterday's posting...it's approaching midnight and I must get to bed. Today was sightseeing at Giza as this picture indicates. I will post more of what we saw today later. Tomorrow, most of us are going again to the disabilities center to do a field trip with the school residents....to give a respite and tea time for the staff. The rest of us will stay at the hotel and have a prayer session.

This is Jasmine Crawford loving another animated little guy. Jasmine is our Wheels team photographer. You can see a Facebook album she has created for our first days here by going to:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=38210&id=1018050012&l=ac3136c24c

This is Meghan Lyndsay helping a youth to calm, using accupressure....or Vulcan mind meld.

Here is Steve McKenzie helping with crafts in the adult room. The fun really began with blowing bubbles.

The head of the disabilities center told us his interest in disabilities started when he noticed that all the disabled kids he knew were all of a loving disposition. Long story short...he uses this ministry as a forum to change culture and society to become more aware, caring, loving and helpful not just to disabled but to everyone.

Sorry about yesterday's blog entry. The hotel is having problems with their router. The disabilities center is a couple of stories and this is through the door and leading up to the rooms. I thought the arcitecture and wood work interesting.

Thursday:

Today we went to another part of Cairo to visit a disabilities organization.

It is nearly 11:00 pm here. No pictures again today. I took some but today was sort of a low key sightseeing day. I have taken a few walks along the Nile and into the surrounding neighborhood. Interesting to look at the architecture, traffic, and people. Fun too!

We are still awaiting the release of the wheelchairs. It's like a Frank Piretti novel. But the Coptics here are powerfully inspiring and loving and hard working people who well know their Father....that mountains can be moved by Him. There is a great need and want for what we have to offer to the wonderful people of Egypt. Please add your prayers toward the release of the wheelchairs and our outreach.

Tomorrow we will be visiting a disabilities organization to see/minister/teach/walk with disabled people of all ages, Muslim, Coptic and other Christians. It's about 2 hours away.

Short but sweet. Love to all.

In Christ,

Craig

No pictures yet. Didn't even have the camera out. And we may be more reserved with our cameras.We arrived at about 11:15 am in Cairo today Tuesday. After a busride through town and checking into the Shepheard Hotel on the Nile River, we had some time to rest before our initial meeting. We are still awaiting the news that our wheelchairs have been released. Tomorrow our country leaders, Gordon and Judy Soares, and International Ministries director Chip Kingery and others will be meetings with our contacts here to determine alternate ministeries to wheel chair distribution. "Expect change" is the order of the day. We had a great buffet dinner at the hotel and then a short walk along the Nile. Do you remember the old video game "Frogger" where you try to negotiate your frog across a river or a street filled with hazards? Pedestrians here don't have the right of way.

All for now, my shower and bed awaits.

Kyrie eleison,

Craig

This is what we did last Sunday at the Ahwhanee Hotel in Yosemite National Park. My daughter Devon was married to Garrett Fitzgerald. This is the really happy couple. Above is me on Devon's left arm and her stepdad Dan Deslauriers on her right, walking her down the aisle. These are the only pictures I have so take my word....what a grand time we had. They are honeymooning in Turks right now.

Well it's been awhile since I've blogged, so, sorry if I'm a little rusty at this.

We are about to head to Egypt for a Wheels for the World trip. I say "we" meaning the team. This mission trip I am without Annie. We are headed for Cairo 1st. And we need prayers for the release of the wheelchairs from customs. The team is going on the hope that all legal hang-ups will be removed very soon....and if not....there is still plenty for us to do there to support our in-country Christian brethren and the disability community of Egypt.

My 2 bags are packed with tools, materials and clothes, both close to the capacity of 50lbs. I may have some rearranging to do if my bathroom scale is off.

Stay tuned dear friends. This is the 1st trip ever for Joni and Friends to go to Egypt. And our Lord will help us with that.