Finding Inner Strength (Egypt)

I am sure that you have watched the news lately to see the turmoil that is going on on the other side of our world. Egypt is really hurting right now. Because Egypt hurts, my home hurts. Ahmed has not been able to have contact with his family since January 20th. There is a lot of fear in our house. Fear of not knowing if is family is ok. Fear of not knowing if his friends are ok. Fear of loosing his house. Fear of his father loosing his business. Fear of his town being torn to shreds. The town is being torn to shreds. People are dying. People are getting hurt. It pains my heart to watch the world news. I hold my breath every time I see Cairo on tv.

What do I do? How do I console someone who is going through pain and not knowing? How do you sit and watch tv with someone watching their town be destroyed? Let me tell you, it is so scary to watch this on World News Tonight and have Ahmed recognize a restaurant that he eats at back at home. It is scary to have someone translate the chants that are being yelled. It is scary have someone tell you what the protest signs actually say. To me, they look like drawings. To him, they are words, words that hurt. Granted, we pray that their "president" does step down. We pray that a new government can come in and continue to move their country in the direction that it needs to.

I want to introduce you to someone:

This is Ahmed's family. From left to right, his dad, his brother, Ahmed in front, sister in back in glasses, his sister and his mother in the back. They are such a sweet spirited family and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to Skype with them a few weeks back. His mother thanked me for opening my house up to Ahmed and even inviting us to their home in Egypt. Oh how I hope and pray that I can see the pyramids and the Red Sea one day. Did I tell you that his family is also hosting a student from Germany - can you imagine what her family is thinking right now?

Please keep these families in your prayers. Please keep our family in your prayers. Pray that God gives Keith and I the wisdom in words to know what to say to Ahmed. Pray for him as he tackles school and soccer every day. Everyone keep checking on him and asking him how things are going or how he is doing - as any concerned person should do. He is so strong and always replies back "God has a plan". I am SO thankful that God is working in his life. I am excited to see him grow and I pray that he does find a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and where that relationship goes. I didn't know how much I could love someone who is not my child but at the same time is my child.

Pastor Ron gave me this verse the other day and it is a great reminder:

"remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose."       ~Isaiah 4:9-10

Praying for Egypt and our new found family!

~Randi & Keith