MOVING FORWARD - pastor mike landry

I was able to secure an internet connection a couple hours ago. Hope to catch you up on our journey to Egypt. Days 14 and 15 have been fast and furious. Especially yesterday, but I don't want to get ahead of myself.

We began on Monday by visiting 2 pyramids - not the ones you've usually seen in pictures. We left the hotel early at 7am and headed first to see the Hawara Pyramid in El Fauom. This pyramid dates back about 3000 years (about the time when the Assyrians defeated the Northern Kingdom of Israel) and was made totally from mud brick and much smaller bricks. Amazing that it is still standing.

Next we went to Sakara and saw the first constructed and oldest pyramid, the Step Pyramid. It was over 5500 years old (before Abraham's time) and made of limestone. Coming from a nation that is barely over 200 years old, it's hard to believe I was standing beside and touching a structure that was 5500 years old.

By the way, antiquities are a really big deal here and everything is watched and guarded closely. I think it's because so much has been stolen in the past and taken out of Egypt. We were reminded constantly not to be picking things up off the ground on each of these sites. It was extra incentive when you see security everywhere holding submachine guns.

Speaking of security, everywhere we go in Egypt we are escorted by a security truck of 6 men fully armed. Very different from Israel and Jordan. In fact, we always had a tourist security guard responsible for our safety sitting on our bus wherever we went. Nice guy but very quiet. I sat next to him today and kept bumping into his gun that was under his jacket. I found myself praying a lot while sitting there.

Next we went to Ramsey's Museum in Old Memphis and saw a lot of artifacts from ancient Egypt. Some huge statues of Ramsey II were on display. The guide said they made these huge statues and distributed them abroad because they couldn't take pictures and post them. I think I would have found a way to get some papyrus pictures circulating if I were Pharaoh. Come on, if they could build pyramids, surely they could get some sort of mass Production of Papyrus Pharoah Pictures (alliterated for all you preachers). :-)

Lunch was delicious and very different. It was about as Egyptian as you could get. We were first greeted by musicians playing traditional Egyptian music (I felt like I was listening to a sound track from Aladin). Then we were led to some tables that were placed outdoors under nice shady trees. The table was then covered with fresh baked Egyptian bread (looked and tasted like Pita bread) and dishes of sauces and vegetables and falafels. It was great! But we were told not to eat too much because the main course was coming. Then they placed 3 different miniature grills on our tables with shish kabobs (I don't know how to spell it) full of chicken, sausage, and beef. Much more than any of us could eat. We waddled away from there and tried to stay awake as our bus then drove us to a carpet factory where children were hand weaving these beautiful nylon carpets that you've seen and heard about. They told us that there were over 600 knots every square inch. Everyone wished they could have taken a rug, and a child, back with them to the states.

Then it was off to the Cairo Museum. Most of our time was spent looking at the treasures found in King Tutankamin's tomb. Our guide, an Egyptologist, filled us in on all the details and it helped to understand what we were looking at. Mummies, gold, pottery, statues, chariots, boats, etc., were just a small part of what we saw. Unfortunately, we were getting tired and found it hard to concentrate on what we were looking at.

Then it was back to the hotel, but not without first stopping by a Papyrus Shop. We were shown how papyrus was made and then given time to look at what they had to sell. Our folks were over it and immediately went to the bus. They just wanted to get back to the hotel, get something to eat, and then go to bed. I can't really blame them, it was by then past 7:30 pm and we still had another 20-30 minutes before we would be back to our hotel.

After a great night's sleep, everyone was much more cheerful and excited about the agenda for today. We got to see the Great Pyramid, Ghefren, and the Sphinx. They are so huge and impressive. But the highlight was a 20 minute camel ride around the pyramids. We laughed and took lots of pictures. I have to admit, there's nothing quite like riding a camel in the desert with the Great Pyramid and Sphinx in the background.

Before lunch, we visited a Christian and Jewish section of Cairo where many old churches were located as well as a very old synagogue. It is believed that this was the area where Joseph and Mary fled with Jesus after being warned by an angel in Bethlehem. I had never thought much about what it must of been like for them in Egypt but this visit really helped all of us to reflect on this chapter of the life of Christ.

Then it was lunch in a downtown Cairo restaurant right on the edge of the Nile River. The food was good but the picture of the day was that of a dead horse floating down the Nile upside down about 20 yards from where we were sitting. We couldn't believe our eyes. Really helped our appetities. I know, gross.

After lunch, we hustled to the Cairo airport and caught a flight to Luxor. We landed safely and checked into a really nice hotel, the Steigenberger Nile Palace. I can't believe something so nice would be located in the heart of the desert. It is located right on the Nile River and in downtown Luxor. Tommorrow we plan on visiting some of the tombs of the Pharoahs and the ancient city of Thebes. I think we'll also get to take a cruise in a sailboat down the Nile just before dinner. We'll see. Well somebody's got to do it. Pray that there will be some wind...or else we'll be paddling hard. I'll tell you more about it next time I can get an internet connection.

One final devotional note: As I've heard and keep on hearing about the many gods of the ancient Egyptians, I'm reminded how we, in our desperation to find God, keep inventing gods. The statues, the hieroglyphics, the images all point to this. We are a depraved people full of creative ways to distort what God is really like. Apart from God's revelation of Himself, fully done in the person of Jesus Christ, we have no clue what God is really like. The ancient Egyptians were no different than us in that respect. Some things never change. But they can!

NO PICTURES
By the way, sorry there are not pictures. I'm not able to upload them at this time. You'll just have to imagine what it was like until I can update the pictures. Have a great day!