i love my mommy!

here's a good one. i'm terribly upset that i don't have a picture...but i really don't think you'll need one after i've described the scene.
april and i left our place about 10 to go to liz's for a bit of a girl's night. (we ordered in mcdonalds...helllo, i love delivery) we went to the street to catch a cab. i got a bit agitated that every cab that passed had someone in it already...and one that was empty simply gave a wave and drove past. i wanted to throw a rock. however, seconds later a taxi pulled up beside us. as it approached, i was thoroughly appreciating the decorations. there were all kinds of neon lights on the outside and inside of the taxi. that is typical. the atypical part of the taxi? the driver. guess who he looked like? kris kringle. literally. short, very white, balding man with a white beard. with disco lights. and fur on the dashboard. i'm telling you, i laughed hysterically for the majority of the ride. and then felt awkward saying thank you in arabic. because he's white.

i didn't get to go to the hadonna today because i woke up sick...like with a fever and sore throat and no voice. that hasn't happened since i got my tonsils out, so it was quite a surprise. and yes...swine flu has made an appearance in Cairo (8 confirmed cases) and no...i don't have it. however, i'm going to a doctor at some point in the next few days, and i have a feeling they'll test me for it. since i'm a foreigner. which, i supposed, will simply be one more good thing to write about!

i wish i could put into words all the L-rd is teaching me. it has been such a journey. in so many ways, it feels as though i've been here for so much longer than 2 weeks. i am consistently surprised by J-sus. yesterday, i sat in the P's living room as Liz so kindly spent time encouraging me. she read me parts of psalm 18, and these few verses stuck out:
He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. He bought me into a spacious place (pasture), because He delighted in me.
Psalm 18:16-17,19
later, as i sat around her table again, joined by april and stacey, the L-rd reminded me again of david (thanks A). david was called to be a king...from the moment he arrived into the world, that was his ultimate calling. but the L-rd kept him in the pastures until he was ready to fulfill what G-d has called him to.
THEN, this morning i read this as my devotion:
(Read Hebrews 11:6) My ordinances are good and holy, but they are to be entered into with deep sincerity and with awareness of their true significance. To sacrifice in carelessness and ignorance is to damage your own soul. Let your spirit never become callous. Without holiness, no one shall see G-d. In other words, "Without a tender heart and sensitive, attentive spirit, no one shall see G-d,: for without these, no true holiness will ever be attained." The fool shall not discern the value and shall cast aside great treasure. The practiced eye knows the true worth of a gem and shall not let it escape him. Thus shall you be in spiritual matters. Train your eye to discern that which is of true worth, and let it not escape you.
I was like HELLO J-SUS. i am IN the pasture! i am in this "spacious place" called Cairo (spacious isn't quite a correct description, there are 8 million people here). He literally pulled me out of the churning waters and set me here, among people who love the L-rd and who continue to patiently encourage me. it is so obvious what He is doing...He is breaking me! He is teaching me to have a tender heart and sensitive spirit. without those things, i couldn't do this. He is teaching me to have a practiced eye and to discern that which is of TRUE WORTH.
as i stood at the market, watching so many people pass by, i finally understood what He is doing inside of me. it doesn't make it easier. it doesn't mean i would have wished myself the pain of learning His lessons...but it does mean that i can appreciate what He is doing. i am in the Refiner's fire. dang it burns (it is the desert, which is ironic)...but MAN HE IS GOOD.