Dear Family and Friends,

The room full of PC(USA) mission co-workers was warm with excitement and laughter. It was Tuesday evening of the 2007 sharing conference for missionaries in Louisville, Kentucky. With grace, compassion, and humor, eleven missionaries had just completed short presentations about their overseas ministries. After spending months of concerted effort on the minutiae of my two ministries in Cairo, I found it tremendously refreshing to see this “big picture” of God’s work unfolding before me. Together, the ministries wove a rich and beautiful tapestry of God’s love for his children worldwide—and of the creativity and commitment of PC(USA) mission coworkers. I was thrilled to be a part of it, and re-convicted by God’s grace to me that He had chosen me for this path.

At other times during the conference, a different and more sobering reality presented itself. We were briefed on how PC(USA) church trends have impacted funding for missionaries. Staff voiced their concern about the denomination’s ability to fund existing mission personnel such as myself who have limited congregational support for mission work. Staff also shared their concern that, due to limited funding, the denomination is unable to respond to requests from overseas partners for new mission personnel. And we learned about Mission Challenge '07, a big event that will unfold in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in October.

During Mission Challenge '07, 47 missionaries will speak in 700 churches in 143 Presbyteries to share the news that every day, in your name, lives are being saved, wells are being dug, and hope is being shared with people in need around the world. All congregations will be encouraged to form a relationship of support with one mission coworker. A letter announcing the appeal will go to the pastors and clerks of session of all churches in mid September. During the first week of October, churches will receive a box of bulletin inserts and a DVD containing two brief but compelling videos that bring to life a representative sample of our missionaries. How will you support and encourage your church’s participation in Mission Challenge '07?

Nancy sharing her life and ministry in Cairo with an adult Sunday School class in Indianola.

The sharing conference was the conclusion of our summer visit to the United States. I spent mid-June to mid-July getting acquainted with the Presbytery of Des Moines. It was my first opportunity to meet these PC(USA) partners of Together for Family Development Network (TFD), the Egypt network of the Presbyterian Hunger Program’s project, Joining Hands. I drove through miles and miles of cornfields, struggling to remember U.S. rules of the road dimmed by a very different driving culture in Cairo, to get to churches in Indianola, Des Moines, Atlantic, Audubon, and Dexter, where I had the pleasure of interpreting to people in my home state the socio-economic and political context of Egypt and the advocacy objectives and activities of TFD Network.

Nancy (third from left) with steering committee from Joining Hands Des Moines.

The Joining Hands model of partnership between PC(USA) congregations and networks of overseas NGOs is still evolving. A meeting with the JH Des Moines steering committee provided me with insights into the perspectives and challenges for the JH stateside partners. It was great to brainstorm about ways the partners could support each other.

And of course it was wonderful to spend time in Iowa with family.

From the breadbasket of the United States, I traveled to Providence, Rhode Island, and the Presbytery of Southern New England where I rediscovered New England clam chowder, the charms of Newport’s Ocean Drive, and Rhode Island beaches as well as churches and friends from our previous life in Providence. During my midweek and Sunday visits to congregations, I loved being bombarded by questions about life in Egypt.

While I was itinerating, 14-year-old Charles profited from bonding with his Uncle David and 18-year-old cousin Alex in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Charles joined his cousin painting David’s oil tank batteries, and had the opportunity to visit Tulsa and Oklahoma Universities—fodder for future decision-making about colleges.

Charles and I return to Cairo in three days. We arrive in the wee morning hours of the day Charles starts school. This year at his British international school, he will begin an intensive two-year GCSE program (General Certificate of Secondary Education), which culminates in pre-university examinations. Charles thinks he might become an engineer, so he is concentrating on math, chemistry, and physics while continuing with English, Arabic, history, and information and computer technology.

Over the summer TFD Network coordinator Dr. Nabil Sisostres has done a wonderful job moving TFD Network forward. As part of our advocacy campaign to include children with disability in public primary schools, member organizations will implement awareness-raising projects and models of inclusion at the local level. Dr. Nabil has managed the process of sending out requests for proposals to member organizations, scheduling a proposal-writing workshop for interested members of the board of directors, reviewing and negotiating the proposals submitted, developing contracts for each participating organization, and requesting release of appropriate funds. Dr. Nabil has also scheduled a meeting to coordinate implementation of projects for maximum impact. He is confident the projects will have a positive effect at the community level and in the experience of the network members.

Please pray for Charles as he lives through the tumultuous teen years. Pray for my patience and energy in managing two challenging ministries while addressing Charles’ concerns. Pray for strength, faith, and hope for the Middle Eastern Christian communities—and for peace and justice in the very troubled Middle East. Please pray for PC(USA) mission coworkers worldwide and for PC(USA) overseas partners—for their ministries and for the prayer and financial support that empowers them to continue their work.

May God richly bless you for your faith, your generosity, and your love in Christ Jesus.

Sincerely,

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 158