Patrick's Journal 2023

To say that we are not in Kansas anymore would be an understatement - not Kansas or any other place that I’ve been to in North America! The sites, the sounds, the people, and yes, the traffic. The traffic and the driving habits are amazing! Amazing that there aren’t more accidents. Driving in the far-right lane to make a left turn, no problem. Just cut in front of the other three lanes. Somehow it works, but most of the time, I kept my eyes closed and fingers crossed.


The people we met were incredible! Brother S in Morocco is the equivalent of a modern-day Paul the Apostle. He stays busy traveling the region, spreading the Word, and helping those who have been persecuted for their faith. He was also our tour guide who kept us on task. I heard a lot of “Go, go, go!” so as not to miss a train or cross the road without getting hit. The families we met with Brother S were so filled with joy, it was inspiring. Despite all they are suffering, they continue to keep the faith.


The first time I met Pastor Jack in Egypt, I was impressed with his boldness and his ability to reach out to people in need. He has been doing this for over 30 years. We met several families with Jack.


We also visited a Sudanese school, which is in a huge high-rise area. The people who live there are refugees from Sudan, who hope to someday move to another country. It was here we met Sister Emily and her mother, along with some pastors and teachers. Emily has given her life to feeding and clothing those in need. It was very inspiring to meet these selfless people.


One woman shared her story of becoming a Christian. Her Muslim husband beat her and kicked her out of the house and would not permit her to see her children. Despite all this, she still has joy!


The Sudanese church services were amazing. The music was joyous and loud! Brother Dave preached twice that day, and his words inspired us all.

We also rode in several tuk-tuks, three-wheeled vehicles that are perfect for the narrow roads. There are no street signs in these large communities. Most of the drivers somehow know where to go or they stop and ask for directions when they are close to the destination.


If you are in Cairo, you have to visit the Pyramids and ride a camel! We spent half a day doing that! What an amazing feat of engineering and manpower. A sight to behold.


One of the most interesting things I saw in Cairo was Garbage City. Garbage City is an area of tenement housing with 60,000 people called “Zabbaleen,” which translates to “garbage people.” These people collect trash from the residents of Cairo and bring it home to sort through and recycle. Garbage is brought back in huge fiber bags on trucks. The bags of garbage are everywhere, in the streets, in the houses, and even on the roofs. The families separate the plastics, metals, and scrap food. The scrap food is fed to hogs that are eaten or sold to western hotels, as Muslims will not consume pork. Every person I saw sorting garbage had a smile on their face. Every person I waved to waved back with a smile. They seemed at peace with the task at hand.


The Zabbaleen are Coptic Orthodox Christians who built the monastery of St. Simon and the Cave Churches, which were also a highlight for me on this trip. One of the Cave Churches can seat 20,000 people. They are also covered in beautiful carvings that are scattered throughout. It was all quite amazing!


The West Bank of Israel is surrounded by “the Israeli West Bank Barrier,” or containment wall. The length is 440 miles long and about 30 feet tall. It has guard towers, and the area has many checkpoints to control traffic by pedestrians. Most of the Palestinians in this 2200 square mile area are not allowed to leave for any reason, but some have permits to travel and work outside the wall.


Most of the people I talked to in the West Bank shared a common bond. They can’t get out. The Christians and Muslims in the West Bank are, surprisingly, friendly to each other because they share that common bond.


The people we met in Israel were amazing! Pastor Jack and so many others are all devoting their lives to helping, teaching, and mentoring Christians in Israel. I was honored to have met all these people and inspired by their faith and commitment to those in need. They are the Living Stones!