Disclaimer: Different churches suit different people at different times. Today I share our impressions based solely on where we are right now in our walk with God and as parents of two small children.

Next up was the church with the nicest Yellow Pages advertisement. In other words, they included their service times! So the next Sunday we went along at 10 am. It was wonderful to sense the Holy Spirit there at Grace City Church. The worship in the sanctuary was good, but too loud for small children (the criteria being that you need to be able to talk in a normal voice and still be heard). We retreated to the cry room, which was nice. It was my first experience actually getting to use a cry room, and I found it a bit odd to be such a spectator at church, but very handy to be able to listen to the sermon while the children were free to roam. The sermon was given by an Indian guest pastor, and we thought it was excellent.

After church we chatted a bit in the back (snacks provided), and we found out that they have a Sunday School program for Nikki’s age. The next week we went back to Grace City Church and Michael and I hung out in the cry room while Nikki and Baba went straight to Sunday School. We realized later that this was a mistake, as Nikki kept asking when we were going to sing! She really missed the corporate worship.

The sermon Michael and I listened to that second week at Grace City Church was good. A woman pastor spoke and I learned from what she had to say. Baba said the Sunday School was good but her class of ‘Littlies’ between age 1 and 4 had only four little ones including Nikki, though with a good program including memory verse and indoor and outdoor play time. However, we did think it was a little odd that none of the children, from age one through high school, was involved in the service at all. They all stayed in Sunday School the whole time, and that was their entire church experience.

We met a Canadian couple whom we were introduced to as the other North Americans in the church. They were very kind and took us out to lunch after the service.  They were just about to take off on a trip back to Canada for Christmas, and we thought that while they were gone we would try one or two more churches just to see if maybe there was another option out there for us.

Disclaimer: Different churches suit different people at different times. Today I share our impressions based solely on where we are right now in our walk with God and as parents of two small children.

The next week, we did our research prior to heading out, and made tracks for Metro Church. All four of us worshiped in the main sanctuary, but Nikki was restive as the sermon was about to start, so she and Baba went down to the age 1-3 Children’s Church. Michael and I stayed on through the rest of the service.

I was totally shocked by the content. The sermon was rambling – the pastor had about 14 points, and I just couldn’t get my head around what was tying them together. What became abundantly clear, however, was that the pastor really wanted us to buy stuff. Buy the CD of the sermon he was preaching. Buy all the CDs of that series and he’d give you a discount of such-and-such amount. Buy the jazz CD the church just produced. Buy 10 to give to all your friends and family for such-and-such discount. They had already sold x amount, so this is your chance, etc, etc. Truly ranking among the worst sermons I’ve ever sat through. Possibly the very worst.

When it was finally over, I caught up with Nikki and Baba. Although they had a ratio, including Baba, of 1 childcare worker for every child (7 of each), the program heavily featured Thomas the Tank Engine and Wiggles videos. You would think with that many child care workers, they could have done something slightly more interactive and creative. Or possibly even God-centered?!

Needless to say, we aren’t going back there. Except possibly to pick up another jazz CD. It’s actually quite good!

Disclaimer: Different churches suit different people at different times. Today I share our impressions based solely on where we are right now in our walk with God and as parents of two small children.

One of our top priorities in getting settled has been finding a church. Once we had our home picked out, we began our search by hopping in the car one Sunday morning with our handy Perth Street Map. Churches were helpfully marked on the map, and we tried the closest one. The doorway to Perth Christian Fellowship looked better suited for a warehouse than a place of worship. But our church met in a tent in Cairo, so we knew better than to let the appearance deter us. However, we were deterred by the fact that the huge door was firmly shut and we were the only sign of life in the vicinity.

So we looked at our watches and tried the next-closest church marked on the map. It was in the middle of a residential street, and the church looked no bigger than the neighboring houses. We drove slowly past, and it didn’t look like a place where we would blend in or that any noises our children might make would be overlooked. However, this church did have people arriving, which we took as a good sign. So we approached. And were greeted in a foreign tongue! I explained that ‘we only speak English.’ The greeter shrugged kindly and said ‘sorry.’ I guess the Serbian Orthodox Church wasn’t the place for us!

The next-closest church was also the last marked in East Perth. Roman Catholic. Three strikes that morning and we were out!

This morning Ben and I had the privilege of dedicating our son, Michael, to the Lord. At Maadi Community Church this morning Pastor Murray held Michael as we vowed in front of the congregation to raise Michael in the ways of God, and not our own ways.

Some of the responsibilities we publicly agreed to fulfill:

• Teaching and training Michael in God’s Word,
• Demonstrating an example of godliness,
• Disciplining according to God’s ways, and
• Praying earnestly for Michael.

We were so glad to have my parents here to witness this solemn and happy occasion. A big thank you also to Brent who got up early to join us for the dedication and take photos!

Last night, some twelve hours before Michael turned six weeks old, he smiled at me for the first time. He is a treasure!

This morning we went to church for the first time as a family of four, with the added bonus that it was also Good Friday . A young girl joined the worship team on stage for the last song and performed sign language as we sang. It was nice to be able to recognise some of the signs we have been teaching Nikki, including ‘father,’ ‘finished,’ and ‘son.’

After lunch, Nikki and I visited Lex the cat . He has been hiding since we brought him home again after boarding for three months. When we entered his enclosure, Nikki pointed at his empty food bowl, and signed ‘more’ ‘food’. I agreed that Lex did need more food. Since Nikki had noticed his plight, I handed her the scoopful of food to fill up his bowl, which she did. This tempted Lex out of his box, and Nikki gently petted him several times. The first time she reached out and touched him, he skitted away. But she was so gentle and he was so hungry that she was able to pet him several more times as he ate his fill. He then retreated to his box. Nikki sat and waited patiently outside his little house for several minutes, hoping to pet him more. After a little while, it was time for her nap. Ben explained that Lex was sleeping, and that it was time for Nikki to sleep, too. And so she did.

Ben and I didn’t know what we were signing up for when we volunteered to host a church intern for a year. We certainly didn’t realise what a blessing it would be for us! We enjoy having Brent around, and we are very glad we’ve opened our home to him.

Last night Brent played one of the four wise men in the Maadi Community Church annual Christmas pageant. Everyone who took part did a great job, but we really thought the wise men stole the show. Below are pictures of Brent, a couple of the other wise men on their camels, and the final scene.

Nikki especially enjoyed the songs; she swayed back and forth on my lap and clapped at the end of several of them. Our friends were truly amazed to see live camels, sheep, and a donkey, and they were glad they came. Lita, Kevin, and 4-month-old Reece plan to join us for church this Friday.

I recently offered to update the website I created for my dad a few years ago. If you’re curious – or in need of a chemical engineer – have a look at the results . Huge props to Max for his assistance with multiple browser compatibility .

Today was a special day at Maadi Community Church for a number of reasons. It marked the second anniversary of the Africa Live worship service (we hold four services, all with the same sermon, but incredibly lively African worship at the fourth), so everyone who owned African dress wore it to commemorate the occasion. We even saw buses dropping off groups of people to join the celebration.

Pastor Larry opened the advent season sermon series with a message on hell. An unusual topic for the festive season, but an incredibly important reminder of just how much God saved us from by sending his Son to die for our sins.

Walking back home from church we saw our friends Alex and Irena, walking with their daughter Margarita. I had purchased some extra tickets to the Christmas pageant , and we invited them to join us on 9 December. We told them we’re trying to get as many of our friends with young children to come as possible so that Nikki won’t be the only little one there. We are excited that they plan to come along.

Congratulations to Tricia on winning the heart of one of my favourite people, Keith! He proposed and she accepted. The wedding is set for 14 June, 2008, in Houston, Texas. Best wishes to the happy couple!

Ben, Nikki, and I visited the obstetrician again yesterday (my second visit with Dr Hamza), to check fetal heart rate, urine, blood pressure, and to get another glimpse of our son. I have decided not to worry about the ultrasound exposure, since each check is very brief. It was a fun visit! Especially since everything was perfectly normal, with the child in my womb exactly on target for 25 weeks of growth (if you believe ultrasound measurements).

We hosted our second cell group meeting last night. Unfortunately, Margaret was poorly with a sore throat. But Irene was miraculously able to make it, and the four of us, including Brent, had a nice dinner and catch-up. Irene has two teenage boys, and she had us laughing over stories of her learning to play the PlayStation to satisfy her sons’ demand that she join in activities that interest them. Apparently they had to find another game besides Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit because she drove so correctly that the cops never had an excuse to chase her.

I’ve spent most of today in top-secret activities. Ben and I have been invited to a Costume Party, given by one of his coworkers. We weren’t sure if we could go since it starts after Nikki’s bed time, but last night we asked Brent if he’d be willing to man the baby monitor on Friday night, and amazingly he didn’t already have plans and was very happy to help us out. But that still left a big challenge, what do we wear? It is ‘fancy dress’ (read ‘costumes’) only, and I don’t have much experience in this arena. BUT, I came up with an idea for a couple costume that both Ben and I are excited about, bought a few supplies, and gave my plans to a local dressmaker today. She promises they’ll be ready by 4pm Friday (the party is at 7) – don’t forget to check back for photos!

Congratulations to Robin and Ken, proud parents of Ian Louis!!! He was born at 10:16 on Wednesday, 10th of October, weighing exactly 6 pounds and measuring 20 inches in length. Robin had a long hard labour, but from the pictures, Ken is the one who fell exhaustedly asleep afterward while Robin is absolutely glowing.

Our Roman holiday marks the end of the slow summer season here in Maadi. Many expatriates sensibly take off during the summer, and things only start to pick back up in September and October. Ramadan ended just a few days ago, and with a country full of people fasting for a month the slow days of summer were slow to end this year. Now the weather is cooling and everyone can eat again, so it’s time for our autumn schedule to begin.

In addition to preparing for the birth in London, here is what Ben, Nikki, and I have on tap this fall.

• Nikki – Mums and Tots play group, Pop-in-and-Sing singing group
• E – Cell Pastor Training course, counseling sessions to lay the groundwork for becoming a Freedom in Christ counselor
• Ben – having just completed Cell Pastor Training, he will be leading a cell group at our home

We have about ten weeks to get all this in before we leave for Christmas in London. Cell pastor training lasts seven weeks and starts Wednesday evening. My counseling sessions with Barb start Wednesday morning. We think we’ll host the cell group on Monday or Tuesday evenings. Thursday nights will continue to be our date nights. We trust that God will give us strength and wisdom in all of these things, as He has led us to each one specifically. It will be a busy autumn, but fun!

Congratulations to Hannah, Dan, and Zerak on the safe and happy arrival of Trinette Zoe, born 19 September. She weighed 8 lbs 1 oz, was 20 inches long, and she has lots of brown hair!

We’ve been back in Egypt for a week and are in the swing of things. All former and future visitors will be happy to note that we have solved the mystery of the malfunctioning air conditioner in the penthouse room. Pity for our Canadian guest prompted us to call the repairman to look at the unit once again, and it is now working marvelously. Time to book your visit!

We attended church on Thursday night. Even though it starts at 6:30pm, near Nikki’s bedtime, it is so much easier to both attend to her and take part in the service when it is less crowded that we thought we would give it a try. Brian Doerksen and his band were visiting so the service was primarily worship, which suited us well. At first I walked around with Nikki on my back. After a while she wanted down and played in the dust around a tree. Then a security guard let her play with his bunch of keys. She and I danced through one of the songs. Lastly, she walked around pushing a plastic chair as I guided it in a circle so she wouldn’t get stuck. All the while we listened to Brian’s message and were blessed with the powerful lyrics to his songs, including a favourite of mine, Faithful One.

After the service I introduced myself to a young American lady who has only been in Egypt two weeks. Kelsey is studying Petroleum Engineering at the American University in Cairo . It was fabulous to talk to an aspiring female engineer. She said she is one of thirty students in her class; only three of them are female, including herself. The other two women are completely veiled – one of them has a slit showing her eyes, and the other has even her eyes veiled from view. Talk about a unique university experience!

Nikki enjoyed the outing to church and never once complained about being up late. As I walked with her in the Mei Tai, she patted my neck in rhythm with my stride. Little pats on the back – something every mum needs once in a while! Brian Doerksen is giving a concert tomorrow night starting at 7:30pm and Ben and I are still debating whether we can keep Nikki up late again or if we’d be pushing our luck too far.