Hey friends, I just got back from the Red Sea a couple days ago. I was able to spend the weekend in Dahab with some of my friends from the Heliopolis Community Church. There was a lot of sun, beach, and snorkeling going on. It was a great time to relax and get away from the stresses of city life.

I have a lot on my plate as far as work is concerned. The next few weeks are going to be really busy as I have several research projects to finish by mid July. Speaking of these projects, I should get back to them.

Until next time,
Apostolos

- It was 105 degrees today. I don’t think I’m ready for 120…

- My entire monetary life in Cairo revolves around having small enough bills to not have to try and get change from the taxi driver.

- I miss chocolate.

- Arabic is hard.

- I get upset over one or two pounds (1 USD = 5.61 Egyptian Pounds or LE).

- I am addicted to Smallville.

- My field journal is…sparse.

- I got sick after switching away from tap water and eating at a nice restaurant.

- Only 3 1/2 weeks in?!?!

While I have made some international friends here in Cairo, please pray for me as I seek to meet and make relationships with Egyptians. I came to Cairo in hopes of being immersed in the culture, but so far I have spent my time in a bubble of Western Culture.

Thanks,
Apostolos

Hey friends, things have been much better since I moved to the flat. Having been alone the first few days, I am really appreciating have roommates and being around people I know. This has been a huge blessing and answer to prayer.

Work at CEOSS has also been good. I am currently working on a research project for my supervisor and have been editing e-mails and proposals that my co-workers write in English.

I have also found a great community of international students and workers from the Heliopolis Community Church. I was invite to a small group and have gotten to meet many people and begin creating relationships. They have shown me around much of the neighborhood I live in and some other parts of the city (I still don’t have a good grasp of the geography of Cairo).

God Bless,
Apostolos

Five nights and four different places later, I have somewhere to stay that I think will work for most of my internship. I am staying in a flat here in Cairo with another HNGR intern, Chris Kohlbrenner, as soon as he makes it to Cairo on Thursday. Praise God, this is a great answer to prayer as I was very worried about the possibility of living on my own for the entire six months. I thank you all very much for all your many prayers.

In Him,
Apostolos

Hi everyone, I made it into Cairo late last night and was picked up by a friend of Amir Gendy (2010 Wheaton College Grad). Amed, the guy that picked me up took me to a hotel that I’m going to be staying at for a couple nights.

This is a very temporary solution to my housing dilemma. Please continue to pray that I will find a more permanent housing solution.

Thank you all for your many prayers!
Apostolos

Hello Friends,

Please pray for me over the next few days as I do not yet know where I will be living in Cairo or even who will be picking me up from the airport when I get there on Friday. It is my understanding that this is not completely out of the ordinary for HNGR internships, but I am beginning to feel stress about this.

Thank you all,
Apostolos

Hello friends! From May 20th to December 2nd, I will be taking part of the Wheaton Human Needs and Global Resources (HNGR) program. As part of this program, I have an internship with the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS) in Cairo, Egypt. I will also be doing an independent study, researching how the Copts act out their Christianity through service, despite the obstacles they are faced with from the Egyptian government.

Part of the HNGR program is total cultural immersion. Therefore, I will not be going with other students, but rather, I will be living and working with Egyptians. I hope to learn Arabic from my host family and co-workers and have begun studying it now at Wheaton. I will hopefully be living with an Egyptian family during my time in Cairo. I will, however, have a faculty visitor from Wheaton visit me in July or August.

Please pray for me during this time. I will be working with the poor and neglected in Cairo and this experience has proven very difficult for student in the past. I would also appreciate prayers as I still do not have confirmation on my living situation. I hope to live with a family, but the possibility remains that I will live on my own.

God bless,
Apostolos