March 17th, 2008

Hey Y'all,

Just when I thought I'd seen the worst... there are the Dump Cities
in Cairo, Egypt

One of 6, and our guide today tells us it's the best of the worst, we
witnessed children and families living in the dump. Literally
picking through garbage to make their living, and living in the
garbage for their lives.

It was heartbreaking.

There is hope, and the guide who took us through the city today is
working along side others to bring much needed help though love,
education, food and hope to the children and families living in the
dumps of Cairo.

This picture is from a rooftop overlooking the school that they've
carved out like an oasis in the midst of the filth that frees these
children for a little while each day before they return to the
squalor that they call home. The children are playing in the
courtyard of their school, you can see the conditions of the rest of
the area across the fence...

More info to come on how you can help, or contact
www.samaritanspurse.ca for more information on Stephen's Children.

One more day and we're headed back to Canada. We've had a wonderful
time visiting Africa and the Middle East, learning more about the
hope and help that Samaritan's Purse is bringing to this world!

-pb-

March 16th, 2008

Hey Y'all,

Here's another quick blog to let you know that all's well with us
here in Egypt. We've been in Cairo for these last few days of our
amazing trip with Samaritan's Purse's Turn On The Tap program.
Yesterday, we visited a program that helps infants and children who
are in Sudanese Refugee families, making sure that they have
breakfast at school, and are being evaluated to make sure that they
are staying healthy. We sailed the Nile last night in Felucca Boats,
and hit the Pyramids today. Always good to add a little sight seeing
when you're on the road.

We've been traveling by mini-van here in Egypt, that's an adventure
in itself. A city of 19 million, and no traffic lights. 'Nuff said.

I'm reminded on this trip, what a great country we live in. We have
so much. We are so blessed. It's great to learn about Egypt and
it's history and people, but I have to say, I'm glad we'll be Alberta
Bound soon.

-pb-

March 15th, 2008

Hey everybody! Greetings from Africa!

I thought I'd take a minute to write to bring you up to date on our
trip to Africa with Samaritan's Purse and Turn On the Tap.

We just arrived in Cairo, Egypt today after spending the week in
Addis Ababa and Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. I, along with Kellie M, our
contest winner, and the rest of our Canadian contingent, built
BioSand Water Filters and delivered them to families so that they
will now have clean water. It was an emotion packed moment to see
the family that we delivered our water filter to as they learned
about how the filter works, and clean water practices. Their lives
are going to be changed! We also visited with Cherry from the Women
At Risk mission (http://www.w-a-r-e.org/index.html, and have started
to learn about other programs here in Cairo that are helping Sudanese
refugee children, providing them with good nutrition and a great
school. We'll update you more on this later! Be sure to check out
the latest Chat from the Barn as well, our first from Ethiopia!

We've done some great sight-seeing along the way, and made many new
friends. Here's a first batch of pictures for you, I'll chat with
you more soon, hopefully next time with some photos of us at the
pyramids!!: