It's almost summer in Cairo (though after our first winter it hardly felt like summer ever ended). Spring, like most places, is when the flowers and trees bloom. Right now the beautiful orange of the Flame Tree and the deep lavender of the Jacaranda are right outside our window.

Speaking of windows, we will be looking out from a different location in August. We will be moving out of this flat (apartment) by June 14, put our stuff in storage, and then move into a two-story villa with a small yard. Here's the back story:
When we finished the looonnngggg process of our church budget in late April, we made major cuts so that we could live within our means. Some major outside money had been coming in over the last several years, but since the predominately western Canadian and Christian & Missionary Alliance staff have moved on, so have those financial donors (who came from those long-term relationships from the same denomination and region). So we reduced our budget to a bit above what our offerings have been over the past few years. This means that we won't hire one of the senior staff we had been searching. It also meant that we have reduced our staff by almost 40% mostly by not replacing those who are moving this year (we typically have a 30% attrition rate every year in the church).
We have also faced external issues like the world economic downturn affecting foreign companies in Egypt, as well as more restrictive visa rules that went into effect last October. The human interpretation could be to wring our hands and grieve the loss of staff and programs. We think this is God shifting our focus from a large, staff-dependent "come and get it" program, to a focus on finding, training, and sending out "grassroots" people. The leaders feel this is yet another way that God will make us place ministry squarely in the hands of the volunteers. These volunteers can be used and shaped in this missional, international setting so that they will go to their next place and have an impact for the Kingdom work to influence those around them. Maybe in the long run, we will have more of an impact on the American church than if we had stayed state-side in one church.
So after cutting everything we knew to cut, my attention turned to our housing costs (which the church covers). When our landlord wanted to raise our rent, we found someone moving who had rent $600 less than our current amount. It was a ground floor two-story villa with a small yard in front and a slightly larger yard in the back. It was also across the street from the back gate of Alex's school. He was excited that he could bring all his friends home for lunch some days. Karan looked inside at the kitchen, bathroom, old furniture and simply wept. So after hiring some PR people to "spin" the situation (actually it was our handy man who said it had "potential") and then filling her with imported wine, she finally agreed. Actually, after we got the church council to agree to use our rent savings for a year to remodel the kitchen and bathroom and replace the furniture, Karan began to look with new eyes. Now that some interior designers and her have looked a few more times, she has actually become quite positive about the whole idea. So now she is busy picking cabinets, granite counter tops (it's cheap here so don't be looking at us that way), floor tile, and scavenging furniture from people who are leaving.
Speaking of people leaving, this is our first season to say good-bye to folks who have completed their "tour." Steve is losing his personal assistant who has been incredibly helpful and has actually been the administrative glue that has held the church together. She moves with the State Department to Portugal. Sometimes you also endure unexpected departures. A man who has been here in ministry for 18 years doing wonderful things for the people of Egypt and who has been very careful not to be out proselytizing the majority religion here, was denied re-entry into the country a couple of weeks ago (it's the Egyptian way of deportation so you have to buy an on the spot airline ticket). If losing him wasn't bad enough for the community and church, his wife has been a major leader in the church and the other part of Steve's external support system. All of this only a few weeks before their last remaining son graduates from high school (so now dad will miss his commencement). So all of this brings up many strong, mixed emotions that have been difficult to process. Ultimately we are reminded that every day of ministry is a gift from the Lord and we are here only by His sovereign hand (and secondarily as guests who remain at the pleasure of the Egyptian government). This was part of the faith quotient that we felt so strongly when we visited here last February--no one man can do this job, it has to be a God thing. When we remember our constant desperate dependence, then we settle into more peace.
On a lighter side, while Alex has had all this opportunity to travel, Steve and Karan finally had the chance to travel themselves. They both attended a conference for international churches in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia the last week of April. Neither of us had been to Asia, so this was an incredible experience. We did the usual tourist thing, but also were able to network with pastors mostly from Asia and the Middle East. The highlight was a lunch with an middle easterner who has become a believer and is having dramatic ministry with those coming to Malaysia from his very conservative country. His story of how God reached into his life and what factors grabbed his heart were amazing. (It had little to do with intellectual arguments.)
Alex and Karan are leaving June 11th for WA. Steve will join them the 14th, to leave for Texas to see Karan's mom and Steve's dad. We will be in Spokane for a couple of weeks before traveling to the west side to see Brett, as well as relatives and friends in Portland. Finally, we will travel to California to see friends and a vacation before returning to Cairo the end of July. It will be a fast summer, but wonderful to see family and friends.
We need and love your prayers as we go through the changes and life in another land. The school where Alex goes is looking for a part time Learning Resource Center teacher (their equivalent of Special Ed).

Karan has applied and interviewed on May 31. A few unexpected openings have also occurred in the elementary level, full time. Karan will interview for one of those positions June 1. We would covet your prayers as we evaluate the opportunities and what the Lord would have us do. The decisions will impact our family, and we desire to be wise, not just jump at the relief financially full time would bring, IF Karan has that opportunity. We continue to feel privileged to be here and serve in this amazing church and land.
Travis is still in International Affairs at Eastern Washington University outside Spokane. He has one more quarter of classes this coming Fall, then comes here to Cairo in mid December for a five month internship with an international business in communication and marketing. We aren't sure how all that will work since his degree program was mostly government and culture classes, not business. He originally started in international business, but the thought of taking accounting and quantitative managing classes were less to his liking. We cannot believe how God opened that amazing door through a very generous Egyptian woman. Travis also works as a cook in an upscale restaurant 30 hours per week, so he has worked his tail off.
Brett is having a good year at Western Washington University, and has switched to photojournalism. He is exploring whether he wants to take some graphic design classes which could become a double major (and extra year of school). He is loving his major, while we figure out how our math and science guy is pursuing an art career (since neither of us is artistic). Brett is working this summer at a state park in the entrance booth--not as strenuous as raspberry picking last summer, but maybe more tedious. He will come to Egypt again this Christmas for 3 weeks. We all hope to travel to Israel over Christmas "enshallah" (God willing).
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In His Grip,
Steve and Karan Flora