Things are calm in Maadi so far & we are inside observing
the curfew from 7pm-6am.  Church services will go on this
Friday and we will pray for the country--the most powerful
response a Christian can have!  Here is a report from
Healing Grace Ministry (Egyptian-based) that we support
to give a different view than you are hearing on the news:

Since Morsi's ouster on July 2, there have been two
pro-Morsi/Muslim

Brotherhood (MB) sit-ins in Cairo. One was in Rabaa (in Nasr City) and one was in Nahda Square (in Giza).  For the past week, the government has been warning the protesters that they were going to clear the sit-ins.  Yesterday morning, they acted on their warnings and began clearing the squares using tear gas, gunfire, and bulldozers.  The MB retaliated violently, attacking Christians across Egypt.  More than 20 churches were
burned, Christian homes and shops were attacked,
a Christian orphanage was attacked and burned,
and more that we likely aren't aware of yet.

In Minya and Beni Suef, the regions where the many
of Healing Grace villages are located, the following
places were burned:

• Mar Mina Coptic Orthodox Church (Southern Minya)
• Gad El Seed Evangelical Church (Southern Minya)
• Anba Mosa el Aswad Coptic Orthodox Church (Southern Minya)
• El Amir Tadros Coptic Orthodox Church (Central Minya)
• YMCA (Northern Minya)
• Saint Joseph Sister Catholic School (Central Minya)
• Saniem Assembly of God Church (Southern Minya)
• El Dahabia Ship (the 1st Seminary in Egypt, built by missionaries 150 years ago)

The interim president put the country under a State
of Emergency for the next month.  A curfew has been
imposed for 7 major regions, including Cairo and 
Minya.  We don't know how long it will be in effect,
but it will be for a while.

How has Healing Grace been Affected?

There is a general feeling of intimidation among the
Christians.  All churches are closed.  AWANA Clubs
have been suspended until further notice.  All Christian
shops are closed.  No one is going to work in the fields.
Everyone is staying home.  

Unfortunately, we have a few specific incidents affecting
our staff and villages.
- After a successful Children's Conference yesterday
morning, our regional Field Manager, Ezzat, was robbed
on his way home.  All of the children had made it home
safely, but he was stopped along the road and robbed
of everything.  The only thing they left him was his car.
We praise the Lord that he wasn't harmed physically.
- The families in An Nasareyah are being harassed by
the MB.  They are pounding on the Christian's doors
and blaming them for Morsi's ouster.
- In Saniem, the church's main hall was burned.  One
of Healing Grace's preschools is housed on the 2nd
floor of the church, but the fire didn't reach that high
and the preschool was saved.  We praise the Lord
that no one was injured.

What's Next?

What will happen in the coming days is unknown.
It has become fairly common for demonstrations
to occur following Friday prayers and with yesterdays
events, we anticipate tomorrow will be a big day.
We are playing things one day at a time.

How Can I Help?

Pray!  Specifically, pray for:
- A peaceful Friday when we expect demonstrations

to be the largest.

- The nation's leaders (political and religious) as they

speak and act, influencing what happens in the coming

days.

- Wisdom for our staff as they make decisions for

themselves and the children/families we serve.

- Safety for everyone in Egypt.