Portugal

On our way back to the USA we took a bit of a detour to Portugal on the way from Egypt. We spent just over a week exploring Lisbon and the middle of the country by road from the coast to the Spanish border in our little rental car. Our focus was definately historical and we enjoyed the charms of the many hilltop, walled villages that have been re-inventing themselves only slightly since before Roman times. I think some photos will describe out trip better than too many words. The Western-most point of continental Europe (Cabo da Roco)......and its lighthouse:

Moorish Castle at Sintra:

The pretty walled village of Obidos:

The Village of Tomar with water wheel...
...and the Monestary of the Knights Templar:

The Border Fortress town of Marvao......with its walls and castle...and cistern beneath the castle: The rural hotel converted from an old pilgrim's inn at Our Lady of Camo Church...with a swimming hole they called a "bio pool"......lots of biological swimming friends: The town of Evora, packed with ancient sites...aquaduct...Roman ruins...standing stones... cathederal...and chapel of bones (all the better to contemplate the shortness of life on this earth): And finally Lisbon......the Se cathederal:Altogether a very relaxing time...

Closing School Year 2008-2009

We just wanted to post a few photos of important moments in the final weeks of school year 2008-2009. As I write write this school is finished, graduation is over, goodbyes are said, and all the parties are done, and I have started packing for the summer. Marc has three more days of work, getting things ready for the start of next year, but they are more laid back than the sprint to the end of the year.

Us at CAC graduation

Marc played his annual golf game recently with friends.

From left: Theresa and Seamus Marriott, Ben and Larry Kraut and Marc.

We finished the second session of Elementary Horseriding Afterschool Activity with eight students.

Horseriding students holding their certificates, Carrine (instructor) on far left.

May 31st was my friend Pricsilla's birthday and we organized a suprise party to celebrate the brightness she brings to our lives. Priscilla (with her husband Laryy in the background) sporting a gift - sunglasses with rhinestones.

Enjoying the fantastically presented Thai food at The Birdcage

I completed a 16 week peer couseling course put on by our church. It was a semester of self-discovery, in part related to the content of this course. This was a bit painful and suprising at times, but like most difficult expereinces helps one to grow. I hope that the skills I learnt in this course will help me professionaly as well in personal relationships - actually they have already.

Marty, our teacher (far right) and the other students (6 nationalities represented)

It was quite an unsettling end of the year at CAC (school) with four staff not having their work visa's renewed by the governement for unknown reasons (school was told last week of May)! In addition my supervisor, Mary, the head nurse, had issues with her husband's resident visa and had to resign and move back to the states after about 20 years in Egypt. So we had some unexpected goodbyes to say and some very unsettling thoughts about what this means for the shcool and my job situation next year. I decided not to apply for the Head Nurses position but to support the new Head Nurse as best I can.Mary (center) and Nagla (our highly valued receptionist) on Mary's final day.

CAC's graduation is at the pyramids! It starts at 8am due to the heat. Despite the burning sun it is a spectaular expereince for all.

On Wednesday we are heading out for the summer. We will spend most of the summer in Indiana, staying with Marc's parents and spending time with friends. On the way home we will spend 10 days in Portugal to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We look foward to seeing those of you in Indiana soon!

PTO Dinner Gala

Last night we went to the school Parent Teacher Organization Dinner Gala. Here we with our friends on our table.

WMF Board Meeting Weekend WMF USA Office Omaha, Nebraska

I (Mel) just returned from a trip to the US to attend the WMF Board Meeting Weekend. Board Meetings occur twice a year and are accompanied by new staff commissioning, departing staff farewell, and various other community events. I was feeling a little out of touch with the WMF community and wanted to get back in touch before my field visit to Peru in late July this year. I feel like this visit certainly accomplished that.

WMF Staff, Board and guests mingle

I was able to spend time with Chris and Phileena Heuertz (Directors and long time friends), as well other staff that work at the US office in Omaha. I had a lovely dinner with Hilary Wilken who is Phileena's new assistant. It was great to get to know her a little. I also got to meet the newest field staff members soon heading out to Calcutta and Bolivia. I also shared in a lunch for staff and guests at Silas and Kim West's house (who we visited when they served as WMF field directors in Nepal in 2003). I was able to meet and chat with most of the Board Members too.

Phileena and I

Chris and I

As far as being helpful, I was able to spend some time in the Adovacy Department giving some feedback on some policies. And it was good to have face to face time with Amanda and Silas in the Community Care Department as well as Tara (Medical Advisor) to continue with developing and fine tuning on staff health procedures.

Due to the Orthodox Easter holidays I was able to visit my friend Michele in Idaho during this trip without taking in extra days off school. Michele and I worked together at International SOS in Cambodia. It was s good to re-connect and debrief with each other.

Michele and I

I have to admit that I really enjoyed my layovers in London where I sat looking out at the rain and tarmac while drinking tea, journaling, and reflecting on the year so far. I found the time really valuable to regain some perspective. This year in Cairo has been more difficult for me than most. From my journal on the way:

Like a reflection in an outwardly lit glass, can I ever really ever see myself? I constantly look through myself to what's going on outside. I don't really want to look at myself anyway. I want to hide and avoid the pain. The shame. The stark reality that I am not as nice, good, pure, generous, right as I think I am. Learning of myself is not so painful in itself - I always knew it on some level. It's admitting to others, being vulnerable and acting on the self-awareness that causes discomfort.

And on the way back:

This has been a great trip. I feel grounded and inspired in a way that I have not for a while. Grounded by Michele's friendship - to be known and still loved - surrounded by certainty, steadiness, roots, and longing. Inspired by Chris's fresh way of seeing things. Inspired by Phileena's gentle strength. Inspired anew by WMF's identity - to center around a relationship with Jesus and live this out in our skin, to committnent to serving the least of us (those we mostly turn away from). Inspired to grasp my Egypt expereince and ride it all its worth. To really find out what God has in mind for Melanie in Egypt.

I appreciate your prayers.

Long Weekend at the Beach

Marc and I went to the beach on the Red Coast of Egypt for the Western Easter weekend.

We went with Marc's colleague Andy, and his wife Carmen.

This weekend we have another long weekend - this time for Eastearn Easter! Mel is off to the US, ultimately to spend some time at the Word Made Flesh head office during the board meeting weekend on the 23-25th. On the way she will visit her friend and former colleague, Michele, from SOS Cambodia. While at SOS she will be meeting with folks from the Community Care office, with whom she works in her role as Health Advisor. The visit will concentrate on getting up to date with the latest going's on with WMF and the Community Care office, make and maintain relationships with staff, and work on health related policies and procedures.

Please pray for Mel to have a safe trip, refreshing time with Michele and fruitful and helpful visit at WMF.

Meanwhile Marc is planning a restful weekend at home, relaxing and working on some school stuff.

Spring in Korea 2009

We just returned from a glorious Spring break in Seoul, Korea with our dear friends, the Kents whom we know and love from Cambodia days. They just moved to Seoul Foreign School (SFS) this year from Cambodia. As you may remember we have a bit of history at SFS, Marc having forged a life-long bond with the Moon family while teaching English in Seoul long before he and I met. Marc also did his student teaching at SFS (with me along) in 2000. So we also go to spend some precious time with Jack and Edie Moon who are also working at SFS again. Lucky us!

The Moons treated us to an overnight trip to a traditional village in Andong about 3 hours away from Soeul. It was a very photogenic place! So here are some images from a wander around the village...

traditional Korean houses...

paper prayers...a persimon still on the tree after a long winter...



Below is the traditional B&B we stayed at. The rooms have low doors, heated floors and paper walls. Edie knows the owner (Harmony) from way back...

in a traditional kitchen...
rubber slippers...

kim chi (spicy pickled cabbage) pots...

Well it was almost spring - the flowers where trying to come out but it was near freezing most days!

Good times were had with the Kents:

tea party...

Marc and Sophie play...

Mel cooks with the Kent girls...

Mel and Sheree at an old tea house where birds fly around while you drink your tea.

Week Without Walls Trip to Jordan

I (Melanie) got back last Friday from a six night school trip to Jordan. Marc and his group got in late on Saturday from Bhutan and and I tried to post my trip photos before he did but was foiled by some error. Although I could not publish this entry first, being second has some advantages - now my entry is on top!

I had been to Jordan before (with Marc in 1997) but only to Petra (the site with the temple from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) and as it turns out there is so much more to Jordan than Petra! I actually did not get to see Petra this time as I stayed back to care for a sick student but it did not matter as there was so much other history and culture to absorb. The trip was part of CAC's annual high school Week Without Walls event. CAC has 24 trips and activities for 500 students and groups went all over the world including Bhutan (Marc's group), Indonesia, Western Australia, Bali, South Africa, Russia, Spain, London, Tanzania, Ghana etc. For our trip we had 15 students with myself and another chaperon. I was asked to go at the last minute to replace a teacher who was sick. Our trip was cultural and historical with a focus on the students making a photographic journal of the week.

It was a fun week but started out with surprisingly, and unseasonably cold weather. For the first few days it was wet and cold and that turned to snow, sleet and fog ! Besides being rained on and cold, we had trouble with the roads being closed due to ice and snow and only just got to Petra in terrible weather conditions. Luckily (most of us) took hats, gloves, rain gear and scarves! We saw the ruined Roman city of Jerash in the rain. The crusader castle at Shobek was more exciting in several inches of snow and with sleet falling. But that made it all the more fun since we all live in Cairo where it only rains a few times in the year and never gets to freezing. The kids from Europe and US were very nostalgic. They all made the most of it and threw snowballs and stood around in the snow. Unfortunately it was below 10C and raining steadily on the day we went to the Dead Sea. Four brave souls (I was not one of them) braved the conditions to float in the salty water! It was raining too hard to get any photos and I had to protect the towels from getting wet.Once we got to Petra it warmed up. The sun even came out for the last few days (luckily) when were staying in a desert camp (permanent camp with bathrooms and hot showers - which disappointingly did not work).We went on a jeep safari, had tea with Bedouins, camel rides, and several hikes into the surrounding desert.

It was fantastic desert weather, being sunny and cool in the day. However, it was cold once the sun went down and we all enjoyed the campfire and our warm beds (although some had trouble getting their bedding sorted out battling sand and blankets falling off).By the end we all had gotten to know each other quite well and were having fun together but were none the less ready to get home to our families, houses, beds and a hot shower in Cairo!