The kids arrive!

Yesterday the kids arrived at about noon. There was a big opening celebration and the kids were sooo excited. There are about 160 kids total, 12 each cabin w/ two counselors, and then about 14 american coaches that all live in the hotel that is on the camp. 

I am coaching soccer this week, which has turned out great the first two days. I have two people with me who are very talented and know the game extremely well, which was a huge relief to me. 

The first day was pretty crazy altogether. Just a lot of running around and no one really knew where they were supposed to be yet. The second day was better, but the second day was exhausting. I got up at 6:40 to go help with the morning session ropes, and then went back out there for 3 hours (11-2). That gave me new appreciation for the word "hydration". But again, the egyptians were so kind and thoughtful and brought us water bottlers since we could not drink from the water coolers. 

But Major Sports (when i coach soccer) was right at 4:30 and that lasted two hours. So I am utterly exhausted. I don't know if it is just exhaustion or the heat but I have not felt very well this evening. It is about 9:48 here and i am heading to bed. Thank you all for keeping me in your prayers. I love you!

The journey begins!

Hello everyone!

So i wanted to give you a more detailed description of my flight and my first two days here in Egypt.

I mentioned before that I had some trouble with my flight from New York to Cairo. There was aparrently a fire in the control in new york and we sat on the tarmac for an hour. And then when we got to Cairo there was an air show going on and we had to circle Cairo for an hour. So altogether we were about an hour and a half late landing. But i got off the plane and someone from the camp met me and I had no trouble getting a visa a going through Egypt customs. After I left the airport a counselor from the camp took me out to lunch in Cairo. I spent the afternoon in Cairo hanging out with counselors from the camp and waiting for another team to arrive. We then picked them up from the airport about 5:30 and got our first experience of Cairo traffic. It was ridiculous. Imagine downtown Atlanta if a concert, braves game, and hawks game has just gotten out but there are no red lights and no one uses signals. That might give you a small idea of what it was like. It took us 3 hours just to get out of Cairo.

So by the time we got out of Cairo and stopped to eat dinner ( at Mcdonalds by the way :) ) and got to the camp it was almost 10 pm egypt time (3 pm atl time) and I hadn't slept in 31 hours. I got no sleep on the plane. But of course I had to watch the end of the soccer match!.... no seriously, the Egyptians might have hurt me if i didnt watch the match and went to bed. They like their soccer, thats for sure.

So i finally went to bed and got to sleep in and spent all day Friday at a conference that is going on here at the camp. It seemed like a great conference, and i wish i could have attended the whole thing. \

Egyptians are incredibly friendly. The joke here is that the Egyptians bug the Americans because they are always joking around and not taking things seriously. Egyptians also do not really keep track of time. They will say something starts at a certain time, but they spend so much time just enjoying what they are doing and laughing they are always late to the next thing. I have really enjoyed getting to know them.

But today the camp has started. I am coaching soccer during the major sports time (caa people that is like our specialties time) and it lasts 2 hours. Throughout the rest of the day I just kind of help the counselors run games and keep track of scores. (They also have alpha and omega competitions).

So all in all it has been an incredible trip so far. I have had no problems with the food or with the time change (knock on wood). But please keep me in your prayers. Also, my roommate is having a pretty hard time. He has been in bed all day with a sick stomach. So please pray for him too! Thanks guys!

Greetings From Egypt!

Hello Everyone!

I arrived here safely! There were some minor complications with my flight and I got to egypt 2 hours late. 

I have arrived at the camp and have been matched with a group from Orlando who have been incredible. They have welcomed me with open arms. 

Unfortunately I don't have much time to write right now. I promise to write more detail tomorrow! love you!

Here I Go Again On My Own!

(title inspired by Whitesnake song)
And thus my journey begins. In 12 hours I will leave the atlanta airport to fly to New York for my connection to Cairo. Thank you again for all of your support. And although I am traveling without a companion I know I am not traveling alone. I know your thoughts and prayers are with me and that is a great comfort. I will write from Egypt the first chance I get. Everyone please be safe while I am gone. I will be thinking about you! Love you all!

Preparations Under Way!

Hey guys,

I just wanted to first of all thank everyone who sponsored me on this trip. I raised all of the money I needed to and have officially paid for my trip. I can not begin to tell you how much of a relief this is. I am truly blessed with friends and family.

So I met with the Global Outreach department from Perimeter this morning and got all of the final details ironed out. So I am getting ready to start packing and getting my stuff together.

Please keep me in your prayers! Thanks!