This will certainly be my last post from Egypt as tomorrow will be my last day in country. It’s been a whirlwind of a day! We drove down to Memphis and saw the oldest stone building dated at 4800 years ago.
This is the great Step pyramid built by the architect, astronomer and medical expert Ahmenhoptep. This guy was beyond brilliant – and a natural one at that. He didn’t come from a well educated family but was so smart, so gifted that the King of the day chose him to build this magnificent, never-before-attempted, building. It’s truly amazing!
From Memphis, we stopped in a couple other places, before heading back to Cairo for the holy grail of egyptologists – the great pyramids of Giza. There are 3 total that were build by 3 generations of egyptian kings. Each tomb is smaller than the one before it, but each one sacrificed size for quality.
When you are far away they don’t look that big, but let me tell you, standing next to these makes you realize why they are one of the Wonders of the world. The largest pyramid, for example, if taken down could build a wall 26 feet tall around the entire country of France. I stood next to the base and at 5 foot 10, I didn’t even get to the top of the second row of bricks. Each stone is estimated at a minimum of 3 tons! I can’t even begin to put into words how big these things are!
The Sphinx, which is super cool on it’s own, sits just in front of the middle tomb. It’s serves as a guard, or sentinel, to all who would come to the tombs. Alexander the Great stood before it. Julius Caesar, Pompey, Augustus, Marc Antony and Cleopatra, Napoleon and just about every other major figure of human history has stood at this magnificent marvel. While humanity and the elements (mainly humanity) have not been kind to the Sphinx, it has lasted for millennia warning and waiting.
There’s a ton of other things to add, but again, internet isn’t easy to come across here in Cairo, so this will have to do for this last post here in Egypt. I continue to be amazed at the people. Our guides are a treasure. Our Bus driver has nerves of steal – I would NEVER even think about driving in this 3rd largest populated city in the world! We’ve had security escorts everywhere and while very serious they’ve been fantastic. The peddlers at all the stops – well, they’re just trying to make a living, but they are getting to me. Most of our party, folks from all over the South East, have been cool. It’s the children that have caused my heart such heaviness.
This country is in deep need of prayer. It’s also in deep need of a people who are willing to help. The economy is horrible and their is weariness of waiting for the government to start working as it had been promised. What this land needs is hope. For now, they’re just begging for tourist money, but it’s only a stop gap. I pray that as I return to our country, I won’t forget what I’ve seen and experienced in Egypt. I pray I won’t get comfortable and whiny the next time my cable is out, or my fast food isn’t fast enough. I pray that the Good News I say I believe in will not just warm a seat on Sunday morning, but will inspire me to bring the Kingdom wherever i go!
Salaam for now…
Grace and Peace –
Jim
Location:Cairo, Egypt