September 2023
Plans for the Cultural Immersion trip in Cairo, Egypt, are picking up speed, and we are very excited about what is around the corner.
Full Egypt Team – Bios on Website
Team
The team consists of 7 students and two professors from Aletheia Christian College. Nancy is a graduate of ACC’s elementary education program, and is now pursuing a second degree in Biblical Studies, Tori Beth, Leo, Elizabeth, Hadassah, Sarah and Isaiah have all enrolled for this trip. In order to travel, the students were asked to study Old Testament Survey with Professor Davis, both to learn about the heritage and history of the region, and to start understanding how people think differently, past and present, here and around the world. We also have many team projects and teaching projects that are preparing us for the activities we’ll be doing. The team is led by Professor Rachel Davis and her husband, Nathanael. This will be Prof. Davis’ third trip to Egypt. She and her husband and children lived in Ma’adi, Cairo for a year together. Ma’adi is where we will be staying as well; a community of expats, ambassadorial complexes, international schools and the teachers who work for them. It is one of the safest neighborhoods in Cairo. We will be able to walk around freely and without worry.
Part of the Egypt Team at Aletheia’s Summer Camp as counselors
Safety
For those of you who are concerned for the safety of this team, specifically the women who will be on this trip, we first wanted to thank you for your concerns and continued prayer. As we mentioned earlier, this team is being led by two mentors who lived and taught in Cairo for several years. We are also connected with another ACC professor, Dr. Lori Lawson, who has lived and worked with her husband in Cairo and the surrounding areas for over 10 years. There are many things put in place to keep us all safe – traveling in pairs, or as a group, staying in well lit, populated areas, and listening to the guidance of our leaders. One of our leaders, Rachel, is a Professional Healthcare Advocate and will be aware of any health needs in our team (allergies, medical conditions, etc). We will also be working with the Petrescue Bible Institute to fellowship with Sudanese, South Sudanese, Ethiopian and even Eritrean students studying pastoral ministry and education. This ACC sister school is run by Professor Lawson and her husband. The Lawsons and are very familiar with protocols that need to be followed in order to keep everyone safe. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!
Our Main Performance
Leading up to our time in Cairo we are going to be rehearsing a special dramatic recitation of an ancient text: Psalm 139! We will be doing this not only in English but also in Egyptian Arabic. The Psalms are recognized as part of God’s revelation by Muslims, Jews, and Christians, and we cannot wait to bring this piece to as many people as we can. Everyone coming on the Egypt trip will be participating in the presentation. Sarah will be in charge of much of the choreography and blocking. The purpose of the performance is to connect with people, so we will make it as dynamic and engaging as possible. Because the Psalms are taught in many different cultures it will give our team a chance to connect with people we might not have met previously. We are hoping to have many joyful interactions and to learn from many people. Each performer will be learning and reciting a part of Psalm 139, either in English or Arabic. When in Cairo, we will have this performance memorized and filled with movement. But, in the meantime, and as a way of announcing this trip, we will be collaborating as a team from multiple states to create a Psalm 139 video for our supporters. All of you will get a taste of this performance before we even get to Egypt. The Living Pages Team is very excited to be a part of this endeavor and to help lead rehearsals with our team leaders!
Keep your eyes open for more updates to come!
Learning
The main purpose of this trip is to be actively learning the whole time. As students in the Old Testament Survey class this past year with Aletheia, we studied the Culture of the Ancient Near East. In traveling to Egypt we will be using real experiences of the culture in modern Egypt, visiting Biblical sites, and learning from our hosts and the people we meet. The purpose of this trip is not to change culture but to learn about the beautiful culture we are stepping into and share in joy with the people we meet there. With the guidance of the Petrescue Bible Institute the team will be fellowshipping with the students in the teacher training schools, visiting K-12 schools and the church communities connected to those schools. The goal is to interact with the people in these communities, hear all the stories, learn about people’s lives on multiple sides, asking questions (What is it like to be a refugee? Why are so many refugees Christians?) and generally immersing ourselves in the culture. By seeing important Biblical sites, visiting markets, eating local food, attending Coptic Churches, and performing our Psalms piece, we will be actively sharing, participating, and learning about the joy and culture of Egypt.
Fundraising
The goal for fundraising the cultural heritage trip is $1,250 for each person, with remaining funds being matched or worked for individually and as teams in the areas we are living. The entire Egypt team will be working together to help each other fundraise. In Jerome, Idaho Nancy, Leo, and their family will be hosting a Peruvian Fundraiser – food, music, live bands, and dancing. As a team, we will be supporting them with this fundraiser (marketing, inviting people, serving food, etc.). So, if you live in the Jerome or Twin Falls area, stop by on September 16th for authentic food and music. As a Living Pages Team, we will also be doing our own part to fundraise for the trip. We are excited to announce that we will be performing live Acoustic Broadway covers at coffee shops and other venues in North Carolina! We are working hard to put together these covers and looking for places to perform. Our hope is to interact with the community in North Carolina, raise funds for this trip, and find opportunities for ministry along the way in anticipation of the cultural immersion trip in January 2024.
Prayer Requests
- Continued Fundraising – for our team members in both Idaho and North Carolina
- Team Building
- Safety for our team
- Classes in preparation for Egypt
- Smooth rehearsals for live music and Psalm 139
Blessings,
Living Pages Team
