Dear All,
I am settling into my new life. I am learning new things and feeling as a child because allot of it is learning all over again, like the language. Even grocery shopping is not an easy task. But, the biggest battle and learning curve was insects! See below.
MY ARMOR TODAY INCLUDED A SHOE AND A CAN OF RAID
As the morning mist lifts, I am able to see the pyramids from my apartment that sits on the 9th floor of a 10-story building. Also, from my apartment, I can see the calming water of the Nile River. I feel so blessed to be experiencing these gifts from God, especially as the sun goes down at night and I can see the red on the water. It is then I realize that I am seeing a view, that for years, I have only read about in history books. I feel truly privileged to be experiencing these moments in Egypt.
I am living in an area of Cairo called Maadi, an international melting pot, where there are actually 10,000 Americans living. However, if one didn't know that I was living in the older section of Maadi where the Egyptians have settled, and realize that outside, below the 9 stories, is the chaotic, busy city-life likeness, as in New York City, with the addition of sand, dust, and even areas sprinkled with trash, by the above description, I could make you think I was at a resort hotel.
But, I am not.
In the past week and a half, I have battled ants, mosquitoes, and cockroaches. Each time I prayed I received help. The ants left after several sprayings of insecticides. The mosquitoes (I never knew I would be battling this during sleep time, I would have brought a mosquito net) are controllable with plug in heating devices that you slip a small disc, treated with something that kills them, into and plug into the wall one hour before you go to bed. The roaches: UGH!!!! My worst encounter which makes the others seem like "no big deal". They have a way of making you feel dirty all over, even if you didn't come that close to them. When I was 23 years old, I lived in New York City. I battled roaches there, but never were they close to 3 inches in size. My shoes have come in handy as a tool for battle!
Honestly, prayer has helped! The roaches contained themselves underneath the sink where there are only household cleaners and such. I prayed to God and told Him, "Lord, if they go near the food, I couldn't handled that." They never made it into any other cupboard. Each night I would spray raid and the next morning, I would find 3 dead on the kitchen floor, but nothing more. This went on for about 4 days. At this point, the very large ones had not been out yet. I had a routine with my roaches. I knew they came out in the dark. So, each night around 9:00 p.m. (it gets dark around 5:30 p.m. right now), I knew if they were coming out they would be out by then. I would switch on the light and open the cupboard door below the kitchen sink.
On one particular occasion, it became the straw that broke the camels back (my favorite saying now that I am in Egypt!) in which it was either me or the roaches who were going to go. I heard the roaches rustling to get out. The noise was quite loud. It sounded like that of someone rummaging through the garbage that had allot of paper in it. I am not kidding here, guys! I looked and saw in a red pail, the largest cockroach I have ever seen. They were trying to escape from the Raid that I had sprayed.
Well, there is something to be said about being a single female at age 40. By this time in life, I know that I need to learn to fix my own problems, or they don't get fixed. At least not in the time frame I want them to be fixed. So, as the roach made way to the top of the pail, I armed my right hand with the Raid and that is when I saw the second one. So, I armed my other hand with my shoe. I had visions of blood spattering and really didn't want to hit the invaders, but as one of them scampered onto the kitchen floor toward the corner near the refrigerator, I was not going to let it get near the fridge. So, when the spray slowed him down a bit, I clocked it with my shoe! Yes, I felt bad, but had no choice. I am telling you this roach was big. My heart sank as I did it for fear it wasn't going to die and then take revenge. I have heard of big roaches that have wings and they can fly at you. Praise God for big favors. One hit got him. Now, where did that other one go? I couldn't find him, but found a tiny one. I sprayed more Raid, got my stomach back to feeling better and retired to my bedroom.
Why the Lord had me deal with this problem, instead of my room mate, who had no idea any of this had been going on at all, I'll never know. I never told my roommate of the problem because I didn't want to alarm her. Although she had already been in Egypt for a year, she has been going through a rough time recently and I didn't want her to worry. She had no idea the roaches were even visiting, nor has she seen them since she has been living in this apartment. It was obvious they were here for me!
In the morning, the other larger roach was dead on the kitchen floor, along with two others. This was Friday, Holy Day in Egypt. At 11:00 a.m., I went to church and told all the people of my battles, asking each one if they were having the same problems and what they recommended. To shorten my already long story, I went to the pharmacy and got some borax (boric acid, powder), and sprinkled it all around the area in the cupboard that I thought they were coming up. I sprayed some more Raid, to draw them out of where they may be, in hopes that they would walk through the borax. And, I also finally told my roommate so that she could be aware of the problem. She was thankful I hadn't told her before.
Blessings to God and those of you, who I had previously asked to pray for this problem, I have not seen any in two days.
Why did I take the time to share this story with you instead of what glorious work I am doing in Egypt? Because I have learned a lesson from this to share with you (and there is so much to share, I'll get to the other things later). In all of this, God has shown me to look beyond because He has also blessed me in this short period of time in so many other ways. He has taught me to give to Him anything that I need to release in order to settle into this ancient land. I have to actually say, there has not yet been a moment that I didn't wish I wasn't here. I have made sacrifices to come, but, God has given me a home in Egypt. God has already given me several friends in Egypt (American and Egyptian). God has given me life in Egypt. God has given me work in Egypt. God is beginning to give me a tongue to speak in Egypt.
I do miss you all, though! But, I know that I am meant to be here. Each night, I look at photos of my two nieces and long to hug them. But, I pray for them instead! Keep the e-mails coming and please watch over my family and pray for them!
I actually have allot more updates coming, but my roach story go so long, I didn't want to continue and give you so much to read that you don't read it at all.
I love you all very much!
In His service, Donna Ketchum Egypt