A New Relationship

Today was a big day for the future of Buckner’s ministry in Egypt. We spent the morning visiting the pyramids (AMAZING!) and then went to meet with the Board of Directors for the Charity Shephard Organization in Cairo.

Charity Shephard started nearly 17 years ago as a vision of local Christian businessmen. They wanted to reach out and help their community, so they started an unofficial service organization to serve children. In 2002, after many successful projects, they became an official NGO in Egypt and now serve thousands of children each year through a number of successful projects – job training, mobile medical clinics, improving sanitary conditions for the poor, supporting safe workplaces, and reaching out to at-risk children.

We met for lunch at Board member Magdi’s house. After eating the feast Magdi’s wife prepared for us, Buckner contract-worker for the Middle East, Magdi Shaker, began his introduction.

Magdi, who is on staff at Hope Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, is Egyptian and formerly served as a diplomat for U.S. and Egyptian relations. Magdi began speaking by outlining our similarities – our passion for children, our hopes in working together to do something more, and most importantly he outlined the definition of partnership for this relationship.

“This is not a partnership between Buckner and Charity Shepherd,” he said, “but the beginning of a new relationship. Our partnership is with God.”

Randy Daniels, vice president of international operations for Buckner, affirmed Magdi’s words by assuring the group of Buckner’s longevity, commitment to serve orphans and passion for God’s work for the poor, the orphaned, the widowed and the oppressed. It was a powerful moment across the table, where you could see the meeting of minds and hearts – in two languages – taking place. As Randy recited James 1:27, Nabil Kamal Hanna finished the verse in Arabic. Nabil, who is an engineer and president of the Board, said the Bible is his “life.” That was very clear.

We spent the rest of the afternoon learning more about Charity Shephard’s work in Egypt, and we will spend the next few days visiting many of their projects. Please be in prayer for the rest of our time in Cairo. The time we spend with our brothers and sisters here will be critical for determining our future work in this country, and it is important for all of us to be open to God’s will for these children.

- Jenny Pope

(Had to put at least one pyramid picture in...)